Decisions, Decisions... 1 BIG or 2 MED Tanks?

[rodstar]

OK, so I am in the final planning stages for my new tank and I thought I had it ll figured out until I went to World Wide Corals in Orlando last week. So, now I need some advice.

My plan is to build an in wall tank with the fish room behind the tank.

I WAS planning to use 2 Marineland 300G starphire DD tanks with custom external overflows smushed together to make it look like 1 big 12 foot tank. Why? Well, I want to have some of the nicer angels and fish that are not reef safe. But, I also love my reef tank. So, putting two tanks together I thought would be perfect. A little creative rock work and strategic placement of molding and at first glance it will appear as one tank.

But then I went to WWC and saw their 10 foot long tank and it is pretty.

Of course, money is a consideration and a 10 foot tank is quite expensive, actually twice the cost of doing the 2 300g tanks.

So, what does everyone think?
A. 2 300g tanks
B. 1 10 foot tank

 

[dave.m]

You don't need to do the entire 10' tank in glass (12' would be even better ). You could do it in fibreglass on plywood and just buy the facing pane in Starphire glass. This makes more sense in an in-wall tank anyways, as no-one will be viewing through the back or sides, just the front.

Dave.M

 

[Haffs09]

I'm sure you're angels will be much happier swimming the additional 4' of length in the 10' tank. Plus, it gives subordinate fish more space to swim away from the dominant one.

 

[rodstar]

What about coral? If I get angels then my coral is at risk.

I'd consider a home made tank using plywood, acrylic for the sides, whatever, but I am no tank builder. I am not that handy.

 

[SnRFishies]

i say do the 2 - 300g tanks and save some money and still have a nice setup. plus you'll have way more money for more corals and fish or to take the wife out and win both ways hahaha

 

[TheFishTeen]

If you do the 2 300 Gallon tanks, one can be a reef with coral and one could be Fish Only with some angels and other non-reef safe fish.

 

[albano]

IMO, if you can afford it, get the 10' tank...if you really want the large angels, you can get a glass/acrylic divider to hide with your 'creative rock work'...and you can remove the divider in case you change your mind about keeping angels or corals!

 

[dave.m]

Not all angels bother the inverts. It's pretty hit-and-miss, though (sad to say). You could test them out one by one, or make your mind up about what kind of tank you want to keep and go one way or the other. Two separate tanks will always look like two separate tanks.

Dave.M

 

[rodstar]

My first focus is reef. Angels or fish only type fish are just something I'd like to have.

I agree that they will always look like two tanks, but I just can't get over the difference in price. Its a killer.

 

[dave.m]

You are looking at the significant increase in pressure exerted by the weight of more water, requiring thicker glass. IIRC Starphire glass is only made up to 0.75", so you then get into the additional costs of bonding multiple panes together to make up the strength required.

At some point you really want to start exploring the cost of acrylic versus glass to compare costs. I'm afraid transparent aluminum has not been released to the market yet, so I'm afraid you will have to forgo the idea of an in-wall tank for humpbacked whales.

Dave.M

 

[sullyfish]

My first focus is reef. Angels or fish only type fish are just something I'd like to have.

In that case I would go for 10' tank, or as larger if wife will allow...since there are angels that can coexist in a reef environment, with careful selection you should be able to have both in one tank.

this tank was a big inspiration for me, the tank belongs to David Saxby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLRubZGWXiY

 

[rodstar]

That tank is amazing. And judging from the voting, you are all as confused as I am. There is no clear cut winner here. As I look at the triggers and angels I want I think I need a fowlr in addition to the reef tank. I'd also like to get a couple thread fin lookdowns. But, having a long tank where fish can swim freely from end to end is an awesome site.

There is a tank for sale here that is massive 108x48x36 which would be awesome!

And I really don't want to do acrylic. I would scratch the heck out of it.

