For those of you with big ones
- Thread starter maxalmon
- Start date
lion_crazz
Active Member
Well, my 210 is my second tank, so I was able to set it up the right way and correct the mistakes I made on my 75. I set it up with more than enough live rock (260 lbs.), I have a refuge, sump, over-sized skimmer, power compact lighting, and I drilled it for a closed loop system so I did not have to have powerheads inside the tank. All things that I corrected from the 75 (I had a wet/dry, no refuge, normal output lighting, powerheads in tank, not enough live rock at first).
It is definitely very costly to set up a large tank however. My 210 cost me about $3500.
It is definitely very costly to set up a large tank however. My 210 cost me about $3500.
T
thomas712
Guest
I just got back from the LFS, saw a 125 with stand and hood, unfinished wood, for a clearence price of 750 bucks. The wife watched me drool but said nothing. Wish I had a spot for it.
bkh_sd
Member
I got my 100g a few years ago for 350$ ish + tax... after getting more into the hobby I found the same tank at another store for about 170$... Look around there's always cheaper deals. Stands very and I found major difference in prices for the same stand too.. As far as stands go you can save yourself money now by buying the canopy part later...
wangotango
Active Member
the monsterous amount of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ you have to spend.
and get your minds out of the gutter guys jeez
and i thought i was the young one on this forum
and get your minds out of the gutter guys jeez
robchuck
Active Member
When I set up my 300g reef, I was fully prepared for the upfront equipment and other startup costs. However, I never figured the recurring monthly maintenance costs would be anywhere close to what they've become (electricity, food, salt, water, test kits, lamp replacements, clean up crew replenishment, RO filter replacements, supplements, replacing broken equipment, and the list goes on and on). What I had anticipated to be somewhere in the ballpark of $100 or so quickly became $400 or more!!! :scared:
seannmelly
Active Member
This is our fourth tank. Deff should have gotten the bigger one sooner rather then going through 3 other tanks. We tinkered w/ aggressive and loved the reef so thats what we made our 125. Something i wish we had more guidance on was sand instead of cc. Our first tank a 55 was pretty much us going at it w/ little help other then some research. Then we moved to a 90 aggressive and 37 cube reef. We have learned from mistakes. Our set up included: drilled tank, stand, 40gallon sump, 3x150w mh 4x96w pc lights. $750 and a 37 cube tank. All our live rock is what has accumulated over the years and we have about 175lbs. Only other cost has been livestock.
anonome
Active Member
My biggest regret, however very informative, was going from a 29, then 46, then 75 to the now 125. I should have researched more instead of buying tanks. Now I have a whole closet full of unused aquarium "things". Also, the biggest mistake I did was listen to others, mostly LFS that said I should put a underground filter in the 46. :scared: It was horrible, I could never get my perameters right. It is really a wonder that I stuck it out. Unfortunately fish and inverts had to die with my lack of knowledge, but I made sure to do lots of reading, info seeking, and questions before getting the 125g.
I am sure pleased with the results!
v-lioness
Member
In my 300g, I have a sump & refuge, along with 3 closed loops, I now want tunzies on each side of the tank, the flow is just never enough....lol
It started as a Reef with 3 - 400w MH's / 6 Actinics & my 90g a FOWLR, than I decided to change it to a FOWLR , changed the lights out and my 90g is now a reef, I am happy with both set-ups.
I now want a 600g and that is in the planning stages right now, No it will never be big enough!
Kaye
It started as a Reef with 3 - 400w MH's / 6 Actinics & my 90g a FOWLR, than I decided to change it to a FOWLR , changed the lights out and my 90g is now a reef, I am happy with both set-ups.
I now want a 600g and that is in the planning stages right now, No it will never be big enough!
Kaye
mavgi
Member
everything depend in what you want to keep if you want just fish tank or fish+coral the different will be like sky and ground. you said that you have already 180 (a good size of tank to keep all together) i don't know if you have it run before but my suggest to you before you think to upgrade decide what you want to keep in this tank between this option your system will be total different with the cost of $$$$ and you will save a lot of money for the item and staff that you will need to buy.i am shure that every hobbyist start with this hobby do those mistake .
maxalmon
Active Member
The largest tank I've had was a 240 fish only, man I loved that tank. Free standing with viewing on all 4 sides, no overflows or obstructions to see. There were 3 small acrylic stacks in the middle of the tank about 9" high and 3"sq that fed the pump, piled dead coral heads around it and you could not see them. Also had two 1" clear tubes sticking up from the bed that aimed water flow strait up, created surface flow. It was many years ago and would probably cause most to cringe on how it was set up according to todays standards, but it worked and I'm seriously thinking about re-creating the setup.... It had a reverse flow undergravel crushed coral bed, water was pumped up thru the bottom of the bed and thru the CC. Theory was it flushed the bed. There was an eggcrate about 1" thick, covered in mesh, CC sat on top of this and there were 6 outlets under this eggcrate filter. combined with a lifeguard (sp) canisters and dual UV's. Over a period of 4 years never had a single problem with any fish, algae or unwanted critters. Purchased the tank from a guy at the Scripts institute, he had it custom built. I never once had to clean the CC bed and I almost stopped checking water quality because it never varied and I'm starting to wonder if this same setup wouldn't work for a reef.
coachklm
Active Member
I just purchased a 135 that was drilled twice at top corners, if changeing tanks from a 90, now the thing that is stopping me from setting it up like i did the 90. is the plumbing..i dont want it becoming a hassle if there is a leak or whatnot to get back there and change it out. I thing i'll keep the holes in the tanks as drains and then use pvc at the top for returns. and an OceanMotion 4way. this way if I decide on a different set up later i can simply change the pvc, and not have to drain the tank to drill another hole or two. plus the top of the tank sit at 83" high. so any plumbing above tank will not be seen.
maroonytun
Member
Thomas,
Last week I saw a 150 gallon, T5 lights, and canopy for around $473.
Last week I saw a 150 gallon, T5 lights, and canopy for around $473.