What size aquarium to get for a new tank

I did saltwater for years but took my tank down while moving and doing some heavy construction in my new house. Now I’m busy, my wife is busy, and I have two kids that make me more busy. I started up a 20 gallon freshwater tank a few months ago and I’m really enjoying it as well as the kids. I want to upgrade but I’m really torn on what size tank to get.
My plan is I have a red eared slider to put him on the bottom in a 75 gallon tank on a homemade stand. I have a pump for his water changes. Then to put a fish tank on the top. I like the 75 gallon tanks but feel like that’s a bit too small for fish and my plans. I’m a bit short and have shorter arms so a 90 is not a good option. I like the 125 but feel like it will be too difficult to get into my basement. I’m almost 40 and have a bad back, knee, and shoulder. I’m not sure I can do my end and get 100lbs down my basement stairs.
I’m wondering if two tanks side by side might be a better option.
I’m just looking to do a moderately planted fresh water community tank. I’d like it to be at least 18” wide for lots of driftwood and roots.
let me know your thoughts please. I have 7’ of space to play with and it’s in my basement.
I looked at doing two corner tanks side by side to get like a half cylinder but I’d want them to mate up to eachother if that’s possible. Not sure how that would look. I know there would be a bit of space due to the frame. Also not sure I can swing the price of an acrylic 125. I guess that’s what I’d like. Any cheap outlets for acrylic tanks? They all seem to be about $1500

 

You can do 40 breeders and put sky bridges between them they’re pretty neat and depending on how much you want to spend go from very easy to build to kinda complicated

 

You can do 40 breeders and put sky bridges between them they’re pretty neat and depending on how much you want to spend go from very easy to build to kinda complicated

What is a sky bridge? Yes I thought about 40 breeders. Not a bad recommendation. I’d like something a bit taller but might be the way I go.

Anyone have experience with a 50 gallon glass tank. They seem about perfect but not sure I’ve seen them offered for sale. An internet search didn’t yield glass ones. I can find acrylic ones but the dimensions aren’t as desirable to me and I don’t like the openings on acrylic tanks as much. Plus $300 each for just the tank.

50 Gallon	36 7/8 x 19 x 19 5/8

 

The 50 in glass is fairly uncommon I’ve seen them from time to time on fb marketplace and craigslist though.
And a sky bridge is this haha

 

The 50 in glass is fairly uncommon I’ve seen them from time to time on fb marketplace and craigslist though.
And a sky bridge is this haha
View attachment 633940

I’ve seen a sky bridge. While that’s awesome I don’t and won’t be able to use one. My tanks will literally have to be frame to frame touching. I suppose I could still use one but not sure it would be worth the hassle being that close to each other.
I have an awesome LFS that has a list of huge variety of tank sizes. I’ll look on their sheet next time I’m in there.
thanks for the info and recommendations.

I looked at a used 75 gallon last night and it was a disaster. $100 for the tank, stand, twin T5 light, filter, and protein skimmer but the tank was removed from the frame and a homemade frame was in place. Also jobs of silicone on the one side on the inside and outside of the top frame. The lady was super mad when I said I didn’t want the tank and told me it was great tank at a great deal and what did I want for $100. I said I told you it needed to hold water before even coming. I walked fast. I offered to buy just the filter and she declined. I’d have paid her $30 for just the filter.

 

Lol she was mad that you didn't buy it. A good price or not, 100$ is a lot of money to throw around and is better used on something you really want. Her being angry is just silly and she needs to not be so sensitive!

I remember I got my Eheim 2217 filter used for 40$. He disconnected it, but left it full of water to "preserve BB". The thing stunk really bad by now, had been sitting there for a week at least. I must have made a comment because he asked if I wanted him to empty it and clean it and I said yes! Went back to pick it up the next day. Man, that woman would be really insulted if I had gone!

Btw, 75 gallons is my favorite tank size. Nice footprint for a lot of fish (won't limit you too much) and a nice height.

 

I’d say go 75 gallons. It has a nice footprint. That’s my opinion

 

Yeah I might just do one 75 gallon tank. The LFS by me is a Aqueon dealer and should be able to get me the two 50’s if I go that route. I measured and the 74” takes up a lot of space plus coming out 20” really doesn’t help. Man I don’t know. This is a tough one.

Lol she was mad that you didn't buy it. A good price or not, 100$ is a lot of money to throw around and is better used on something you really want. Her being angry is just silly and she needs to not be so sensitive!

I remember I got my Eheim 2217 filter used for 40$. He disconnected it, but left it full of water to "preserve BB". The thing stunk really bad by now, had been sitting there for a week at least. I must have made a comment because he asked if I wanted him to empty it and clean it and I said yes! Went back to pick it up the next day. Man, that woman would be really insulted if I had gone!

Btw, 75 gallons is my favorite tank size. Nice footprint for a lot of fish (won't limit you too much) and a nice height.

I agree with the 75. I’ve had a 75 for almost 20 years now. I just always wanted a bigger tank. My wife bought me the 75 gallon tank I have now as a wedding present over 17 years ago now.

