If I had it to do over again...

[Scutterborn]

Title says it all. I'm getting very near to my first setup of a larger sized SW aquarium. I would like to hear from my fellow reefers what they would've done differently and things they would've avoided. Also things they learned they should've done from the beginning. Hopefully with the insight and hindsight I can make as few mistakes as possible.

[Scutterborn]

Also, I don't want the many folks I've already gotten ideas from to think I'm throwing that info away. I just wanna learn as much as I can.

[Scream311]

If i could start over on a Tank build, id Start on Paper.

When i Built my In Wall Room Divider 125 Reef i planned it out on Paper and EVEN THOUGH the Tank wasnt Drilled i believe this was My Best Tank so far. I spent Hours apon Hours at the LFS online Viewing Forums Obtaining ideas before getting WETT. Mistakes ive made have been Rushing (getting the coral bug) goin the Cheap Fast route on Plumbing or Equipment.

Things id change Next go round for the almost Flawless Reef :
Drilled Tank
Large enough Sump with Many Baffles
HUGE (overrated) Skimmer
Tunze Wavebox
Easy Quick Disconnect Plumbing (no cheap ends)
Metal Halides #1 choice so far
Invest in Dosing Pumps
Purchase Pest Free Dead Rock AGAIN and Patienly Wait for a Cycle
Stop the Impulse Buys at the Reef Shop !!!

Two things i told myself id do from now on, and still have yet to keep my word !!!!

QT every Fish and DIP every Coral Added to the Tank

[hobogato]

great list james

[Scutterborn]

Indeed. Good points

[FireWater]

James has a great list and lots of good info.

When I built my last tank (the 120) I spent a LONG time planning it out and was extremely happy with the result until I started picking away at it and creating doubt in my head.

I would put it all on paper and also try to look at as many tanks and designs as I could before finally setting my design in stone. Since things always change, I would also plan a way to let you redo aspects of the tank as easily as possible.

[Mr Cob]

Quick note off the top of my head, I would have left more room between the tank and the wall. At least another couple inches. Never really thought about it before but a little more room would allow options for adding equipment to the system. I recently added some equipment and the power boxes had to be placed in less than perfect locations because of this. Kind of annoys me.

[Mr Cob]

Since things always change, I would also plan a way to let you redo aspects of the tank as easily as possible.

Fo' sho homie

[Mr Cob]

label cables :P and use the DJ power control strips... I use them but next time I'm putting everything on them and with labels.

[Scream311]

Good Point Rob, i use the DJ Strip now but have Memorized Each Switch to what they Control, but for Vacation Purposes Labeling would Surely Help.

Forgot to Mention someting im Battling Now, just had a Recent Convo with my Co Worker Troy Valentine in Regards to ATO, ive Tried all types of Methods, but what has seemed to Work Best is good ol Gravity and a Float Valve, switches are Faulty, Automatic Pumps can Run Dry. But a Container with a Hose Line Linked into a Submerged Float Valve Works Best

[Big_Pun]

my past three tanks where learning experiences for me, I bought other peoples setups and wasn't happy with configuration of a lot of things. so with my 150 I knew I wanted some stuff custom built to suit my needs. my sump was mad built around the skimmer I knew what i wanted and how it would flow a certain way to make servicing easier. if I ever needed to take it out I can through the front doors. also it was designed to leave me a lot of room so I could have options, my 10g ATO sits down there, my reactors, and still room for storage. I also made sure all electrical stuff was easy to get to, and I had enough pc4 to run anything I would ever need with my Reef Keeper. controllers are great, just for the piece of mind that if something goes wrong and temps get to high you can set it up to shut down lights and other stuff. get the biggest skimmer you can, get pumps that are reliable and have good reviews, stay away from cheap bargains on sub par used equipment(not all used equipment is bad), plan on getting good lights if you have to get a decent used set don't plan on using it for a while be ready to buy new ones eventually.

[Mr Cob]

no joke on switches, I recently dumped my entire RO/DI holding container into the sump because the float switch didn't turn off... good thing I made sure the sump was large enough to hold both the ro container and excess display water when the power turns off, otherwise I could have had a little flood.

I also keep my skimmer drain container in a bucket/container in the event that it overflows, that has saved me a couple of times and gave me some time to realize I needed to empty the darn thing. Especially important when skimming wet which I rarely do but when I do I always forget and overflow the drain container.

[ErikH]

I'm doing it all over again.... I am planning on adding more and more rock as I go, but all in my sump. The other thing I am planning as I go, and this will sound totally OCD, but I am planning what corals go where based on the color wheel; This will provide as much contrast as possible in all areas of the tank. The other thing to remember is that colonies grow out, and as they do, they shade what's below.

[Scream311]

I DIG IT :thumbs_up:

[lildingy]

This is a great thread!!!

[Bill S]

OK, a couple of others:

1) Make sure you locate the tank near a drain you can use. Ours is plumbed into our wet bar drain (they don't build these anymore). This is HUGE - for tank maintenance. No hoses, no buckets, no hauling water.

2) I should have done this when I switched to fresh water: Build a sump about 6" deep around the entire tank. Use a couple of layers of pond liner. Then put a bilge pump into it, hooked to the drain. Then when that inevitable leak comes, it pumps into the drain from #1 above.

3) Run at least 2 circuits to your tank. Make sure you have an outlet that isn't GFCI protected (up high) for metal halides. All of the rest should have SEPARATE GFCIs (so when it trips, it doesn't take the entire tank down. You can't have too many outlets.

