New to hobby, seeking advice
 

Newish to saltwater, at least it's been a long while since I've kept salt tanks. I'm totally new to corals. My goal is to have a Florida Ricordea tank. Some distant day, I'd like to combine it with h. Erectus and sexy shrimp, but for now, just the ricordea.
I'm looking at a 93 gallon cube or a 150gallon extra high for starters. The tank will have to go in the basement, and we will be remodeling in a couple of years. That will likely mean I will have to temporarily move the tank for construction
So:
1) should I wait a couple years until the basement is redone? I don't mind the work of moving the tank and inhabitants if it can be done safely for the inhabitants.
2) as an alternative to waiting, I can get the ball rolling with a small ricordea tank that can be housed elsewhere. It will give me experience and avoid the need for a tank move. Maybe a tank in the 40 gallon range.

3) any advantage in the 93 cube 30x30x27 vs the 150 gallon 48x24x30 for my purposes (beside added volume)?

Thanks

For me I would start with a tank try things and sure will do great.
But if you are planning for upgrades I would maybe wait or start looking for your ultimate tank build...
If you are looking to try things for a free tank I have a couple 180guns..90glns..and I think 45glns all with metal stands and drilled...hope that makes your plan a little easier...lol
For a new tank build I highly sugest Concept aquarium in Calgary top service...

By the way welcome to Canreef.

With what you want to keep long-term, I don't see any real advantage going with bigger tank. I have a 93g cube & LOVE it. Looks so much nicer IMO than a standard rectangular tank and yet takes up very little room. I use one pendant to light the whole thing (LEDs) whereas I would need twice as much lighting to do a 150g. Also, not a huge fan of 30" deep tanks, although seahorses supposedly like the extra depth for mating dances. When I used to keep seahorses (mostly Erectus & Kudas w/c) back in the day, I had them doing the dance in 33g tanks (18" tall) so the 24" height of the 93g cube should still be sufficient.

Also, the seahorses will LOVE your sexy shrimp (expensive snacks). My friend's Reidis used to eat 300-400 fw ghost shrimp a month and those are 10 times bigger than sexy shrimp. Serious incompatibility issue. Sexy shrimp are tiny and to really enjoy them best, set up a nano where their small size works to your advantage and is not a disadvantage. You could set up a ricordea/sexy shrimp tank to start and later build the bigger system and move some of the rics over. It will give you time to grow them out cause a tank full of rics is super expensive unless you live in the States and can get them wholesale or direct from the source.

Anthony

Thanks for the reply. I find the cube a bit more appealing as well. Glad to hear it will be suitable for the ricordea and the seahorses. Also, thanks for the heads up on the sexy shrimp. A smaller tank for them sounds like a good idea. I just have the notion in my head that smaller tanks in sw is a bad thing for stability issue, but I know that isn't always true. I just need to move past that.

Did you have your cube drilled or did you use another setup?

Thanks Eli,
I'm sure I'll add a tank at some point. I'm not concerned with an upgrade as much as I am having to move everything when we redo the basement. But it sounds like it won't be detrimental to the tank inhabitants if I move them temporarily to another tank while the Reno is happening in a couple years.

Thanks for the generous offer on the tanks. I honestly have no idea how to get a 180 gallon into my basement. Is there a moving service that specializes I. Aquariums?

I've actually tried Concept before but I haven't received a return call.

I changed out both of my smaller tanks (RSM 34g & non-reefready 2' cube) for Reef Ready cubes (30" & 2'). Love them.

Call concept again ask for Denny
Tell him what your looking for, and the plan for the tank he'll help you
I ordered 2 tanks today from him, didn't take 15min

This will be my 3rd tank from him and 1 sump couldn't be happier
Great customer service

Well, I did try again and the only thing I can conclude is that I was calling the wrong number originally. I did get Denny and he has been extremely helpful with getting me started. Thanks for suggesting I try again.

run. run for your life