Getting ready to make the jump to a bigger tank

[nivram]

The bigger reef tank I've ever maintained is my 65 gal. I'm getting ready to upgrade to 200 to 250 gal tank.

Those of you in the Large tank club, please share with me what you would do differently with your setup as well as what you are happy that you did on your current setup.

I'm trying to make sure I plan this one right and not have to redo anything down the road. The setup will be a mixed reef with most corals being sps.

 

[dahenley]

the best advice i can give, is to click on EVERY LARGE TANK BUILD THREAD, and click on every page and look at pictures.
Dont read the first 10-20 pages and not read the last 10-20, because thats where the changes come from.....

i like to look at every picture because you can see how everyone does things different. you can see size/room/tank restraints and see how they made the best of it. you can see how they started, and how they cut everything apart and re-did things. (you can see some where they re-did things 5+ times.... haha)

you can see tricks, and ideas. you can borrow pieces of each and make something that suits your build.
you can see how some people spend 30 thousand dollars on custom this and top of the line that. while others spend hundreds and deal/modify/custom old stuff/new stuff to fit their budget/applications.

no 2 tanks are the same. (number 1) you can have 100% the same stuff, and have 100% totally different problems/stuff
there is no "1" way to do something, but there are millions of ways to "NOT" do something haha (this one is the most true of anything)

hope that gives your something... haha

 

[nivram]

the best advice i can give, is to click on EVERY LARGE TANK BUILD THREAD, and click on every page and look at pictures.
Dont read the first 10-20 pages and not read the last 10-20, because thats where the changes come from.....

i like to look at every picture because you can see how everyone does things different. you can see size/room/tank restraints and see how they made the best of it. you can see how they started, and how they cut everything apart and re-did things. (you can see some where they re-did things 5+ times.... haha)

you can see tricks, and ideas. you can borrow pieces of each and make something that suits your build.
you can see how some people spend 30 thousand dollars on custom this and top of the line that. while others spend hundreds and deal/modify/custom old stuff/new stuff to fit their budget/applications.

no 2 tanks are the same. (number 1) you can have 100% the same stuff, and have 100% totally different problems/stuff
there is no "1" way to do something, but there are millions of ways to "NOT" do something haha (this one is the most true of anything)

hope that gives your something... haha

It does help. With the help of some local hobbyst, i now have a 4x4x2 glass aquarium sitting under my roof. I'm in the process of researching stand designs (wood vs metal) and sumps.

 

[SPotter]

+1 on what dahenley said. Read as many big build threads as possible and ask as many questions as possible. I spent 10 months putting my build together and what started out as about 300g twv ended up closer to 500g twv. That was my first mistake because as my twv increased I didnt rethink things that had already been planned on. My other mistake, not seeking more advice on planning and layout. If you have a local shop that does installations I would suggest asking them to consult on what you are doing. Even if they charge it will be worth it. I didnt bring an installer into the picture until after I had ordered everything and it was all in my basement waiting to be put together.

 

[mwminer]

this should help with stand ideas

ps check out my thread


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964&referrerid=249409

 

[nivram]

this should help with stand ideas

ps check out my thread


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1169964&referrerid=249409

Thank you. I've been eyeing that thread and getting ideas. Although I can't make up my mind as to whether I should go with a steel stand or wood. Decisions decisions!