Sweet spots on planted community tank sizes

[Arcteryx]

For the battle-scarred tank-keeping veterans out there:

I keep hearing something like "if you're going to keep a tank, there's not much difference between maintaining a 10 gallon FW vs a 20 gallon FW, so if room or aesthetics isn't a consideration, you might as well keep a 20." (something similar to that...)

Are there points where maintenance considerations (and maint. equipment prices) start to kick in? i.e. how significantly different is a 33 from a 20? 45? 60, 75, 90? i.e. 10-30G is about the same amount, 45-75 is the next step up, and so on...

Reason for asking: I have my eye on putting together a 75G planted community tank later this year, but if room isn't a consideration, should I just go bigger? Or stay at 75 b/c there's a big step up from that? Or no, you might as well move up to a 90...?

I'd like to plan to minimize upgrade creep... swapping one tank for another constantly and getting rid of old stuff that can't be used in a new tank... would just rather get something comfortably sized right off the bat and grow into it vs tearing down a setup and rebuilding it (though I can understand how some of you masochists are into that )

Appreciate any thoughts or comments... they will give me direction on which approach I take...

[neven]

For me what determined my max tank size was what would happen if I moved. Other than that take into account equipment cost. Its easy to replace a 2 or 4 foot bulb, but 30 inch you'll likely need to go to an aquarium shop. Tank height is a major factor with lighting and ease of maintnence. Water changes are also affected. Dosing won't change much, but you'll find yourself skipping the expensive substrates with large tanks

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[Momobobo]

Main thing in my eyes, is while a larger tanks offers alot more benifits (stability, room, stocking amount, etc) costs to maintain it are alot more. Substrate especially, that plant substrate is expensiiiiiiive.

[effox]

I'd think the plants alone could cost a pretty penny to sufficiently scape it. The most I've ever done up was a 33g.

[2wheelsx2]

4 foot size is the sweet spot. I've done 2, 3, and 6 foot planted tanks along with nanos. The 75 is a great footprint and isn't too deep so it's easy to light. But the ideal planted tank for me would be a 4 foot 120 gallon. 24" wide is an awesome footprint, and gives a much more 3D effect.

My preference for the 4 foot is mainly because lighting is not much more for a 4 foot than a 3 foot, and the tank is short enough not to need multiple CO2 injection points, multiple filters, powerheads, etc.

However, LED tiles have changed the landscape somewhat, so I have to look at the light spread to see if a 3 foot would still need 2 tiles (I think it would). If so, then a 4 foot once again would cost the same to light as a 3 foot and you would get 25% more tank.

[Morainy]

I have had quite a few tank sizes but none bigger than 36 gallons. Sometimes, I've enjoyed going smaller rather than bigger. The main thing is height. It's harder to light a tall tank for plant growth, harder to reach in to plant it, and harder to maintain it. Not impossible, just harder unless you're tall and have long arms. Other than that, everything is preference. I really enjoy my 22 super long, which is 36 inches long but only 12 inches high, and also enjoy the 8 gallon Ebi. The 36 bowfront is nice to look at but I don't enjoy working inside it because it's just so deep.

[monkE]

when i jumped from my 55 to my 77 the biggest thing i noticed was how much I hated buckets! once i got a python then i had no more issues.

I think a 90 would be little difference at this size but jumping to a 6 footer would probably be a huge difference... i wouldn't know though, this is the largest tank i've had.

the extra costs will be in the equipment/substrate required for the larger tank. The plants are a concern as well but just wait till CRS FAN puts up a fresh bucket for $30 or whatever and take that. They're always uncommon plants and there is plenty of them! Let them grow and propogate slowly if you're patient enough for that. Or just post on here and buy peoples trimmings.... i throw enough away every couple of weeks i could probably sell but it's not worth the time to take pictures and post for me.... i'm sure there are plenty of people willing to part with trimmings for pretty cheap.

[taureandragon76]

Biggest I had was a 55g planted. I personally loved the size but would have rathered a 75g for the extra width for more options for scaping. The only problem with starting a tank with trimmings from here is you wanna make sure you start off with enough, always best to plant the tank right out to begin with to avoid algae problems. IMO if your gonna go with a 55g might as well go the next step and get a 75g, same with if your gonna go with a 90g you might as well go for the 120g. You are always gonna want bigger.

[crazy72]

The other thing to consider beyond the volume, IMHO, is the shape: flat front, bow front, cube, etc. I've been looking at aquascaping sites online, and it seems to me that bow front tanks land themselves very well to interesting scapes (planted or not). Maybe it's just me (yup, I love bow fronts ), and obviously there are many examples of beautifully scaped tanks of all shapes out there. Anyway, I think the shape is a very important factor to consider.

As to volume, I'd say one size up from whatever you fancy after thinking it through, without adding depth as others have said. Sooner or later you'll probably want something bigger, so start out a little bigger than you think you should. It doesn't have to be full of plants right off the bat.

Oh, and yes, if you go beyond about 36G, buy a python if you don't have one.

Just my 2c. Happy thinking!

[neven]

well bow fronts may be interesting tanks, what happens when they get damaged and you are looking to replace the tank with a used tank of the similar foot print, you just slashed your chances.

someone brought up a good point about tank size for stocking, if you are going for a medium sized aquarium i'd go for 40-45 G long