Is 90 Gallons To Big For My First Sw?

I have been into freshwater aquariums for years and absolutely love them. Recently I started reading many of the saltwater threads on here and watching tons of videos on types of Saltwater tanks. I have fallen in love with them and I think that I want to give one a try.

On my local Craigslist I've found many nice fairly cheap tanks, but the best one is a 90 gallon reef ready tank. Would this tank be too big for my first time with SW? I'm thinking probably start off as a FOWLR and maybe getting corals in the future if I am successful. Thanks.

 

From what I've heard, and read, it's best to start with the biggest tank you have room for, and can maintain.

 

Bigger is better... better for stocking options, better for controlling water parameters, better for aquascaping and all that.

The negative to big tanks? Expense. Bigger saltwater tanks will require more filtration, so a sump will be needed. Sumps run best off of drilled tanks because overflows can be finicky and may cause headaches. In the sump you'd want a skimmer and probably a refugium. Bigger tanks will require bigger pumps and all that, and will also require more expensive lighting if you want corals.

In my opinion, a 20 gallon long is a great beginner tank for saltwater. It wouldn't need a sump, and most equipment will be less expensive because it will all be smaller. These tanks are 30 inches wide, so offer a lot of swimming room for smaller species, (many larger saltwater fish require 100 gallons or more.) It's only 12 inches deep, so is much easier to light for corals and other photosynthetic creatures like anemones.

So there are pros and cons to any setup, and you will have to decide what's right for you. Hope this helps!

 

Bigger is better... better for stocking options, better for controlling water parameters, better for aquascaping and all that.

The negative to big tanks? Expense. Bigger saltwater tanks will require more filtration, so a sump will be needed. Sumps run best off of drilled tanks because overflows can be finicky and may cause headaches. In the sump you'd want a skimmer and probably a refugium. Bigger tanks will require bigger pumps and all that, and will also require more expensive lighting if you want corals.

In my opinion, a 20 gallon long is a great beginner tank for saltwater. It wouldn't need a sump, and most equipment will be less expensive because it will all be smaller. These tanks are 30 inches wide, so offer a lot of swimming room for smaller species, (many larger saltwater fish require 100 gallons or more.) It's only 12 inches deep, so is much easier to light for corals and other photosynthetic creatures like anemones.

So there are pros and cons to any setup, and you will have to decide what's right for you. Hope this helps!

That helps a lot! I'll take a look at prices of equipment and make a decision.

 

I have been into freshwater aquariums for years and absolutely love them. Recently I started reading many of the saltwater threads on here and watching tons of videos on types of Saltwater tanks. I have fallen in love with them and I think that I want to give one a try.

On my local Craigslist I've found many nice fairly cheap tanks, but the best one is a 90 gallon reef ready tank. Would this tank be too big for my first time with SW? I'm thinking probably start off as a FOWLR and maybe getting corals in the future if I am successful. Thanks.

If you are ready to really commit to it then I would say a 90 gallon is just fine. Take it from a guy who just upgraded from a 36 gallon to a 90 gallon, if I could do it over again, I would've just gotten the 90 gallon. My 36 was fun but I ended up spending a ton of money on a tank just to rebuy a larger tank and all the mechanical equipment within a year. I could've saved a ton of money by just buying the 90 gallon in the first place. You will definitely have to learn the equipment quickly with a 90 gallon tank (ie components of a sump, protein skimmer, etc.) but it is doable and once you gain some experience it is super easy. I will break down the advantages and disadvantages for you:

Benefits of a 90 gallon:

Very stable water perimeters (ie Salinity, Nitrates, etc.). I can't believe how much easier it is to maintain these as compared to my 36 gallon
Decent selection of what you can stock your tank with (ie All Clownfish, All Fairy Wrasses and many other Wrasses, All Blennies, All Cardinalfish, All Gobies, All Dartfish, All Chromis, All Dwarf Angels, Small Bristletooth Tangs , Small Butterfly Fish and a One Spot Foxface). If you were to go with a tank of under 70 gallons many of those would drop off the list.
Good compromise of space and viewing without being so large that it takes over your living space (and life)

Disadvantages: The expense can be enormous, but if you buy all the equipment as a used bundle it can bring down the cost significantly. Just make sure you double check the tank for scratches. I made that mistake when I bought my current 90 and it was so badly scratched I had to replace it with a new tank.

 

90 gallons is actually a good start for a first Saltwater tank.

Since it's used though and I'm assuming its glass. Be very aware of the seals. triple inspect the silicone seals, make sure there's no cracks, and see if the tank needs to be resealed.
Personally for me, I am a bit reserved about buying larger used glass tanks than a larger acrylic tank.

 

Wanted to thank everyone for the info. I think I will go ahead and purchase the tank, and then just go slow and take my time building up the tank and purchasing equipment so that I can keep a reasonable budget. Thanks again.