I would go big from the start, long and shallow. I would have also probably have put in orders on my favorite fish, the ones with the 2-4 year wait.

I would have gone bigger right from the start. With more room I wouldn't have had to allow LR to touch any of the tank walls and cleaning would have been a lot easier. Lastly I would have made sure my tank was reef-ready instead of having to build an overflow.

I would have also ordered most of my stuff online, or bought from other reefers. I would have saved myself a lot of money.

If I had to pick it would be to have a good size spare closet ,or a room to house the sump room. Im going to a in the recroom once i have that finished im putting tiles down to finish off the floor around the tank, then i will have the tank in the veiwing room with the sump in a back room 6x3 just enough to house aeverything and play in there. but since i wish for this to happen that iswhatim going to do. So if you wait and plan it out right it will happen.

Oh ya have a tank with a external overflow too. oh ya im doing that to.

I think I would have bought better equipment the first time around. Now that I'm going bigger I'm very determined not to make the same mistake. Even if it means not setting up the tank for an extra couple of months.