Luis Mercado
In our last installment we talked about reading books and choosing a good marine aquarium shop. We will now move on to discussing the aquarium itself, the stand, the canopy, and the source water.
There are many choices to make with regards to tank size, shape and material of construction, and while all will work fine for most systems, the reef environment makes certain types of aquariums more desirable, if not required. In choosing a tank we have to take into account several factors:
- Size
- Weight/Space Available
- Ease of Servicing
- Types of Inhabitants
- Finances
Size:
A large 265 gallon tank belonging to Ron Hunsicker of Pennsylvania
Generally when speaking about reef tanks the phrase "The bigger the better" comes up sooner or later. Large tanks are better in some respects than their smaller counterparts. Big tanks tend to fluctuate less than smaller ones because of sheer volume. Temperature, pH, and oxygen levels immediately come to mind.
Reef animals require a lot of space to grow and multiply and a larger tank is always a good thing to have. However, large tanks are more expensive and have several hidden costs that are not readily apparent when you first purchase the tank.
Large tanks will consume more additives, require more lighting, and need large pumps to operate. These factors lead to increased electrical costs and expenses on additives necessary for supplementing the various elements that are lost due to both protein skimming and animal uptake. Stocking larger tanks can also be very expensive. Indeed the cost of live rock has risen steadily over the years, although the quality of said rock has also improved.
In choosing a tank size, choose the largest you can afford and feel comfortable in servicing. It makes no sense in choosing a tank that will be a headache to maintain as this will result in the tank being neglected and the animals suffering as a result. I prefer tanks up to 90 gallons for the typical home as they are at the limit of manageability for me. This size provides enough capacity for keeping a beautiful reef without overdoing it with regards to expenses. However smaller sizes can be just as stunning. I have seen beautiful reefs in tanks as small as 15 gallons, although keep in mind that such tanks will require more attention to detail in order to maintain them in peak condition.
Surface area is a very important criteria for choosing a tank size. Choose tanks with a wide front to back measurement. For example, a standard size tank is the 48 inch long tank. You can choose a 55 gallon tank which measures 48"LX12"WX20"H. A better choice would be the 70 gallon tank which measures 48"LX18"WX20"H. This increase in the front to back measurement will give you more room to stock rock properly without hitting the front glass, will give you a more realistic perspective and will increase the available surface area for gas exchange.
Gas exchange is important for the health of the tank as the exchange of gases, most notably that of oxygen and carbon dioxide which take place at the water's surface. By increasing the size of the surface area available, you increase the efficiency of the process. Increasing the height or depth of the tank will not accomplish the task as the gas exchange is dependent on the surface area or the length times the width measurement.
Larger tanks in the 150-265 gallon capacity are beautiful and can be the center piece of a home if properly set up. However their size will require expensive pumps, lighting and protein skimming. If you feel comfortable handling such a large tank than by all means get one. They provide an enormous capability for having a really diverse amount of life in a home grown reef.
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