I am new to this hobby. I got my very first tank a month and a half ago, a small 15 galleon tank, and learned everything I could. Cycled it, planted... plants, added fish. Everything seems okay, except I have this thought: "I need bigger." I'm not necessarily wanting big fish, but I would love more fish and more room for the fish to swim.
However, I don't want to make the same mistake as I made this time and buy a 30 galleon when I really need a 55 galleon or buy a 50 galleon when I need a 75 galleon. But nor do I want to jump into something so large that there's no way I can manage or I make a mistake and something terrible happens.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for sizes for a beginner? What all should I be considering? What are the advantages and disadvantages of bigger/smaller?
Some additional information: I have a space in my house to put a tank. I could technically get something up to 6 feet, but right now, I'm thinking between 30-75 galleons.
As a mentioned, I'm not necessarily wanting any large fish (though that could change). Right now, I like the shoaling fish and watching them swim. It would be cool to have a large school. Probably medium size fish as well. Room for a group of catfish and a couple gouramis or something like that.
I am on a budget. Well, not a budget per se, but I don't have all the money in the world. I plan to look for deals on craigslist for the tank itself (that's where I got my current tank). In general, do you find the maintenance of larger tanks costing a lot more money? Or is there much difference between each size up?
However, I don't want to make the same mistake as I made this time and buy a 30 galleon when I really need a 55 galleon or buy a 50 galleon when I need a 75 galleon. But nor do I want to jump into something so large that there's no way I can manage or I make a mistake and something terrible happens.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for sizes for a beginner? What all should I be considering? What are the advantages and disadvantages of bigger/smaller?
Some additional information: I have a space in my house to put a tank. I could technically get something up to 6 feet, but right now, I'm thinking between 30-75 galleons.
As a mentioned, I'm not necessarily wanting any large fish (though that could change). Right now, I like the shoaling fish and watching them swim. It would be cool to have a large school. Probably medium size fish as well. Room for a group of catfish and a couple gouramis or something like that.
I am on a budget. Well, not a budget per se, but I don't have all the money in the world. I plan to look for deals on craigslist for the tank itself (that's where I got my current tank). In general, do you find the maintenance of larger tanks costing a lot more money? Or is there much difference between each size up?