Aquarium size choice

[DanielKrol]

Good morning and welcome :)

I've read hundreds of pages but never written as I don't think I have the knowledge or experience to speak about.

A few years back I had a RS Max nano and later updated to reefer 250 G1. Later birth of 2 children and moving back to my home country forced me to forgo the reef aquarium for some time :(

I'm now ready to come back to the hobby ( even without a tank at home I still was regular watching YouTube videos on reefing and keeping on the trends )

I would like to get a reef tank again in the next few months. I have size for a up to 100cm ( stretching it to the max possibly a 125cm but that would massively interfere with the space) wife would prefer smaller (60cm). I would prefer a smaller tank, but im worried I won't be able to keep algae eating fish and it will be ust a lot harder to keep the tank pristine.

I would like a LPS dominated tank, nothing crazy possibly 1 or 2 SPS.

I would like a tank that has a as much as possible self controlling fish stock. ( Would like some kind of a Kole tang for algae control and some sand sifters - watchman gobby or some wrasse? ).

If I go for a reefer 200XL G2 60cm wide I worry that I can't really have a good algae eater ( kole tang needs more space ), same with rabbit fish. My favourite smallish fish is a Dwarf Flame angle.

*Main question
If I go for a peninsula 350 I think I could fit a: Cole Tang, Fox Face, 2x Clown and a few small fish ? or would this require a peninsula 500 ? ( I might be able to stretch to this - it's my dream size tank if I rearrange the living room a bit).
This is a balance of tank self control, my time and cost. ( The peninsula 350 would be the perfect size for the living room )

( Equipment wise I would go for Radeon lights, Vectra return, MP20/MP40, Neptune controller so a good quality equipment as I want it to last and work well - I would go for this level of equipment whatever I go for RS 200xl/350/500 )

Thank you for any thoughts on this topic :)

Kind Regards
Daniel

 

[fishywishy]

The 200xl is pretty small for a Kole tang and way to small for a fox face, but it should be fine for the other fish you mentioned.

The 350 should be fine for most of the fish you mentioned, but it will be a little tight for a one spot fox face, in my opinion they need at least 4ft of length to swim. It could work but I would pass on the fox face or get the 500.

By the way Red Sea is known for very bad tank quality so I would go for a different brand.

 

[DanielKrol]

Thank you for the reply,
I was looking at Aqua-forest Ocena Guard's as well, but its sump is not roller filter ready ( and I didn't see any info on adapting the sump to accommodate it ) I can't see myself without a roller filter.

So something 4ft would be good enough for a FoxFace and kole tang (+a few small fish ) ? - im not crazy about yellow tangs, and not ready to push myself, my wallet and especially my wife to go up to 5ft for a yellow tang - kole is good enough for me.

 

[GARRIGA]

If you don't mind trading overgrown for smaller with an LFS then realistically there's no fish too big for a 60cm. I've kept a dozen plus Hippo Tangs in a 15G although all two inches or smaller and on a centralized system but key here being that at some point that fish will be too big and they often become pets. If that's reality then best get that which at full grown won't be asking for a trade. Also have to consider that every new fish introduced might cause territorial disputes or introduce pathogens that can wipe out your tank or at a minimum cause stress.

 

[fishywishy]

Thank you for the reply,
I was looking at Aqua-forest Ocena Guard's as well, but its sump is not roller filter ready ( and I didn't see any info on adapting the sump to accommodate it ) I can't see myself without a roller filter.

So something 4ft would be good enough for a FoxFace and kole tang (+a few small fish ) ? - im not crazy about yellow tangs, and not ready to push myself, my wallet and especially my wife to go up to 5ft for a yellow tang - kole is good enough for me.

Yes, a 4ft tank should be fine for those fish.

To be honest I have a yellow tang in my 75 gal so if you get a 4ft tank it’s possible to get one, but definitely stick with the kole if you prefer that.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Good morning and welcome :)

I've read hundreds of pages but never written as I don't think I have the knowledge or experience to speak about.

A few years back I had a RS Max nano and later updated to reefer 250 G1. Later birth of 2 children and moving back to my home country forced me to forgo the reef aquarium for some time :(

I'm now ready to come back to the hobby ( even without a tank at home I still was regular watching YouTube videos on reefing and keeping on the trends )

I would like to get a reef tank again in the next few months. I have size for a up to 100cm ( stretching it to the max possibly a 125cm but that would massively interfere with the space) wife would prefer smaller (60cm). I would prefer a smaller tank, but im worried I won't be able to keep algae eating fish and it will be ust a lot harder to keep the tank pristine.

