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All in one is definitely simplerTo me one of the best starter tanks would be a 40 breeder(Petco dollar a gallon sale ) if not going the all-in-one route... IMO It's an okay size for stability and reasonable for cost plus if they realize it's not a hobby for them then they won't be out as much monetarily speaking. Otherwise the all-in-one route is a nice alternative and keeps things simple even though you have fewer options that way.
Freshwater i would definitely go with hang on back or canister filter.I started with a glass box many years ago for freshwater.
my first salt tank was a 20g glass box.
Very quickly picked up a 33 long drilled with sump.
every tank after that has been either a drilled or a biocube.
The 40B i currently have was intended to be a super simple glass box, but within a month i had drilled it and added a sump.
sumps definitely don't seem to be as popular with fresh, although i'm not sure why, all the same benefits apply. Most notably a hidden place to put equipment, and the display stays full of water.Freshwater i would definitely go with hang on back or canister filter.
Plants getting stuck in the overflow is why its not as popularsumps definitely don't seem to be as popular with fresh, although i'm not sure why, all the same benefits apply. Most notably a hidden place to put equipment, and the display stays full of water.
Because canisters work well for freshwater. Honestly I think they are fine for saltwater as well they just need to be designed a bit smarter.sumps definitely don't seem to be as popular with fresh, although i'm not sure why, all the same benefits apply. Most notably a hidden place to put equipment, and the display stays full of water.
Plus, they are more expensive, harder to maintain, and plants get stuckBecause canisters work well for freshwater. Honestly I think they are fine for saltwater as well they just need to be designed a bit smarter.
The I’m 40 probably set you back 1k you could probably get half that back in the scale of reef expenses that’s not too badPersonally, if I could do it again, I would start with a small bio cube. Something inexpensive. Because if you get some easy corals and a couple of easy fish, and you’re able to keep everything alive and like the taste of the hobby, it’s not big expense to start over and get a larger tank.
Unfortunately I started with an IM40 fusion, and now I successfully keep an SPS dominant reef. But my issue now is that I am limited with the size. Looking back I would have gotten a tank that could at least support a tang. Now I’m super invested and super limited. I spend more money on smaller equipment trying to maintain stability in a low water-volume tank.