big tank questions

[temec_luver]

i currently have an 80gallon tank... is there anything different about caring for a large tank then a normal sized tank? it would be a 240... 48x48x24... my 80 would become the fuge... the tank will have 2 overflows... the back corners.. one would be a direct flow from the tank to the fuge and the other to the fuge... the sump would be about 100g.. and eventualy a frag tank... the whole system would be about 500 gallons...

 

[Nanook]

1. Humidity
2. Increased Water, Sewer, RODI supplies
3. Increased Salt Mix, Supplements
4. Increased Electric

Just a few to get things going.

 

[temec_luver]

im not talking price wise... im talking set up wise

 

[Nanook]

Large containers for RODI and newly mixed SW....when something goes wrong in a large volume of water and you need to change a LOT of water instead of a trashcan full.

 

[Harleyguy]

Bigger tanks = Bigger stuff

 

[temec_luver]

ok so theres no difference care wise?

 

[DaveMorris]

I would think a larger body of water would be more forgiving. Temp swings would be slower as well.

 

[slandis3]

Temp swings can be slower but just as slow to bring back unless you have a large heater or several heaters. My 240 setup was harder than my 120 due to size, all the plumbing, wiring, but it seams to me it is easry to take care of now that its up and running

 

[kimberfish]

I have to say consider the electrical needs. By the time I plugged in 3 halides, 1 icecap, 1sump light, 2 heaters, 4 lunar lights,
3 pumps, 1 chiller,(& a partridge in a pear tree:lol: ) we ended up installing a new breaker switch just for the tank...the regular 20 wouldn't work anymore...tank would run for a while then pop the switch.
I"m currently looking for an easier way to plug all this in...especially when about 9 items need a seperate timer.
As far as tank maintenance...not really much different than the smaller tank I upgraded from. In some ways it's easier...I bought a python to help automate things a bit and use a waterhose and pump to just pump the water in from w/c instead of toting it in like I used to

 

[ricks]

Large reef tanks are great. More room for corals, and fish to swim. Larger volume of water is more forgiving.

Down side is cost and maintenance time. You will need larger equipment than you used with your 90. You will be changing more water, cleaning more glass/ acrylic area. if you spend 1-2 hours a week now you will spend 2-4 hours on a larger system. Also if your thinking about SPS system figure around 1.00 per gallon a month to operate...

Happy Reefing

 

[DaveMorris]

Fortunately for me, when I remodeled our living room I ran 4 new 20amp circuits in there. Two of them are for the exclusive use of the tank.

 

[swimboy123]

Electrical is the biggest thing. I have a 300 and I'm happy as hell when my power bill is only $350

 

[Harleyguy]

Remember everything is more and bigger. The price goes up exponentially, and it doesn’t stop when the build is done. Power is the greatest killer, with my last tank my power only went up 50% I expect this tank to drive my power bill up so much that the electric company will send me a gift at Christmas LOL. Then don't forget about stuff like salt (using 5 gal at a time get's expensive) dosing can be outrageous (if you use a cap full for a small tank you could use half the bottle for a large one). Then you have to consider things like where your water change water is going (changing 20g is no big deal, but changing 100g is) Food for thought

 

[ricks]

How did I ever achieve deep pockets with no brain??? Hey, I'm the perfect candidate for a large reef tank...

 

[Harleyguy]

I hear ya....ROFL