Tank size questions in regard to future moving

[Hooberminch]

I have had nano aquariums for the past 15 years and due to moving almost every year and living in apartments, I have not been able to have a large aquarium. I have been wanting to have larger fish (tangs, blue throat trigger) for a long time and in a couple months I will be buying a house and living there for 5 years. After that I will be moving states again, staying in a new house for several years (4?) and then eventually hopefully having my dream house and dream tank. I know there is no good answer to it but what do you guys think the maximum tank size/shape should be for that? I really want a 6’ 180gal but if you guys think its stupid I can wait a couple more years. I have looked at the 120s 4’ and the 93 cube but preferably want more swimming room for tangs. Either way I was going to do a minimalist bonsai or branching style rockwork with Acros at the top, montis and lower light SPS and euphyllia mid, and LPS on the bottom

 

[andrewkw]

5 years is maybe not a long time in mature reef years, but in human years it is. A lot can change. You might not move, you might get sick (hopefully not) your finances or lifestyle can change ect.

It's been almost 4 years since I moved long distance and I knew for the previous couple I likely was going to. I still "reefed" like normal almost right up until the end. The only exceptions were I tried to stay away from encrusting corals unless they were going on tiles or one off rocks and sensitive fish.

When I did move it was a disaster and a half. I said goodbye to my 90 garden tank mostly because the thought of moving 300lbs of live sand when I had a 6 week stay at my parents house before moving into new house was too much. I had a 180 gallon reef, frag tank, other tanks ect. I won't sugar coat the fact I lost a ton of livestock in the move. Yet I would still do it again. There are few things I could have done better in my situation, but as long as your next move is not going to be the absolute middle of nowhere and you get into new house right away it can be done. Even now I am starting to consider yet another move. I've never liked it where I am and the one thing I really like is my reefs. I dread tearing them down but I wouldn't for a second consider pausing. Anything could happen. I might not move, I might drop dead ect. If a big reef is going to make you happy now don't let what might or even what will happen in 5 years stop you from having it.

 

[Hooberminch]

Thanks for your response, I am hoping your insight will help convince my fiancée to let me go big! I think the move wouldn’t be horrible, I might try and use acrylic rods to try and allow me to take certain parts of the reef easily out