What advice do you wish you had before getting a BIG tank?

[afboundguy]

I am in the extreme beginning stages of trying to plan out a 200+ gallon dream tank. I am looking at either a Red Sea S-1000 or a Waterbox Reef LX 290.6 right now. Both are about the same size and include a generous warranty, stand and plumbing. I have noticed that the G2+ Red Sea seam issue doesn't seem to be as bad as G1 but I have still read about failures on the G2's but for the most part they seem better. Main issue is I want it to be a "peninsula" style tank with the overflow on the left side and Red Sea doesn't do customizations where Waterbox does.

Back to the main point of the thread - what advice do you wish you had before setting up a big tank?

So far mine I just have listen to your wife (told me she'd rather I buy new than used for mainly the warranty and to make sure I get everything I want in a tank so I don't have any regrets!)

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Plan, plan and plan some more. I thought I had all the bases covered with plumbing and layout of equipment but there always seems to be something that gets overlooked.

 

[daves-reef]

No personal experience with that size or brands. Yet for my personal experience and systems of others I know and read about. I would never get a rimless tank that large or any large tank like my 120 for that mater without Euro Bracing. Just my 2 cents.

 

[NeverlosT]

I would not go 200g or more without eurobracing. It isnt just spashing, the loads you will put on the glass panes with large wavemakers will weaken your seals over time. I would definitely go eurobraced on anything more than a 150.

Thick (3/4") glass can be needed on very large tanks, and though it makes things very robust, it also makes the tank weigh a ton, and means you cannot use MP40s (need MP60s) and need really big magnetic cleaners.

Plan a water change system. a 30% water change starts getting pretty big at 200g or more. Make it so that it is easy and your tank will thrive long-term.

avoid really big fish even in a big tank (this one is a personal preference). I have a 300g and my gold scribbled rabbitfish makes it seem small since at less than a year old he/she is like 8" long and still growing. If I had it to do again I would stick with smaller fish so it all feels bigger. Even an achilles tang will only get so big.

Just be ready for the commitment. When something is a 60g tank, it is a hobby but to be totally honest once you push 200, 300g or more, it starts becoming a lifestyle choice. You need to control the climate of your house, you need to have reliable backup power, you need to have reliable systems to maintain your chemistry. It makes a huge statement in your home, and you want to put in the work because no one wants to say "oh hi guys, yeah that is my giant fishtank in the other room, it looks like hell" they want people to be drawn to it like a centerpiece.

It will make its room humid. be prepared for that. you will need AC or a chiller too.

20 frags will not fill it up. if you want a "full looking" SPS system or mixed reef, you will need tons of frags, so be prepared for that, though it is a cost that can be mitigated with time and friends.

Buy a used biocube. Quarantine your fish. Do your best to keep major pests out. They may still get in, but do your best. When your investment is large, you owe it to yourself to try to care for it.

It might become one of the coolest things you ever accomplish, a true living work of art. Be proud of what you are attempting and always see it's potential and strive toward it.

 

[afboundguy]

Plan, plan and plan some more. I thought I had all the bases covered with plumbing and layout of equipment but there always seems to be something that gets overlooked.

The two tanks I am looking at already have plumbing so it would be easy. I hate planning plumbing as I always forget something no matter how much I plan!

 

[afboundguy]

No personal experience with that size or brands. Yet for my personal experience and systems of others I know and read about. I would never get a rimless tank that large or any large tank like my 120 for that mater without Euro Bracing. Just my 2 cents.

The two tanks I'm looking for at are eurobraced. I wanted rimless but it's way too much money to go rimless for the height I want and I like the peace and mind of eurobracing.

 

[afboundguy]

I would not go 200g or more without eurobracing. It isnt just spashing, the loads you will put on the glass panes with large wavemakers will weaken your seals over time. I would definitely go eurobraced on anything more than a 150.

They two tanks I'm looking at are eurobraced for that reason.

Thick (3/4") glass can be needed on very large tanks, and though it makes things very robust, it also makes the tank weigh a ton, and means you cannot use MP40s (need MP60s) and need really big magnetic cleaners.

I have noticed the cleaning magnets are well north of $100 lol

Plan a water change system. a 30% water change starts getting pretty big at 200g or more. Make it so that it is easy and your tank will thrive long-term.

I do want to incorporate a water change setup. I don't really do too many water changes due to the phyto I dose and the balling method but still need to do them eventually!

avoid really big fish even in a big tank (this one is a personal preference). I have a 300g and my gold scribbled rabbitfish makes it seem small since at less than a year old he/she is like 8" long and still growing. If I had it to do again I would stick with smaller fish so it all feels bigger. Even an achilles tang will only get so big.

Biggest fish I would want to do would be a "school" of probably scopas tangs for that reason. I'd love a sohal tang but they make almost every tank I've seen one in seem super small.

Just be ready for the commitment. When something is a 60g tank, it is a hobby but to be totally honest once you push 200, 300g or more, it starts becoming a lifestyle choice. You need to control the climate of your house, you need to have reliable backup power, you need to have reliable systems to maintain your chemistry. It makes a huge statement in your home, and you want to put in the work because no one wants to say "oh hi guys, yeah that is my giant fishtank in the other room, it looks like hell" they want people to be drawn to it like a centerpiece.

It will make its room humid. be prepared for that. you will need AC or a chiller too.

I already have a dehumidifier and the basement doesn't get above 70 in the summer. I have UPS back up on major things like return pump and at least one powerhead to give me time to make it home to set up generator. I have always wanted an automatic generator so we'll see.

I also plan to get two new circuit breakers installed. One for the important stuff and second for not so I can turn off the non important ones when using generator.

20 frags will not fill it up. if you want a "full looking" SPS system or mixed reef, you will need tons of frags, so be prepared for that, though it is a cost that can be mitigated with time and friends.

Luckily I plan to have a lot of wide open space on purpose so the frag aspect would be not as bad. I don't want to ruin the plan but it would be epic!

Buy a used biocube. Quarantine your fish. Do your best to keep major pests out. They may still get in, but do your best. When your investment is large, you owe it to yourself to try to care for it.

I had thought about keeping my current 35 display tank as a QT tank as an upgrade from the 10 gallon QT I just used. I would def QT fish for a tank of this size!

It might become one of the coolest things you ever accomplish, a true living work of art. Be proud of what you are attempting and always see it's potential and strive toward it.

I hope it happens. It would be coolest thing ever and I haven't seen the idea I want to do anywhere Time will tell...

 

[afboundguy]

Appreciate all the advice so far! Luckily I am months and months away! If I am able to pull this off I would probably wait until a Black Friday sale as it appears both tank builders have a history of offering 10% off their tanks!!!

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Look into IM 200 peninsula tanks

 

[afboundguy]

Look into IM 200 peninsula tanksView attachment 220259

I have but they're too shallow at 21.7" high for what I want to do otherwise I'd be all over a tank since a ton of members have them. I want at least 25" height for this tank. Have looked at 31" high Glasscages custom tank but 31" is probably a tad too high!

 

[MarkSzy]

the biggest thing I found was making sure I had enough flow for the type of corals I wanted and enough par throughout the tank. I did research ahead of time and my lights are “enough” but would like more spread.

 

[afboundguy]

the biggest thing I found was making sure I had enough flow for the type of corals I wanted and enough par throughout the tank. I did research ahead of time and my lights are “enough” but would like more spread.

I would be using multiple Reefbreeder V2+'s and should have plenty of PAR as I wouldn't want too much SPS... More than I have now (which is basically none)