I also second the dry rock thing.

[Scutterborn]

I'm getting a lot of good ideas I hadn't thought about! Very helpful! Let's keep it going!

[ErikH]

Oh, and I used dry rock. Pests are a big problem! Here's my reasoning...
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?61433-First-Post-Big-Pest

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?61481-Every-cussword-imaginable-AEFW-*NEW-PICS!*

[Scutterborn]

The first post was priceless and the second post scares the bejesus outta me...

[Europhyllia]

If I had to do it over again: I'd stay small.

I liked the 215g and it was very cool to have. But I don't like the 60g any less.

[allan]

Develop an algorithm that will dictate the amount of cash you have on hand in regard to your overall cost. Something like 15/20%.

This will help when your pump goes for bust and you need a replacement quick.

You should never spend your last greenback on a fish, coral or superfluous hardware without ensuring that you have enough to buy that mission critical piece should it fail.

[Mr Cob]

pick 1 or two reefer compadres and bank your corals... in the event of a crash or unexplained death of a coral it will be nice to get it back. Great way to increase your stock but more importantly have a backup coral.

If either compadre wants a piece back the standard is... you get half of the frag/colony back.

*I did the similar thing with all MCC corals but just spread them around in different tanks*

[mkengr45]

Controller controller controller, and dosing pumps. Automate as much as you can.

[350gt]

I would have saved my money and bought another dog.... Lol jk




I would have had a stand made to my liking, instead of a store bought. IMO you can never have to much access and I have practically have none under mine.

Also a bigger fuge, I like that mine is remote but would like to have it a bit bigger...

[Mr Cob]

in reference to above...totally agree...but I still went store bought and had DSA build the stand to my specs.

[350gt]

A DSA tank and stand..........


One day........ Probably my next set up.

[RayAllen]

Ive done it over again so many times lol. Ive had SW aquariums ranging from 15g-210g over the years.

My thoughts

1. Buy a quality heater if you prefer to use one. Ive run a few tank without them through out the years with no bad affects. If you must have spend extra and by a great one. To many stories of shorted out heaters. I had one short out but luckily nothing was killed.

2. Unless you really really love xenia, gsp, kenya trees, Blue Button Polyps do not put them on your reef! Even on a island the some how manage to make their way to the rest of the rock.

3.) Always invest in a Auto Top off. IMO one of the best inventions ever.

4.) Try not to worry to much about what others think of your tank. There will always be those who have to have only top of the line equipment, the newest thing out, ultra modern tanks etc- save and build on your budget a efficient system and try to be satisfied. I am still trying to learn to leave good enough alone. ( with that said, there are those few items worth saving and investing in, that can save you $$ in the long run do to efficiency or not having to upgrade)

[rrasco]

I would have had a stand made to my liking, instead of a store bought. IMO you can never have to much access and I have practically have none under mine.

True, but that was actually one of my do-it-over-agains and I went with a stand that kept the warranty on the tank. Custom is nice, but not at the expense of the tank.

[350gt]

True, but that was actually one of my do-it-over-agains and I went with a stand that kept the warranty on the tank. Custom is nice, but not at the expense of the tank.


If built right, you should be alright.... Seriously the stand I have, I honestly don't know how it's holding the weight but it does...::::knock on wood:::..

Should of put "a quality built stand over a store bought"... There is no warranty on my store bought either...

[rrasco]

I agree, but if the tank breaks due to manufacturer defect and their warranty requires you use their stand, you're SOL. Been there, done that. I like building my own stands, but every tank I have over 100 gallons has a factory stand on it and I sleep easy.

[Kristy]

Here is a small thing that has annoyed me for years... When plumbing the tank (drilled fo sho!) you want the return line to come in drilled as well and not up and over the lip so that it makes an even surface for throwing tops on your tank. I'm a big believer in having tops over the tanks, no more jumpers, but didn't work that into the original design.

[RayAllen]

Here is a small thing that has annoyed me for years... When plumbing the tank (drilled fo sho!) you want the return line to come in drilled as well and not up and over the lip so that it makes an even surface for throwing tops on your tank. I'm a big believer in having tops over the tanks, no more jumpers, but didn't work that into the original design.

good point, plus drilled returns with lock line look clean..

[Gseclipse02]

i wouldnt have wasted so much money on the setup .... i would of stayed smaller look at how many people who have really nice set ups who sell them .... once you get to a point there not much to do with the tank ...

[Bill S]

OK, being completely honest...

The tank is sitting in the wall, FW now. BUT, if I were to go back to SW, what would I do?

1) FOWLR. Probably.

2) I'd replace the 215 with 4 much smaller tanks. All in the wall. All 36 long x 24" wide. Stacked, 2 x 2. One would be SPS only (with a tang and a wrasse). One would be a small predator tank. In between would be a planted 'fuge-type tank, maybe with seahorses. The last would be either an over-the-top LPS tank, or a general community tank.

I'm guessing that the above would be 1) less expensive and 2) a whole lot more fun!

[Bill S]

Actually, thinking the above over COMPLETELY.

We've "downsized" everything since buying our boat. We do have plans to "leave" for a couple of years. Western Caribbean, for sure. With a little luck, thru the Canal to the South Pacific. Not sure how long, but anywhere from 6 months to 5 years.

WHEN we get back... We'll build a backyard paradise, with fish the central theme.

[jroescher]

Bill, if you put a window in the bottom of the boat you would have one of the coolest tanks ever.


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