Bittersweet acquirement

[fender4string]

Ok so I've been planning on setting up a 180 gallon FOWLR tank for the past month, doing research on RC and elsewhere. Today I was given the opportunity to get a free tank. The dimensions are 72x26(height)x18(depth). That equates to about a 145g I believe. The tank is also not pre-drilled which is a minor inconvenience. Here's my major dilemma, with the decreased dimensions of this tank, how much must my stocklist change? Should I just wait and buy the 180?

Here was my intended stocklist
Picasso trigger
Hippo tang
Kole tang (my other tang choice)
Harlequin tuskfish
one spot foxface
maybe a snowflake moray
singapore angel

I figure the biggest problem here is the hippo (and I was pretty set on one)...can i still keep one in this size tank? Should I just stick with the free tank and adjust my stocklist?

Thanks

Sorry if this seems like a lame b**** "waah I got a free tank"

 

[fender4string]

any input here?

 

[rudyr03]

i have a 150 with a purple, blue, sailfin and a tomini tang a maroone clown fish, flame angel and my fav the harlequin with no problem just get a good skimmer which u should have anyways...get what u want if u want to wait then wait for the 180 becuase i had to switch my old 125 to my current 150 and it wasnt fun lol took the whole day and some the next day ... i dont see a problem

 

[rudyr03]

the hippo would be ok it has 6ft to swim back and forth..just dont get it to big..make sure u get the yellow belly blue tang those are sweet

 

[fender4string]

so the 18 inch witdth/depth whatever is ok for my stocklist?

 

[rudyr03]

yes i think you will be ok look at capn tank its a 110 really nice tank with a nice stock list to.. on this forum ...go to raes pics of everything and go to page 21..

 

[fender4string]

oh wow that's a really nice tank. Ok maybe I won't worry about it and just take this for the stroke of luck that it is! Cool-time to get started reefing...or fishing in my case

 

[otrlynn]

Sounds like a good decision. I see that you are a student, so I presume that means you are not rolling in money! Take the money saved and use it on some of the equipment you will need. The smaller tank size will also mean a bit less money spent on salt and other "consumables". Make sure you get an RODI unit, you will save yourself money and problems in the long run.

 

[fender4string]

Ok thanks-i'll definitely get the RO/DI. And yeah I'm definitely on a budget . For my equipment purchases I'm just gonna get stuff suited to a higher volume system so I save money in the future when I decide to upgrade. Thanks for the input guys

 

[HappySkittles]

i'd totally take the free tank
and then later get the bigger one
and then have them both up and running >.>
we got a free 135 gallon tank (we were told it was 155 but its still pretty big) came with stand and all kinds of other equipment (though we might not keep/use all of it)
we wouldnt have passed that up...but we are super addicts already
im addicted to fresh AND salt water @_@
my boyfriend is addicted to saltwater

 

[freestone]

There is no such thing as a "FREE" tank. :lolspin:

I would definetly get the free tank. You could always sell it later or use it as a sump/fuge or something in the future.

 

[fender4string]

Haha yeah it definitely won't be free for long . And in case I didn't clarify I definitely took it . I actually just finished cleaning it this morning. My next step is having it drilled for an internal overflow. Should I go dual overflow?

 

[fender4string]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13339697#post13339697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HappySkittles
i'd totally take the free tank
and then later get the bigger one
and then have them both up and running >.>

Haha thanks for instilling in me an early sense of addiction :lol:

 

[RBU1]

I also have to agree take the free tank and use the money to buy the best equipment you can. No matter what size you get if you enjoy the hobby as time goes by you will want a bigger tank. If you get the right equipment you will be able to sell it easy to buy BIGGER........Trust me I have been there..

Started with a 75. I kept the 75 and got a 180. I sold the 180 now have a 75 and a 300......I can't go any larger or I will be in divorce court. Just keep in mind the larger the tank the more the expenses. Salt.....Electric....I just had an $800.00 electric bill. Keep that all in mind.

 

[fender4string]

Ok thanks for the advice-the electrical, salt, and food bills were something that I've already considered.