Where To Start?

[DrRob]

Greetings all on the salty side.

I've been reading, and reading, and reading, and falling in love with, and reading, about marine tanks for a long time, but have never taken the plunge. I've kept freshwater tropicals for a long time and, after a gap, have 3 tanks set up again.

As the house renovations proceed I've managed to convince the other half that a 6-8 foot tank as a room divider would be a good idea (it was actually her idea) and she suggested a reef.

I warned her that that would cost a fortune but she didn't seem bothered, although it probably means that we'll also have to get more cats.

Now for the advice, having never done marine I'm scared witless about the idea of a huge tank to start, although I'm sure it'll be easier in the long run to maintain so long as I don't get carried away. However I can't help but think that a smaller tank to get me going and learning would be more sensible.

Most of my tanks are old school 10 and 20 gallon longs. What size tank would people here suggest starting with, given the options of waiting for a while and getting the monster, converting a 10 or 20g long, or getting a more sensibly sized tank to start with?

 

[ian]

first you need a tank...and these seem to be the best for custom made stuff (with sumps)

http/www.ndaquatics.co.uk/

good luck with it all Rob, i shall be watching this closely.

 

[simonas]

a set up that size is going to cost a fortine and in my limited experience in marine keeping require quite sophisticated levels of equipment and understanding to maintain levels etc. That being said it would be fantastic and give you so many oppurtunitys to have the ultimate tank, Id love a large reef one day

I run a 20g reef and that cost a small fortune to set up and stock. second time around for me I realise that there are lots of bargains about but its still costly

I personally would try a smaller set up and give yourself the opportunity to learn reefing and whatever stock you buy for that wouldnt be wasted as you could transfer it over to your bigger tank when you feel you are ready or decide that you still want to do it

good luck

 

[ian]

he can afford it Simon

saying that, i know people with the most beautiful marine set ups without all this fancy rubbish, i also know people with a million quid protein skimmers and the tank looks dreadful!

 

[lljdma06]

Hey DrRob, so glad to see you finally taking the plunge. You liked my pictures that much in chat, huh!

First, may your wife eternally be blessed. She's a keeper!

Second, if you've got the cash, go for both. Work on getting the equipment for the larger tank, but if you want to get your feet wet with a smaller system, do so. Now, 20g is better than 10g with regard to stability. Both are nanos, which in the long run are more difficult tanks to maintain than any large-scale reef setup.

Ian, hit the nail on the head. You don't always need all the fancy rubbish. I run small reefs with no skimmer, no sumps, and they are some difficult systems too (non-photosynthetic corals, etc). If you're willing to do the water changes, you can run a sumpless skimmerless 20g.

You want a reef for both systems, right?

L

 

[DrRob]

I'm thinking start with the smaller system, tank and a sump, nothing horribly complex and getting used to the live rock etc and getting used to the foibles of marine. I may well go for a new tank rather than using the 10 or 20g's, as I have nothing drilled for a sump as yet.

In the longer term I can then use it as a test tank/frag tank/quarantine tank etc/2nd display tank. I can also work out how to best do the big tank without destroying the bank balance (thanks for the confidence on the earnings there Ian, although I'm less convinced).

I'll have a look and see what I can fit and where.