I would like a LPS dominated tank, nothing crazy possibly 1 or 2 SPS.

I would like a tank that has a as much as possible self controlling fish stock. ( Would like some kind of a Kole tang for algae control and some sand sifters - watchman gobby or some wrasse? ).

If I go for a reefer 200XL G2 60cm wide I worry that I can't really have a good algae eater ( kole tang needs more space ), same with rabbit fish. My favourite smallish fish is a Dwarf Flame angle.

*Main question
If I go for a peninsula 350 I think I could fit a: Cole Tang, Fox Face, 2x Clown and a few small fish ? or would this require a peninsula 500 ? ( I might be able to stretch to this - it's my dream size tank if I rearrange the living room a bit).
This is a balance of tank self control, my time and cost. ( The peninsula 350 would be the perfect size for the living room )

( Equipment wise I would go for Radeon lights, Vectra return, MP20/MP40, Neptune controller so a good quality equipment as I want it to last and work well - I would go for this level of equipment whatever I go for RS 200xl/350/500 )

Thank you for any thoughts on this topic :)

Kind Regards
Daniel

I will say that RedSea G2 tanks have a reinforced seam on the front to prevent the seam issues that the G1s had ( I've seen the tanks in person and talked with the guys at RedSea). You could go with a Red Sea, waterbox, or a custom tank.

 

[Bruttall]

Thank you for the reply,
I was looking at Aqua-forest Ocena Guard's as well, but its sump is not roller filter ready ( and I didn't see any info on adapting the sump to accommodate it ) I can't see myself without a roller filter.

There are several sumps you can use with roller filters, although I will state I think they are a pricey Gimmick with recirculating cost. A very simple basket with poly-fil is all ya need for mechanical filter, it is super cheap and very effective.

Sump made from a 6ft 125g aquarium. No Roller, there is a Floss Basket in there, gets changed every couple weeks. Simple is better imo, the less moving parts you have the less chance of equipment failure causing tank crash.

 

[DanielKrol]

Thank you for the reply, In Poland I have a choice of Red Sea, a few waterbed ( small nono's ) and custom - don't trust as I don't know the companys, would need to make some research.
If I go with Aquaforest Ocean guards there SUMP is acrylic and has a cascade dual filter sock system - would I fill the socks with floss ?

Regards

 

[VintageReefer]

I will say that RedSea G2 tanks have a reinforced seam on the front to prevent the seam issues that the G1s had ( I've seen the tanks in person and talked with the guys at RedSea). You could go with a Red Sea, waterbox, or a custom tank.

This has reduced the issues but not solved them. Still happens to people with g2

 

[VintageReefer]

Thank you for the reply, In Poland I have a choice of Red Sea, a few waterbed ( small nono's ) and custom - don't trust as I don't know the companys, would need to make some research.
If I go with Aquaforest Ocean guards there SUMP is acrylic and has a cascade dual filter sock system - would I fill the socks with floss ?

Regards

The socks act as floss. You don’t need to fill them with floss

You can also replace socks with drop in media baskets to hold floss, or live rock rubble, carbon, or whatever you want

 

[DanielKrol]

Thank you for the reply's.

I was doing some research on available options in Poland and Red Sea and aqua forest are the only possible ones.

If I chose a Red Sea Peninsula 350 80gal display I can have a kole tang, would you say its enough of algae eating power to keep a "smaller" tank is check ? ( I presume a Peninsula 500 120gal would have more algae and thou having more tangs and a fox-face would be needed. )

 

[BryanM]

I would strongly recommend against getting fish that will outgrow your tank.

If you have the appropriate rockscape for them, then it is virtually impossible to catch them in my experience without removing most of the rock.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I just had Glass Cages build my tank, you can see my build here at R2R.

I had 2 Red Sea tanks I consolidated down. I had to abandon RedSea. I could not logically keep ticking time bombs in my house responsibly. Period. In fact, if I won one for free, I’d sell it with the clear understanding that you are running a risk, a risk that I just refuse to take.

2) my peninsula is 96x36x25. My only regret(s) are not going 5 foot wide, I was just not willing to do core drills through my hardwoods to confirm slab thickness. Tank sits essentially on one of the corners of my slab for a 3 story house. The other regret is not investigating a dropdown which would have had me go to 120”. Again, weight. The 3rd isn’t a regret, but Sanja and Keith B told me I would, are the closed loops I have on my tank.