JCOLE
Grower of the Small Polyps
Hello guys and gals, I am stuck in a predicament right now. I have about $1,300 to spend and I am stuck on what I should spend it on. Currently I have a 55 gallon tank with LPS and Palys. I used to have a 150 gallon 10 years ago among a couple other tanks before I took a break from the hobby due to moves, Etc. I got back in the hobby about a year ago with the 55 gallon and I've been itching over the last month or so to go back to 120 or 150 gallon tank.
Here's my question. Should I invest some money in a bigger tank or should I just invest the money in maybe say better lighting and an Apex controller? I have been looking at Apex controllers for a while and I'm currently using metal halide lights on the 55 gallon and I've been interested in going to an LED system such as a Kessil or maybe even a black box.
For the last year I have been using hang on back filters with no skimmer and now I have piped everything into the garage a couple weeks ago to an external sump along with a refugium with a Reef Octopus skimmer and attempting to grow chaeto and mangroves. So I'm trying to do this right. I want to understand a lot about this Hobby and get my parameters perfect before I really start upgrading but I just have that itch and I love big tanks. If I got a bigger tank I was going to take my 55 gallon and turn it into a fish only Predator Tank with like an eel and some other things and make the 150 a mixed reef tank. Another thing to consider is I tore my right bicep lower tendon on Christmas Eve and I just recently had surgery to reattach it so I shouldn't be lifting anything heavy for a couple months. So obviously buying a big tank and lifting it and moving it to my house and what not is probably out of the question so I would need to get some help with that as well.
If I did buy a tank then I would put it in the garage and plan to get it set up in a couple months and this will allow me to get time to build things and buy things that I need to get it done right.
So with all that out of the way what would you guys and gals do? Would you spend money on making the 55 gallon better as far as lighting and throw an Apex controller on there or should I spend the money on a bigger tank and plan on getting it set up right in the next couple months? There are no right or wrong answers, I just want to get some opinions. Thanks everyone!
Here's my question. Should I invest some money in a bigger tank or should I just invest the money in maybe say better lighting and an Apex controller? I have been looking at Apex controllers for a while and I'm currently using metal halide lights on the 55 gallon and I've been interested in going to an LED system such as a Kessil or maybe even a black box.
For the last year I have been using hang on back filters with no skimmer and now I have piped everything into the garage a couple weeks ago to an external sump along with a refugium with a Reef Octopus skimmer and attempting to grow chaeto and mangroves. So I'm trying to do this right. I want to understand a lot about this Hobby and get my parameters perfect before I really start upgrading but I just have that itch and I love big tanks. If I got a bigger tank I was going to take my 55 gallon and turn it into a fish only Predator Tank with like an eel and some other things and make the 150 a mixed reef tank. Another thing to consider is I tore my right bicep lower tendon on Christmas Eve and I just recently had surgery to reattach it so I shouldn't be lifting anything heavy for a couple months. So obviously buying a big tank and lifting it and moving it to my house and what not is probably out of the question so I would need to get some help with that as well.
If I did buy a tank then I would put it in the garage and plan to get it set up in a couple months and this will allow me to get time to build things and buy things that I need to get it done right.
So with all that out of the way what would you guys and gals do? Would you spend money on making the 55 gallon better as far as lighting and throw an Apex controller on there or should I spend the money on a bigger tank and plan on getting it set up right in the next couple months? There are no right or wrong answers, I just want to get some opinions. Thanks everyone!
