Big tanks vs small tanks

[jcnkt_ellis]

I have a 150 & an 8. I went from a ~30 to the 150 about a year ago and started the 8 in January. Both have been easy to maintain. The 8 is a small mixed reef and the 150 is softy only. The 150 I'm sloppy with water changes, but, between the fuge and softies, the tank thrives on the higher nutrient water...as it is I'm planning on moving my skimmer out of the sump to double the size of my fuge. The 8 I have been more up to date on maintenance, I do a one gallon water change per week, have an appropriately small clean up crew, and only three fish in it (a flasher wrasse, a purple firefish, and a jester's goby). I'm also running only a large wavebox and return pump on the 150 and the stock pump on the Nuvo 8...I guess my point is that this hobby is only as expense and hard to maintain as you make it. When I started I had to have the best of everything and the cost quickly blew up on me, now I try to get the best of what I actually need and all in all a nano is now no harder to maintain than the big boy.

[allan]

If light penetration wasn't an issue, I'd like to get a taller tank, that's both deeper and wider.

I used to do 20 gallon water changes on my current 210, but about three weeks ago I started doing four/five gallon changes a day. I make 30 gallons of salt water, and when I feed the fish I take off the ATO, turn on the salt water ATO, fill up a tall five gallon bucket full of tank water (I use this water to rinse my fish food), about ten minutes later I turn off the salt water ATO, turn on the Kalk ATO... and I'm done.

I couldn't imagine doing that with a small tank.

I'd like to add on to what Chris said. He's correct, but to be more correct, you have to have bookoo real estate in order to truly have a variety of coral stuff. If not, all you have is a variety of frags. When one colony takes up all of the space in a 29 BC, that's it, that's all you have. But if you get a bigger tank you can have a huge variety of zoa colonies, or several dozen varieties of SPS, or you can run a myriad of LPS and softies. But you need the space.

And you'll never have enough space. The little tanks, and there are a plethora of beautiful little ones running about, require a certain level of restraint that you won't find in the bigger tank boys (and gals). I've got a fairly small tank and I have picked up coral thinking that I would be able to find a place for it... only to find that I don't. I couldn't imagine trying to maintain a small tank.

[Scream311]

Pros of a Large Tank : Let me make this easy with some pics lol


fts.jpgeating4.jpgshark4.jpgeat.jpg

Pros, i found i was able to Introduce Many Different Species into the tank both Aggressive and Docile. Feeding was always Easy didnt have to Worry about over feeding or under feeding there was always food either Clipped to a spot hidden on a pane of glass or some Live critters swimming between rocks. Always had Room to work in both sump and display. Introduction of new equipment wasnt a pain as there was always a new spot.

CONS !!!! Water CHANGES ! on this FOWLR i was doin 30gal a Week ! Skimming a 5 gallon Bucket every 2 weeks !!!! Electricity Soared with 2 Dart Return Pumps, UV equipment, T5 Lighting, Power Heads.

When you go BIG you GO BIG ! Everything Needs to be Taken into Consideration.

Water
Electric
Salt
Food
Rock
Heat
Weight
Space

I Miss my 240 EVERYDAY ! Currently putting up with a 110 Tall and its just not the same :-( My Next Tank will be upwards of 300 gallons and again will be Stacked with Rockwork in the Center to allow a Shark to Freely Swim Laps around the Tank (pref in a Bullet Tank with Rounded Edges ;-)

[Tristan23]

I Miss my 240 EVERYDAY ! Currently putting up with a 110 Tall and its just not the same :-( My Next Tank will be upwards of 300 gallons and again will be Stacked with Rockwork in the Center to allow a Shark to Freely Swim Laps around the Tank (pref in a Bullet Tank with Rounded Edges ;-)

What's holding you back?! I've been contemplating to go bigger but living at my parents place I'm limited on space. I might as well start sleeping on on the floor or in the living room.

[FireWater]

You saw my 120 already. I prefer the larger tanks, but still have a place for smaller tanks as well. I kept a 30g at my office for quite some time. It is more expensive to maintain and set up a larger tank. What I have witnessed though is some folks set up a small tank and are not happy with it then want to scrap it and go bigger or they have one smaller tank and then add more smaller tanks. Why not just go big to begin with?

[ramsey]

I guess I'm the odd man out but smaller tanks (30-40g) seem easier to me. I agree that you can have swings and a bigger tank is more stable but maintenance on a smaller tank is much easier, it's less expensive and provides a more intimate setting. You can really see the little stuff going on in your tank if it's small.

[Bill S]

I'm a fan of the 100-150g range. My 215 is just a bit too big. A total pain to get to the bottom of the tank - I get wet.

Of course, Allan, with his alien-length arms, has no problems with big tanks.

[ramsey]

I'm a fan of the 100-150g range. My 215 is just a bit too big. A total pain to get to the bottom of the tank - I get wet.

Of course, Allan, with his alien-length arms, has no problems with big tanks.

That's what bothers me about my 185G. If a frag comes loose or I need to do anything in the tank, I pretty much have to get soaking wet and get a ladder out, etc. A "grabber claw" helps but I still end up with water everywhere.

[jrsatx20]

had a 8, 14, 20, 28, 55, 75, 135 gallon. now im looking at a 185 or 210. they all have their pros and cons. all i can say is go as big as u can afford.
smaller does require a lil more time to make sure u dont have a lot of paramater swings. big will cost more in equipment and electricty. both are expensive. just go big

[BBQHILLBILLY]

For sure big tanks are awesome. To try and bring the ocean into your house is so cool. LEDs make it possible to keep utility cost down.
Salt and fish feed seem to be the big cost. But to see the tangs grow and swim is neat.

At the same time, as big tanks are awesome, wife and I keep finding ourselves buying smaller tanks. Even pico tanks. You can put them anywhere.
And again LEDs with small footprints have opened the doors for small tanks.