Pro's and Con's to a Large Tank
- Thread starter cr reef
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d3hree
New member
Do you guys think dosing is viable for a large tank?...I am setting up about 1350 us gallons display with roughly 1000us gallons in filtration. i looked into the balling and I couldnt make it a viable option and have chosen the large reactor route, co2, nitrate, phos and kalk with a good salt and frequent water changes.
I think I would agree with all the pros and cons mentioned above. There is only the financial con for going larger. It is a sizeable con but is always worth it.
I think I would agree with all the pros and cons mentioned above. There is only the financial con for going larger. It is a sizeable con but is always worth it.
Hal
New member
1. Structural: if you're building the house, make sure to add extra joists or columns to support the tank. Much easier to do upfront, but not impossible as a retrofit. I'm in the process of adding 2 steel I-beams to my floor to support my new 250g tank.
Add a utility sink (and obviously a water source) into your fishroom.
Add a floor drain and sump pump in your fish room. When the eventual flood happens (and it will) you'll be soooo happy that you did , and your wife will be even happier. You can drain your RO waste water and utility sink into it too. Oh yeah, plumb your sump so that you can flip a valve and drain your tank water into it for a water change too.
Reactors are not really that bad. I run carbon and GFO in a BRS reactor. They're pretty cheap ($50 or so) and do a great job. I'm not sure why you sound hesitant to use reactors. Calcium reactors are a little more expensive upfront, but cheaper in the long run than 2 part dosing.
Unless you have a sealed sump, add a humidistat controlled vent fan (venting outdoors) to the fish room to control humidity. You'll need it. Trust me. If you live in a cold climate, consider an ERV (heat exchanger).
For another $100 you can get a dosing pump for vodka. Well worth it. I buy a $15 gallon of vodka, drop the feed tube into it and ignore it for a few months.
Other than that, everything said above is pretty spot on.
Add a utility sink (and obviously a water source) into your fishroom.
Add a floor drain and sump pump in your fish room. When the eventual flood happens (and it will) you'll be soooo happy that you did , and your wife will be even happier. You can drain your RO waste water and utility sink into it too. Oh yeah, plumb your sump so that you can flip a valve and drain your tank water into it for a water change too.
Reactors are not really that bad. I run carbon and GFO in a BRS reactor. They're pretty cheap ($50 or so) and do a great job. I'm not sure why you sound hesitant to use reactors. Calcium reactors are a little more expensive upfront, but cheaper in the long run than 2 part dosing.
Unless you have a sealed sump, add a humidistat controlled vent fan (venting outdoors) to the fish room to control humidity. You'll need it. Trust me. If you live in a cold climate, consider an ERV (heat exchanger).
For another $100 you can get a dosing pump for vodka. Well worth it. I buy a $15 gallon of vodka, drop the feed tube into it and ignore it for a few months.
Other than that, everything said above is pretty spot on.
Hal,
figured on putting a sink in there and after seeing some of the build here getting more ideas, like a fridge, duh, but hadn't thought of that.
Floor drain is a great idea, thanks, I was only looking at an external that I could control.
Never used one before and like to keep things simple, but if they are needed, then that's what I'll do.
I've been reading some build threads today (large) everyone seems to have every gadget under the sun. While I'm not worried about the expense I definately have issues with throwing money away for things not necessary.
For my use or the tanks
I have read quite a bit about the vodka dosing but not positive I want to go that route (yet)
Oh and the external vent fan, is a must the wife can smell the skim poo from accross the house as it is
figured on putting a sink in there and after seeing some of the build here getting more ideas, like a fridge, duh, but hadn't thought of that.
Floor drain is a great idea, thanks, I was only looking at an external that I could control.
Never used one before and like to keep things simple, but if they are needed, then that's what I'll do.
I've been reading some build threads today (large) everyone seems to have every gadget under the sun. While I'm not worried about the expense I definately have issues with throwing money away for things not necessary.
