HELP...your opinion matters....

[CyberReef]

First Let me say... I have been in FRESH water for years..... Always wanted to chip off the salt block... and well, I have started to do just that...

I currently have 5 Freshwater Tanks ranging from 10-75 Gallon. and one 14.5 Gallon Salt thats and established tank been up for a while, I have owned it for about a month now... its got a few corals, couple of clowns, candy cane shrimp paired with a Hi fin banded goby an some hermits and turbos.

I am currently selling EVERYTHING inside the 75g.... as the plan is to strip it and build me a sump and Hard Scape Dry rock and start it as a Salt tank. Already have someone interested in that.

OKAY fine, enough of the lil bit of background info.... I am looking for a Bedroom tank I have the room and love tanks in my bedroom.

There is one on Marketplace near me.... (See Pics
20g with a Fluval 107. and its inhabitants I can get this for about a buck twenty five... and its been established for over a year.
OR........
My other thought is..... 40g Breeder with a Drop in Fiji Cube AIO filter box ...and start its journey
OR.....
I have an Old Oceanic 29 Biocube thats been used for freshwater....

 

[Llyod276]

You got quite the conundrum. Bigger (gallons) is easier in my experience with saltwater but has higher start-up fees...
Smaller is not for me. I didn't like my kids 10g, and I still don't like my wife's 15. Kid's didn't last 2 months, hers well it's done nothing so far, stable. However, it is not ideal. The 75 on the otherhand took off like a laser guided missile to perfection. I started hers a month before mine about 6 motnhs ago and well, you be the judge...

 

[CyberReef]

You got quite the conundrum. Bigger (gallons) is easier in my experience with saltwater but has higher start-up fees...
Smaller is not for me. I didn't like my kids 10g, and I still don't like my wife's 15. Kid's didn't last 2 months, hers well it's done nothing so far, stable. However, it is not ideal. The 75 on the otherhand took off like a laser guided missile to perfection. I started hers a month before mine about 6 motnhs ago and well, you be the judge...

LOL, I know right..... My thoughts are do the 20g.... until I get the 75 built and set and ready then I can always transfer the inhabitants from there into the 75g...... and THEN.... build the 40g for the bedroom...

 

[Llyod276]

I'd say get the 20, and the 40. If you can swing it. Keep the 20 cheap, and just stable. In the end your 20 can, although a but small, as a sump for the 75, or the 40. But under tank sumps suck. The 40 would be ideal for a sump for the 75. I had that in the good days. Check the build thread.

 

[JTP424]

Bigger is definitely more stable, but I'm also a fan of the AIO concept, so the Biocube with certain "upgrades" would be the route I would take for a bedroom tank.
The stands are built for it, so they look super clean, (positive as a bedroom tank) many companies make drop in items for them, Intank for example. The lack of sharp front corners is a nice touch.
I've been successful with my smaller tanks, but it is a double edged sword, harder to keep in balance, BUT if things do go wrong, it's a smaller amount of water I have to replace, less fish/coral etc. It's budget friendly so long as you're diligent.