tank size suggestion?

[modster]

i am about to get my second tank. my first tank is occupied by one (yes, one as in 1) comet that i really want to keep. so there isnt much that i can do with that one. I want to have a second tank where i can do something more fun. Now, i havent really decided what to put into the tank yet. i want to have one that is future proof, meaning if i decide to add or change stuff, i would have the space to do so. I dont want to keep buying bigger and bigger tank everytime. What size do you guys recommend?

[Lady Hobbs]

Well, the 55 is 48 x 12. The 75 is 48 x 18 and the 90 is the same as the 75 but 3 inches taller. So.......All are 48 inches long if that helps any. Here everyone will tell you that bigger is better.

I think a 90 gallon would be too tall for me. I can barely reach the bottom of my tank that is 3 inches shorter.

[Full3R]

im about to prove Lady Hobbs right, for me, bigger is always better, a mate of mine had similiar desires of yours, he bought a 180cmX60cmX60cm tank and when he did want to add other fish but keep his larger more predatory fish he just sectioned the tank off, so if u wanted a big tank u could section it if u want to keep original fish and add new ones if they wouldnt coexist

[Coler]

you gotta decide what you want to keep.

i'd look pretty dumb telling you to get a 75 when you come back and tell me you're freshwater stingrays are finding it cramped. equally you may not enjoy looking for your dwarf puffers in there if that's what you go for.

work out what you're wanting to keep. that will determine minimum tank size for life.

[jeffs99dime]

the biggest tank that you can afford and maintain would be the best idea i think

[RobbieG]

It may sound backwards - but the larger a tank is the easier it is to keep it stable and healthy. My largest tank is 7 times bigger than my smallest - and really doesn't take me any more time to clean it or do water changes.

The larger water volume keeps my parameters much more stable than the smaller one though. I could add a 12" oscar to the big tank and not really have to worry about a spike - I add a neon to the small one and I'm doing hourly water tests/changes.

[Drumachine09]

the biggest tank that you can afford and maintain would be the best idea i think


Yup. The bigger the better. If you get a smaller tank, you will look back later and say to your self, "dang, why didnt i get that bigger tank?". I did it, and im sure many other people have done it too.

[gm72]

Totally agreed, larger tanks are easier to maintain and do allow greater flexibility. Knowing in advance what kind of fish you want to keep is also a great idea. If you go for a very large tank though make sure your house will support the equally large weight load.

[cocoa_pleco]

if moneys tight go for something like a 33g but if youre able to afford more go for a 55g or larger

[Rue]

I agree with Hobbs about depth...I can reach to the bottom of a 75g...but not to a 90g...

[modster]

actually i am thinking about building the tank out of acrylic myself. (For those who are worrying, I have worked with acrylic before..)

Anyways, what kind of filtering system should i be looking at?

[gm72]

That depends on how large of an aquarium you are going to build. You have worked with acrylic before, good, but just remember to calculate the weight of the water when you are designing. Water, at about 8.34 pounds per gallon, is far heavier than most people think.

[cocoa_pleco]

canister filters. fluvals or eheims are best

[modster]

I am thinking about 100 gallon or so. Do i need anything besides a canister? I think i read something about canister alone is not enough or something.

also, two off topic questions, 1.) what kind of plant can i keep in a goldfish tank? 2.) I was reading the description of eco complete substrate and wondering if that thing helps cycling. It keeps saying it helps break down some waste chemicals but didnt specify what.

[Rue]

Not much in the way of live plants will exist with goldies...

...but I'm going to try some Java fern...I'll let you know how it goes...

[Drumachine09]

From what i have heard, goldfish will eat the live plants.

[gm72]

You can definitely just have a canister, I have canisters only on my 2 55 gallon tanks and they are and have been perfectly healthy. I use Eheim Professional II canisters myself and love them. Goldfish are really messy and will need a lot of filtration.

[cocoa_pleco]

goldfish will eat all plants

[gm72]

...unless they are plastic (or so I would hope)!:ezpi_wink1:

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, plastic are safe of course

[gm72]

...and if they DID eat the plastic plants that would be one mean ass fish.:hmm3grin2orange:

[Drumachine09]

...and if they DID eat the plastic plants that would be one mean ass fish.:hmm3grin2orange:

Lol! Now THAT would be an interesting tank!