Possibly moving up ...

Ice · 11-15-2006, 09:55 PM

I now may move up from 46 G BF tank to possibly a 50 gallon. LOL !!
I went to PetSmart last night and I knew it was there the few times I visited the store. For some reason I decided to take a closer look at it and the more I looked, the more it intrigued me to think seriously about going "bigger".

Anyways, what intrigued me was it was an Oceanic System 50 Gallon Show Tank w/ Stand for $499.99. What really made me notice is the dimension of the tank being only 30" L x 21" H x 18" D and the total height with tank & stand is 53 inches ! Plus, the stand has plenty of space underneath for me to put a sump in it. This would be a little more easier to find a suitable spot in my house with space being somewhat abit restricted but doable considering the 46 gallon BF tank is 6 inches longer.

The tank is very attractive (black in color) and I knew Oceanic brand tanks are very good and a little $$$. I am going to shop around at a couple of lfs places in my area and see if they can beat PetSmart's prices. If the price is right, I may look into getting it next year.

The reason to this sudden change of plans is this. I recall a few weeks back when I first joined the forums here with the interest in starting a SW tank; Reefneck has always preached (and b*tched to no end ! LOL !!) that anyone who wants to get into this hobby is to start with a 50 gallon tank or larger due to better water parameters, etc ...

With the tank being a bit "smaller" dimension-wise than the typical 55 gallon tank and smaller lengthwise compared to the 46 gallon BF tank, this will be a better investment for me in the long run.

I'm going to post another thread here with questions on equipment and livestock input.

Reefneck · 11-16-2006, 06:09 AM

Longer is better in a reef tank. I'd stick with the 46. Also, parts like lighting fixtures are very hard to find for 30" tanks.

vvolfe1 · 11-16-2006, 07:45 AM

If I'm not mistaken allglass makes a 58 gallon reef tank that is 36" long. can not remember the other dimensions but i think they are similar to the 50 you are talking about. The 58's also come reef-ready with built in overflows. You might want to wait a bit too. Not really sure if your LFS has any x-mas sales but prices on things might drop in a week or so. I agree with Reefneck on the longer is better deal. From what I have gathered when they rate fish for a certain minimum its more based on tank dimension that actual volume of water.

**Damon** · 11-16-2006, 07:50 AM

A 65 gallon tank is 36 inches long.....................

Ice · 11-16-2006, 08:39 AM

Yeah, I saw that with the light fixtures last night reading and pouring over websites - ie : drsfostersmith.com, etc ... Something to think about. Maybe I'll look around for long tanks. Thanks guys.

**Fishfirst** · 11-16-2006, 09:18 AM

I don't think that a tank like that would cause much of a problem, since it is wider than normal. Although, you wouldn't want to put any high strung swimmers in there such as tangs in there,

540 inches squared is your surface area for your 50 gallon tank
vs 576 inches squared in a standard 55 gallon. Sounds to me like the difference is negligable.

**Damon** · 11-16-2006, 10:50 AM

65 Gallon Tank: 36 7/8 x 19 x 24 5/8 = 697 sq inches.

11-15-2006, 09:55 PM	#1
Ice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 523	Possibly moving up ... I now may move up from 46 G BF tank to possibly a 50 gallon. LOL !! I went to PetSmart last night and I knew it was there the few times I visited the store. For some reason I decided to take a closer look at it and the more I looked, the more it intrigued me to think seriously about going "bigger". Anyways, what intrigued me was it was an Oceanic System 50 Gallon Show Tank w/ Stand for $499.99. What really made me notice is the dimension of the tank being only 30" L x 21" H x 18" D and the total height with tank & stand is 53 inches ! Plus, the stand has plenty of space underneath for me to put a sump in it. This would be a little more easier to find a suitable spot in my house with space being somewhat abit restricted but doable considering the 46 gallon BF tank is 6 inches longer. The tank is very attractive (black in color) and I knew Oceanic brand tanks are very good and a little $$$. I am going to shop around at a couple of lfs places in my area and see if they can beat PetSmart's prices. If the price is right, I may look into getting it next year. The reason to this sudden change of plans is this. I recall a few weeks back when I first joined the forums here with the interest in starting a SW tank; Reefneck has always preached (and b*tched to no end ! LOL !!) that anyone who wants to get into this hobby is to start with a 50 gallon tank or larger due to better water parameters, etc ... With the tank being a bit "smaller" dimension-wise than the typical 55 gallon tank and smaller lengthwise compared to the 46 gallon BF tank, this will be a better investment for me in the long run. I'm going to post another thread here with questions on equipment and livestock input.

11-16-2006, 06:09 AM	#2
Reefneck Senior Aquarist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Near a Coral Reef Age: 47 Posts: 1,351	Longer is better in a reef tank. I'd stick with the 46. Also, parts like lighting fixtures are very hard to find for 30" tanks. __________________ I wonder how much salt mix I would need to turn our in ground pool into a Reef.

11-16-2006, 07:50 AM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	A 65 gallon tank is 36 inches long..................... __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

11-16-2006, 09:18 AM	#6
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,506	I don't think that a tank like that would cause much of a problem, since it is wider than normal. Although, you wouldn't want to put any high strung swimmers in there such as tangs in there, 540 inches squared is your surface area for your 50 gallon tank vs 576 inches squared in a standard 55 gallon. Sounds to me like the difference is negligable. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

11-16-2006, 10:50 AM	#7
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	65 Gallon Tank: 36 7/8 x 19 x 24 5/8 = 697 sq inches. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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11-16-2006, 07:45 AM	#3
vvolfe1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 38 Posts: 126	If I'm not mistaken allglass makes a 58 gallon reef tank that is 36" long. can not remember the other dimensions but i think they are similar to the 50 you are talking about. The 58's also come reef-ready with built in overflows. You might want to wait a bit too. Not really sure if your LFS has any x-mas sales but prices on things might drop in a week or so. I agree with Reefneck on the longer is better deal. From what I have gathered when they rate fish for a certain minimum its more based on tank dimension that actual volume of water.

11-16-2006, 08:39 AM	#5
Ice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 523	Yeah, I saw that with the light fixtures last night reading and pouring over websites - ie : drsfostersmith.com, etc ... Something to think about. Maybe I'll look around for long tanks. Thanks guys.

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