Eventually Going Big

[kar93]

Ok, I always browse this forum and all the tanks on here are beautiful and i hope to be going big in the next couple of years, so i decided its best to get planning now So i see 400gallons, 180gallons, 200gallons i know people say go as big as you can for stability but i think anything above 180 will be stable so in your opinions what is the best size for a first BIG tank?

Thanks.

 

[rlxwcapt]

You need to look at your budget. As you go larger there are many things to concider. lighting, heating, water movement, filters, live stock. After that then there is tank support, water evaporation Humidity etc. Start reading and creat a log book on things you like - don't like and start pricing. Keep in mind that technology is advancing every day. In a couple of years it will be all different. Don't let this stop you. Just keep in mind that your plan will change.

 

[Jflip2002]

I think once you break that 250g mark, your price increase is huge. I think its all a budget issue once you get big. I think itd be the same maintenance to a certain extent.

Lets make a quick little list of equipment for say a 96x24x24 240g tank:
(4) Tunze 6101s = $1500
(1) Skimmer (Octopus or Bubblemaster) = $500-$800
Lighting, probably 4 250w halides lets say = $1600

I mean those are only 3 things you will need, and youre already close to $4k. Obviously you dont have to use those options. But thats not including tank, stand, rock, sand, sump, return pump, or anything thats actually alive (the reason we have these I think lol). I mainly say stay under the 250g mark because once you go higher than that, your capable skimmers go through the roof.

So really it just depends on how much you have in your tank budget really.

 

[kar93]

Thanks, Ill get making a log book and in a couple of years if im ready then ill get started

 

[kar93]

All that for a 240:eek1: I think ill go for a 180 if i do it.

 

[Jflip2002]

I mean you dont NEED to use that equipment. Thats just if you want some nicer stuff that you wont eventually need to upgrade. You can probably do it for half that price, but itd be half the quality lol.

Where are you located? Theres a guy here in socal who has a 180g with stand, canopy and 3 halide set ups for like $500-$600. all youd need are the skimmer and fill the tank up.

Buying used definitely saved you some money.

 

[kar93]

Im in the UK if i do this(its quite a big IF because of budget) then i will DIY the stand and canopy which should make things slightly easier.

 

[peter1]

I an after 400 litre tanks selected this current breast. I to the lighting I planned the tank. Was this big because of that, because the 80W-os T5 granted the length of the tank. I need would be 3 piece 40x40cm HQI reflector and 2-2 T5 's. The width was like that and I was need taller is 10cm abaut the older one. Was in this manner 230g that is 828 litres. I think this sizes and parameters ideal for the long "step"!

 

[jgs107]

im looking to upgrade once again as im starting to out grow my 180 and i think thats the way i stay in this game.i upgrade the tank and as its progressing i upgrade the equipment.when i first set up this 180 i had 1 250 watt MH and 2 175 watt MH with 4 6' vhos,an asm g-2 skimmer,and 2 maxi jet 1200's modded,and a mag 12 return pump in a 55 gallon sump.now i have replaced the 2 175 watt MH with 400 watt bulbs,upgraded the skimmer to a G-4x,replaced the sump to a 75 gallon drilled with a blue line 40x external pump,2 tunze 6000's with a multi controller and a life gard 40 watt sterilizer.i also made a custom coast to coast overflow box to get rid of the origonal bulky ones.so now when i upgrade to my much larger tank all i will really need to do is add on 2 more tunzes and get a bigger sump.if you pace yourself like that the cost is spread out a little more and you can enjoy watching your tank fill up.hope this helps