 

[octoreef]

IMO, if you can afford it, get the 10' tank...if you really want the large angels, you can get a glass/acrylic divider to hide with your 'creative rock work'...and you can remove the divider in case you change your mind about keeping angels or corals!

quote too... think big

 

[CreativeGuy]

Hey Rodstar,

My project started out as a little tnak at 150g-200g and from David Saxby's inspiration and that quote "put the biggest piece of glass (tank) you can fit and afford" has gotten me into a lot of trouble .... I listened to the first part of that quote and didn't quite listen well to the second part, lol. Hence the earned project name of Creature Morpheus.

Yet based on one tank vs two, you need to consider YOUR rock reef scape and what your long term goals for it will be. Splitting the tanks makes many things easier to separate the fish you want from the reef, but you drastically limit and reduce your options for your reef as well as free swimming space for your fish. Laying out a continuous reef that is 10' to 12' long shall give you a tremendous amount more of live rock and reef than you could possible get in the two tanks. THe longer tank would allow you to have more and bigger fish (typically).

I also enjoy critters and fish that are not necessarily "reef" friendly and heard/read many a story about people waking up in the morning with fat fish and no prized corals or little fish they HAD. How I got around it was I am cheating by having multiple tanks to isolate them, but mind you the rest are in the basement.

As for the cost of the tank, that has to weigh in. Shortly after I started my endeavor, I bought a 330g starphire tank that I was going to install with the intention of upgrading later .... only after considering all the work (stand, floor reinforcement, hood, electrical, plumbing, finishes, aquascaping, etc.) that I would never upgrade once I did it. That infamous quote hounded or haunted me, not sure which, I opted for putting in the largest one that I could fit. yeah, the tank cost me a hell of a lot more than a smaller one, but it is a one time thing that I can't change in the future. It seems there are a lot of people always saying "wish I had gone bigger". The equipment you can deal with on a piece by piece basis, but your show piece tank you won't change.

My vote for the pole is one big tank.
I am sure you will do a great job with either you choose.

Joe from Canada

 

[rodstar]

Joe, thanks for your thoughts and thank you to everyone else too!

I think I am going to go with my original idea for a few reasons.

1. The cost difference is significant. I can add a ton of live stock with ask the money I am saving and though size may not be an issue with my wife, the cost is.
2. I am coming from a 125g reef tank and I really love it, but I want some other fish as well, queen angel, niger trigger, our maybe a species tank full of garden eels! Can't do those things in a reef tank.
3. A 300 gallon reef tank is.a. big tank. Its more than double what I have. So, I think I will be happy with that. And I will have two of them.

But alas I have one more question. Can I do a threadfin lookdown in a 300? Dimensions are 72x36x30?
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[tnias]

Perhaps there is a creative way to stack the tanks vertically that would give the illusion of the tanks connected.

 

[Texas]

I had the same problem that you are struggling with. I went with 1- 10' and 1- 220 reef. This allowed me to have the big fish I wanted and still have some small fish and coral. I am sure your decision to go with the 2 tanks will not be bad for you at this time. Good Luck with both.

 

[geaux xman]

depends on how big of a budget you have. it'll be very hard to pull off a 10ft REEF tank on a small buidget. a 6ft tank done right looks much better than a 10ft done half-hearted.

$7K is nowhere near enough to do a 10ft reef tank IMO. i've spent that much on my fish only 180g. I do spend a lot on fish though.

 

[rodstar]

The 7k number was just for the tank. That us the part I have to get approved by the wife.

I already have most of the rest of the equipment in hand our on order.

And my existing fish and coral are at a friends house

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[CreativeGuy]

@Rodstar,

Tony Vargas who did one of the main MACNA presentations this year on "Successful Large Aquariums and What they had in common", indicated the NUMBER ONE FACTOR in a successful project is the SPOUSAL FACTOR. You are a smart man and have the right idea in involving her, listening and considering impacts of your home and life. Lucky to have a wife that does take an appreciation in what you are doing. You are making the best choice and we look forward to watching your build.

Takes his hat off to Rod.