First tank 42 or 65 gallons?

[PapitoDelSol]

Hi,

I’m French and new here! Not many active French forum about saltwater tank! And I have a lot of questions
After many research, I know which fish I want for it!
So I wonder if it’s better to get a 42 or 65 gallons for it.
I’m looking at the RedSea Reefer 200 or 300 G2+ full equipment.

- a couple of Amphiprion ocellaris
- a couple of Pterapogon kauderni
- one or two Cryptocentrus cinctus + Alpheus shrimp
- one or two Pictichromis porphyrea
- detritivorous (number to determinate).

So what do you think? 42 or 65?

Thanks!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I think the general advice is to go with the largest tank that's both affordable and appropriate for your space. Larger tanks typically open you up to a wider variety of animals you can keep, especially fish. Larger tanks are often said to be more stable and forgiving of mistakes.

I would encourage you to do a little research here at R2R about Red Sea tanks, they seem to have quite a high rate of failures, like seams giving out. Although Red Sea claims they've solved these problems in their newer G2 tanks, many R2R members wouldn't use a Red Sea tank at all.

I think your stocking list seems fine. The one suggestion I would have is to add the most peaceful fish first (like the goby and cardinal) and the more aggressive fish last (like the psudochromis and the clownfish).

The Reef2Reef 3reefsquad guys may have some more input for your too.

@Crabs McJones how about moving this thread from the member tank forum to the general discussion forum to get more eyes on the OP's questions? #MODS

Good luck with your build!

 

[PapitoDelSol]

Thank you!
Yes, largent is always better! But 1180$ between both. For that I wanted to know if the 42 could be enough for this population.
I have the space so I will see them in a shop next week to get an idea.

About Redsea, I read a lot about the issues about leaking tanks and the behavior of customers service.
But here, I don’t have many alternative and I’m ready to take the risk.
Waterbox for example is not available here…

I didn’t really know where to post sorry!

 

[CBonito]

Yeah, I would definitely look at other tanks. There are many nice setups out there that are much better and won't leave you with a reef on the floor.

Check these guys out?

https://www.innovative-marine.com/nuvo-ext
https://www.cadeaquariums.com/aquariums/reef-x

 

[Should I]

1st of all go bigger 2nd do not get a red sea tank look for another 1 google "red sea tank failures"

 

[Fish Fan]

I didn’t really know where to post sorry!

No worries, you're good

Good luck!

 

[PapitoDelSol]

This brands are not available where I am.
For that, I’m willing to try. Not so much complain here or same as other brands.
I already looked for other solution but not in my budget.
They have a 5 years guarantee anyway ?

So except the thank, all the rest (Reefled, ReefWave, Skimmer, Refmat) are ok?
I like the fact to have everything in the same environment in my phone and not need to open 4 apps.

For the size, I need to take a decision this week before the end of the discount.
Bigger is better but if the population I want can fit in the 42 gallons, I will have more money to put for the coral and fish.
But if the populationI want really need bigger, I will go bigger.
I don’t want surgeon fish for example because I know they need a lot bigger.

 

[Should I]

This brands are not available where I am.
For that, I’m willing to try. Not so much complain here or same as other brands.
I already looked for other solution but not in my budget.
They have a 5 years guarantee anyway ?

So except the thank, all the rest (Reefled, ReefWave, Skimmer, Refmat) are ok?
I like the fact to have everything in the same environment in my phone and not need to open 4 apps.

For the size, I need to take a decision this week before the end of the discount.
Bigger is better but if the population I want can fit in the 42 gallons, I will have more money to put for the coral and fish.
But if the populationI want really need bigger, I will go bigger.
I don’t want surgeon fish for example because I know they need a lot bigger.

what tank brands do you have available in france red sea have warrenty yes but whats replacing a tank too destroying your floor and killing everything in the tank that is alive get a different brand tank

 

[PapitoDelSol]

I see some Maxspect, Aquamedic and Nyos but too expensive for me.
For that, I’m looking at the 200 G2 (ok for me) or 300 G2 (outside my budget but less than other brand).

But thank you for altering me about this issues. I knew about it. But it is not fixed on G2? And, they seem to sale a lot of tank internationally, so it is not normal to have more issues?

 

[Should I]

I see some Maxspect, Aquamedic and Nyos but too expensive for me.
For that, I’m looking at the 200 G2 (ok for me) or 300 G2 (outside my budget but less than other brand).

But thank you for altering me about this issues. I knew about it. But it is not fixed on G2? And, they seem to sale a lot of tank internationally, so it is not normal to have more issues?

i think people are still having problems with the G2 in the UK we have D-D tanks if you can get it try find the D-D 900 i think same price as the red sea tank

 

[Science/G]

The larger the aquarium the more lighting and flow required, more rock, larger water changes, more additives etc. I have had everything from 10 gallon to 300 gallon. My only aquarium now is a 30 gallon mixed reef. I could not be happier.

 

[Should I]

The larger the aquarium the more lighting and flow required, more rock, larger water changes, more additives etc. I have had everything from 10 gallon to 300 gallon. My only aquarium now is a 30 gallon mixed reef. I could not be happier.

yea but u know when u get ur 1st tank u wish you went bigger you have done it all with having a 300g

 

[PapitoDelSol]

Exactly! Bigger so more expensive because it need more material.
For that, I’m trying to be reasonable.
I know this hobbies can be very expensive and I have other project in parallel.
I’m doing excel files with the total cost by size, population, electricity.
Everything is so dang expensive now!

If we don’t speak about the brand (I will think about it), 42 gallon would be enough for the population of fish I want?

