Starting a saltwater aquarium - please help with size

[jonance]

Hi,

I am going to be purchasing an aquarium with the intention of doing saltwater with corals. I am an ABSOLUTE beginner having only had a very small freshwater "as is" tank about 10 years ago. I obviously want a tank that would be good for a beginner, but I am not interested in starting so small that I am wanting to upgrade very quickly. I don't want to be too limited in what I can get.

That being said, i had initially thought about a 50 gallon or so, but I'm not sure that is big enough as i have heard that size is actually more work and tougher to maintain. I found this one on craigslist that is 90 gallons. Do you all think that would be a good size for me? Please help

Beautiful 90 Gal Aquarium

 

[solo]

The bigger the better easy on mantiance, and changes to water quality will be easy to catch slow changes hope someone chimes in with more experience. Good luck

 

[Saratj1]

I think for salt either a 55 or 75g tank is the best starter tank. There are a lot of different ways to go, 48" lights are plentiful. You have enough volume for some cool occupants and stable water. I went with a 47g column tank as my first salt tank and it had some challenges due to its of shape but overall fairly easy to maintain, I'm now working on a 6ft 135g tank. So I can get some tangs and more coral, it's kinda addictive because there's a lot of room to grow with reef tanks. I feel like freshwater kinda has limits, where salt is wide open for as far as your wallet and dedication will allow.

 

[PurplePolyp]

I am currently on my first ever tank and its a 90 gallon saltwater. I have yet to have any significant problems with it however it does get expensive. I recommend the 90 as a good starter as long as you have the money to spend.

 

[Qube]

I would say a 75 or a 90 would be the easiest. They are both 4' tanks, just like the 55, only wider. Having had a 55g, aquascaping is much easier on standard 75 or 90 gallon setup. Just my two cents.

 

[TommyP]

I have a 55 and it was pretty much my first tank, I wish I upgraded to a 90 or bigger - you have more options and more stable water paramaters in case something goes wrong. 90 sound good. and that price isnt bad.

 

[TheTodd]

I'm not sure that $575 for just the tank stand and canopy is a good deal, but it probably depends on your local area. You'd still need some kind of lighting and filtration, which it appears that they have and are not including?

For a starter tank, I think 75-90 is great for saltwater. I got a 75 last summer and already am looking to go larger 180-maybe 300g. I had a 90g years ago and had to stick with that due to space constraints in my old place.