Tanks full. Now what?

tc760 · Dec 2, 2023

Usually when my tank gets full I upgrade. Problem is I'm as big as I am willing to go in this house. My 180g tank is full with next to no room for new coral. The tank is so mature and stable I barely do water changes anymore and my nitrates are always at 0 and the corals are starting to show signs of stress. I had to pull the little cheato I had left alive and shut down my skimmer for 3 weeks just to register any nitrates. So needless to say my tank is just something in my living room that I have to clean.

What does everyone do when they run out of room?

Part of me wants to sell off everything and find a new hobby. I switched to SPS since I had always struggled with them. I sorta want to sell most of them off any go back to LPS or try some fancier SPS that's slow growing but I'm sure that will invigorate me much

randomfishdude · Dec 2, 2023

Start fragging stuff and selling the frags.

neonreef3d · Dec 2, 2023

perhaps some xr30 LED shades.

jimk60 · Dec 2, 2023

Maybe you could pick up a few butterfly fish! I think they would be fat and happy in that tank and make you some more room. Great tank day the way!

VintageReefer · Dec 2, 2023

Sell me those pesky zoa colonies. They are taking up too much space and I wouldn’t mind “helping you out”

tc760 · Dec 3, 2023

neonreef3d said:
perhaps some xr30 LED shades.

Yeah good call. Time to check thingaverse for a model to print.

tc760 · Dec 3, 2023

VintageReefer said:
Sell me those pesky zoa colonies. They are taking up too much space and I wouldn’t mind “helping you out"

Yeah man they grow out of control. I messed up and put a bunch on frag discs and never sold them so they spread everywhere. Blessing and curse of a bare bottom.

Rick's Reviews · Dec 3, 2023

If you have been successful in this aquriam, and if options are available for you.

Can you not sit back and enjoy? Grab a bean bag or loads of cushions and sit and watch/ reminisce and appreciate yourself in this situation?

Just a day or maybe a few hours, just enjoy watching what you have created

MrGisonni · Dec 3, 2023

Get rid of some stuff you're not crazy about. Frag some overgrown pieces, and enjoy the reef you have in your house. It's beautiful.

VintageReefer · Dec 3, 2023

Your tank is beautiful and healthy but I think what you need is to add some missing colors to give it some pop. A holy grail banana torch would be awesome waving around in there. I bought a 1” single head around March and now it’s growing it’s 5th head

I also just got banana torch (non grail) and it’s one head, looking forward to this growing in also

I would try to find a 1-2” piece of rock and epoxy the torch to it sticking outwards so it takes up some open water column. If you need space, look around and pick something that you find “boring”. Something maybe that’s not bright colored or something thats common, and frag it back or remove it and sell it to free up a bit of real estate

Some bright yellow swaying around would really stand out and make it feel like a new tank

tc760 · Dec 3, 2023

VintageReefer said:
Your tank is beautiful and healthy but I think what you need is to add some missing colors to give it some pop. A holy grail banana torch would be awesome waving around in there. I bought a 1” single head around March and now it’s growing it’s 5th head

I also just got banana torch (non grail) and it’s one head, looking forward to this growing in also

I would try to find a 1-2” piece of rock and epoxy the torch to it sticking outwards so it takes up some open water column. If you need space, look around and pick something that you find “boring”. Something maybe that’s not bright colored or something thats common, and frag it back or remove it and sell it to free up a bit of real estate

Some bright yellow swaying around would really stand out and make it feel like a new tank

That's is a beautiful torch. I agree some bright colors would do me some good. I really did like the torches in my last aquarium. Maybe it's time to get rid of the volleyball sized Birdsnest and the bland purple Stylos and start a torch garden on that side of the tank.

tc760 · Dec 3, 2023

Rick's Reviews said:
If you have been successful in this aquriam, and if options are available for you.

Can you not sit back and enjoy? Grab a bean bag or loads of cushions and sit and watch/ reminisce and appreciate yourself in this situation?

Just a day or maybe a few hours, just enjoy watching what you have created

I do enjoy it. It's in the middle of my house right next to my dinning room table. I get to enjoy it all the time. I know if I got out of the hobby I would hate myself. I just miss the excitement of a new tank.

Mikeltee · Dec 3, 2023

Get a FO predator tank and start remodeling your house. You will circle back. It's best to have several hobbies. I have five and only dedicate my time to two usually. I don't sell anything. The wife complains all the time about it. When aren't they complaining though? Honestly, it takes only 30 minutes twice a month to maintain a stable tank. I was on cruise control for a decade until I started to buy a bunch of unnecessary crap that caused issues. Now it's a part time job. Get the Nitrates back to zero and you will catch dinos. That will keep you busy for awhile. Lol

VintageReefer · Dec 4, 2023

You can bring back the excitement with some changes. I got out of sps because they grew huge, took a lot of precision, were very delicate, and I wanted more movement in the tank. Now I’m full lps and softie, I’m only picking dramatic corals and colors that “pop” and I like the tank more than ever.

Aside from the small banana here are the newest additions that I’m going to grow out

A few changes can make the tank exciting and feel completely Different if the choices are made well

ErikVR · Dec 4, 2023

Instead of upgrading the tank, upgrade the house. Build a dedicated fish room outside or as an add-on?

VintageReefer · Dec 4, 2023

Also got this electric green candy cane coming this week, Gunnna be awesome! It’s one fat head splitting into 4

Mikeltee · Dec 4, 2023

ErikVR said:
Instead of upgrading the tank, upgrade the house. Build a dedicated fish room outside or as an add-on?

I feel sorry for dudes without unfinished basements. I've knocked out about 1200 of 1800sf of mine over the past 10 years. My wife is actually happy with one of the spaces.