Starting out Small

[Liquid Hobby]

Alrighty! After about a year of reading, I took several months off from my marine tank research, I'm back and ready to move! The end game is a large tank, 90+ built-in maybe a year or less from now. But first, I want to start small, in the 20 - 40G range. Lots of folk's immediate reaction is "that is really small and hard to maintain", "go bigger rather than smaller", etc...

However, it's my first attempt at salt, I've done planted, fresh water in the past. I'd like to learn on a smaller system so if I find it's not my 'thang', I can get out without having spent a fortune. This smaller route also gives me a platform to learn plumbing, lighting, filtration first hand without breakin' the bank.

Is starting small a good idea? The LFS has a bunch of 20Ls sitting around, with holes drilled, for short dollars. I was thinkg of getting 2 of them, one for the display, the other for the sump/fuge. I've even got a 10G sitting around that I could plumb in to increase the overall volume (Maybe put the skimmer in the 10G and gravity feed the 20G fuge).

I will keep the 'easy stuff' LPS and softies to start, so I won't need high end lighting... at least at first...

Good idea or bad idea?

T

 

[july865]

read. read. read. and read. when you think your done, read some more... it sounds funny, but im serious.. you'll thank me later for it.

 

[Liquid Hobby]

I know there is still a lot of reading left to do. I'm sure it will never end really. With a year into it and still no tank, I feel I've set myself for success and I'm ready to go.

Now if I could jsut find that perfect tank...

T

 

[sir_dudeguy]

imo thats fine. Understand tho that saltwater is much dif. than fresh. Freshwater, imo, has very few things that can go wrong compaired to salt.

When people say "dont start small, get bigger"...i always thnk of REALLY small stuff, like mayb 10 or 5 gallon tanks..imo 20 or so gallons is a decent starting place..specially on a budget.

what are you planning on keeping?

 

[Liquid Hobby]

I'm very aware of the different challenges of salt vs fresh water, which is why Im going small to start!

I'm planning on keeping LPS and softies at first. Haven't even thought about the fish yet... along with some inverts. My lighting will dictate what can and will go in the tank. I'm doing this on a budget not for lack of funds, but rather to minimize my exposure should something change or I find I don't have a nack for it. I'm also going to use this as my learning tool so I'll be that much better at planning and executing the larger system.