FANTASY REEF BUILD
- Thread starter MUCHO REEF
- Start date
Are we allowing rocks to make decisions now?
lol, sorry but I had to. Did you mean rockscaping should be next for us to discuss, or more of a discussion on where the couple would get the rocks from?
..Oh. The couple's name is Mr and Mrs Rock.
And my name is Mrs Dork apparently.
Sorry Mucho.
Don't mind me, carry on folks. :lol:
And my name is Mrs Dork apparently.
Sorry Mucho.
Don't mind me, carry on folks. :lol:
Well I vote budget because it would help determine all other equipment purchases.
Ok, we have the following suggestions for # 3
Budget
Light
Skimmer
Sump/Fuge
Lets discuss the importance of each relative to what should be the next decision made by Mr. & Mrs. Rock.
Mucho
Budget
Light
Skimmer
Sump/Fuge
Lets discuss the importance of each relative to what should be the next decision made by Mr. & Mrs. Rock.
Mucho
I believe budget should be #3.
1. The budget will control every equipment purchase for the tank.
2. By knowing this it will allow the Rocks a better direction to go such as which lights such as a DIY retro vs. a pendant regardless of MH vs. T5.
1. The budget will control every equipment purchase for the tank.
2. By knowing this it will allow the Rocks a better direction to go such as which lights such as a DIY retro vs. a pendant regardless of MH vs. T5.
carb850
New member
I think setting a budget is one of the most important things but I don't see how we can set this for Mr. & Mrs. Rock. All we can do is set an arbitrary ceiling for a family making $110K a year. Also, $110K for someone in Southern CA is not the same as someone making $110K in Southern WV. 
I assume we are just talking middle to upper middle income family. I suggest $5K ceiling for equipment.
If we are going to try and do this build for 'X' amount of dollars then I suggest picking the light after setting the amount as it will most likely be the most expensive purchase.
I assume we are just talking middle to upper middle income family. I suggest $5K ceiling for equipment.If we are going to try and do this build for 'X' amount of dollars then I suggest picking the light after setting the amount as it will most likely be the most expensive purchase.
Che
New member
Wow, this seems to be the most circumlocuitous route to building a reef ever. This discussion has gone off on so many tangents that I am not sure what the goal of the thread originally was.
I was a little disappointed in some of the direction provided midstream regarding the fantasy portion of the reef project. Not to be mean, but a more honest thread title of "practical low budget make believe reef project" would have been more helpful.
But now I have read this far and feel compelled to contribute. I always think that research is an important part of participating in any activity/hobby and is good info for the novice reef aquarist. I have many books in my reef library and encourage the purchase of a variety of reference materials to have on hand.
Given the annual household salary and the professional status of the Rock family heads of household, I believe that they would want an aquarium that is a statement about who they are and will complement their beautiful home. (I like the make believe portion of this.)
I think of my aquarium as both a really cool science project, a toy, and also a living piece of art in my home. I currently have a 6ft - 125g tank and wish that I would have gone with a wider tank. If I had my 'druthers, I would opt for a wider tank whose width was at least 2ft. My dream would be to have a peninsula or island tank, so I would highly recommend either of these two options for the Rock household. A 180g penisula tank would be way cool.
I know a lot has been said about budget, but I think that this is the wrong direction to go. I don't think that many reefers stick to their budgets anyhow. Reefing seems to be a line item in my monthly budget that will always be there whether I am currently working on a tank or not. In my experience my timeline for getting my tank running was more of a factor in determining what I spent on the tank than an artificial threshold of how much money I allowed myself to spend on my hobby. So, no budget number for me.
Number three: light, skimmer, sump/fuge - YES! More importantly, will there be a discussion about these items?
Mucho, this is a very interesting idea for the thread, but it needs a little more direction and a little less advice. Don't let us run afoul making crazy assumptions, but don't preordain the outcome because you have an idea of what you think we should be coming up with. (Don't boot me! please.)
I hope this post is received in the positive and fun fashion that I had intended.
I'm out.
I was a little disappointed in some of the direction provided midstream regarding the fantasy portion of the reef project. Not to be mean, but a more honest thread title of "practical low budget make believe reef project" would have been more helpful.
