Tank Size Advice

[Miniblade]

Hey all, currently have an aqueon 40b that I need to replace ASAP. My stand is starting to bow severely and i only have contact on the 18" wide ends of the glass. I'm planning on going for a more peaceful softie/gorg/LPS reef.

For my replacement options I'm eyeing the aqueon 60 gallon breeder (48" long x 18" wide x 16" tall) and the 75g (48" long x 18" wide x 21" tall). I know lots of you reefers despise aqueon tanks, but I'm very thorough on tank pre-purchase inspection, I cant wait for shipping, and cant justify a high end reef-ready tank. My floor is pier and beam, the tank will be going parallel to the joists but with the 18" wide end butted up against a load bearing wall. I do plan on putting additional bracing under my subfloor. What do you guys think I should go with? I'm torn between the two and I'm wondering what y'alls thoughts are. I just dont know if the extra 6" of height is worth the extra weight and 50 bucks.

Lighting is a NP K7 V3 Pro. Filtration will be a 400GPH canister filter (I do scheduled filter maintenance dont worry) and fluval filter converted into a HOB chaeto refugium.

Stocking plan is your typical CUC (cleaner shrimp, an emerald or two, hermits, cerith/trochus/nassarius, an urchin if necessary) a massive sailfin blenny i have in another tank, proven aiptasia eating filefish I have in another tank, pair of ocellaris/perc clowns, ruby red flasher wrasse, sixline wrasse (will add last, LFS stocks almond sized ones), a yellow coris wrasse, firefish, a tiger wardii goby, a cryptic fish of some sort most likely a black cap basslet or a possum wrasse. Would also like some mid-top swimmers but that's likely not going to happen

 

[claydogg84]

Personally I'll never attempt to run a reef tank without a sump again. Also, that single Noop light isn't going to offer enough coverage for either of the tanks you're considering. There are always deals to be had on Facebook Marketplace on used setups from people who are just looking to leave the hobby. I'd get your current stand sorted and patiently wait until a nice used proper setup comes available for a good price.

 

[Miniblade]

Personally I'll never attempt to run a reef tank without a sump again. Also, that single Noop light isn't going to offer enough coverage for either of the tanks you're considering. There are always deals to be had on Facebook Marketplace on used setups from people who are just looking to leave the hobby. I'd get your current stand sorted and patiently wait until a nice used proper setup comes available for a good price.

Do you ever sit there and wonder how you're gonna figure it all out and then your things magically fall into your lap? Thought I should make a post in a local reef group and a couple people reached out to me within 2 hours of posting. One guy had a planet aquariums custom 120 but it was way out of my budget. But that same guy is selling me a milwaukee digital salinity tester and a cyberpower 1500 battery backup for 75. Just the backup goes for around 180 new. Then another guy messaged me, he just took down his 75g setup yesterday evening. Going to look at it here in 30-ish minutes

 

[Miniblade]

So that 75 was absolutely not worth it. He wanted 250 for the tank, a HOB overflow, and a small eshopps sump. Though I did find a Deep Sea Aquatics 90g that was just listed for 250, guy said he'd do 200. No leaks, no scratches, no issues. Going that route and I'm also buying a used 40g breeder sump as well as a hanna phosphate checker from the same guy that's selling me his battery backup and salinity tester

 

[VintageReefer]

So that 75 was absolutely not worth it. He wanted 250 for the tank, a HOB overflow, and a small eshopps sump. Though I did find a Deep Sea Aquatics 90g that was just listed for 250, guy said he'd do 200. No leaks, no scratches, no issues. Going that route and I'm also buying a used 40g breeder sump as well as a hanna phosphate checker from the same guy that's selling me his battery backup and salinity tester

Don’t buy the cyberpower 1500

I had one, the battery deteriorates over time. Even if it’s never relied on during outages. When I got it it said it would run my pump for a 2 hours. Well in 3 years I had it plugged in, and my pump connected to it. Then I had a power outage. I checked and the unit told me the runtime would be 11 minutes! Useless!

If you want a battery backup dm me your budget and some info on the equipment and I can help you. This became a rabbit hole I went down and ended up becoming a side hobby and interest of mine.

 

[Miniblade]

Don’t buy the cyberpower 1500

I had one, the battery deteriorates over time. Even if it’s never relied on during outages. When I got it it said it would run my pump for a 2 hours. Well in 3 years I had it plugged in, and my pump connected to it. Then I had a power outage. I checked and the unit told me the runtime would be 11 minutes! Useless!

If you want a battery backup dm me your budget and some info on the equipment and I can help you. This became a rabbit hole I went down and ended up becoming a side hobby and interest of mine.

Even if it isn't ideal, for 25 bucks I absolutely cant pass it up. Having a "suboptimal" battery backup that will only last, we'll say 20 extra minutes, will give me 20 extra minutes to figure out a plan aka rush home and start a genny. 20 minutes is a lot better than immediate pump shutoff and losing the tank.

On a related note, getting a 27 gallon tote full of sand for free tomorrow morning, picking up the DSA 90 on Monday morning after I get off work, 2nd NP K7 V3 Pro will be here next week (got it on special for 130 shipped), return pump will be here next week, eheim jager heaters will be here next week, inkbird will be here next week. Going to pick up the sump, battery backup, and phos checker next week after I get the tank and get the foundation of the stand built. Don't exactly know what I want to do for cabinetry yet but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

 

[VintageReefer]

Even if it isn't ideal, for 25 bucks I absolutely cant pass it up. Having a "suboptimal" battery backup that will only last, we'll say 20 extra minutes, will give me 20 extra minutes to figure out a plan aka rush home and start a genny. 20 minutes is a lot better than immediate pump shutoff and losing the tank.

On a related note, getting a 27 gallon tote full of sand for free tomorrow morning, picking up the DSA 90 on Monday morning after I get off work, 2nd NP K7 V3 Pro will be here next week (got it on special for 130 shipped), return pump will be here next week, eheim jager heaters will be here next week, inkbird will be here next week. Going to pick up the sump, battery backup, and phos checker next week after I get the tank and get the foundation of the stand built. Don't exactly know what I want to do for cabinetry yet but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

For 25$ go for it!

I was hoping it wasn’t $100+

 

[GARRIGA]

75 vs 60B comes down to height needed. Prefer the 75 since gives fish room to swim unless frag tank was the focus and where 16" likely more than needed and makes maintenance less of a chore. Also aesthetically which do you find most pleasing?

 

[Miniblade]

For 25$ go for it!

I was hoping it wasn’t $100+

Yeah I figured for 25 bucks it's 100% worth buying, even if it doesn't have much run-time. On a somewhat related note, do you mind checking out my post in the Fish Discussion subthread? Here's the link to it. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/90-gallon-stocking-advice.1092262/

 

[Miniblade]

75 vs 60B comes down to height needed. Prefer the 75 since gives fish room to swim unless frag tank was the focus and where 16" likely more than needed and makes maintenance less of a chore. Also aesthetically which do you find most pleasing?

Im actually going with a Deep Sea Aquatics 36.5"x24.5"x25" I found on facebook, will be picking it up monday morning after I get off of work. It's the same price as buying a new Marineland 75g, but is already drilled, already has an overflow, is starfire glass (ultra low iron), and is built LEAGUES better than any tank I could ever afford. Works out to roughly 97 US Gallons but realistically ends up being a 90g display if you subtract the volume of the overflow section.