 

I say you go for a nice custom 2000.

 

I'm not sure what your plans are for fish and turtles, but you'd be able to fit more and larger fish in one 75 gallon as opposed to 2 x 50gs. But you could also do two different fish setups that way, where maybe normally the fish wouldn't go well together. Bear in mind, 40 gallon breeders go out 18" instead of 20" and 3ft long. A 55 gallon goes out 12" and 4ft long, but will limit you a bit with stocking. 100 gallons is 5ft, comes out 18" and 20" high.

 

I'm not sure what your plans are for fish and turtles, but you'd be able to fit more and larger fish in one 75 gallon as opposed to 2 x 50gs. But you could also do two different fish setups that way, where maybe normally the fish wouldn't go well together. Bear in mind, 40 gallon breeders go out 18" instead of 20" and 3ft long. A 55 gallon goes out 12" and 4ft long, but will limit you a bit with stocking. 100 gallons is 5ft, comes out 18" and 20" high.

I’m just doing a bunch of small community fish but I do like rams so I thought of doing a warner water tank. Decisions are tough and it won’t be easy to go back if I regret my decision.
I don’t want a 12” wide tank. I feel aquascaping them is not ideal and really limits you. I’ll cut some cardboard the size of two 50 gallon tanks and see how it lays out. Also have to look at cost of two tanks compared to one. I spent too much money this year already. An outdoors store near me is going out of business and I bought a kayak, camping, and fishing gear. I spent about $2,500 already.

 

I’m just doing a bunch of small community fish but I do like rams so I thought of doing a warner water tank. Decisions are tough and it won’t be easy to go back if I regret my decision.
I don’t want a 12” wide tank. I feel aquascaping them is not ideal and really limits you. I’ll cut some cardboard the size of two 50 gallon tanks and see how it lays out. Also have to look at cost of two tanks compared to one. I spent too much money this year already. An outdoors store near me is going out of business and I bought a kayak, camping, and fishing gear. I spent about $2,500 already.

Well i'm only trying to help you brainstorm If you have your heart set on german blue rams, they really do need higher temps then most fish can handle. In that case, I will just give you my opinion that two tanks would be better or get another tank somewhere else for the rams I know, i'm an MTS enabler. 9 tanks in operation over here!

 

Well i'm only trying to help you brainstorm If you have your heart set on german blue rams, they really do need higher temps then most fish can handle. In that case, I will just give you my opinion that two tanks would be better or get another tank somewhere else for the rams I know, i'm an MTS enabler. 9 tanks in operation over here!

I appreciate the help. I’m agonizing over the decision myself. I’m bad at making split second decisions.
I think I’ll see the cost and lay out the footprint of two tanks. I think it would look weird to have two different size tanks next to each other. Man this will keep me up tonight.

 

I appreciate the help. I’m agonizing over the decision myself. I’m bad at making split second decisions.
I think I’ll see the cost and lay out the footprint of two tanks. I think it would look weird to have two different size tanks next to each other. Man this will keep me up tonight.

Two different sizes?

 

Two different sizes?

I’d say I did a 50 gallon tank then I added say a 30 gallon tank for the rams. I think the 50 gallon and 30 gallon tank side by side would look weird. Maybe not.

 

I’d say I did a 50 gallon tank then I added say a 30 gallon tank for the rams. I think the 50 gallon and 30 gallon tank side by side would look weird. Maybe not.

Oh I see. Many ppl have different size tanks side by side, but I personally agree that it would look better the same sizes. I have 4 x 33gs on 2 metal stands, one for the top tier and one tank on the bottom.

 

Well my son says two 50 gallon tanks. Not sure though. I’ll make a decision next week

 

I'd rope in some help and get the 125G into the basement.

 

I'd rope in some help and get the 125G into the basement.

I don’t disagree but I hate asking for help and I don't have too many people I can rely on honestly. I’m sure some folks from my church would help though. I did rewire a guys entire basement and help him move recently. Also fixed his toilet. I think he owes me. I fixed his toilet after all.

 

Alternatively pay for some help with it. It'd cost you $150 max and save you a ton of hassle. But I agree toilet guy owes you lol.

 

What kind of stairs go into your basement? Is there a landing, or a straight shot?

 

What kind of stairs go into your basement? Is there a landing, or a straight shot?

They go straight into the basement. It’s just the weight not the turns. My shoulder is pretty shot. I have calcium build up on a tendon and it’s very painful. I did my wife’s brakes on her car and it’s hurt fairly badly for over a week now. Last time I aggravated my shoulder it took a a few months and over a moNth of physical therapy to get strength and movement back. I literally couldn’t lift a 2 lbs weight. Heck for the first month I couldn’t even lift my arm. I have to be careful or I’ll need surgery and I don’t want that. Apparently it’s the most painful shoulder injury you can have. My wife rushed me to the ER because she thought I was having a heart attack. I knew I wasn’t but it hurt so bad I couldn’t even breath. Getting old sucks.

 

Getting old sucks.

The alternative is worse.