First Tank Question

[charliecompany]

I am currently looking into getting my first aquarium and I need some advice on tank size. The LFS near me is having a holiday sale and there are two tanks that would work in the space I have. They both come with:

• light
• heater
• filter
• net
• water conditioner
• food
• thermometer
• reminder thingy
• stand

The one tank is a 29 gallon, which is $218, and the other is a 56 gallon, which is $328.

I can see the benefit to both, but nothing is really standing out to me as to why I should get one over the other. Any thoughts or suggestions on which one would be better would be much appreciated. Also, I think this is a good deal, but I would like to hear thoughts on that as well.

Thanks

 

[Davo86]

hey charliecompany

I think everyone will agree that the largest tank you can accomodate is best for long-term,
not only will the 56g give you more range in which tropical fish you can keep but a larger tank seems somewhat easier to maintain.

 

[rabbut]

I'll second that. I don't know a fishkeeper who hasn't bought a small-ish tank to start with, and not later regret their choice. People who start off with a large tank seem less likely to feel the need to upgrade. A larger volume of water is generaly easier to keep stable too. I'm not well up on tank prices in the US, but at first glance they do look like good deals.

Before you set-up, it may be worth looking at the pinned threads at the top of this sub-forum, describing how to do a fishless cycle, as this will save deaths amoungst your fish. Most LFS's will fail to tell you about this, as failing to do so boosts their sales. Doing a fishless cycle will ensure all your new fish remain healthy.

Welcome to the forum, and well done for researching you pets, before purchase , rather than after like so many others

HTH
rabbut

 

[Ian H]

56 gallons without a doubt

ALWAYS go for the biggest tank you can get at the time since you WILL upgrade at some point. I've just upgraded from a 29gal to a 83 gal (and i mean just, as in a few hours ago ) and it's a pain in the ass!

A fishless cycle will give you plenty of time to think about and research the fish you actually want rather than going out, buying a 15gal tank with 3 angels and 2 common plecs or something stupid!!

my advise is to get your head around how the cycle works, it seems REALLY hard to understand at first but after a while it just clicks and everything after that is pretty simple!

Just remember that you wont be able to have fish instatly but it's worth the wait as all the fish should survive reather than die a painful death!

 

[charliecompany]

Thanks for the advice so far. The larger tank was definitely winning in my mind whenever I thought about the future and whether I would want to upgrade or it. It just kept seeming easier to start with the larger tank.