A little freaked out - how big is too big??
 

So, I have the ok to upgrade my 46 gal bow to my dream tank. At first, due to space, I thought it would be 48x18 and that was cool, nice upgrade. But we've changed location in our 500 sq foot house and now I can go up to 5' wide!

Ideal size imo would be 60x24x30 tall to give lots of aquascaping room. I do want a plenum so the added height would still give lots of swimming room. The largest tank I've had was a 90 gal corner - no sump. Maintenance never bothered me, water changes were easy.

Going this large and planning a large sump underneath, has me worried about the amount of water!! What if something goes wrong? What if it breaks?? Our house is small but I will have the RO/DI unit on the other side of the wall for easy make-up water and can house the top-off there.

Any feedback????? Anyone wish they had a smaller tank? I LOVE the hobby, would sit in front of the tank all day if I could. We work above our home in a seasonal business so I do have time for maintenance most of the year.

I really like the 2' depth better than 18". I plan on LPS and softies with a minimalistic look - lots of open water for swimming that I've never done before.

I would love to hear back from anyone with similar tank. Thanks!

A tank is to big when you can not properly care for it due to cost or just the physical labor involved.

Thanks for the input, Mark. I don't see it as a problem...just the physical labor of getting the larger tank into place. Much heavier from 4' to 5'.

I would agree with this 100%.

It's never too big if you can physically and monetarily take care of the upkeep.

I just recently upgrade from a 30G to an 80G, I don't think I would want anything bigger as the husbandry would literally kill me.

I personally find that aquascaping is easier and more interesting the wider you get. If you're thinking about those dimensions, I'd go 60Lx30Wx24H. But every tank is a personal choice and you need to decide what you prefer.

I've definitely thought about the added upkeep of a larger tank. It seems to me the biggest pain would be the increased volume of water changes. Testing is the same and if you have enough fish you really shouldn't need additives other than the big 3. It will definitely cost a lot more, lighting, dosing, heating, pumps, salt, etc. I think my personal ideal size would be 48Lx30Wx22-24H. For now the wifey says no...

Why do you want a plenum, especially in the DT?

Yes, that's my driving force is the aquascaping. 18" just means I would be stacking rock against the back wall and I don't want to do that. 5' wide should hopefully allow for 3 mounds/columns with lots of swimming room.

Albano, I see you have a couple years in the hobby so appreciate any feedback. I know the plenum is definitely controversial but I really don't like the look of BB and really like the look of the sand. I do want to house some jawfish, so I'm using the coarser Tropical Eden meso-flakes for substrate vs sand. I feel the plenum is safer than DSB and really want to propagate the bacteria population in the tank.

As stated I would go with 30 D and 24 H, or even 24D, 24H, 30 is hard to maintain without getting wet, and refraction makes the tank look thinner than it really is.

My Tank is 24" deep, 24" tall, by 72" long that can only be accessed from the backside of the tank. With that said I have to put my entire arm up to my shoulder in the tank to reach all the way to the front bottom. So if you go any deeper then you might want to get a snorkel or start practicing with a pair of grabbers LOL. Just my $.02

I like the idea of a plenum too. I just think I might put it in my sump so if it turns sour for any reason I don't have to dismantle the DT to take it out. How do you plan on designing your plenum?

I got approved by the higher powers (wife) to start in on the hobby. She said I can get whatever will fit into the space. Which just so happens to be 72X24X24. I was thinking stopping at 60X18X24 though. Thoughts?

That is a large tank to start with, but it sure looks great when up and running. Just do lots of research and join a club if you have one close by. I don't but sure wish I did.

The issue I've had with 18" width in the past is that it makes it hard to do nice rockwork and not have corals too close to the glass. I hate it when I have coraline growing on the glass in a tight spot.

JonezNReef, I plan on using 3/4" pvc covered by eggcrate then all wrapped with window screening and covered by 5-6 inches of aragonite. I just purchased the Tropic Eden Meso flakes. Size is 2.7mm and it appears very uniform in size so shouldn't compact down, allowing for lots of flow. I may do the 1st 3 inches with meso flakes, put down another layer of screening, and top with the larger reef flakes.

Go 24. After going 24 I actually want wider on my next tank. I will never buy an 18" wide tank again.

Is this really a 500 sq foot house, or is there a zero missing?

I would just ask what you're wanting to keep in it. If you plan on keeping tangs, I'd go 72 for sure. Most would say that a 6 ft is a minimum for most tangs.

The tank he was originally thinking about would cover 120 sq ft, he's got to be missing a zero.

120 sq ft ?

LOL...spending too much time at work. You're right. I'm off by a few inches. :)

Figured you were drinking from 'Flint's' water supply!

No, you're not missing a zero. Lot of tank in a small space, glad my husbands supportive :)

That sounds like a great size tank. I have a 120 and one more foot would be great.

In my experience running a bigger tank is easier in many ways. All in all there is not a big difference in labor running a 50 gallon vs. a 150. It is certainly more expensive up front and more expensive to run. As long as you take good care of the tank it's just that much more water to syphon during the water change and that much more glass to clean. It's always a bit shocking when the tank first arrives, it will look massive!

24 x 24 is great.
18" is not.
In such a small place plan carefully.

Thanks, that has been the main concern. It is removing some prime real estate in the living room but I'm looking forward to getting it here and actually seeing it in place. It worked out good that it's on the opposite wall of our bathroom so I used an old bulkhead to create an opening through the wall for easy water changes. My RO/DI unit is also in the bathroom so will make all the water there and pump it back into the tank. Yeah! No dragging buckets through the house anymore! :)