The Big Debate!! Id like your opinion

[Red_Pelican]

Hi All,

I've been battling a big decision for awhile now and would like your honest opinions. Should I move forward with my lifelong dream of creating my own mini ocean or sell everything?? That is the great debate that i myself have been pondering for years now. Sitting behind me for 3 years now is my empty 600 gallon aquarium, acrylic peninsula tank, superb craftsmanship. I am considered by most a beginner but I grew up with saltwater tanks my whole life, my dad worked at the Baltimore aquarium for 16 years, exhibit fabricator/designer. I was always behind the scenes learning new things, Dad showing me the tricks of the trade, always fascinated by sea life. Over the years a strong passion grew inside of me for this hobby, to be honest I find it very peaceful and intriguing.

The dilemma, I have funds set aside for the entire build at a professional level but my profession requires me to travel 6 months of the year, I'm home one month back on the road another month. I've always wanted a reef tank but the more I come to my senses the further that dream is from reality. I had an idea the other day what if i compromise and do a fish only tank with some type of artificial corals or custom FRP sculpture inside that is a lower maintenance setup. Id like your opinions on if i should move forward with the build based on my work travel parameters or if you think the project is doomed for failure before it even starts.

I see (3) potential options:

- move forward with my original vision of a reef tank, hire a professional to service while I'm gone 6 months of the year.
- low maintenance fish only setup, faux coral/sculpture, automated system, still hiring service and or family members nearby to assist.
- scratch the entire build, sell everything.

Look forward to any advice you can give.

Thank you.

Dustin-

 

[Rtaylor]

With automation for dosing a reef tank with limited fish would be even easier. You wouldn’t need to worry about feeding the tank much and if you kept fish stock low, nutrients shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[KrisReef]

Might help if we had the dimensions of the 600 monster.

But let me wing this one.

Start a build thread on here, instead of this question thread and get busy building your dream. Man without a dream has nothing in bed to keep him company after he falls asleep.

A tank that big could be very low maintenance. Start with live rock, cooked in a barrel with a protein skimmer and no light while you are away for 6 months. When you come home, clean the barrel and the rock and put the rock in the 600.
Set your tank up to do continueous water changes, get good lights, and buy 3 frags of your favorite coral and mount those where the light is favorable.

Go away for another 6 months and in about a year from now you will have a great start on a living reef. Time to add the fish and call me here at home and thank me for helping you get your dream done.

 

[BelieveInBlue]

If you have the budget for it I'd hire some1 to care for the tank while you're away. With all the automation available these days + monitoring equipment that sends alerts to your phone it shouldn't cost too much to have some1 over once or twice a week to check on the tank.

 

[areefer01]

With all due respect if you are on a forum asking if you should move forward with a build it is the wrong time. Put it in storage and it will be there for when you are ready.

You can also build a system with redundancy and monitors to allow better house sitting while you are away. However know (which I am sure you already do) that with this comes added expense. 600 gallons is a lot of water. Proper equipment with reliability, quality, and redundancy is more or less doubling the cost of key life support systems. Anything less could cost you more by failures be it display or home infrastructure.

TL;DR - why rush? It is there for you when you feel the time is right. All the best to you.