One BIG tank or 2 big Tanks? Fish and Coral Compatibility?

[Atomic081]

Hey everyone! I'm in the design stage for a new home right now. We purchased the land this week and will start construction spring of 2018. The wife has given me the go ahead to have a fish tank and room in the basement. :eek1::fish2::bdaysmile:

I am going to build the tank or tanks out of plywood In-wall with a front viewing glass panel. I'm having a hard time deciding on what size of tank or tanks I should have. The total is gonna be around 1000 gallons including the fish room. I really love my Reef tanks but I have always had trouble with keeping certain fish/fish or fish/coral combos together in my 220. My Angels have always picked at my Zoanthid and LPS. Thus I have always been more SPS driven. I have 2 options right now and i think they will be roughly the same cost.

1. 10ft long x 4ft deep x 30inches high. 750gal, One Big long tank. I can keep just about any fish in here that I want but ill always have the problem of fish compatibility. Maybe i just take my chances?

2. 2 Tanks. 6ft long x 4ft deep x 30inches high. 450gal each (900 total). Im concerned about keeping big angels in a 6ft tank. I know its on the small side. This option lets me have a Angel tank with softies and a SPS LPS tank.


I keep going back and forth on this. It will be my forever house and my forever tank. So i dont wana get this one wrong.

What would you do if money was the same?

 

[VGT]

One big one, for sure.

 

[MuShu]

My preference would be the one big tank. Figure out your must-haves and work on compatibility with other creatures from there.

 

[HidingReefer]

I definitely say one big tank. I visited Vivid Aquariums and they have a 10 foot 800 gallon tank and it is stunning.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Tough choice for sure.
I solved my dilemma by having a larger/longer tank ( 120" x 30" x 24" ) for the big fish I just had to have. I have 2 smaller reefs for softies and SPS.

 

[mickey204]

Have you considered the 2 tanks being done as an L ?

Frame it at the corner so it gives the illusion as one tank. FOWLR on one side, a full blown reef on the other.

You can run the rockscape up to the ends of both tanks to give the illusion they're connected, and grab some fake coral for the FOWLR to help with it.

You'll only know it's 2 tanks from the backside inside the fishroom.

 

[GimpyFin]

I wish I had your dilemma, lol. If it were me, I'd do two tanks. I'd love to have both a reef and and a fowlr aggressive tank.

 

[Reefiez]

Pretty tough choice. I guess I'd vote for 1 huge tank.

Reason being it's rare to have the chance to get a 1000g installed, it's always easy(ier) to add another 400g later on down the road.

 

[roli112]

First world problems

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

I've always been torn between a predator tank and a reef tank. On a much smaller scale than you are planning, but the struggle will always be the same. I think id probably end up doing 2 displays with a common sump just because I will always want both a reef, and the non-reef safe fish. Maybe a slightly smaller reef tank and slightly bigger Fish only tank? You can always do lots of DIY stuff like a big DIY skimmer to help with costs. I'd imagine that might already be the plan though as you're making the tank from plywood. I like the L shape idea.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

I've been toying with the idea of doing a two level tank. One fish only one for fish and corals. Both tied into the same sump but each separate so the incompatible fish can't mingle and the corals won't get eaten.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

As for tank size. I have an emperor in a 7 foot L. 6 foot long with a 1 foot L and he's very happy.

 

[Sk8r]

What I'd get if money and room were no object? There's a manufacturer that makes furniture-grade circular tanks---no end in sight.

 

[Atomic081]

What I'd get if money and room were no object? There's a manufacturer that makes furniture-grade circular tanks---no end in sight.

Money is definitively a object, Its just that once you go so big, its not that much more to go bigger!!!

As for tank size. I have an emperor in a 7 foot L. 6 foot long with a 1 foot L and he's very happy.

I had a Emperor in my 6' tank and he did fine but was only about 6" long. wonder what a 8" would need.

I've been toying with the idea of doing a two level tank. One fish only one for fish and corals. Both tied into the same sump but each separate so the incompatible fish can't mingle and the corals won't get eaten.

Yup, thats my thought. same sump, just separate tanks.

I've always been torn between a predator tank and a reef tank. On a much smaller scale than you are planning, but the struggle will always be the same. I think id probably end up doing 2 displays with a common sump just because I will always want both a reef, and the non-reef safe fish. Maybe a slightly smaller reef tank and slightly bigger Fish only tank? You can always do lots of DIY stuff like a big DIY skimmer to help with costs. I'd imagine that might already be the plan though as you're making the tank from plywood. I like the L shape idea.

I never thought of a DIY skimmer, wonder how big i would need......research will start soon!!

Have you considered the 2 tanks being done as an L ?

Frame it at the corner so it gives the illusion as one tank. FOWLR on one side, a full blown reef on the other.

You can run the rockscape up to the ends of both tanks to give the illusion they're connected, and grab some fake coral for the FOWLR to help with it.

You'll only know it's 2 tanks from the backside inside the fishroom.

I love this Idea!! I dont really mind the 2 tanks side by side, but the L would be very cool. I considered even having one big tank, but doing a Wall with only small holes, so smaller fish could go between the tank, but bigger ones like the angels would stay away from my zoanthids!

One big one, for sure.

Thanks for the input!

My preference would be the one big tank. Figure out your must-haves and work on compatibility with other creatures from there.

Thanks!

I definitely say one big tank. I visited Vivid Aquariums and they have a 10 foot 800 gallon tank and it is stunning.

the 10ft club is pretty rare. its tempting

Tough choice for sure.
I solved my dilemma by having a larger/longer tank ( 120" x 30" x 24" ) for the big fish I just had to have. I have 2 smaller reefs for softies and SPS.

How big are your smaller reefs?

I wish I had your dilemma, lol. If it were me, I'd do two tanks. I'd love to have both a reef and and a fowlr aggressive tank.

Thanks

Pretty tough choice. I guess I'd vote for 1 huge tank.

Reason being it's rare to have the chance to get a 1000g installed, it's always easy(ier) to add another 400g later on down the road.

Thanks!

 

[WatDatThing]

2 - one for reef and reef safe fish and 1 for fish you like but not reef safe (assuming you have/want none reef safe fish).

 

[Joe0813]

Go one big reef... orrrrr one reef and one aggressive

 

[Atomic081]

2 - one for reef and reef safe fish and 1 for fish you like but not reef safe (assuming you have/want none reef safe fish).

Most of the fish i want are semi reef safe such as angels. The other problem i have is that the fish dont interact. My trigger kills any small fish right now and im getting a harliquin tusk soon. No more shrimp.....

 

[d-man]

I have a 860 145x32x43" plywood tank.
I went mixed reef and yes, although I sacrificed some fish(Angels) I love having so much diversity with my corals and fish. I do have a Joculator angel and a Genicanthus angel, but that is it for angels. I'm tempted to try an interuptus and a bandit at some point but it's risky of course.
But 1 long tang allows for more tangs vs 2 x5' tanks, which would be iffy for most zebrasomas and all Naso species

 

[Atomic081]

I think I'm going towards the big tank but not 100% sure yet. Schooling fish in a big tank are so cool.


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