My Husband approved an up to 55 gallon tank for our new home

[Bamf Comics]

Angels as already desired tend to hang in the middle anyway and get long flowing fins on some types that show great in a 55. Guppies love the surface but tend to meander all over the place. As the tank fills with growing fry, they'll be visible in all zones. Price is a big factor for many trying to jump from a 55 to a 75 which is just as tall. Same thing downgrading from a 75 to a 60 which I did to get the shorter tank height but paid more for the privilege. I wanted 15's since I'm already running a 15 for one guppy spawning tank but the 20 high sells for quite a bit less than the 15 so for now, no lids and leave the water at about the 15 gallon height range. You can go that with a 55 as well saving the cost of lids. That space can be filled with air or even later on plants that grow out of the top of the water table for future options.

 

[Boundava]

recently my husband and I moved to our new home in even more backwoods Pennsylvania. I asked about starting a larger fish tank and he approved (as long as I don’t spend too much cash) and up to 55 gallon tank.

So what do I put in this tank? I was thinking a guppy colony, or maybe angelfish finally. Let me know what you think. I’ll get water parameters soon from the new house, right now just looking for inspiration!

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but a 75 gallon is much smarter than a 55. It's wider so it gives your fish more room to swim around. It's the same length but the tank is 18 in wide instead of I think it's the 55 is only 15 in. I upgraded my 29 years ago to a 55 and was so disappointed in the 55 that I upgraded to a 75 within a month. Don't make my mistake and buy a 55 and then want to upgrade it to a 75.

 

[Bamf Comics]

I did that and then hated my 75 which is why this time I went with 60 breeders which are shorter than the 75's even though they cost more. A 2 to 3 inch guppy isn't going to know that much difference in housing in terms of exercise space between anything from 55 to 75. Upgrading to the wider tank also increases the amount of work since you now have more bottom area to vacuum and more gallonage to exchange/treat/replace. In other concerns, there's a space I want two to three 36" aquariums stacked. If I go with the wider breeder style 40's I get the extra width but once again pick up the extra work trying to vacuum the increased surface area of the substrate. It would also fill the space fully eliminating the option of using any HOB filters adding even more expense if I'm forced into cannisters. Heating costs for maintaining almost 50% more water can be almost 33% higher if you're in a colder climate needing heaters coming on all the time. What's good for the goose, may not always be good for the gander.

In setup costs, it's not just the 75 costing so much more than the 55, it's everything else has to be more as well raising the total expense substantially. Almost 50% more substrate, wider tops, noy you may want larger lights to cover the extra width the same and with old person eyes like I'm developing, looking at a fish 12 inches deep in a tank is easier than one 18' back when they're that small.

to put some actual numbers on it, my wholesaler has the 55 gallon for $169.77. The 75 is $232.05 wholesale. About $53 higher cost wholesale.

 

[Nells250]

WOW, for once I am not the only female in a hobby!!! ;-) Reading that your husband ok'd your tank made me smile!

 

[Yellow]

recently my husband and I moved to our new home in even more backwoods Pennsylvania. I asked about starting a larger fish tank and he approved (as long as I don’t spend too much cash) and up to 55 gallon tank.

So what do I put in this tank? I was thinking a guppy colony, or maybe angelfish finally. Let me know what you think. I’ll get water parameters soon from the new house, right now just looking for inspiration!

Are you planning to allow the tank cycle for a consider amount of time first? Then, add the fish of your liken later?