Size Of Tank

[jeffgolf4]

I am new to saltwater tanks and came across this forum, luckily, before I jumped into anything. I went to the LFS to ask a couple simple questions on what I needed to get started and how much different the tanks are from FW. Upon getting the answers to a couple questions I realized that it was much more difficult and I needed to do some research on my own. I have been reading around the forum here for about a week or so and have come across a lot of valuable information. The guy at the LFS mentioned that it would be much easier to maintain a bigger tank because of evaporation and keeping the salinity on target. He mentioned a 40 or 55 gallon tank would be best. I have a 20 gallon tank that used to have FW but is currently empty. I also have a hood for it, but it only has a 15W bulb in it and from my readings in the forum it almost sounds as if I will need different lighting, so the hood almost seems worthless to me. My question is this: Is the 20 gallon tank going to be too difficult for a first time SW? I realize water will have to be checked more frequently but I think I can handle that.
I am kind of leaning towards a FOWLR tank. I am going to take it slow to avoid wasting money on bad products and killing fish. My intentions are to start a tank up and see how well it goes. If all goes well I intend to upgrade to a larger tank, but going to take it one step at a time as I am getting my feet wet in SW aquariums.
Just wanted some expert opinions on the size of tank before I start to buy other products to go along with it.
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[f1shman]

for a fowlr tank a 20 gallon is great, especially for a beginner. a 40-55 would be recommended for a reef tank, because you have to check all the chemicals to make sure the coral will survive. For a FOWLR tank if you choose hardy fishes you will really never have to check anything ever after the cycle is complete. Just always be patient and take it slow. In this hobby, patience is the key to success.

 

[f1shman]

oh ya, and about the light. Thats fine, only for reef tanks do you need better lighting, for FOWLR they just need to know when its day and when its night. And the beneficial bacteria on the rock doesn't need light to live.

 

[trainfever]

To be honest, you are better off starting with a bigger tank, at least a 45. You can use the 20 gallon as a sump which will give you that much more water volume in your system and be more forgiving with your water parameters.

 

[rainfishy]

Hey, I'm not an expert, but I started with smaller tank (30g) and have had it for a year.
And started a second 30g which is a reef. It probably takes more of my time then if I had a big system, but i like that because of the hands on learning. IMO you should work with the equipment you have, pretty much like F1shman explained. Good Luck, have fun. :jumping:

 

[snipe]

In saltwater the bigger the better. Even a fish only has to be tested often. See if you have something die in a 20 it pollutes the water really quick. If you have the same thing in a 100 it would take longer so most likely the cleaning crew would eat it before it has a chance.

 

[puffer32]

I would go with a larger tank, 55 or 75 and use the 20 gal for a refugium. I had a 20 and a 60 and found the 60 was much easier to maintain then the 20.

 

[jeffgolf4]

I guess another question that I have is what is a refugium compared to a sump. I understand a sump is another way to hide the heater and things like that and also gives a place to seperate "dirty" and "clean" water during the process, but what exactly is a refugium?

 

[snipe]

A fuge is a place for pods to grow a place for plants to pull out nitrates and a place for deep sand bed 6 to 8 inches to pull out nitrates. You can also put filtering animals in there to pull out nitrates. It is good to put a bad animal to hold so you can sell or trade it or put a wounded animal so you can let it heal. I have heard of fuges with the heater and a place for the skimmer. You could setup a topoff on the far end so it adds water to the part that is sucking the water up into the main tank and instead of into the part with the animals or plants. You can make it work just like a sump just mutch more.