But now I have read this far and feel compelled to contribute. I always think that research is an important part of participating in any activity/hobby and is good info for the novice reef aquarist. I have many books in my reef library and encourage the purchase of a variety of reference materials to have on hand.
Given the annual household salary and the professional status of the Rock family heads of household, I believe that they would want an aquarium that is a statement about who they are and will complement their beautiful home. (I like the make believe portion of this.)
I think of my aquarium as both a really cool science project, a toy, and also a living piece of art in my home. I currently have a 6ft - 125g tank and wish that I would have gone with a wider tank. If I had my 'druthers, I would opt for a wider tank whose width was at least 2ft. My dream would be to have a peninsula or island tank, so I would highly recommend either of these two options for the Rock household. A 180g penisula tank would be way cool.
I know a lot has been said about budget, but I think that this is the wrong direction to go. I don't think that many reefers stick to their budgets anyhow. Reefing seems to be a line item in my monthly budget that will always be there whether I am currently working on a tank or not. In my experience my timeline for getting my tank running was more of a factor in determining what I spent on the tank than an artificial threshold of how much money I allowed myself to spend on my hobby. So, no budget number for me.
Number three: light, skimmer, sump/fuge - YES! More importantly, will there be a discussion about these items?
Mucho, this is a very interesting idea for the thread, but it needs a little more direction and a little less advice. Don't let us run afoul making crazy assumptions, but don't preordain the outcome because you have an idea of what you think we should be coming up with. (Don't boot me! please.)
I hope this post is received in the positive and fun fashion that I had intended.
I'm out.
"This discussion has gone off on so many tangents that I am not sure what the goal of the thread originally was."
It's going off on a tangent again. The goal is to build a system based on the information provided within the thread and the original post. Right now we need to decide what # 3 is going to be, then go from there, but we have to stay on topic to move this along I think. If we keep talking about the title, the direction and tangents, we will never finish this thread. Many people have shown great interest in this thread with their PM's and emails to me and want to move this along to keep it fun and interesting. Hey, I'm only trying to do something different here my friend.
"Mucho, this is a very interesting idea for the thread, but it needs a little more direction and a little less advice. Don't let us run afoul making crazy assumptions, but don't preordain the outcome because you have an idea of what you think we should be coming up with. (Don't boot me! please.)
This is a very simple idea, I have given direction when needed, I'm a reefer but I have shared very little advice. The forum is building this system, not me. My choice would not have been a 90 gallon and this is not my system. When direction is needed, I try to steer this thread in the right direction. I tried to create a thread that all can be involved and I had no idea it would go all over the place with discussions of me and my intent. Trust me, I haven't PREORDAIN anything in this thread, you guys are the builders, I'm just lending some direction to keep it on track. This is a very easy thread and I hope we can discuss the thread and not me, please. Why would anyone boot you for stating your opinion? That's not who I am. Can we build the thread now?
# 3 will be budget.
The Rocks live ahh, lets say, Kansas.
Their combined income is $ 110,000
Lets set a budget/amount by Wednesday.
What say you?
Thanks
It's going off on a tangent again. The goal is to build a system based on the information provided within the thread and the original post. Right now we need to decide what # 3 is going to be, then go from there, but we have to stay on topic to move this along I think. If we keep talking about the title, the direction and tangents, we will never finish this thread. Many people have shown great interest in this thread with their PM's and emails to me and want to move this along to keep it fun and interesting. Hey, I'm only trying to do something different here my friend.
"Mucho, this is a very interesting idea for the thread, but it needs a little more direction and a little less advice. Don't let us run afoul making crazy assumptions, but don't preordain the outcome because you have an idea of what you think we should be coming up with. (Don't boot me! please.)
This is a very simple idea, I have given direction when needed, I'm a reefer but I have shared very little advice. The forum is building this system, not me. My choice would not have been a 90 gallon and this is not my system. When direction is needed, I try to steer this thread in the right direction. I tried to create a thread that all can be involved and I had no idea it would go all over the place with discussions of me and my intent. Trust me, I haven't PREORDAIN anything in this thread, you guys are the builders, I'm just lending some direction to keep it on track. This is a very easy thread and I hope we can discuss the thread and not me, please. Why would anyone boot you for stating your opinion? That's not who I am. Can we build the thread now?
