Tank setup- anything you’d change next time?

[E.intheC]

If you were to setup a tank again, what would you change about the equipment or layout etc?

 

[Pennywise the Clown]

I would have set up for an SPS dominated tank.
I started off with the usual mushrooms, zoas, torches and hammers.
Now I'm started to get the acropora bug but sometimes struggling to keep everything happy.

 

[X-37B]

I have a 7 month old 120 corner overflow. I wish I would have set it up as a peninsula. But a little late now. Next time for sure.

 

[Silent]

Use a brand new tank. I get worried reading about these tank failures.

 

[Quietman]

So far so good...I wish I would've splurged and purchased the "guaranteed no diatom bloom" sand, but what are you gonna do?

I did years of research, decided on the main items as a high level strategy for success: Mixed LPS dominant reef with "peaceful reef safe" fish and inverts, 2" sand bed to support livestock, dry rock, carbon dosing for nutrient removal, no controller. All subsequent decisions were based on those and I still have them in place now after 8 months. Early days, but no plans to alter.

Also, those basic strategies have acted as a back up on bad impulse decisions - buying 'probably safe' fish for example. Then I'd remember what I decided on early would be my ideal and the impulse would pass.

Only expensive regret was when I went against my gut on purchasing an MP10. I went with what everyone here recommended instead of what I felt would be best. That's on me. But much happier with tank and flow after going to Tunze controllable power heads (reasoning is in build thread, don't need to repeat - and the MP10 is fine power head, just didn't suit my needs).

My unneccessary purchases (un-used equipment) have been kept to a minimum, no fish losses to date, few coral losses (learning curve and not anything I'd be able to change).

 

[MichaelReefer]

If you were to setup a tank again, what would you change about the equipment or layout etc?

I would of spent more time doing my aquascape. I just wanted to get my tank set-up. lol

 

[Super Fly]

Go bigger and use brand name sump instead of building one myself

 

[MichaelReefer]

Go bigger and use brand name sump instead of building one myself

Yeah, I would of gone Reefer 350 instead. lol

 

[absoluteNANOreef]

write Down what my realistic dream tank would be and save for it instead of starting small only to keep spending more on what I really wanted. End up spending double this way

 

[Pickwun]

I'm starting "next time" right now. The biggest change is that I'm not loading up on what-I-can-afford then DIYing the rest. I've got a 7 month budget to buy the hardware I want a little each month. The only DIY will be stuff like a sump which are insanely priced, and the stand which is already built. I'm also going to drill overflows instead of fighting with siphon-based stuff.
Visually I'm using the wait time to actually plan an aquascape instead to trying to pile rocks until they look "OK".

 

[Pickwun]

write Down what my realistic dream tank would be and save for it instead of starting small only to keep spending more on what I really wanted. End up spending double this way

Double? LOL. Maybe on just the 1st tank before you upgrade. I'd say 5-6x easy by "starting small".

 

[bpro32]

I’d try harder not to look through other people’s 400g+ builds. I’m setting up a 230g because it’s the biggest footprint that isn’t going to look out of place in my living room and I’m starting to feel it’s small compared to some of these monster tanks being setup in people’s basements.

I also wouldn’t buy anything used. For my new build I bought everything new except for a pair of mp60s and a used skimmer. At the time I thought the skimmer was a great deal, but unfortunately I think the seller misrepresented the condition. At the end of the day I just don’t think the amount of time spent on here looking for a good deal and the higher likelihood of early replacement was worth the $700 I ‘saved.’

 

[absoluteNANOreef]

Double? LOL. Maybe on just the 1st tank before you upgrade. I'd say 5-6x easy by "starting small".

Very true lol. I’m only going from 10 to 25 gal, so double is about right unless I go straight to xr30 for light on this one. Next tank upgrade will be 5-6 times. Hopefully my salary is too lol

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

If you were to setup a tank again, what would you change about the equipment or layout etc?

Next time go bigger. 130 gallons is big for me.

 

[bevo5]

I would have built a couple valves in my return to power reactors etc.

 

[ca1ore]

I think the most common buyers remorse is 'I should have gone with a bigger tank'. If you have some expectation that you're in the hobby for the long-term, get the biggest tank you can afford/fit. When I bought my eight foot 450, I could have fit a nine foot 550. Not a huge difference perhaps, but I've occasionally thought 'I should have'.

Give yourself sump space for expansion. I much prefer the DiY approach to sumps (and other stuff), though I do appreciate not everyone has either the skills or the interest. If you do have both, DiY is a no brainer. If you decide to go with LED lights, plan that you will need more fixtures than the manufacturer says.

I will always pay more for quality gear over cheap gear - don't be penny wise, pound foolish. OK, paying a premium does not always buy you reliability/longevity, but the two are highly correlated.

 

[W1ngz]

I'm 7 months in to my first 'next time', and right now my only regret is the overall height. I love the look of a 90 cube atop a high stand, and I don't have any issue working underneath on the sump, but routine maintenance when the rim is almost 5' high is... less than fun.

 

[Bluespottedjawfish1]

I would have spent more time designing the aquascape- more arches and caves and just cool features. I have a big tank and I would like to have been more circumspect about what animals I introduced. I was thrilled early on the see GSP and Clove polyps plus the various encrusting corals grow. Now they are all hard to control and I wish they were never introduced as they tend to interact badly with the hard SPS corals.