If you were to do it all over again, what would you do?

[Brian DeGolier]

Hi everyone, I'm between tanks right now. I previously have a 55 gallon reef for about 5 years and I plan to get a DSA 105 gallon in the next year. I have been reading through my old reef journal lately of all my frustrations, one was the fact that it was a 55 gal and the space in the cabinet was very limited so I was constantly redoing my sump. Please feel free to chime in "if you were to do it all over again, what would you do? " to help me plan out my next system. Thanks.

 

[MrIcky]

I'd do a biotope aquarium.

 

[bigdookie]

I'd do a biotope aquarium.

i would setup a 4ft length shallow tank as opposed to my 28gal nano right now. ive got too much empty space against my wall.

 

[atreis]

BeanAnimal overflow. Otherwise, it'd be pretty much like it is now.

 

[Lateralus]

I definitely would NOT of went with the dual megaflow 120. I Wish I would of just bought a non RR tank and drilled it myself. Too much wasted space with the megaflow imo.

 

[rich850]

I would buy good equipment from the beginning. I would do a bare bottom display tank. I would have gotten a tank that was 20 in deep at the most.

 

[Gorgok]

I would get a blank long, wide, shallow tank; 26" tall being the absolute max. Bean external box overflow. Returns over the top.

 

[txaggie09]

I definitely would NOT of went with the dual megaflow 120. I Wish I would of just bought a non RR tank and drilled it myself. Too much wasted space with the megaflow imo.

100% with this one. I had a standard hang on overflow on my old 72 bow and thought the dual megaflow on the 120 would make things so much better. And, it has, but now that I have seen other options for drilling and such, I want something different.
I really like the size of the 120, but would like to have the real estate those overflows take up. Thinking of buying a custom 120 to replace this one, but If i spend the money on a custom tank i'd probably kick myself for not going bigger. (current dream tank would be 8' x 30" x 30")

Otherwise, I would buy good equipment from the start and not cheap out then eventually get what I wanted/needed.

 

[MikeC120]

I definitely would NOT of went with the dual megaflow 120. I Wish I would of just bought a non RR tank and drilled it myself. Too much wasted space with the megaflow imo.

+1:bounce2::uzi:

 

[88rxna]

GOOD CURED pest free rock!

 

[SGT_York]

Bean Animal C2C overflow +5 now.

Oversized stand for more room below and behind.

 

[GroktheCube]

A 48"x30"x20" custom tank with a coast to coast bean animal instead of a corner overflow 120. Maybe even go all out with a slot + back mounted overflow box. I didn't want to spend the extra money, but the cost of the tank was such a small drop in the bucket that it seems a bit silly now.

Would have used heavier sand to begin with, and used more expensive but higher quality pumps from the beginning.

I would have added peppermints or berghias from the beginning to eliminate any stray aiptasia.

I probably would have let the LR sit in a bare tank for a while to make sure I got any hitchikers while it was still easy.

I would have done a better RO/DI setup in the basement with barrels and pumps from the get go.

Thicker acrylic and better silicone in the sump so that I wouldn't have to rebuild.

 

[Humu Humu]

Went with a 180 gallon and drilled my own. Coast to coast overflow, no DSB in the tank (maybe RDSB), and went with my 400w 20,000K Radiums from the beginning.

 

[Brian DeGolier]

I would buy good equipment from the beginning. I would do a bare bottom display tank. I would have gotten a tank that was 20 in deep at the most.

I'm thinking the same thing with a BB. thanks

 

[Brian DeGolier]

Bean Animal C2C overflow +5 now.

Oversized stand for more room below and behind.

The plan is to have a 5'-9" wide stand for my 4'-0" tank. That way I can change my mind and put more stuff in there. Also make the stand about 6" taller than the standard, I could always make some sore of riser for when I work on the bottom of the tank. thanks

 

[mussel and hate]

I'd tile the floor and wall behind the tank as if it were half a shower stall, membrane and all.

I'd go with a Basso style overflow at one end with my return at the opposite end.

 

[FlyPenFly]

Super long and shallow. 72x18x16

 

[Dapg8gt]

Bought a house with a spare room for equipment =).. Definitely the bigger stand is a must and my second would be an external overflow w/bean animal. Herbert works OK though but it does require some tweaking every so often..

 

[Brian DeGolier]

Went with a 180 gallon and drilled my own. Coast to coast overflow, no DSB in the tank (maybe RDSB), and went with my 400w 20,000K Radiums from the beginning.

What about a shallow sand bed in the aquarium? I'm really considering a BB and want to avoid a DSB or RDSB altogether. If I had sand, I would want just a 1/2 inch or so. Then again, I plan to have SPS with lots of water movement and that would probably kick up the shallow bed, in that case I would rather just go BB only.

The coast to coast would really be nice. Thanks

 

[rishma]

Elevated my sump for easy siphon cleaning.