For my use or the tanks
I have read quite a bit about the vodka dosing but not positive I want to go that route (yet)Oh and the external vent fan, is a must the wife can smell the skim poo from accross the house as it is
sfsuphysics
Active member
in all fairness, I think a cylinder of acrylic you put carbon in hardly qualifies as a "reactor", where it simply is another vessel that holds the carbon and doesn't really differ terribly much (except maybe efficiency) than tossing carbon in a bag directly in the sump. A calcium reactor on the other hand allows a drastically different chemistry to occur inside of it, such that it's the only way to get that reaction going for the purpose of what you're doing.
skanderson
New member
huge pro to a big tank is to be able to keep multiple nice size tangs with minimal nagging by the tang police.
jjk_reef00
New member
Don't go overboard on fish you plan on keeping SPS. Large fish eat a ton and produce a lot of waste.
lgtentacle
New member
I've had 20 to 400 gallon tanks and in my opinion the major con's to be considered for a big tank are basically the following:
1. Humidity - If you live in a colder climate, the humidity can cause havoc with your house (mold, wood and drywall rot, damaging nearby electronics from corrosion, etc)
2. Problems take much longer and are more difficult to correct. A large algae bloom, red bug, or flatworm invasion can take a while to correct.
3. Leaks - I had a 240 gallon tank spring a leak at the bottom seam. Ever try to get a replacement 240 gallon tank quickly to save your precious corals?
4. Evaporation loss - Bigger tanks = more water movement = more evaporation loss. It's a pain to have to make water all the time for topping off.
All that being said, what's my next tank size going to be? A 300 gallon wide. When you have a smaller tank, you always wish that you could have gone bigger. I personally just like the idea of knowing that I can have a ton of coral variety in my tank because I have the size to support it. Buy good equipment that makes the regular maintenance less time consuming and you will enjoy your tank a lot more instead of seeing the maintenance like its a frustrating weekly chore.
1. Humidity - If you live in a colder climate, the humidity can cause havoc with your house (mold, wood and drywall rot, damaging nearby electronics from corrosion, etc)
2. Problems take much longer and are more difficult to correct. A large algae bloom, red bug, or flatworm invasion can take a while to correct.
3. Leaks - I had a 240 gallon tank spring a leak at the bottom seam. Ever try to get a replacement 240 gallon tank quickly to save your precious corals?
4. Evaporation loss - Bigger tanks = more water movement = more evaporation loss. It's a pain to have to make water all the time for topping off.
All that being said, what's my next tank size going to be? A 300 gallon wide. When you have a smaller tank, you always wish that you could have gone bigger. I personally just like the idea of knowing that I can have a ton of coral variety in my tank because I have the size to support it. Buy good equipment that makes the regular maintenance less time consuming and you will enjoy your tank a lot more instead of seeing the maintenance like its a frustrating weekly chore.
MammothReefer
Active member
I went up to a 500g system, and am now back down to a 65g. After a while the amount of maintenance and the up keep cost just wears on you (if you are doing a large sps tank). 50g water changes a week, 1200w+ of lighting, 2000w+ heating, massive skimmers ect. The tank was costing me around 200-400 a month to upkeep depending on the season. Not including stocking ect..
With that said the reward of having a large tank kept me motivated for the 3 years I was running it. You don't find your self limited by your tank size.
The biggest down side for me is when things go wrong, it takes ALOT of work to fix them. While with my smaller system a quick 10 gallon water change will get most parameters back in check. With my 500 when my nitrates got out of control it took MONTHS of massive water changes and vodka dosing to fix things.
With that said the reward of having a large tank kept me motivated for the 3 years I was running it. You don't find your self limited by your tank size.
The biggest down side for me is when things go wrong, it takes ALOT of work to fix them. While with my smaller system a quick 10 gallon water change will get most parameters back in check. With my 500 when my nitrates got out of control it took MONTHS of massive water changes and vodka dosing to fix things.
