Aquarium Recommendations

So I've been bitten by the aquarium bug...

I want to upgrade my 20gal (or maybe keep it running still) and get a bigger tank on a stand as a cool centerpiece in my living room. Since I'm still a beginner I don't think I can commit to anything bigger than a 40gal. Do any of you with 36 or 37 gallon tanks have a brand you recommend for tanks and stands? Marineland, Top Fin, Aqueon, etc. Do you suggest bow front or flat front? Aquariums that I can purchase at Petsmart would be prefered because I get a discount there. Tell me what you like!

 

I like too built my own stands witch are way cheaper. And way way sturdier. Or I also like to use desks or dressers because those are also reliable. I have had stands from PetSmart and Petco break and it is horible

 

Are you worried about bigger tanks because you are new at this, or is there another reason? As long as you qt and keep up husbandry, bigger tanks are the same as smaller ones, they just use more. (More water, more fertilizers, more lighting, more fish...)

If its just nerves, I would go with a 75. They are great tanks and your display will be more impressive. If you like height, a 65 is a good option. Its harder to grow plants though due to lighting.

In glass, most of those tanks are all the same, especially the common brands. Where they seem to be more different is the huge tanks. For example beveled edges, black silicone, euro bracing, all came with my aquarium masters tank. I couldnt find these options with other brands, but I don't think they offer this with tanks under 100 gallons.

Dont forget to look at craigslist and facebook markets. 20 to 75 gallon tanks are pretty common out there for dirt cheap.

 

I've heard bigger tanks are easier to manage the water conditions but I just think anything over 40 gallons would be overwhelming in terms of trying to get it home, set it up, all the equipment, breaking it down if/when I move, etc. I'm not handy at all so building my own stand is something I'd have no clue how to do. I've got my 20gal on a desk but I don't know the weight limit of the desk and wouldn't want to risk it breaking under the weight..

 

I've heard bigger tanks are easier to manage the water conditions but I just think anything over 40 gallons would be overwhelming in terms of trying to get it home, set it up, all the equipment, breaking it down if/when I move, etc. I'm not handy at all so building my own stand is something I'd have no clue how to do. I've got my 20gal on a desk but I don't know the weight limit of the desk and wouldn't want to risk it breaking under the weight..

I can understand that. If you are nervous about building the stand, my best advice would be to come up with a solid plan on how you're going to do it, and then mentally prepare yourself to build 2. The first one may come out poorly but the second will be easier and better. Getting it very level will be the most challenging part of the design. You can start a thread to farm out ideas. We have some true craftsmen on this board and they have walkthroughs that include everything, including how to fix the stand when you find out your floor isn't level lol.

As for equipment, it really isn't more challenging at all for bigger except for the wallet. Things will be a little more expensive just because it is bigger and needs more power. I'm not trying to talk you into going bigger than you are comfortable with, but I see a possible mts upgrade in the future. There is a point of diminishing returns with larger tanks though. Sometimes I regret my 180. Usually with the hour long water changes, the amount of ferts I have to dose, and the thought of injecting my co2. It allows me to keep almost anything Id want though.

 

Our guppy aquarium is a 37 gallon.

While I am a fan of Marineland filters and one model of light, I can not recommend their aquariums. This one's brace broke. The replacement is a Top Fin. Thicker glass and no cross brace.

1. Marineland.



2. Top Fin.

 

Nice tank Thunder!

I had two ten gallon tanks, one in each room of my kids. I work nights, so it was hard to keep up with all the maintenance. I recently bought an 55 gallon and love it! But I was so nervous, like you, of the unknown. I am now getting comfortable with it and love it! I bought a wood stand and put 2x4's under it to brace it. If I was to do it all over again. I would go with a sturdy metal stand. Or a used dresser that I could find cheap that was solid oak wood or some hard wood. I bought my aquarium from walmart and they shipped to my door. It was a 55 gallon starter kit that came with everything I needed to start it up. The cost was reasonable at $179.00. You can also find cheaper used aquariums on facebook or craigslist but since my aquarium was a display tank in my finished basement. I did not want to take any chances with my tank leaking.

It really is up to you what you want and what you are comfortable with. And the prepping and research to me is a big part of the fun. So do your homework and have fun doing it. You can take as long as you want to. I'm sure you will make what ever choice fits you. Good luck!

 

I am new-ish to fishkeeping, but I jumped from a betta bowl (could not keep the poor fish properly in it) to a 45 gallon. It is doing OK, and I have found that I was doing too much maintenance by accident, so don’t let the workload scare you. If the maintenance on the tank you have fits your time/work allowance, then a bigger tank should be fine.

 

I upgraded from a 20gal to a 38gal a couple of months ago. I would liked to have gone bigger but I live in a NYC apartment and have space and dimensions limitations. The 38gal was the perfect fit for me. For brands, I have been very happy with Aqueon and I am partial to flat front tanks. But since the 38gal is not a common size, I had to order it from my LFS but you might be able to do the same from Petsmart. I would suggest that you identify the spot you want to place the tank and test out the measurements and consider door/stair measurements etc. For the stand, I also searched pretty hard to find a sleek, contemporary one to fit my apt decor. After lots of google searches, I landed on an stand for a 30/38/45 from Petco. I had to assemble it but I think that is way easier than building it from scratch (I am not handy either!). Best of luck and let us know what you end up with.

 

Petsmart has some nice Aqueon ensembles.

There is a 36 and a 45 that are reasonably priced. I have that 54 corner that is shown. I moved that around and set it up by myself.

I upgraded from a 20gal to a 38gal a couple of months ago. I would liked to have gone bigger but I live in a NYC apartment and have space and dimensions limitations. The 38gal was the perfect fit for me. For brands, I have been very happy with Aqueon and I am partial to flat front tanks. But since the 38gal is not a common size, I had to order it from my LFS but you might be able to do the same from Petsmart. I would suggest that you identify the spot you want to place the tank and test out the measurements and consider door/stair measurements etc. For the stand, I also searched pretty hard to find a sleek, contemporary one to fit my apt decor. After lots of google searches, I landed on an stand for a 30/38/45 from Petco. I had to assemble it but I think that is way easier than building it from scratch (I am not handy either!). Best of luck and let us know what you end up with.

Nice Tank!