Finish 210g System or sell it and setup nano?

[Kinetic]

I'm heading to law school next year, where exactly is to be determined. I've been working on a 98 gallon display setup for about 9 months now (slowly) and it's not even plumbed up, in fact I broke all the baffles in the sump =/

I still need to spend $1000 or more at the moment on equipment, plus a bunch of nickle and dime stuff.

In about a year (Fall 2007) I'll be moving out into my own place, either nearby or pretty darn far.

Because the system is a basement setup, nothing would be able to come with me, unless I had a similar basement (which I doubt). It would be just running at my parents' house and I'll either have to come back regularily to maintain it, or risk them taking care of it. Paying for maintenance isn't in my financial aid package! =)

So I have a few options:

1. Sell it all, and just wait until I settle down. Setup a $2000 nano tank that doesn't cut any corners and be happy with that until I get a real job and settle down.

2. Set it up, run it for a year, then either keep it going with my parents or break it down for some extra cash.

For option 1, I would get a rimless starphire 20-30g tank with a custom stand, 20 gallon sump, dual tunze skimmers, one tunze reefcleaner running activated carbon, a phosphate reactor, a nice nano chiller, a closed loop, remote deep sand bed, an ATO, as well as a very easy push button water changer. All this done with a lot of material from my 98g display setup.

For option 2, I need to spend at least $2000 more to set it all up.

What would you recommend?

 

[sfsuphysics]

Sell it, if you're going to law school even if it's local, you'll not have the time needed to keep a large tank.

Don't think I'd spend $2k on a nano though.

 

[SWFanatic]

Unfortunately I would say sell it as well. My bro just finished up law school here locally in the Bay Area and the last 3 years he was really busy not only with studying, but internships & jobs. If I lived with my parents I wouldn't trust them with the maintenance. Also by selling everything new now you'll be able to get more for your stuff than if it was used for a year. Just my 2 cents.

 

[FunGuy]

I'd have to agree with folks above. In a year the tank wouldn't be fully grown out and it could be extremely hard to maintain if you become really busy. It's better to go big once things are more settled. I'd break it down and get the cash.

I'd do the 2k for a nano if I were rich Otherwise, save it for law school.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Kinetic]

thanks for the suggestions! Look for my huge for sale thread soon

 

[Solitaryensis]

Ummm, yeah, i definitely wouldnt reccomend setting up a tank that big in law school. Im at school 10-12 hours everyday. With that said, i do have a 40 gallon set up but i put very little time into it.

What school are you going to?

 

[Kinetic]

I'm applying to Hastings, Boalt, UCLA, Davis, NYU, Cornell, Columbia, maybe Santa Clara to see if they'd possibly give me some scholarship.

But yeah, I've already started parting the tank out. Maybe when I settle down I'll put together a nano setup instead =)

Where do you live by the way? You're still in the tower or...?

 

[Solitaryensis]

Naw, never stayed in the tower. I stay with my parents in the east bay.

Good luck!

 

[Kinetic]

very cool! you can save a ton of money (namely $1000+ a month on rent).

I am considering staying with my parents if I goto hastings or boalt, since they live in North Berkeley / Albany.

 

[Vincerama2]

Nanos actually take more effort than bigger tanks. Well "true" nanos (like 20g and less). So little water means you really have to watch the evaporation and heat. Plus water quality can go bad quicker since, after all "The solution to pollution is dillution".

Bigger tanks are just easier, believe me! A bit more expensive (light wise and pump wise) but like the other guys said...you're gonna be low on time.

Honestly, just set up an excellent planted freshwater tank!

V

 

[Kinetic]

I'm planning a 40g nano tank, with a 45g sump, remote deep sand bed, 1/15hp or 1/10hp chiller, dual tunze nano reef skimmers, a tunze reef cleaner that will hold carbon and phosphate absorbing media (I already have the reefpack, just need another skimmer), and I'll have a valve that can be hooked up to a hose that will drain water for a water change directly to the drain. Should be pretty easy =/ but still planning it and seeing how reasonable it will be to setup.