# 3 will be budget.
The Rocks live ahh, lets say, Kansas.
Their combined income is $ 110,000
Lets set a budget/amount by Wednesday.
What say you?
Thanks
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wow, lol, I vote for # 1
#1
Now we're on track, thanks Ron.
This is my first post in this thread..........but I would have to vote for #4- whatever it takes, as far as budget. Im not sure it would go over 10k anyway, but lets not be bound by figures.
This is a "fantasy" reef build is it not??
I will also add soemthing as far as tank size. I dont mind the 4 foot length as far as tank size, but I would vote for a 120 in this length. the aquascaping possibilities that extra 6" gives is far superior in the final product over a 18" tank, and doesnt require much more at all in the way of equipment over the 90.
This is a "fantasy" reef build is it not??
I will also add soemthing as far as tank size. I dont mind the 4 foot length as far as tank size, but I would vote for a 120 in this length. the aquascaping possibilities that extra 6" gives is far superior in the final product over a 18" tank, and doesnt require much more at all in the way of equipment over the 90.
I must concede that the word FANTASY in the title can easily be misconstrued. The Fantasy is not possible unlimited spending to build this system, the fantasy is Mr. & Mrs. Rock and the ability for us to collectively build their system for them.
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whosinpower
New member
jumping in
jumping in
Do you have size of tank figured out?
I vote for a 120. I have a 90 gallon - and wish it was a bit wider to allow for more interesting aquascaping.
If I was going to advise the Rock family, I would suggest a 120 gallon drilled and have a sump. I would have the overflow external - for a couple of reasons - I am short and like to have access. The overflow box would not go all the way to the bottom of the tank - to collect detritis - which mine now does. It would be a short box externally on the side of the tank - for easy access. The overflow would go the entire width of the tank. I would hide the plumbing within the design of the stand, but still allow to access those bulkheads and plumbing. I'd plan for redundancy - and I know this is not something a fantasy build wants to consider - however, one flood might change your mind when the single standpipe clogs in the middle of the night and your living room floor is a wet mess.
I like to have all equipment hidden and contained - which is not a luxury I have right now. So, if I were doing it over - I would plan far more carefully the stand and the sump area to accomodate all future equipment purchases. And more importantly - plan for easy access to that equipment for servicing. You may think you have plenty of room, and your major purchases of a skimmer, sump, tank, lights, rock etc is the end - but it might not be - you may find yourself looking at calcium reactors, kalk reactors, phosban reactors - the list is endless and that is some of what makes the hobby interesting. Plan for future equipment purchases and the SPACE to put them.
As far as budget goes - I have a slightly different approach. I designate a set amount of money aside each month for the tank. It took me six months to buy the tank, lights and skimmer....but I was not in a hurry - it took as long as it took within my monthly budget constraints.
jumping in
Do you have size of tank figured out?
I vote for a 120. I have a 90 gallon - and wish it was a bit wider to allow for more interesting aquascaping.
If I was going to advise the Rock family, I would suggest a 120 gallon drilled and have a sump. I would have the overflow external - for a couple of reasons - I am short and like to have access. The overflow box would not go all the way to the bottom of the tank - to collect detritis - which mine now does. It would be a short box externally on the side of the tank - for easy access. The overflow would go the entire width of the tank. I would hide the plumbing within the design of the stand, but still allow to access those bulkheads and plumbing. I'd plan for redundancy - and I know this is not something a fantasy build wants to consider - however, one flood might change your mind when the single standpipe clogs in the middle of the night and your living room floor is a wet mess.
I like to have all equipment hidden and contained - which is not a luxury I have right now. So, if I were doing it over - I would plan far more carefully the stand and the sump area to accomodate all future equipment purchases. And more importantly - plan for easy access to that equipment for servicing. You may think you have plenty of room, and your major purchases of a skimmer, sump, tank, lights, rock etc is the end - but it might not be - you may find yourself looking at calcium reactors, kalk reactors, phosban reactors - the list is endless and that is some of what makes the hobby interesting. Plan for future equipment purchases and the SPACE to put them.
As far as budget goes - I have a slightly different approach. I designate a set amount of money aside each month for the tank. It took me six months to buy the tank, lights and skimmer....but I was not in a hurry - it took as long as it took within my monthly budget constraints.
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