help me choose my "other" tank!

[Devaji]

SO R2R,

I need some thoughts and feedback here. I know this is silly and totally a 1st world problem to have but here it is.

I have a 90 mixed reef. just redid the floors on my rental, love where the tank is now much better place to enjoy its beauty.

the plan was to setup a FW planted tank since last feb. I did not as I knew a bit of house reno was coming up..BUT I really have the itching for a nano by the couch I really think that will pull the room together...haha

so my problem, is I keep going back and forth on a 40br FW planted tank with I am excited about to have the greens and a totally different challenge and experience and BTW i have most of the equipment.

OR

set up a sweet nano preferably a peninsula tank by the couch. like of a IM20 or just a standard 20L
I would love to have a sexy shrimp RFA tank and enjoy the colors and challenges of a nano.
I have some of the equipment. but it would def. be a much higher up front cost of setup.

I have "permission" form the GF to have another tank. she even said why not just have one big tank and call it good a keeper there right!!
I even thought about that but the idea of moving another big tank sucks some day we will buy a place then i can cross the bridge with 250-600 gal system.

I know I am asking a question that can only be answered by me on a reef forum so no doubt it will be more on the reef side, witch I love but...like I said i am interested in trying my hand at a cool planted tank.

so let's workshop this out.
anyone else be in a situation like this?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have a 280 gallon full sps tank and just set up a reefer 170 so my wife can finally have a puffer fish and a box fish..

for me the small tanks are "meh" yeah they are cute and all but there is no room to aquascape and do you really want to scrape coraline and deal with salt water just to have some shrimp??

Planted tank more challanging than small reef tank IMO. I had one for a bit.. if you live maintenance than a planted tank is for you!!

 

[Devaji]

oh I hear you on bigger tanks I once had a 240 then moved and the guy backed out of the sale last min so I gave it away. still waiting on the reefing Karma to come back on that one.

if I owned my home I would go a big peninsula tanks for sure. but as I dont and more than likely be moving with in the next 5 years I dont want to g big. my 12mm think glass on my 90 reef is heaver than the 240 i had.

yeah FW planted tanks do seem like a lot of maintenance better for worse.
but so do SW tanks. I just know what I am doing there. or at least I think I do. lol

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I just found the planted tank soo frustrating. you pull one plant out, a bunch comes out.. then you have crap load of plants floating around.

when done right they are UBER cool though, mine however looked like a 10yo gold fish tank that nobody maintained.

 

[davocean]

Going big w/ a planted, not size wise but growing the wow type plants, baby tears, reds, that is really challenging, the fine balance of Co2, light, growing plants and not algae, easily as challenging as a reef.

But, you can do a simple planted, plants that are bicarbonates and draw Co2 from air, keep lights on lower side, which means less growth, lower maintenance.
That's what I've been doing and it makes it enjoyable for me.

Other key things I think are the right tank, dims, a nice clean clear silicone and frosted back or clear back, the right stand, then it can really set the room, a growing live mood light.

I like the Mr aqua's if you can still find them in right dims, aquamaxx has a similar, like a 17g or 20g long

I would not do a huge reef until you own your home either, same boat here

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

just save your money for the dream tank when you buy a house.

I bought a fantastic house, built a basement sump system, apex, geisemann. lost my job 6 months ago...not sure how much longer I can afford this house

not sure what my point is, I am in the car and bored

 

[Devaji]

I just found the planted tank soo frustrating. you pull one plant out, a bunch comes out.. then you have crap load of plants floating around.

when done right they are UBER cool though, mine however looked like a 10yo gold fish tank that nobody maintained.

yeah I hear they can be frustrating just like a reef there is a learning curve for sure.

Going big w/ a planted, not size wise but growing the wow type plants, baby tears, reds, that is really challenging, the fine balance of Co2, light, growing plants and not algae, easily as challenging as a reef.

But, you can do a simple planted, plants that are bicarbonates and draw Co2 from air, keep lights on lower side, which means less growth, lower maintenance.
That's what I've been doing and it makes it enjoyable for me.

Other key things I think are the right tank, dims, a nice clean clear silicone and frosted back or clear back, the right stand, then it can really set the room, a growing live mood light.

I like the Mr aqua's if you can still find them in right dims, aquamaxx has a similar, like a 17g or 20g long

I would not do a huge reef until you own your home either, same boat here

haha yeah I wanted to go big Co2 carpeting plants red with moss cover wood. I know it will be as much work or even more work than a reef of the same size .

just save your money for the dream tank when you buy a house.

I bought a fantastic house, built a basement sump system, apex, geisemann. lost my job 6 months ago...not sure how much longer I can afford this house

not sure what my point is, I am in the car and bored

good point, the problem is I live in a resort twin that is way out of reach for 99% of people there is a say here that the billionaires are pushing out the millionaires. soo not sure when of if I will ever have the opportunity to own around here.

oh **** sorry to hear I hope you find something even better than your last job as it all works out for the better.