Anyone regret going big?
- Thread starter BradR
- Start date
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
The economy has me second guessing my decission to go big. I've resigned myself to the fact that it's just going to take longer to get my tanks stocked up. If I had unlimited funds I would've gone even bigger.
BradR
New member
I'm sure your tank will fill up. That's one reason I'm going bigger as the frags are touching each other after just one year in the 180.
Thinking of going 8'x4'x30" penninsula although the wife wants 6'x42"x30" see thru only in a bookcase. Stupid interior decorator recommendation... The thought of manhandling this big a tank down the basement back storm doors is just too painful and those guys are just 5 hours away.
Thinking of going 8'x4'x30" penninsula although the wife wants 6'x42"x30" see thru only in a bookcase. Stupid interior decorator recommendation... The thought of manhandling this big a tank down the basement back storm doors is just too painful and those guys are just 5 hours away.
garrettm85
New member
I will never regret it. Infact I will likely always want to go bigger. The cost sucks but overall I would say it is worth it to enjoy the hobby on a larger scale.
Garrett
Garrett
tom obrecht
Active member
I recently tore down my 420. Lot's of $ wrapped up in large systems. If I would do it again I would go smaller. I agree with Gasman on size recommendations.
180 gallon from a 120 gallon. Bad - electricity bill - 6' bulbs no longer cover for supplementation. More gph to get good circulation/flow. Much heavier. Bigger water changes.
Good - more room for tangs and larger fish to swim. More water so more stable water parameters.
As the size goes up so does the cost, but larger is more fun.
Good - more room for tangs and larger fish to swim. More water so more stable water parameters.
As the size goes up so does the cost, but larger is more fun.
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
Thanks! I got him from the animal shelter, best dog ever.
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
Totally agree with this.
sfsuphysics
Active member
I agree, don't get a bigger tank because your frags are getting near each other, smack yourself for putting in too many frags, if you go bigger you'll want to fill it up as well with frags as well.
I'm getting to the point where corals I have have puddled enough that they're getting close/touching other puddles. They're already on rocks, I'm not going to chip them off and re-arrange just going to let the strongest survive. So far Palmer blue mille beats orange/pink cap (which I'm totally ok with
). Red prostrada doesn't seem to care about Beckett tort. Tenuis beats Idaho grape monti even though Idaho grew over the base for a bit before getting whitened out (again I'm ok with it)... only bad thing I had was green slimer snuffed out corner of "rainbow/pokerstar" monti.. luckily that was just a branch and not a puddle which can easily be dealt with.If your branches are getting to close... prune them, sell them to pay for your hobby, or give them away and make friends. If you want a bigger tank, do so because you want a bigger tank, or need more fish room, or want a bigger slice of the ocean, don't worry about frags touching each other. Corals grow, it's what they do
sfsuphysics
Active member
Oh and to answer your question, no way in hell, I went from a 100g long (72x18x18) to a squished 180 (48x36x24) as a temporary tank, and I'm never going back to thin tanks again. I don't even really care that much about the length.
carlosngloria
Active member
i only regret not doing it bigger
its true bigger is better i love my 300 gal besides the electric bill. but you can try to off set it as much as you can by making sure other lights are off when you dont need them. but its all good at the end of the day to come home to you own ocean. i just sit their and watch the tank. more water means that the system will be more forgivable. i just felt that i owed my fish the room to swim and coral to grow out.
savethereef
SCRK
i started with a 20g then a 24g, then 60g, then 100g, then 120g, currently a 180g penninsula now i am picking up my 225g tomorrow. As for cost no much difference since i will be using all my same equipment on my 180g. You just need to get high end stuff that consumes less electricity. i use Tunze Power heads and one main external pump for my return Teed to chiller. and my lights only run 4-5 hrs a day with one off day (that off day i only will run actinics) and my bill every month is $130 for electricity.
the only thing that will cost me a little xtra will be the additional xtra gallons of saltwater for water change. even now i only do 1 WC every 1-2 months.
the only thing that will cost me a little xtra will be the additional xtra gallons of saltwater for water change. even now i only do 1 WC every 1-2 months.
