Switching to a much larger tank...need advice

[Canuck007]

Hi So I've had smaller tanks, 75, 66, 55 but never anything bigger and I'm planning on going to a 200-300 gallon system. I don't know if I'm biting off more than I can chew.

I would like your opinion as to what you found to be the hardest and unexpected part of switching to a much larger reef aquarium.

Also do you think with a system like that, one can do everything underneath? I don't have a room for a separate sump room etc so all of it will be under the aquarium.

Thanks!

 

[dave.m]

The trouble with a 200-300 gallon display tank is that it is never big enough.

Also, don't discount the possibility of putting some system elements in a cabinet beside the display tank if beneath the stand is not large enough.


Dave.M

 

[Canuck007]

Hahaha....not big enough...yeah i know the itch never goes away for something bigger. but i figure this will satisfy me for awhile and then we'll see what happens....or are you saying don't bother?

Anyway stuff next to the tank is possible but trying to keep it really clean as this will be in our living room and i don't want extra furniture kind of sitting next to it. but you never know.

 

[dave.m]

I would NEVER say don't bother. Just don't expect this to be the end of it, is all.

Dave.M

 

[Canuck007]

got it. thanks for you advice! are you going to getting back into it? you have no tanks right now?

 

[dave.m]

Am needing gainful employment before further developments can occur. Meanwhile I live vicariously through your exploits. Enjoy!

Dave.M

 

[nuxx]

A lot more in planning...

Also you'll end up with a lot of hardware you never thought about in the planning stage.

Bigger tanks are actually easier to keep... ours pretty much runs itself minus feedings and weekly glass cleanings.

 

[Canuck007]

Wow you have a pretty big tank. There's a guy selling a 8ftx30"x24" high glass tank so 300 gallons for 1500 with canopy and stand. In really good shape. Not sure if thats a good price? No other equipment.

Do you still do water changes very often?

 

[foxvalleypcgeek]

The bigger the easier is right. I don't do much at all besides replace a filter sock once a week and clean the glass.

 

[d-man]

Plan, plan, plan and it wcan be easier. If you don't plan very well, then it will be 300g of wasted money, headache, heartache and failure.

As stated above, there are more things in a larger tank than smaller.
I'm fitting all my equipemnet to my 800g underneath inside the stand

 

[Kaidman]

I have a 300g on the way with similar dimensions to the one you can get for $1500. If you are wanting to save some money up front that seems like a pretty good deal. All the quotes I got were much higher than that for a new tank with similar dimensions, $4-5k+ (with stand).

I am planning to setup automatic water changes. Around 2-5 gallons a day so that it is more consistent and not a large change every few weeks. In fact I'm looking for ideas of the best way to keep my DOS lines from freezing in my crawl space in the winter.

 

[Canuck007]

Thank you all. Do you think its a good price? 300gallon $1500

<a href="http://s1000.photobucket.com/user/globalvision9/media/300gallon_zpsljnprwbn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af130/globalvision9/300gallon_zpsljnprwbn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 300gallon_zpsljnprwbn.jpg"/></a>

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[Bono]

That's a very good price and a nice looking stand and canopy. Having a 8 ft tank is awesome and you should have plenty of room under that stand.

 

[Siebo]

Switching to a much larger tank...need advice

Do you have to ability to automate WC's and ATO in the location you plan to put the tank? You don't want to be caring water for that tank. If not I would reconsider highly if it were me.

Also get a more than big enough skimmer. It will be expensive for that tank. But but once IMO

 

[Canuck007]

I'll also have to factor in the move which is around $300 to get someone to do it as I don't have the means or the people to help me.

I don't have a way to automate WC's. It's in the living room with no plumbing to anywhere else.

I was going to try and have a reservoir under the tank for the ato. i'll just have to fill it every 3-4 days if it's like 20 gallon tank. I think people have said that evaporation is around 3-5 gallons per day on a tank like this. Does that sound about right?

Also some have mentioned that water changes are pretty minimal unless parameters start changing and it's warranted. Correct?

 

[benjc]

Water is going to be your issue; at a bit over 8 lb/gal, you are looking at hauling 100+ pounds of top-off water every couple days. A 10% water change will involve removing over 250 pounds of water (and then replacing it).

 

[Finland]

I think people have said that evaporation is around 3-5 gallons per day on a tank like this. Does that sound about right?

That is another thing you should be aware of. Evaporating off a few gallons/day is making your house humid. Think about ways to ventilate, otherwise you will end up with moisture damage. I learned the hard way with my 180.

 

[dave.m]

+1 on the humidity issue.

Dave.M

 

[Canuck007]

I didn't realize humidity would be such an issue. I never worried about it I guess since my tanks were relatively small.

 

[Canuck007]

So I also noticed from SC aquariums they sell a 150 (60x24x24) gal starphire pnp system with stand and canopy for $2300 delivered. includes a 68 gallon glass sump, sc skimmer rated for 180 gallons, return pump and all plumbing...but it is half the size....