[caroline]

I am considering getting a larger tank. I currently have a 30 gallon and I am thinking i want to go up to somewhere between a 55 and 100 gallon tank. But, after all of the research I have done I am confused about what size and also what fliteration system to use. I was hoping that some of you may be able to give me some advise on what direction to go.

Thanks,
Caroline

[glampka]

The larger the tank the better. Question is "what kind of tank do you want - FOWLR or reef"? If reef go with live rock/live sand, sump & the best protein skimmer you can afford. Don't skimp on the skimmer. If FOWLR you can get by with a canister but be sure to clean it regularly. Be more specific on what you want to keep & we can help you from there.

[caroline]

I Should Have Said That I Would Like To Be Able To Have Reef And Fish.

Thanks Caroline

[lynnvangsnes]

Glampka is correct. The larger the tank the better, although there are a lot of people with nano tanks, that is less than 30 gal. If you have a large tank, changes that occur in the tank are much more gradual...for example temperature. Heating and cooling in a large tank take longer than it the tank is smaller. A sudden drop in your room temperature will affect a small tank more quickly than a larger one. Look at your budget and decided how much you want to spend. You can probably figure on spending about $30 per gallon on a reeftank system. That's just to get the tank up and running and cycling. I just set up a 110 gal, and that 30 per gallon is about right. I know it's an expensive, but the rewards are immeasurable. Take your time, ask questions, do research, plan your tank, and all will be well.
Filtration...These days, one of the most popular is not even having any mechanical filtration at all. With a FOWLR or reef tank, the live rock, if enough if in the tank will act as the bio filter. Plan on 1-2 lbs per gallon of rock. Yes, it's expensive too and there are many places with many prices from which to purchase.
Many, if not most reef keepers use a sump system (I don't). In there, one can put your pump, heater, skimmer, etc so as those items are not visible in or on the tank.
Do you have a reliable LFS? If you trust them (of course, it always pays to be an educated consumer) check out what they offer and know about saltwater tanks. It may be cheaper to get your stuff locally, it they have a brain (many don't, unfortunately). For a starter tank, consider minimum 55 gal to 70.]
At this point, it's wide open for you. Good luck!

[glampka]

You definitely should go with the LR/LS, sump & skimmer.