What if you could start over?

[bluemarlin]

I like my tank and what I have created with it but I always think about either starting another tank or changing the one I have. You know how it goes. Shark tank? Aggressive setup? Reef? Timid little fish tank? So many choices.
So I was wondering what I would want if I changed my current setup? Right now, I have a 180 gallon tank with about 2" of LS and 250# of LR. I have a couple annenomes, some mushroom corals, shrimp, fish and cleanup crew. But what would a 180 look like if I had a Lion fish, grouper and a couple triggers in it? Cool! An aggressive setup! I could keep the sand and the LR. I could keep a lionfish, two triggers and a grouper in the tank without any problems. I won't get into all the specifics but its safe to say that I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear my wife call me for dinner. Now thats a problem!!

 

[chrismilano]

I often think about starting over. Mainly to avoid the expensive mistakes I made and since they cant be undone, restarting would just be counterproductive. Besides, we made a commitment to the fish we chose to keep them (even though Zoos Pets buys them pack for pennies on the dollar)
But in the interest of daydreaming..
Wish I had gone with a bright white finer substrate then the pink crushed coral I have. A big school of perculas or catalina gobies or tangs would have been interesting instead of the typical 4 or 5 different fish. i think schools grab attention. Still couldnt afford to go with reef tank though. $500 lights are just too much money!

 

[c_bell]

After ick claimed my 55 gal. I thought about getting outta the hobby all my hard work and money gone in a matter of days. But i had one fish that made it though the ick and i still alive and well today. I did start over. I now have a 46 gal bow front and i tought me the importance of haveing a q-tank so i now have a 20 gal long q-tank, which my watchman goby the one who lived though the ick is very happy in by himself. I just broke down 55 gal. to start over with a new 90 gal, I order 2 days ago. I got rid of the old bio wheel 330 and put my cpr bak pak skimmer on my 46 gal. For the 90 gal. I went with wet/dry sump with a built in skimmer. I don't now what fish im going to go with on the 90 gal. But the 46 gal. is coming along nicely as a community tank.

 

[hondo]

I think about this all the time.
1. I would have gone with the 75gal in place of my current 50. both tanks are 4" long but the 75 has the extra width which makes aquascaping so much easier.
2. Get a tank with a built in overflow, no more siphon overflows to deal with.
3. Start off with a sump system and a beefier skimmer
4. Not listen to the LFS guy about how CC is really the best substrate for the tank. The inevitable change to sand from cc is something no one should have to go through.
5. Spend the extra $$$ on a combo MH and VHO hood lighting system. This is easily the most important part of the reef and we all look to save money here for some reason.
6. Cycle with raw shrimp and avoid trying to catch the devil damsel.