Fish Tank Size

[tims8990]

I went to a small pet store...mostly tropical fish...I was going to buy a 29 gallon tank to start off...but he said to buy the 59 gallon i had in my sights....he said the bigger the tank the less problems i will have..is this correct?? If so I wanted a bigger one anyways...I just wanted to check first cause im only 19 and i never done this before..i have been reading on the internet a lot and trying to gather information on tropical fish keeping...any ideas im open for them..thank you very much...

tims8990

 

[channing]

really doesnt matter as much freshwater. i would pick out your fish then get your tank as you can get bigger or just more in the bigger tank. but if you want just get the 29 for now, then as you learn more you can upgrade.

 

[rabbut]

The general consensus is that a large tank will have more stable water conditions. There is less work however, when it comes to waterchanges on a small tank. The 29g is a good ballence of the two to start with, however, if you plan to keep sensitive species or large fish the larger tank would be a better bet, purely for the staibility and extra room. Although both tanks are fine, and there is little evidence to back-up the staibility idea surrounding big tanks, I think this decision will be purely down to self preference.
HTH, and welcome to the forum
rabbut

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Larger tanks are more stable, but also give the added benefit of allowing more variety in the kinds of fish you can keep. IMO a 59 gallon is a bit much however.

A tank that is in the 30-50 gallon range is the best bet for a beginner for several reasons:
1) Decent selection of fish
2) Can still use HoB filters which are a bit cheaper, and easier to maintain than canisters
3) Weekly water changes aren't as much work.

I do however recommend that if possible you get a "long" (aka breeder), instead of a "tall" (aka display) tank. The reason for this is when considering the space requirements for most fish it's the horizontal swim / territory space that matters most. Also, the larger surface area allows for more gas exchange which = more oxygen in the water for your fish.

Where and what you'll be putting your tank on is something else to consider. If you want to save a little cash you can always opt to build your own tank stand. There are a lot of DIY instructions on the internet for that. Proximity to electrical outlets and the tap is also handy. If you do go with a larger tank you can consider purchasing a Python No-Spill system to make water changes much much easier...but of course that costs a bit more than your standard syphon and bucket!

 

[Thirdfloor]

I was in a similar situation and decided on the smaller tank. in retrospect i wish so much i would have gotten 55 gal, but thats just me.
also, make sure you read up on fishless cycling beforehand, and be aware that your tank will take several weeks before its ready for fish.
this forum is a great place for anwers and ideas, so see you around!!