+1. Don't go crazy on your first tank, get a little experience first to establish how much you enjoy yourself. A 29 gallon may be perfect for what you want.
This is a little outside your original question, but as long as you're seeking advice on a tank, there are some additional things to consider. Something that hasn't been mentioned is the weight of the tank. A 29 gallon tank filled with nothing but water in it weighs around 280 pounds. A 55 gallon tank filled with nothing but water weighs in around 540 pounds. This is without the stand, no gravel, additional weight from filters, a canopy, lights, and whatever else I'm forgetting. Anyways, my point is that tanks weigh a lot. To get a ballpark figure of how much the tank will weigh when full and set up, I use 12 pounds per full gallon to account for the weight of the gravel after displacement of the water, all equipment, stand, etc. That brings a 29 gallon to 348 pounds. A 55 gallon starts around 660 pounds, etc. My number might be conservative, but I've never had a problem and IMO better safe than sorry.
So when you decide what size, ask yourself where you want to put the tank. Do I own my home or am I renting? Some landlords may not allow any tanks over a certain size to avoid water damage in the event of a leak. What floor do I want it on or how old is my house? Larger tanks (55+ gallons) in older homes may need to be placed against a load bearing wall, if not on on a concrete slab on the main floor or in the basement. Make sure you put it where you want it the first time. Full aquariums have to be emptied before they are moved, and that's a pain. What kind of flooring am I putting the tank on? The weight will drive the foot of a metal stand with four or six legs into hard wood floors, laminate flooring, and linoleum tiles over time, marring the surface. And a leak on a carpet is really fun to clean up and dry out.
WYite
