Upgrading shortly: 180 or a 280?

[WIReefer]

So I will be upgrading here shortly once we move and I can’t decide if I want a 180 or a larger tank such as a 280. I’m going to go look at a 280 tomorrow that a friend is selling. It’s a 280 with star fire glass, euro brace, stand, sump, refuge and a stand for the refuge. Dimensions are 6’x30”x30”. It’s a great price he bought it brand new and never got to setting it up. It’s a few years old. I’m wanting it to be a mostly sps dominated tank going to be Barebottom. Want to have a few tangs so I’m thinking the larger the better for these guys what do y’all think? I already have most equipment for tank since I bought larger equipment than needed in current tank what do y’all think?

 

[I’ma tempermental coral]

Well.... I mean... if you’ve got the space and the tank is priced right? I’d go for the 280! Or... dare I say it? BIGGER! Lol.

 

[Redfoxtang]

Go BIG!! If he’s a good friend then he should give you a good friend price!!

 

[WIReefer]

Well.... I mean... if you’ve got the space and the tank is priced right? I’d go for the 280! Or... dare I say it? BIGGER! Lol.

Lol I feel like this tank is calling my name haha I have a 55 now and hate the dimensions can’t wait to upgrade. Wife also said I get have off the basement to make my fish room!

 

[WIReefer]

Go BIG!! If he’s a good friend then he should give you a good friend price!!

I won’t find this price anywhere else let me tell you that lol

 

[I’ma tempermental coral]

Lol I feel like this tank is calling my name haha I have a 55 now and hate the dimensions can’t wait to upgrade. Wife also said I get have off the basement to make my fish room!

If it’s calling you why are you even asking?!?!? Hahahaha.

 

[Funston07]

So I will be upgrading here shortly once we move and I can’t decide if I want a 180 or a larger tank such as a 280. I’m going to go look at a 280 tomorrow that a friend is selling. It’s a 280 with star fire glass, euro brace, stand, sump, refuge and a stand for the refuge. Dimensions are 6’x30”x30”. It’s a great price he bought it brand new and never got to setting it up. It’s a few years old. I’m wanting it to be a mostly sps dominated tank going to be Barebottom. Want to have a few tangs so I’m thinking the larger the better for these guys what do y’all think? I already have most equipment for tank since I bought larger equipment than needed in current tank what do y’all think?

I think you already know the answer to this question, it's pretty obvious which one to go with lol. Now let's see those pics of that 280 when you get it set up.

 

[Acroalan]

I would be inclined to go with the bigger the better as a general rule. However, I've heard several reefers with deeper tanks express regrets going deeper than 24 inches. After that its hard to reach the bottom of the tank with your hand if you need to. Mine isn't that deep so I don't have first hand experience to know how big a deal it is.

 

[WVNed]

I would get the 280 but I think you are fooling yourself if you think any of the equipment you have now will be big enough for it. Especially for a bare bottom SPS tank. You are looking at 4-6 MP60s, a big skimmer, pumps and everything else.
30 inches wide/deep is going to make lighting more costly too.

and that may not matter at all to you.

 

[WIReefer]

If it’s calling you why are you even asking?!?!? Hahahaha.

Need reassurance never had anything nearly this large before haha

 

[WIReefer]

I think you already know the answer to this question, it's pretty obvious which one to go with lol. Now let's see those pics of that 280 when you get it set up.

Haha will take pictures of the tank tomorrow and will of course start a build thread!

 

[WIReefer]

I would get the 280 but I think you are fooling yourself if you think any of the equipment you have now will be big enough for it. Especially for a bare bottom SPS tank. You are looking at 4-6 MP60s, a big skimmer, pumps and everything else.
30 inches wide/deep is going to make lighting more costly too.

and that may not matter at all to you.

I have the lighting already which is nice i have two 36” 8 bulb sunpower. I have a return large enough for it I have three mp40’s but I might try and go with some gyre but I will get into that more in time of course.

 

[WVNed]

I did the MP40s on the 240. They are in my 75 gallon tank now and MP 60s are in the 240.

I found the stuff just doesn't scale up. I would advise you to go big to start with and not buy everything twice like I did.

 

[bevo5]

how big is your RODI setup? Even doing a 15% water change is almost 50gallons. You'll probably need 5ish a day in top off alone.

I'd 100000% go for the biggest tank I could possibly fit in the space. That's what I did and I wish I could've gone bigger.

BUT - the upkeep will add up and you'll need a lot of equipment.

 

[WIReefer]

I did the MP40s on the 240. They are in my 75 gallon tank now and MP 60s are in the 240.

I found the stuff just doesn't scale up. I would advise you to go big to start with and not buy everything twice like I did.

Thank you for the advice that is what I’m looking for! I’m not sure if I will be going with for flow this time around since I will need so much of it.

 

[WIReefer]

how big is your RODI setup? Even doing a 15% water change is almost 50gallons. You'll probably need 5ish a day in top off alone.

I'd 100000% go for the biggest tank I could possibly fit in the space. That's what I did and I wish I could've gone bigger.

BUT - the upkeep will add up and you'll need a lot of equipment.

I have a 150 gallon per day unit. Going to need a huge ato resivor lol

 

[bevo5]

I have a 150 gallon per day unit. Going to need a huge ato resivor lol

Yup! I got a 40g rubbermaid sitting in a closet behind the tank....once a week I fill it up, easy easy.

The other thing I wish I did was bigger water containers for mixing station. I did two 60g drums. I should've gone up to 100g. Between the main tank and QTs, it's never enough.

 

[WIReefer]

Yup! I got a 40g rubbermaid sitting in a closet behind the tank....once a week I fill it up, easy easy.

The other thing I wish I did was bigger water containers for mixing station. I did two 60g drums. I should've gone up to 100g. Between the main tank and QTs, it's never enough.

What size tank do you have? And what does your water change schedule look like?

 

[F i s h y]

Go biggggg... then dream bigger, and then go bigger... its a madness we reefers have a sickness...

 

[JCTReefer]

I would go ahead and invest in a big step stool if you don’t already have one. Lol.. Top step at least the same height as stand. And a scuba mask. Okay might not need the mask, but definitely the stool.