Still planning.....best tank size??

[cara]

First of all, this is such a great site and thank you to everyone for your help! I hope one day I can provide as much help as I've been given here.
Ok, I was originally aiming for a 90g bowfront, fish only setup with live rock. With all of the information here, I will also have a deep sand bed of live sand (mix). For filters, I will be getting a protein skimmer and leaning towards a sump, based on info here also.
Originally I thought a 90g tank would be large enough but after adding the LS and LR, there doesn't seem like there will be much water left in the tank. Now, do I measure the 1" of fish/3g of water based on the actual tank size or on the actual amount of water left in the tank after the LS and LR are added? This will greatly determine the size of tank I get because if I add all of the LR and LS, there maybe only 50-60g of water left.
Same question for determining how much LR I get after I add the LS. Is the 1.5 LB/g of LR based on the 90g or on 90g less the amount lost after 6" of LS (based on 6" of LS on a 30" tall tank...that's 20% of LS in the tank so 80% of 90g is 72g of water?? which would be 27 LB less rock than for 90g) Did that make any sense?
I also have a side question about puffers. Someone mentioned that puffers get very large. I've seen them in the wild up to 2' but in captivity, what is the ideal tank size for them?
THANKS!! <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[lnarobbins]

I wish that I had found this sight before I started. I have a 90g tank and I thought it was REALLY big but, guess what, the tank I have is on the small side of the spectrum. when we build our new house in the next few years the wife said I can have as big of tank as I want so.... I will go with a 250g Acrilic.
for now I will learn more about what I am doing with the 90g.
the LFS I have visited don't really have a clue about saltwaterfish even if they sell them.
it has been my experience to take the info they give you at the LFS and compare it to the info you get on this forum. Then make your own judgement. The advice you will be given here is from the heart. nobody on the forum is out to make money... everybody just want's you to have a good time with your tank, and will try to steer you in the right direction.
even folks like me with little experience can help. I have made ALOT of mistakes and try to share them, better to learn from others than to make the mistake your self
Good luck
Alan

 

[fshhub]

best size tank is all up to the individual,
great advice is:
get the largest tank that you can afford adn fit into your needs, possibilities are endless, but most can't afford large tanks, especially with the lr and ls and other equipment, but if you factor these thinsgs in and you get the largest you can then your job will be easier and possibilites even greater, one other piece of info, go with standard rect's you pay alot more for the bow and other custom shapes, and loose alot of space
one inch or fish is figure d on per gallon of water not rock and sand and such(guess, it is only a general rule to guide you anyhow, the best test is maintaining water quality)
HTH

 

[heavenly damsel]

I did a lot of looking at the LFS when I was setting up my first tank and pretty much decided that the LR online was a better deal....it was better rock also. When I ordered I didn't order all that I would need. I saved some LR room for the pieces I knew I would get at the LFS because of a shape I wanted or the fact that corals come attached to LR and sometimes to pretty big pieces.
Buy as much tank a you can stretch your budget to cover. 125-150 gallon size are nice and give you plenty of room for whatever you decide you want to keep.
Check your local classifieds and also ask at the LFS for tanks FSBO. I started with a 55. Now have two 105 talls and a 46 bow front in addition to the 55. The deals were too good to pass up.
Tanks came with a lot of equipment also. People getting out of the hobby are anxious to sell. Since I know the expense I usually don't barter on the price being asked....they are already losing money. HTH