Size/length?

[traco]

I never did get any replies to my thread asking some questions about setting up a saltwater tank, so started a new thread specifically asking a couple of questions I have.

Want to know the best size tank for fish only, not heavily stocked.

- standard 55 gallon, or
- 65 gallon (36x18x24) or
- 60 gallon (48x16x18)?

And a good HOB skimmer (easiest to maintain and not a lot of money)? No room for a sump.

I'd love some answers or direction to find the answers. Thanks.

[Drock169]

It really depends on the type of finish you want to keep, tangs will need a larger tank than a 65, while small fish will be fine, mixed butterflies will also need a larger tank otherwise they will fight, mixed dwarf angels will be fine in a 65.

As for a skimmer the only HOB I recommend is a Deltec for light bio load an MCE 300.

[steve fedyk]

A nice size fish only tank is a 75 Gallon (48x20x18). The lenght is nice for a fish only, I would try to get a 48" long tank.
A good hing on skimmer is tunze 9002 would work quite well, and great brand name.

[don.ald]

tunze are great skimmers IMO--i use only tunze in my tanks. but i think the 9002 may be too small for a fish only bio load in a 55 or 65g. i would go to the 9005. well worth the $

[traco]

Fish I'm thinking of are a coral beauty, firefish, a orchid dottyback or black cap basslet, maybe a bartlett anthias, maybe a valentini puffer (but may not go with the others listed above?) and a goby or blenny.

[Trigger Man]

By your fish list you should be alright with any of those listed tanks. I always try to get the longest tank possible as it lets the fish swim around further, so for viewing looks good. In the end it is going to come down to space and what you like for viewing.

[dabandit]

A trick from my freshwater days was to go with a deep tank and stock with fish that like diferent levels of water,this way you get a fish in every area of your tank and it fills it out better. Im sure it must also apply to saltwater