tank suggestions for student

[thedude]

Hi everybody! I am new to this hobby but my interest seems to borderline-obsessive already after only a few days . I found this site today and am very pleased to have found a place that satisfies my new-found curiosity and will someday help answer important questions.
Anyway, ive been doing a lot of research on various saltwater tanks and decided I want a reef tank with several small fish (probably a couple small clowns, a wrasse and a goby) along with some anenomes, cleaning crews and a bunch of LR and sand.
My delema is I am a college student and I move a lot, every year in and out of a new apartment or dorm...and i want to find a tank that is large enough to hold want I want but small enough to transport relatively easily. Is 40g big enough for a good reef? Ive been reading alot about 'cycling' when your first setting up a tank, which takes up to a month...does this mean i will have to re-cycle every time I move? :notsure: If this takes a month, would I need two tanks to keep everything alive? Have any of you found an easy way to do this (move your setup around)? I wouldnt be moving very far (w/ in the same city) so thats not an issue, and the size of the tank itself isnt an issue either (ill probably have my own apartment).
I would appreciate any advice or past experience, as well as any knowledge of good web-sites for equipment (tanks, lights, filters, etc), because as of now I need pretty much everything!
Sorry for such a long question....any help would be great

 

[sammiefish]

I know exactly how this one goes!!! I did this about 15 years ago while in grad school... what a PITA...
There are threads that describe how to move a tank... certainly better procedures than I used then...
I did it with a 30 gal.. Even with the water removed leaving the substrate in the tank it was HEAVY!!! And moving it mixed up all the "crap" from the bottom...not really good for the water quality
I moved it twice until I decided I wasnt going to keep it going until I settled down...
My recommendation.... keep as small a tank as possible... there is a whole sect of the hobby using small tanks... nano-tanks... check that out and see if you can do what you want with a 10 gal...
otherwise search out the threads on moving a tank and get a feel for what is involved and decide if you are up for it.... one thing I will say is that reading those threads it seems that some people have really good luck moving tanks
GOOD LUCK

 

[thedude]

hmm...yeah i was afraid of that...looks like it will be a nano tank

 

[ophiura]

Also REALLY important to know if they turn off the heat/AC over breaks...and what to do if you are not allowed in during breaks (feeder, auto top off).

 

[lefty]

I'll be attending college somewhat soon and have considered the whole moving thing. I've decided on a 20 gallon since that seems like a happy medium between too small and larger than what's convenient. You can happily keep three fish and some inverts in a 20g. I would like a reef tank someday, but reef tanks require lots of extra time and care. It's also harder to keep a reef tank going in a smaller tank (in my opinion). I also wouldn't be comfortable transporting sensitive corals and the like =).
Anyway, here's my plan. I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me if this is a good idea or not--or if they have any modifications to share =).
If I'm going to leave college for just a few days, I'll try and find someone to feed the fish daily and make sure all the equipment's still working and all that. If I can't find someone, I'll plan on taking a small tank (or two) with me to wherever I go (which would most likely be home). I'd take substrate, rock, and water from my main tank to use in the smaller tank(s) so as to avoid a new cycle kicking in (I'd probably only fill the tank(s) with a little bit of water and then transport the rest with the rock in a separate clean container). I would most likely transport the fish and inverts in bags since the trip wouldn't be more than a few hours. I'd be sure to transport them in a cooler (with no ice in it, of course) with a few towels around the bags to keep them from jostling around too much. I've also heard that keeping fish in the dark reduces the stress of the move. When I get to wherever I'm going, I'll just get the smaller tank(s) set up by adding the rock and water, getting it to the proper temperature, and making sure the water parameters are okay. Then I'd acclimate the fish to their new hotel.
It sounds like a bit of a hassle...and it might be, but I really can't think of an easier way to go about moving the fish somewhat often.
I know I've only covered temporary moving conditions, but I thought it might still be somewhat helpful .
-lefty

 

[thedude]

yeah thanks man...i think the 20 is definately more realistic for my lifestyle, although i want a big tank so bad. Maybe ill settle for a 25 or 30g
Anyway...how much light (watts) would you need to keep anenomes in a 30 g. Can you do this without MH lights?