Maximum saltwater tank size that 1 person can manage alone??

[greenpiranha24]

Hi, I currently have a 8 and 29 gallon biocube for about a year now and I'm looking into getting a much bigger aquarium. Basically my question is that what does everyone think is the biggest aquarium that one person can manage possibly two if my dad helps but for the most part just me. I was thinking atleast 200 gallons but preferably bigger. I know this will be exspensive but I have no bills and I'm willing to put all my time and money into it. So what do you all think? thanks

 

[bhfccsr198]

It All Depends What Kinda Time You Have On Ya Hand And How Clean You Wanna Keep It

 

[kynekke]

I have a friend at work that has a 300 gallon and a 210 gallon and he solo's those and has the most pristine tanks... just as 198 said, it all depends on how much time you have.

 

[sfoister]

You could get into the thousands of gallons if you had enough time. When I initially saw your question I was thinking somewhere in the 800 to 1000 range. But good luck lighting it, and buying your rock, filling it with fish/corals, etc. It would be very expensive. But as far as being doable, sure.

 

[teresaq]

I have a 150 and do it all by my self, and I dont have much extra time. (4 kids). a 2 to 3 hundred is pleny big. What are you planning on keeping in it. you dont want somthing you cant take care of in the future. you will have bill someday.

 

[peef]

Fedel Castro had around the following
1 x 250
2 x 195
2 x 95
2 x 45
4 x 30
Something around there. He got up at like 4:30 to 5 am every day to test and tweak his systems so he could chill with the fam at night. Now he is going with one 300 gallon I think. So it is just a matter of time you are willing to put into your setup.

 

[calvertbill]

My Dad was building a new house in Westchester, NY and I asked him if my room could be in the basement. He asked why and I showed him my design for a 16'x16' block room with a concrete pad for a floor and a 12' diameter plexiglass cone in the center. My room would be in the glass cone with egress from a spiral staircase. My room would be immersed within the 16x16x10' fishtank (16x16x10x7.5= 19,200 gallons less the volume of the cone). He wrote to Owens Corning and I got a nice reply saying my cone would be around $15,000 + shipping which shot the idea in the butt but as I think back on that idea it occurs to me that I never considered the effort involved with maintaining it! It was good being 11.

 

[mie]

Man oh man no bills must be nice. I have heard of some people with 10 gal biocubes I dont know were they find the time.

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by Greenpiranha24
Hi, I currently have a 8 and 29 gallon biocube for about a year now and I'm looking into getting a much bigger aquarium. Basically my question is that what does everyone think is the biggest aquarium that one person can manage possibly two if my dad helps but for the most part just me. I was thinking atleast 200 gallons but preferably bigger. I know this will be exspensive but I have no bills and I'm willing to put all my time and money into it. So what do you all think? thanks

I have five reef tanks right now and if I had just one bomber tank, it would be half the time. I don't see the big difference in time between a 55 and a 455? Just water changes and money? If money is not too much of an object, you can really automate a tank up to and including water changes.
Mc

 

[sepulatian]

As many have mentioned here time and expense are something to keep in mind. Think about what you will be able to handle.

 

[lion_crazz]

Yep, you need to figure out what kind of budget you have and go from there. It can get very costly as you get into the big tanks.

 

[topfins-mj]

If you are a begginer, I would reccomend a 90 or 120 tank size.
Given that this will offer the best of both worlds. Fish and corals.
Things to consider are:
Can this tank fit in your chosen location?
Are you willing to fork out $3,000 to set up this tank?
(Tank + Stand + Filters + Pumps + Lightting + Sand + Live Rock+ Reverse Osmosis water filter + Thermometers + Test Kits + Heaters)
How much free time do you have now?
Well lets just say that I started with a 46Gallons and wish I went a litlte higher since I have to pay more attention to my parameters.
I spend one hour a day and sometimes 3 hours on the weekends for maintenance and just staring at the tank.

 

[thangbom]

it comes down to $$ and time.... if you go to the big leuge.. then you better have some nice toys... it takes me 45 mins ( sfter water harvest) to do a wc.. that includes adding salt to rodi.. test it's SG .. take water out from DT.. and adding new... then you add 2 mins to clean the skimmer.. changes carbon and im done.. o clean the DT glass w/ the magfloat 1x a day.. and razor algea 1 in 10 days or soo.. mag = 2 mins.. razor= 15 mins.. and this is solo.. on a 155... on a bigger tank.. most likely, you will have srotage vats and pump that will make WC's easier.. ( not lik eme lluggin 5 gal bucket) skimmer is easy.. just the cup and neck.. but it still takes time.. but most importanly.. $$$ to keep things going... i spend like $25 a mo on electric for the tank alone.. then there is salt,food, test kit... a bucket of io last like 2 month maybe.. test kit .. 6 months.. then food....
YzGyz

 

[tinmanny]

what will you be doing in one year and what do you have to do in one year will you have about 1-2 hrs a day if so just go for it you may not need all that time but it is best to figure worst case sceneario.
BUT if you do go for it then keep us posted on the build and progress
Good Luck in your choice what ever you decide have a real good time
Manny

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Yep, you need to figure out what kind of budget you have and go from there. It can get very costly as you get into the big tanks.
That sums it up. Cost is the only real limit.