Bigger is Better…Including Downstairs

In the saltwater tank world, bigger is better. Everyone has heard that a bigger tank is easier to keep stable, so therefore you have more success with your tank. Your fish live longer, don’t get sick as often and your corals do better.

I cannot stress this fact enough. Starting a saltwater tank as a tank dabbler, or reef enthusiast, get at least a 40 gallon tank. A 5  gallon tank might look like a great first tank, but you’ll have nightmare after nightmare dealing with the tank and you’ll quit the hobby. If you can’t afford a 40 gallon tank yet, save your money until you can. If you really want the tank, you’ll get the money together faster than you think.

AND…I assert that there is a piece of “bigger is better” that people are missing.

A bigger sump is better as well.

I see tank after tank with sumps that look like a shoe box containing a large city. The protein skimmer is on top of the phosphate reactor, which is crammed next to the return pump. With all the equipment crammed into the sump, there is little room to “go plus one“, it is hard to get skimmers cups off and on and removing your phosphate reactor to change your GFO and carbon is a chore. In other words, its a pain in the ass, so you most likely won’t do it and your tank will show it with algae outbreaks, sick fish and high nitrates and phosphates.

Instead of getting a small sump, choose the largest sump that fits under your stand. For example, my stand measures 42″ on the inside and my sump is 38″ long. I have room to work AND room to expand when I get bigger tank.

To recap:

40 gallon tank or better + biggest sump you can fit under your stand = foundation for success in the saltwater tank world.