If you could start over?

[fullmonti]

I'm curious to know what you would do different if you could set your tank up all over again, WITH the benefit of hindsight. Not so much what brand of equipment, more what kind of equipment or systems would you do different this time around? I'm sure we can all learn from each others experiences.

 

[chessmanmark]

This has been done before, but anyway...

Starfire glass and better placement of corals. Some sticks would be higher and some lower, others farther apart.

 

[mpoletti]

Be more patient with fish selection, QT longer, and if I had a bigger house, I would of set up a bigger tank.

 

[SC Trojan]

buying a RR tank. been debating whether to wait to save up for a larger (curr 75) rr tank or go ahead now and get a HOB overflow.:crazy1:

 

[francis1123]

i would have had my tank custom built so i could plumb it my way. started QT'ing way sooner. that's about it. i always buy used tanks that are cheaper than new, but something about them always bugs me. ie.: overlow is too small, stand is too short, doors are to narrow, you get the idea.

 

[johnanddawn]

i did just that 10 months ago
after more then 15 years of reefing with a standard 125 i started over
key points:
1) tank - 36x36x24 shape is everything
2) flow - gyre type flow pattern with placement of pumps designed into the reefscape
3) lighting - T5, more choices and better color
4) sump - in basement, summer cooler, larger sumps plumbed together, more volume
5) scape - open yet has a large surface area done with caves, overhangs, and 6 - 12" all the way around front, back, and sides for flow
6) corals - choice pieces well placed with growth, shape, color, and aggresion all considered
7) ease - 2 part, kalk, bacteria and a good skimmer - kiss
8) nature over technology - cheato, cryptic, detritus settling areas all included in sump
9) display bb so no sand to maintain
10) fish - functional as well as nice looking combos
hmm what else ??? i know there is more but that would be where i started

 

[Reefer08]

- Larger grain size for sand so it won't fly around. I hate the sand I currently have, im in the process of slowly removing it each water change.

- Less rock and also having my aquascaping much lower.

I think that's about it for me.

 

[Reefer08]

oops sorry double post

 

[jcal]

Securing them rocks and custom plumbing

 

[1fishkeeper]

If I could do it all over I would teach the cat not to get next to the tank. He jumped up on the lights and they fell in shocking everything to death.

 

[Logzor]

Build a rock structure that has more horizontal space and less vertical space, my current rocks are awesome but there is not a ton of room to place corals.

Go with a 120 rather than a 90 gallon aquarium.

Have a dedicated QT system.

Overall I am extremely happy with most of my decisions regarding everything else. I had the chance to upgrade my 55g reef after a year, so I had a lot of improvements for the 90g build.

I am really glad I spent a lot of the time doing research, a year later I have no desire/need to replace any of the original equipment.

 

[pwoller]

Dip everything no matter how healthy they seem!

 

[Timanator]

Would do something that waves back and forth instead of SPS!

 

[coolfishy101]

Start with the largest skimmer, start with at least 250w halides, use the largest sump I can find and place it where I can have easy access to it.

 

[wishntoboutside]

i think i should have just stayed away from it all.

 

[shaggy14]

Rr tank, more live rock before corals, aquascaping done before addition of any water or corals. If I rearrange now it is a real pita

 

[strout]

Buy a bigger tank.

 

[gordon2726]

If I can start over, I will only buy the corals that I really like instead of just fill the tank up...with corals...

 

[Guy340]

Bigger tank, but not so tall. I like the regular 120, but give me something like a DD200 tank, but 7" shorter.

Also, like gordon states, I wish I would've just picked out my corals slowly rather than a mad rush to try to fill in the voids, oh well.

 

[Lyfey]

Wished I didnt have to move so much.