Shd I jump straight to big tanks?

[lyz77]

I always 1 2 hv my own marine tank! I setup a 1ft nano tank before but due to power trip, the whole tank got wipe out!

I intend to setup a 5x2x2ft tank in my new house. But I'm not sure whether is it a right move cos I dun hv experience for those piping and equipments. Basic stuff like water properties is still OK for me.

Nd expert out there to advise whether is it advisable to go into the big setup???

[Limpc]

For sure. One time pain only and will never be thinking of upgrading in future. Another advantage is that with big tank, water parameter could be more stable.

[livebait]

Get a reputable tank maker

[lyz77]

Get a reputable tank maker

Any recommendation?

[shoelevy]

For sure. One time pain only and will never be thinking of upgrading in future. Another advantage is that with big tank, water parameter could be more stable.

i agree with this

esp on the part about stable water parameters

but one thing u must consider is the costs u will incur because everything u need has to be bigger and more powerful.

hence more costly to purchase and not to mention costly to maintain elec bill hor!

[kueytoc]

Don't worry...get budget or 2nd-half stuffs & you're in business lah !!!

[lightningstrike]

work within ur budget, go for the largest setup u think u can afford.

think far, think sps....... patience and sustainability.

[Clownfish]

larger tank = more stable water parameters

but must also work ur budget lor... no point getting big tank n end up using lousy equipments...

[shoelevy]

larger tank = more stable water parameters

but must also work ur budget lor... no point getting big tank n end up using lousy equipments...

agreed... abit regret buying macro as bioload increases.

btw, even though everything you can get 2nd hand but with big tank, all these stuff can still be ex so work within your budget just like some have said above

[hermit]

ask urself

wat am i goin to keep?

big fishes?

mix reef?

so if u intending to keep alot of fishes then wif a 522 tank is more then better, but if u want to have reef tank wif certain fish, try a 3 or 4footer instead......

as u know the bigger u go....the more ex it will become

[Reefbum]

If you are serious abt this hobby then go for the largest tank you can afford.Downside is maintenance and electric bill cost.Have fun.

[mUAr_cHEe]

If you are serious abt this hobby then go for the largest tank you can afford.Downside is maintenance and electric bill cost.Have fun.

ai yah...

at most if really cannot maintain in the end.... take out MH... put fl... keep luohan loh....

sure gonna get whacked for putting that statement down....

[butteye]

Bro, now you wan to find LouHan also difficult liao. Been to few FW LFS also have some marine stuff and LS leh..

Goldfish is common.

[veliferium]

In order to go LARGE,u hve to fork out marnee for Large pumps lyk Iwakis,Strong lights,MHs and Heavy elctrical bills!!

[LaW]

if u can afford a huge tank and the commitment for it.

go for it.

commitment and $$$ are most important

u wont regret it.

happy reefing,

LaW

[FuEl]

hmmm..a good size to start off with without upgrading would be 4ft. Lots of people letting go 4 feet systems in Pasar Malam section now..worth taking a look.

[lyz77]

Thanks for all your advise! I intend to invest slowly and add the fish/ reef slowly. The basic will still be the tank, piping, pump, skimmer and sump. But my biggest worry is the piping and how 2 connect those equipment if I add one by one at a time.

Can anyone advise how shd the water flow goes abt with equipment such as skimmer, chiller, reactor & etc....?

[lyz77]

I saw smthing "true union swing"! Wht is it for???

[roadster]

My advise is prudence. Since you are moving from a nano tank to a bigger tank, consider the followings :

1. The budget you are prepared to dump into the setup

2. Are you prepared to commit long-term time/interest in this hobby or may change of heart

3. Is the size of tank easily obtainable and sellable if latter of item 2 come true

There are many more consideration before your plunge. As Fuel mentioned, seemed like the most popular size tanks are 4-footers, offering sufficient space and ability to control/sustain of water parameters, at the same time cost may be easier to bear.

