Feeling cramped in a 55

[matefrio]

Now that I have my 55 gallon full of substrate and a driftwood centerpiece I am realizing the limitations of using the narrow 55 gallon tall as a planted tank.

I'm at a decision point now before I buy plants and fish.

Would it be worth the hassle of selling my 55 with stand to gain the five or so inches that a 75 would bring? I don't have so much $$ in the tank and stand that I'd loose my shirt on it even at craig's list prices.

So what do you think?

55Gal 48x13x20 - Stick with it bud. A tank in hand is worth two in the lake.
75Gal 48x18x20 - Bigger is better and that extra five inches makes it worth a bit of hassle now.
90Gal 48x18x24 - Taller and longer, Taller and longer.
120 Gal 48x24x24 - Double your pleasure, Double your fun. You'll need to buy another $$ filter though.

Let's stick with 48in. so I don't need to sell my new lights. Something 96in wide is not an option now even if I was given the tank!

[Rex Grigg]

Personally given the chance I would dump the 55 and go with a 75. Many people get really wet working in a 90 or 120 gallon tank.

[pcnicholson]

55 can be a good planted tank but it definately has some limitations. I do have a couple really big plants in mine (that touch the front glass) but the fish dont mind. The only ones that would mind would be my Harlequins but all they want to do is surf my water return current. They just go right over top of it.

[wolf13]

I would go the 75 to keep it simple. the extra width is worth it, I ended up custom ordering a 36x18x20 55g (apartment dweller with a single set of hands) after getting a 55 and relizing i was still in the same boat as my 29g, just longer. the problem with going taller is that its harder to work with, and although you add gallons for height, you don't increase surface area. the 120 would be nice, but thats going to be a much bigger investment then the 75.

[geofied]

I'd have to say go with a 75. If you're questioning it now, you'll probably only question it more as things progress, and start regretting at some point.

I've got a 55 sitting empty in my garage, waiting for a place to go. I'm not sure if I'll use it now or sell it.

[Nolapete]

If you're on a budget, go 75. If it doesn't matter, go 120. Two AC 500/100s will filter both more than adequately. If you have any other filters, that would be bonus. I wish I could trade my 6' 110 for a 4' 120. I have 75 and 90 gallon tanks. They are great, but that extra 6" front to back is a lot.

[Star_Rider]

when you start getting to depth of 24" it starts to get a little cumbersome to maintain.
they are worth is but you will get more wet.

I have a 55 and a 75 ..I like the 75 more than the 55..the extra width is nice.

I also have a 110 30" deep..it is a pain..i like it but it's a pain.

[Nolapete]

For all you peeps getting wet, do your planting and cleaning during a water change when the water is 1/3 to 1/2 down. Whew! You people scare me.

[geofied]

For all you peeps getting wet, do your planting and cleaning during a water change when the water is 1/3 to 1/2 down. Whew! You people scare me.

Now now...simmer down. I can't speak from experience with large tanks, but for my part, there is no way I could wait for water changes to do all my tank tinkering. Some of my tanks go months between water changes. I wet my elbows on average every other day, and sometimes more (not as often as I wet my bed though...duhdumdum).

[discusman54]

I just set up another 55 and was thinking the same thing. Add some driftwood and rocks, there just isn't enough bottom space for all the plants I'd like to get in there! How bout a 48"x18"x18", I'd much rather have the width over height. 55s seem to be more available on the used tank market though, hmm, wonder why?
Here's the tank I just set up. Take a look, not enough space!

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z19/aquamans/new55.jpg

Stump has 1/2" clearance front/ back!

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z19/aquamans/new55a.jpg

[Nolapete]

Now now...simmer down. I can't speak from experience with large tanks, but for my part, there is no way I could wait for water changes to do all my tank tinkering. Some of my tanks go months between water changes. I wet my elbows on average every other day, and sometimes more (not as often as I wet my bed though...duhdumdum).

I was being silly, so no reason for me to simmer down. You're brave to say you don't do water changes for months. There's only one thing worse than the overstocking police, that's the water change police! You're gonna go get blasted for being lazy about water changes!

[geofied]

I know you were, simmer down is a pretty silly retort in response.

Brave, no. I just don't like to go with the flow if the flow is wrought with misinformation. Folks here know that I'm a bit of a rebel on certain things.

But now you're making assumptions about me being lazy(which I am, but that isn't the point). Notice I didn't say I don't do water changes on any of my tanks for months. I have 5 tanks (6 ifyou count my half-barrel pond), 3 of which I do the weekly 20%-25% changes religiously. The other two are my most heavily planted tanks and are a little more aligned with the Walstad method. Those are actually my two most stable and successful tanks so far. I didn't lose a single fish or shrimp from natural causes until a heater malfunction let the temp drop below 70 last week and I lost 3 of my beloved Pristella Tetras. I have also never seen a measurable ammonia or nitrite spike from these two tanks.

So blast away.

[Marinemom]

I think the tank looks lovely. Beautiful in fact. I like the way you put the tree stump off center in the aquarium. It being placed that way draws the eye to the entire tank and not just the tree stump. Very nicely done.

Marinemom

[matefrio]

Well, I am cashing in my chips and selling the tank in the hopes something good and used comes up in the 75 gallon range. Again, thanks for your help.

[discusman54]

I think the tank looks lovely. Beautiful in fact. I like the way you put the tree stump off center in the aquarium. It being placed that way draws the eye to the entire tank and not just the tree stump. Very nicely done.

Marinemom
Oh, thanks, have to be honest here, it was really by accident. I was trying to use the hollow rock I had for my Loaches. Saw the stump and just had to have it!
matefrio, I think you won't regret your choice.

[geofied]

Well, I am cashing in my chips and selling the tank in the hopes something good and used comes up in the 75 gallon range. Again, thanks for your help.

matefrio, are you anywhere near Connecticut?

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?aquariums100&1183245923

[matefrio]

Well, I got a 75 gallon tank, stand, Flourite, co2 injector and eheim 2215 and some plant ferts for $200. It needs a bit of TLC but I can work on that this week.

I like the size much better and can't wait to put it all together. Now I need to sell off the 55s I have here in Houston so I can have some plant\fish money.

[wolf13]

I set up my 56 wide last night and today, and man, the extra width is great. I am much happier now

[jm1212]

very interesting piece of driftwood

no water changes=eventual pH crash

[matefrio]

I set up my 56 wide last night and today, and man, the extra width is great. I am much happier now

Congrats!! :dance:

[loaches r cool]

For all you peeps getting wet, do your planting and cleaning during a water change when the water is 1/3 to 1/2 down. Whew! You people scare me.

A lot of the bigger tanks that have this problem also use sumps and also do wc out of the sump so the tank level will not drop. I guess thats a small negitive aspect of sump filtration. Ill be in this boat for both my tanks I'm switching to now... wet armpits here I come!

For the OP I'd go as large as you can afford keeping in mind the extra costs of the larger tanks. But a 75 work great for plants.