55 gal vs 75 gal?

[marie74]

I have a 55 gallon stand, filter and I picked up a 55 gallon at the petco $1 gallon sale, but I keep hearing that you can do so much more with a 75 gallon.

I want to do a low tech planted with rainbowfish (maybe 6?), cory's (5?) and a schooling tetra.

So... my dilemma- I have a couple tanks for sale, I could return the 55, and watch for a deal on a 75, or just go ahead with what I have.

The advantage being I already have what I need for the 55....
But I don't want to set up the 55 then regret it and want a 75.
So, is a 75 that much better for aquascaping, etc?

 

[Werebat]

I have a 55 and a 75. There is more room for aquascaping in the 75 due to surface area.

55G [48x12] 4sq ft surface area
75G [48x18] 6sq ft surface area

Actually a 40G[36x18] is 4.5sq ft so even that is bigger than a 55 when it comes to surface area.

 

[marie74]

I've been told rainbows require at least a 4 foot tank. 40b is a great size, though!
Would rainbows be cramped in a 55?

55 has it's advantages too- I don't need to buy a bigger filter, and it is easier to clean! ... I just don't want to get it all set up and realize I should have gone with a 75. I already have multi tank syndrome- hence why I have tanks for sale! I just moved and I don't have room for a bunch of tanks, just ONE good one!

 

[leviathan2000]

I have already wasted a lot of money on smaller tanks and I just moved up to a 75 gallon with stand I'm excited to be setting it up I probably should've gone right for the big tank in the first place