First Saltwater and reef

[backintothereef]

Been researching probably too much, and don't want to get into paralysis by analysis...

Going to be my first setup. I want to go big or go home. But, that could get expensive. Really don't have a budget in mind, but have an idea of where I want to be in a year. Not against starting to collect and starting up through the spring.

Need some very seasoned opinions here.

First option I thought of was the biocube 32. Figured with simple upgrades to lights/filters I'm at $1200 before livestock. Not horrible, and a ready to go setup. Probably would work good, but I know me, good needs to get better (horrible problem of trading cars every year to get more HP).

So then I tossed around a DIY setup. Could probably do a 55 gal for the same price, but now I'm dealing with an external overflow, and honestly, don't know enough of what I'm getting into.

Stopped by a local reef store, and they had a sweet 125 gallon setup, but of course costs are going up.

I do think my sweet spot size wise for where I want to get is around 80 - 100 gallons, plus a nice sump. SC Aquariums has their 80 gallon system on special this month ($1295 for everything minus lights), at what seems like a really decent price. Probably would need some upgrades once up and running, and lights, but kind of leaning toward this. I've read here some mixed reviews on SC, and am a big proponent of buy once cry once.

Just wanted to see about getting some opinions of folks that have been here before. Am I better with a Red Sea or Waterbox, or just get a nice starter 80 SC system to give me some good room to learn and grow and the price isn't horrible.

 

[Alex Cataldo]

If this is your first rodeo, honestly you should get what you want initially because in the long run it may actually be less expensive. An AIO tank will be easier to setup and maintain but it doesn't always give you room to grow in the hobby such as getting a skimmer, refugium, ect. Then again plumbing a tank can be a nightmare, or a journey depending on how you look at it.

 

[kiran]

If this is your first rodeo, honestly you should get what you want initially because in the long run it may actually be less expensive.

This was my thought when I got into the hobby. I started with a tiny 13.5gal and after enjoying it for a few months, I decided to just splurge on my dream tank now and enjoy it for a long time since I'm young.

I guess the flip-side of this is that since he's new to the hobby and ends up not enjoying it, an expensive "dream tank" might end up being a problem.

 

[Spare time]

$1200 before livestock in a 32 biocube???!!!!

If you are going to replace the lights and filter, then don't get the biocube. You would be wasting money. You can buy cubed tanks.


I would get something like a 75 or a 40 gallon plus a fiji cube AIO insertable filter.

 

[Spare time]

Larger tanks are far more forgiving than small tanks. I'd also like to say that sumps are really not as complicated as they first appear. Once you realize how they work, its pretty straight forward.

Sumps will allow you to add a refugium; the easiest, least maintenance, best performing filter you can have (along with socks or filter rollers as a mechanical filter). If you felt it wasn't doing enough, then you could add a skimmer down the road (though this is not necessary if you properly light the refugium).