View Full Version : saltwater tank sizes are diff than fresh with same volume?
SnakeIce
10-09-2003, 5:09 PM
I am getting an acryllic salt tank that is said to be 55 gallons... is that a standard size and does it hold 55 gallons?
what I am trying to ask... do salt tanks actually have a greater volume as an allowance for live rock, and other stony stuff?
mogurnda
10-09-2003, 5:29 PM
LXWXH (in inches) divided by 231 will give gallons. Once the stuff is in the tank, you kind of have to guess how much water is left.
SnakeIce
10-09-2003, 5:59 PM
oh i went looking at makers of acryllic tank and found that there is a reef 55 that is bigger than a regular 55, so I answered my ? but I will just have to measure it when I get it on hand to do so
mogurnda
10-09-2003, 6:08 PM
Usually "reef ready" means that it's drilled for overflows. I didn't think it had anything to do with size.
SnakeIce
10-09-2003, 6:25 PM
it wasn't a reef ready per se but was called a 55 but was wider with other dimensions the same thus bigger than 55 but called a R55 by the manufacturer
SnakeIce
10-09-2003, 6:30 PM
lol looked again one is the regular 55, 48-13-20 and the 55R is 36-18-20 so marginally over 55 instead of under
kreblak
10-10-2003, 8:04 AM
I would go with the 48 inch tank. It always helps to have the extra swimming space for any fish you put in. I have a 36 inch tank, and it has limited my fish selection.
BrianH
10-10-2003, 8:59 PM
While the 48" width is nice for some larger fish, the 18" depth is better for stacking live rock and lighting. If you can, I would try either a 75 or 90 gallon. This way you get the 48" width and the 18" depth.
Brian
VoodooChild
10-11-2003, 1:03 AM
A quick word on live rock displacement...being as porous as it is, you'd be amazed as to how much water actually gets moved. I removed a bucket of water from my 30 before adding 45 pounds of live rock and I had to dump well over 1/2 of the bucket back in, as compared to rainbow rock or things along those lines. This doesn't really apply to much as far as space goes, but since you asked about gallons, thought it might help. That being said, live rock is different with different degrees of density, but you shouldn't find that much of a difference.
liquafaction
10-11-2003, 9:36 AM
If I had it to do over again, I would never have bought my first tank (100 gal). I wouldhave waited for a 250 gal plus to come around. I really want a 500, you just get more choices on what you can stock the bigger you go. I have also noticed that it does not take a lot of anything to change the water parameters in 100 gal. I could not imagine having a smaller one.
kreblak
10-11-2003, 10:57 AM
I could not imagine having a smaller one.
Try running a 10 gallon mini-reef! :D It's fun, though. Plus, it really doen't take much in the way of tweaking. All of my measurements are are written down, so I know exactly how much of anything to add and exactly what it will do to change my water parameters. I can't wait to get a few corals in it! First, I must tackle lighting....
liquafaction
10-11-2003, 2:17 PM
before doing any research, I bought a 9 gal hex. I was going to try to use that, but I gotta say I am glad I did not. Maybe as I learn more, I will try something small. I really want to go big though, so I can have a broader choice of fish.