What would you do? Honest opinions please.

C

C_THRU_U

New member
Let me start by giving you my background. I have a friend who would like to sell me his showpiece tank for almost nothing. We are talking custom built 1000 gallon (roughly 8ft x 4ft x 4ft) tank with black piano finish stand and hood. 160 gallon refugium, lights, the whole lot. I would need some things still-ie- protein skimmer, r/o unit but its basicly complete. I currently have a 150 gallon reef settup up and running.

My problems: 1) I don't really know where I could put this big of a tank. This think would dominate my whole living room. I need help trying to find a suitable place to but this and still have a living room (and a wife:spin2:) Does anyone have experience with google sketchup or something like that?

2) I don't have the money right now to take on this project. Even the protein skimmer is going to cost some serious $. Salt, live rock, sand, etc equals $$ I can't spend right now (just bought multiple toys lately).
It is currently set up as a freshwater tank- I suppose I could keep it that way until I have funds? Or let it sit and slowly collect what I need.

Would I bite off more than I can handle getting this or should I just go for it?
 
In this economy I would definitly take it slow,, get the tank though,,they just don't come along very often even if it takes a year or more to get it online,, which with that amount of water a year to get it up and running would actually not be that slow at all. RO unit wouldn't prob kill ya,, but your going to need a serious skimmer.
 
If I had the money to get it, I would. Even if I had to sit on it till I could get it up running. That's if your really wanting that big of a tank. I know me though, and I would get it... That would make an ideal FOWLR tank and you wouldn't need any special lighting for it. I would sell the lighting and buy a skimmer
 
Just a 10% (116g) water change will use up most of a salt bucket depending on salinity mixed at of corse. So that is one thing to consider as on going expenses are concerned. But if you were to make the system very efficient and self sustaining (i.e. algae scrubber, denitrater, huge skimmer etc etc) you might not have to worry as much about wc's. It might cost more in the beginning but in the long run it should save you both money and time. I am sure there are many ways to make needed service to the tank as minimal as possible but it is all going to cost you at some point. That is a big system indeed.
 
There are also alot of other things you need to think about getting in to a tank that size. Can your floor support it (just the water will weigh 4 tons), do you have adiquate ventelation? (I learned that one the hard way), will your wife kill you..;...
 
I think you all ready answered your own questions. If you don't know where you would put a tank that large or have the money to support it I would definately pass. Just my $.02.
 
tom obrecht said:
I think you all ready answered your own questions. If you don't know where you would put a tank that large or have the money to support it I would definately pass. Just my $.02.
Click to expand...

+1 If you have doubts that you can afford a 1000g tank you probably can't and/or shouldn't. Just saying...
 
The investment in a tank that size goes way beyond the initial purchase. Don't get me wrong I would love to have a huge setup like that but you will have to make modifications to your house or the floor might not hold up and the humidity would ruin things if not ventilated properly. Live rock for the system will cost in and around 1500 if you do it cheap with mostly base rock. Stocking that thing will cost a pretty penny as well.

If you've got the cash go all in and do it, sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity, but keep in mind its gonna add up to over 10,000 pretty quickly.
 
I would also add that running a large tank generally requires additional space for "fish room". You aren't going to run a tank like that with everything inside the stand. That's additional sq.ft. that it sounds like you don't have.

Also...love the 4 foot depth, but 4 feet tall? Not for me, thanks!
 
Don't forget about utility costs and costs of any mods to your house, like back up generator, dehumidification, fish room set up.
 
chingchai said:
The answer is on your mind.
Click to expand...

+1 Very Zen.
Only you know for sure if you are willing and able to take on a project of this scope. We can all say "I'd do this" or "I'd do that" but we are all in very different places in our lives.

Good luck to you if you decide to go for it, I have always dreamed of having a tank this size.
 
I would consider my situation, the likelihood that I will ever be making more money in the future than I am today. If I can't afford it now, will I realistically be able to afford it in the foreseeable future (i.e. near term)? If not, then this probably isn't as wonderful an opportunity as it first appeared.

Probably it would be better to let this opportunity pass on to someone with the dosh and the interest to put it to use. Unless you really like goldfish ....

Dave.M
 
I could not even imagine just what the electirc bill would be on a tank like that. It is tempting because you are getting it for a good deal. However just the rocks and skimmer would be thousands. I know it is like a dream but it could also be a serious drain on the finances . Also reinforce your floor to handle that kind of weight. Or you could grab the deal and worry about it later thats something I would do;)
 
Nice tank, it will take up a lot of room in a normal home. I would say if your wife says yes go for it, mine almost went ballistic when I got my 300DD and this tank dwarfs it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

U
New build
Replies
3
Views
328
griss
griss
F
COMPLETE 150 Gallon Setup FOR SALE
Replies
0
Views
163
floridasaltwaterjunkie
F
8
What am i looking at here ?
Replies
5
Views
328
griss
griss
C
Correct placement of Top Filter and Power head
Replies
1
Views
214
Timfish
Timfish
C
Filter inlet and outlet at the opposite bottoms?
Replies
1
Views
143
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
Back
Top