What started as a joking side comment between me and the gf, "I think at the rate we are finding stuff we like to put in the tank, we are going to need a 300 soon" has kinda turned into something serious. So looking to hear from the people that made the jump from something normal size-ish to one of the big boy tanks. Was it worth the switch? aside from extra water, extra rock, extra sand etc, what else am I looking at taking on as an additional cost/maintenance? I'm eyeballing a tank that would fit perfectly in the corner, granted the stand is a little tall, but the price seems to be right. or should I keep my focus on the 120 and packing that guy full of fun?
Go big, or go home..
- Thread starter toddmau5
- Start date
ChadRaay86
New member
More of everything is what you'll need. Basically double or triple what you're spending now on power, salt, RODI resin, etc. Its worth it if you can maintain it. A 300 was my first reef tank and it has certainly been a handful lol. Just make sure you price and budget it all in advance. The little stuff that gets you with a smaller tank really gets you with a larger one....
I think after seeing your tank in person is what really got the wheels turning in the back of my head.
ChadRaay86
New member
Haha, The big ones at Coral Corral got me going. I remeber it like it was yesterday, I had my eyes set on a RSM 65, then a 180 and then sure enough I went all out, lol. Just make sure its the perfect setup for you and go for it 
ChadRaay86
New member
It'd be tall like mine, but you could always to a step ladder. You'll love all the room under the tank to work in 
installman
New member
It'd be tall like mine, but you could always to a step ladder. You'll love all the room under the tank to work in
Lol I need a few steps up to reach stuff in the 180 .
CrazyEyes
New member
While mine isn't anywhere near as big as a 300, actually 4 times smaller. I love having a tall stand, my stand is 38" inches tall, my old stand for my 40B was 24" and the extra height is amazing. As Chad has said, everything is obviously going to be more expensive, chemicals, salt, water, etc. But if the finances are there then heck yeah go for it. I would absolutely love a 300g. I've only seen 3 300DD tanks in my life, the last one being Chad's and I would love something that big. I'm also in the same boat, whenever I want to do something in the tank, granted there isn't much to do aside from clean the glass but I will need a step ladder to get to the bottom, definitely worth it to have a tall stand.
aside from buying salt, magnesium and calcium I really don't pay attention to the cost of water and electric, I'm sure I could get it all figured out if I sat down and looked at it all. might actually be pretty interesting to know lol. Its actually a 265 I'm looking at, now you probably all know the tank I'm interested in. The best wall space I have is 7.5' so the 7'x2'x32" would fill the corner perfectly. I think the other selling point I am thinking about would be a wider range of fish that need more swimming room and what not. I'd kinda be interested to see what the power/water cost would add up to in this tank vs what i'm running now.
It'd be tall like mine, but you could always to a step ladder. You'll love all the room under the tank to work in
I don't remember yours being that tall, but I was too busy staring at things inside the tank.
snake1
Premium Member
building a stand is not that hard there are a lot of good people on this site that can help......you might be able to cut a few inches off of the stand that it comes with..:fun4:
Currently running a 90, and we were going to move into the 120 deep as soon as we decide on a floor to replace this nasty carpet
CrazyEyes
New member
Im honestly not sure how much water, since we pay a flat rate but I can't imagine the price jump would be drastic enough. And for electric, I'd say unless you're using MH it shouldn't be too much more, things like powerheads, return pump, bigger skimmer (these are all speculation as I have no idea what you're currently running) shouldn't use up that much more power.
CrazyEyes
New member
I hate Chad's tank personally, I hate it because when I see it I wish I could have a 300DD.
Would still run leds on the big tank, I'm already running a 300skimmer in the 90 so that wouldn't change, I think stronger heaters, more powerheads and a bigger return pump would be the difference, but I don't have a big boy tank lol
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snake1
Premium Member
snake1
Premium Member
I don't even think you would notice the power change but the water, salt, and cal and alk would change