Lgtentacle,
Didn't think about the the mold/dry rot, Thanks I'll have to plan for a vapor barrier in the fish room or extensive evape system, other than just an external fan. Oh and we're neighbors kind of.
Mammothreefer,
Thank you for chiming in, it's people that have gone from big to small that can usually come up with the cons.
Really didn't think much about if there was a problem how much longer to fix it would be until you and others pointed this out. Always went on the side of more stable due to more water volume.
So far not discouraged .......... yet.
Thanks All
Didn't think about the the mold/dry rot, Thanks I'll have to plan for a vapor barrier in the fish room or extensive evape system, other than just an external fan. Oh and we're neighbors kind of.
Mammothreefer,
Thank you for chiming in, it's people that have gone from big to small that can usually come up with the cons.
Really didn't think much about if there was a problem how much longer to fix it would be until you and others pointed this out. Always went on the side of more stable due to more water volume.
So far not discouraged .......... yet.
Thanks All
MammothReefer
Active member
Don't get me wrong. I would like to eventually setup another large system. However the biggest con for me is I'm a renter. While I have been in the same place for 6-7 years now, things were in flux for a while. The landlord was foreclosed on and I wasn't sure what was going to happen with my living situation. I also don't live in a town with many other reefers so in the event I need to move I want to make sure I can move all my equipment on my own. With that when I decided to get back into the hobby this year. I set some guidelines in terms of tank size for myself. In the event that I do buy I house I would like to think I would have the funds/time to setup a really nice in-wall setup with a proper reef room ect.
hpfunk
New member
On that note, that could be considered one of the biggest pains with regarding a large set up. The planing and prep work are extremely important in a large build. I almost feel like a tank should take months of planing prior to purchasing the first piece, that way you leave plenty of time to re-plan and modify. Somethings you are just stuck with once you do.
So remember... measure twice cut once.
So remember... measure twice cut once.
Masterse7en
New member
Much easier to set up and maintain a larger tank...
Bringing this back to life just so those that helped me know I'm still in the process.
I did have to change the size of the tank due to location, it's on a second floor and the house is modern and only 4yrs old so don't want to upset the wife by destroying to much of the finish work.
So far;
I've changed the size down to 165g or so, it should be here in the next month or so (60x24x26)
I've reinforced the subflooring to hold the weight
Went from a fish room to a stacking system in the garage
Ordered the tanks, 3- 50g acrylic, one for fresh RO/DI, one for pre-mixed salt, one for skimmer and I have another for the sump. Drain lines will run 1-skimmer 1-sump skimmer will gravity drain to the sump.
Framed the stand, stain going on this weekend
Laid out the electrical and plumbing and started puchasing plumbing supplies
Water changes will be turning two valves, on drain sump next fill from premixed sw water
The total volume will be around 220-260 depending on final layout of the garage tanks.
Now I need to figure out a good return pump (12vx20h) and decide on lighting
Again I want to thank all of you who put input into the pro/cons
If anyone has any thoughts here let me know
I did have to change the size of the tank due to location, it's on a second floor and the house is modern and only 4yrs old so don't want to upset the wife by destroying to much of the finish work.
So far;
I've changed the size down to 165g or so, it should be here in the next month or so (60x24x26)
I've reinforced the subflooring to hold the weight
Went from a fish room to a stacking system in the garage
Ordered the tanks, 3- 50g acrylic, one for fresh RO/DI, one for pre-mixed salt, one for skimmer and I have another for the sump. Drain lines will run 1-skimmer 1-sump skimmer will gravity drain to the sump.
Framed the stand, stain going on this weekend
Laid out the electrical and plumbing and started puchasing plumbing supplies
Water changes will be turning two valves, on drain sump next fill from premixed sw water
The total volume will be around 220-260 depending on final layout of the garage tanks.
Now I need to figure out a good return pump (12vx20h) and decide on lighting
Again I want to thank all of you who put input into the pro/cons
If anyone has any thoughts here let me know