The Reefleed 115 and DC Skimmer 300 are good product?
The ReefMat is really useful?

 

[CBonito]

The Reefleed 115 and DC Skimmer 300 are good product?
The ReefMat is really useful?

Yes, those are fine. It's just the tank that is a very bad design.

 

[steveschuerger]

If you’re getting a small medium sized tank, RedSea is probably fine. It’s mainly their larger tanks that have seen the most complaints. And s you noted the selection of tank vendors is much smaller overall than here in the US. Another option is looking for a vendor that does built to order aquariums. Or find a used tank system for sale, which has its own set of pros and cons.

 

[PapitoDelSol]

For a first tank, I prefer to buy new one
Yes, I understood it was mainly with largest tank.

Anyway, I will continue to look for better brand this week and if I don’t find one, I will try Redsea.
Just need to decide which one!

I think the 42 could be enough for the population I want and few coral / anemone like
- E. quadricolor (hard one for later)
- Xenia
- Sarcophyton
- Zoanthus
- Pachyclavularia

Don’t hesitate to recommend some easy coral.

 

[jean19]

Salut. Regarde les aquariums blue marine , pas le top du top mais pas cher pour débuter , et tu remplace ce qui te plaît pas au fur et à mesure .. ça te fait des piece de secours en cas de problèmes ..

 

[EuphyllinOHk]

Oh boy, something that I have a little experience with! I have the Red Sea 200. I bought it second hand about a year ago as my first saltwater aquarium. I think that the 42 gallon size has been a very good one, as a beginner. Performing a 10% water change is easy to do, it's a good breakpoint for stocking options, and it has a manageable footprint in my living room. The RedSea LED90, with all channels at 100%, gives PAR levels that allow for a mixed reef stocking (ie SPS, LPS, and softies/zoas if you create shadows. I think the Red Sea 300 is a bit of an awkward size because it's only 3' long - I don't think that's a suitable length for most wrasses or tangs, if that was something you would be interested in.

As for what I've done. I have an inkbird controller with two 150W Aquatop heaters; these have always been sufficient. I'm using a Jebao SOW-4 wavemaker for circulation/surface agitation and that has also been sufficient. I can't remember what my return pump is, but I don't think that I'd recommend it because it's pretty oversized. I'm using the stock ATO resevoir and the Tunze Osmolator 3152; it's a little fussy, but it works well enough when you set it up. I understock my tanks so I don't run a skimmer. I think the sump and cabinet that comes with the Red Sea 200 is a little cramped so I'm ok with not having it. I have a DIY lid and I'd recommend doing whatever you are comfortable with for sourcing your lid.

Right now, I have two ocellaris clowns, a tailspot blenny, and a royal gramma. With 50lbs of rock, they all have their own space and then more, so I haven't seen any territorial squabbling. I have eight trochus snails, four nassarius snails, and one blue leg hermit crab. With the host of copepods that I have, that has been plenty clean up crew to make it through the "uglies". I started getting corals about a month ago. I have one octospawn, one hammer, and one blastomussa. They all seem to be doing ok. I have a little hair algae in the tank that seems to looove the frag plugs, which the corals hate. A quick toothbrush scrub has been all that's needed for that though.



I think that it's been pretty great so far. I would recommend looking into other brands, but the volume and shape of the Redsea 200 has been what I've needed as a beginner.

 

[CBonito]

Oh boy, something that I have a little experience with! I have the Red Sea 200. I bought it second hand about a year ago as my first saltwater aquarium. I think that the 42 gallon size has been a very good one, as a beginner. Performing a 10% water change is easy to do, it's a good breakpoint for stocking options, and it has a manageable footprint in my living room. The RedSea LED90, with all channels at 100%, gives PAR levels that allow for a mixed reef stocking (ie SPS, LPS, and softies/zoas if you create shadows. I think the Red Sea 300 is a bit of an awkward size because it's only 3' long - I don't think that's a suitable length for most wrasses or tangs, if that was something you would be interested in.

As for what I've done. I have an inkbird controller with two 150W Aquatop heaters; these have always been sufficient. I'm using a Jebao SOW-4 wavemaker for circulation/surface agitation and that has also been sufficient. I can't remember what my return pump is, but I don't think that I'd recommend it because it's pretty oversized. I'm using the stock ATO resevoir and the Tunze Osmolator 3152; it's a little fussy, but it works well enough when you set it up. I understock my tanks so I don't run a skimmer. I think the sump and cabinet that comes with the Red Sea 200 is a little cramped so I'm ok with not having it. I have a DIY lid and I'd recommend doing whatever you are comfortable with for sourcing your lid.

Right now, I have two ocellaris clowns, a tailspot blenny, and a royal gramma. With 50lbs of rock, they all have their own space and then more, so I haven't seen any territorial squabbling. I have eight trochus snails, four nassarius snails, and one blue leg hermit crab. With the host of copepods that I have, that has been plenty clean up crew to make it through the "uglies". I started getting corals about a month ago. I have one octospawn, one hammer, and one blastomussa. They all seem to be doing ok. I have a little hair algae in the tank that seems to looove the frag plugs, which the corals hate. A quick toothbrush scrub has been all that's needed for that though.



I think that it's been pretty great so far. I would recommend looking into other brands, but the volume and shape of the Redsea 200 has been what I've needed as a beginner.

This tank would be perfectly fine.

 

[BonnieB]

Welcome to the R2R family! I went small and less than a year in had to upgrade because of coral outgrowing the tank. I’d say if I had to do it over I would have gone bigger to begin with!