How much more maintenance on big tanks?
- Thread starter Elo500
- Start date
Ron Reefman
Active member
The difference in the amount of time and effort between a 40g and a 100g isn't that much. Especially once you have had it up and running for 6 to 12 months.
But the cost of hardware goes up some with the bigger tank. Skimmers, lights, pumps, all cost more as well as the tank.
But the cost of hardware goes up some with the bigger tank. Skimmers, lights, pumps, all cost more as well as the tank.
toothybugs
New member
It's a lot more work if you mean hauling buckets of water. But the general consensus is that running big tanks is easier because of all the water stability.
On the other hand, when things go wrong - popped seam, chemistry screaming off in to left field, an anemone getting in a fight with a powerhead, etc - they go REALLY wrong.
On the other hand, when things go wrong - popped seam, chemistry screaming off in to left field, an anemone getting in a fight with a powerhead, etc - they go REALLY wrong.
kmbyrnes
New member
Economies of scale kick in. And as Ron Reefman said above, after 6 - 12 months, you really don't notice it.
Once you get things set up and settled in the difference is not that drastic and the benefits of the extra volume are not just a more stable environment, but the livestock options increase dramatically.
When I moved to a 100 gallon from my 12 gallon nano, the first few months were tough. Then I got my water change routine worked out and now that part is actually easier - even though i change 10x as much water every week.
Go for a 125 if you can. The extra length is worth it.
Once you get things set up and settled in the difference is not that drastic and the benefits of the extra volume are not just a more stable environment, but the livestock options increase dramatically.
When I moved to a 100 gallon from my 12 gallon nano, the first few months were tough. Then I got my water change routine worked out and now that part is actually easier - even though i change 10x as much water every week.
Go for a 125 if you can. The extra length is worth it.
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
it's as much work as you make it.
i just upgraded from a 75 to a 160, and my work has actually decreased. with the larger tank i was able to plumb supply and drain lines up through the floor, and setup a large saltwater mixing station in the basement.
that cut the amount of work i have to do drastically, and no more bucket brigade!
testing is the same, feeding is the same, conceptually not much else has changed.
i'm going to be dosing more, and need to mix larger batches of water for my water changes, but with the changes i've made in the logistics, this won't surpass the offset of time savings from the new setup.
i just upgraded from a 75 to a 160, and my work has actually decreased. with the larger tank i was able to plumb supply and drain lines up through the floor, and setup a large saltwater mixing station in the basement.
that cut the amount of work i have to do drastically, and no more bucket brigade!
testing is the same, feeding is the same, conceptually not much else has changed.
i'm going to be dosing more, and need to mix larger batches of water for my water changes, but with the changes i've made in the logistics, this won't surpass the offset of time savings from the new setup.
Wazzel
New member
I have kept tanks between 60 and 160 gallons and never fond there to be much difference in the work to keep them up. Water changes are bigger, but if you plan well they do not have to be more labor intensive. Bigger tanks are more expensive to keep, but depending on where you break it is not much more expensive to set up. For example a 48x24x24 120 is not much more expensive to set up than a 48x12x18 55.
gone fishin
New member
I am getting ready to do a 20g WC. From start to finish is about 30 minutes. I drain water from my tank to a old water can then drains to a floor sump. My mix station is in another room I close the recirc valve on the mix can and open the valve to my sump. Turn off mix pump when done.
As others have said it is mostly the cost associated with a larger tank.
As others have said it is mostly the cost associated with a larger tank.
Sounds Fishy
New member
Basically they are about the same routine maitenance wise.It is just with a big tank everything you do is just a bit more,larger amounts of additives,water changes.The supporting infrastructure is also more in terms of size and cost.
Bent
I got nothin'
ericarenee
New member
I have several tanks .. A few quite large one 200 plus one 150 ....
I do water changes at once time... Turn a Valve to drain .. turn another to fill from my Large sump..
The added cost is Bigger pumps more powerful lights Much More live rock and live stock .. The COST Goes way up Compared to maintenance on a smaller tank.. Other then cleaning more glass i do not think its more work.. Unless you are trying to do water changes from buckets......
This just DOES NOT WORK....
Also what is considered a big tank to the op ?
I Feel my tank is about average...... Cost per gallon i suspect Jumps as well
I do water changes at once time... Turn a Valve to drain .. turn another to fill from my Large sump..
The added cost is Bigger pumps more powerful lights Much More live rock and live stock .. The COST Goes way up Compared to maintenance on a smaller tank.. Other then cleaning more glass i do not think its more work.. Unless you are trying to do water changes from buckets......
This just DOES NOT WORK....
Also what is considered a big tank to the op ?
I Feel my tank is about average...... Cost per gallon i suspect Jumps as well
ericarenee
New member
There is more work involved... Just not alot.. most of the extra work is cleaning glass and water changes.
EPRuss
New member
I keep two tanks a 24gal cube and a 90gal. The work is about the same, but costs are exponentially more on the larger tank.
Hardware is most notable, for example; one Kessil A160we $240 vs 2 Kessil A360we $800 (just an example, I'm not using Kessil myself).
This translates to everything; salt, additives, and the amount and size of coral and fish you must buy to fill all of the space in the tank. A big tank with a bunch of tiny frags and fish looks a little silly, but in a nano it doesn't.
So going from a 24gal to a 100gal you can expect at least 4X the expense.
Hardware is most notable, for example; one Kessil A160we $240 vs 2 Kessil A360we $800 (just an example, I'm not using Kessil myself).
This translates to everything; salt, additives, and the amount and size of coral and fish you must buy to fill all of the space in the tank. A big tank with a bunch of tiny frags and fish looks a little silly, but in a nano it doesn't.
So going from a 24gal to a 100gal you can expect at least 4X the expense.
There's a size point at which you can start cheaply automating a lot of little chores you do by hand for a small tank. About 50 gallons. Double that and you can start keeping many fishes that can't live in a little tank, if fishes are your thing. You can also get a controller that will make some things easier. But the longer the footprint, the more spendy your lights get. I have a 100 gallon quarter-column (wedge) that concentrates my light demands, but is so tall I use a painting ladder to service it.
My original question was triggered by seeing 100g tanks for sale cheaper than 70g tanks. So I was wondering how much more work the 100 was. But I should have asked the question from a cost stand point. I know there are a ton of variables. But is there a sweet spot for tank size and cost to setup /run for a soft coral reef tank?
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
i think the 75/125 is a decent sweet spot. the 125 gives you an extra foot in length, which allows you some more choice in fish, but neither of those tank sizes are prohibitively expensive. plus they're fairly common, so you can generally get a good selection of used ones.
70 gallons is an odd size. perhaps they were a more "specialized" type of tank, like acrylic or bow front? those usually tend to go for a little more than your standard glass rectangle.
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