Quick Decision: 45 Gallon Aqueon with stand vs 60 gallon Marineland with stand.

Getting the tank in the next two hours: Anyone?

Aqueon 45 Gallon Aquarium Ensemble with Stand: $215


Marineland® 60 Gallon Heartland Aquarium Ensemble - Black: $263



Short story: I a got a 40 gallon breeder tank which leaked during the water test. I have returned it. No petsmart, petco, or petland withing 50 miles will be getting any anytime soon.

Tanks will be stocked with: Guppies and Yellow shrimp to breed to there hearts content, with probably 4 or 5 ottos. Using Dwarf Grass, X-mass grass or possibly dwarf hair grass as a carpet. Will probably include water sprite or guppy grass and a few Java ferns in the corner. I assume for what I have in mind either size is fine.

So my best options look like:
Aqueon 45 Gallon Aquarium Ensemble with Stand: $215


Marineland® 60 Gallon Heartland Aquarium Ensemble - Black: $263


Tank setup: Lightly planted (low-medium light)

Pro for the 45: All the equipment I bought for the 40 breeder should work for the 45. T5HO lighs (same width), Aquaclean 70, 200 watt heater...etc. I could also put the aquarium in a better location. Further away from the door. Where less people walk by.

Con: Lack of surface area.

Pro for the 60: I just like the look of it better. Black silicon. Glass seems thicker.

Con: Cost...will need new lighting, new top, more filtering, will probably just buy a second Aquaclean 50 or another 70 if that acceptable. DIY CO-2 Won't work hopefully I can do liquid co2 for a while. :-/ Probably a lot more costly. People could bump into it... Would be placed in a worse area. Close to outside door and heating vent.

 

1st of you can still do DIY co2 in a large tank, you just need more/larger reactors. I did a marineland 58 gallon tank as DIY co2 for 3 or 4 years before I upgraded to a pressurized system. I used three three litter bottles. Changing 1 bottle each week as part of the waterchange routine. I was able to achieve between 15 and 20 PPM co2. In a low to medium light tank that is fine.

 

Well that's one cost saving relief for the 60 gallon. Thanks Marine.

Would two 48 width T5H0 light fixture be enough for medium lighting?

 

everything i've ever heard is that bigger is better. at least for the fish anyway. more water means less drastic changes in conditions. but whatever you choose, don't leave us out of the build story. I love seeing new tanks as they progress...

 

Well I choose the 45 gallon Aqueon today. The stand it came with was more solid. The tank itself looks sealed better and had no scratches. Only a 5 year warranty compared to a lifetime warranty, but it fits better where I wanted. It's no where near doors/Vents/Lights because it's the perfect size for the slanted wall. So I'm happy overall. If anyone was against it I was going to do the 60 but didn't like where I would need to put it.

I also bought a bunch of plants. Fire moss to tie on the top of two rocks. Dwarf Sag to build a carpet. Java Fern to attach to a rock. Also two big green plants for the corner.

I'm currently washing out the Black Diamond Blasting Sand, and going to use fluorite tabs with it. I was surprised that the botany specialist at an actual fish store recommended I get it that she swears by it. She knew everything about plants (I came after thorough research with names and scientific names) and said she uses it herself. So I'm washing that and going to start. I'll keep you guys informed. I also got white cotton string to tie the moss to the rocks.

That Black Diamond Blasting Sand was cheap too.