If you did, how would you?

Reefing_addiction · Nov 8, 2020

More organized from the start with wires and stuff. I may be able to accomplish this but it will now be tricky

kenchilada · Nov 8, 2020

Starting a new tank, gonna quarantine every fish. First time I’ve quarantined in 25 years.

RJKain-777 · Nov 8, 2020

My current system, the Red Sea 425xl is a nice tank, but to small for my goals and the species of fish I enjoy. My new system is going to be large enough (340 gallon display) to enjoy the tank how I want, it is taking longer then expected but I’m doing it exactly how I want the first time,

H3rm1tCr@b · Nov 8, 2020

I've learned that the healthiest tanks have biodiversity. Someday, when I have a different tank (and I'm not broke) I'll get a bigger tank like a 40gal breeder and a refugium for incompatible hitchhikers. I'd also start my tank with TBS rock and sand, which is what saved my current tank from death.

Jeffcb · Nov 8, 2020

dyerrm said:
More organized from the start with wires and stuff. I may be able to accomplish this but it will now be tricky

Yes . it can be done.

Maritimer · Nov 8, 2020

If I had my d'ruthers?

I'd build a sump in the basement, and with an integrated refugium it might be bigger than my 220 gallon display - stability, nitrate reduction, 'pods and many good things . . .

I'd start with 100% _live_ liverock, and sand, from TampaBay and KP Aquatics or anyone else who's cultivating the stuff in the ocean, where every kind of fascinating biodiversity can cling on. Pretty corals are nice, but I also love to take a flashlight to the reef at night and see what's creeping over the rock in the dark.

I'd integrate a chiller - or at the least, I'd integrate central air into my home.

I might add a couple of additional powerheads on the back wall of the display (there's some small potential to actually do this one...) to improve chaotic flow.

I _might_ integrate a UV sterilizer, and be better able to manage algae and bacteria blooms in the water, and fish diseases.

Pretty much too broke for any of the above, but it's a nice dream . . .

~B.

drewwCh · Nov 10, 2020

definitely going to go with a bigger tank, bigger sump, and higher quality equipment. i love my little 30 gallon cube now but i find it restricting in terms of fish choice and the amount of coral i can put in.

i would also start with live rock directly from the ocean, to help with microfauna population, which i am struggling with now.

CPC Reefer · Nov 11, 2020

On my new 350 gal. build I made it 36" deep, I wish i would have gone with a 30" deep 300 gallon instead. 36" is just to deep to work on. Make it really hard to catch fish also.

Jon Fishman · Nov 11, 2020

What I plan to do now:

Clean up the sump, re-plumb my UV sterilizers, and other equipment as it’s a mess.

What I would do if I could:

Not have my sump under the stand

vlangel · Nov 11, 2020

My tank system is really great and I am very pleased with it. It has morphed into what it is over the last 4 years.

Right now about the only change I am thinking about is perhaps upgrading to a bigger return pump. My sump is in the basement so I had head pressure to factor in and I think I could have gone from a Jabao 6000 DC pump to one or two sizes bigger. It would be nice to eliminate the powerhead in the display to just a low profile dual return nozzle. Other than that I am content.

Paulie069 · Nov 11, 2020

Well I can’t mention that because this is a PG website xxxxxxxxxxx

ShepherdReefer · Nov 11, 2020

GO BIGGER.

Borg · Nov 11, 2020

I would not have put the tank so close to the wall.

G Santana · Nov 11, 2020

After 25 yrs I'm doing it again, what's different this time is a little technology, the internet and as lot of folks with practical experience who freely offer help.
What I'm doing differently, I am taking my time. I started a few months ago and I am a week or so from splash down.
I have been reading as much as I can about: lighting, par, nitrite and Phosphate minimums, dry rock cycles just to name a few things oh and building and properly using CO2.

Again, I knew the fundamentals but the hobby has become for lack of a better term In home marine biologists!!!

Getting there!!!

afuel · Nov 11, 2020

I would not have corner overflows if I did it
again. 20 something years ago I went from a 18” deep 75 to a 24” deep 120 thinking that would help deal with the problem. Then a few years ago went from that to a 36” deep 200 gallon thinking the same thing but got the same result. I still don’t like the corner overflow. Maybe if I went 4 ft deep though...

Chris Spaulding · Nov 11, 2020

I am pretty happy with what I have but it has taken time. However I am upgrading and have taken into account things that I would change. Larger, External overflow , Lots more time on aquascape till I get it to what I want . Lighting not going to try to just get by. Long cycle . Full controller . DO NOT RUSH and take my time and enjoy.

Everything Aquatics · Nov 11, 2020

I would defiantly scape my tank different

CMMorgan · Nov 11, 2020

In progress of prepping for a new build... received the macroalgae and ordered a new light today. The important factors to me were width and depth. It was never about gallons to me but more specifically, how natural can I make the environment for the fish to swim and can I reach the dang bottom?!! Maybe that is a non-issue for some but my neck and back do not do well tinkering over ladders and stools.
Long term, I hope to move someplace that afford the luxury of building it into a fish room, so it is framed into the wall. For now... the new build is taking shape.