Just my 2cents views observing the inputs of reefere here.

[lyz77]

My advise is prudence. Since you are moving from a nano tank to a bigger tank, consider the followings :

1. The budget you are prepared to dump into the setup

2. Are you prepared to commit long-term time/interest in this hobby or may change of heart

3. Is the size of tank easily obtainable and sellable if latter of item 2 come true

There are many more consideration before your plunge. As Fuel mentioned, seemed like the most popular size tanks are 4-footers, offering sufficient space and ability to control/sustain of water parameters, at the same time cost may be easier to bear.

Just my 2cents views observing the inputs of reefere here.

I dun think I will let go this hobby but before I jump into the big setup, I want to ensure that the $, time and effort spend is effective and efficient!

Currently, I still got a few planted tanks and I wanted to try out marine tank! I agree that bigger tank means more time spend and $! In terms of water parameter, shd be easier us I face a lot of problem with nano tank intially as the parameter flucuate alot! Instead, hv 2 chg the type of salt and use mineral water instead of normal tap water!

Btw, hw many Tunze pump will I need for a 5x2x2ft tank? As for the skimmer, any recommedation? Any things to tank notes abt the piping, overflow, sump, etc...???

[acidjazz]

bro, for a 4-5 feet tank. . the least you have to spend is about $4000. you prob need about 100kg of live rocks, and say its at $5/kg, its already $500. The salt water, sand and necessary equipments will cost another few hundered. A reasonable skimmer for a 4/5 ft tank would be mazzei, H&s, beckett, deltec. . so u wun have to upgrade further in future. However, i believe all these is a worth while investment and i never regretted parting with a few grand for a wonderful tank.

cheers.

[lyz77]

Here's the chklist which will help me to do it right! (I hope! ) Pls feel free to add yr comment/ suggest!

1) 5x2x2ft tank (12mm thick)

2) Skimmer ?

3) Sump layout ?

4) Sand grade/ thickness for Main tank and sump?

5) Pump ?

6) Tunze x nos?

7) Live rock ?kg

8) Type of Lighting ?

9) Piping layout?

10) Salt ?

11) ?

12) ?

......................

[acidjazz]

Here's the chklist which will help me to do it right! (I hope! ) Pls feel free to add yr comment/ suggest!

1) 5x2x2ft tank (12mm thick)

2) Skimmer ?

3) Sump layout ?

4) Sand grade/ thickness for Main tank and sump?

5) Pump ?

6) Tunze x nos?

7) Live rock ?kg

8) Type of Lighting ?

9) Piping layout?

10) Salt ?

11) ?

12) ?

......................

Skimmer: mazzei, h&s, beckett, deltec.

sand grade/thickness: grade 1, about 150kg, 4 inch thick

pump: many choices>> tunze, eheim, ocean runner, aqua bee, rio32. . and the list goes on.

live rock: depends how u wan to scape, min 100++++++kg.

type of lighting: 2x250watt mh with 2 atinic sld be the min.

salt: salt mix alone can cost u almost $200 already, maybe can use NSW n salt mix to save $$

you still need FR, refugim lightings, lots of addictives. . etc etc

[LaW]

go for width like 2.5 or 3 feet.

make the base glass thicker.

having longer width allows u to play with it more.

well just my 2 cent

[shoelevy]

bro, for a 4-5 feet tank. . the least you have to spend is about $4000. you prob need about 100kg of live rocks, and say its at $5/kg, its already $500. The salt water, sand and necessary equipments will cost another few hundered. A reasonable skimmer for a 4/5 ft tank would be mazzei, H&s, beckett, deltec. . so u wun have to upgrade further in future. However, i believe all these is a worth while investment and i never regretted parting with a few grand for a wonderful tank.

cheers.

lyz77

my 5x2x2 cost me $3000/-...price has taken into consideration salt purchase and pipings purchases

i have only 120kg of #1 sand and 60-70kg of liverocks (2nd hand)