The one thing I would do differently is?

[Matt]

You know, the talk of "I would have gone bigger" is interesting. During the Barrett-Jackson car auctions this weekend, one of the commentators asked: "Why do these guys put so much money and time into these cars, and then sell them?" Noting that they often sell them for a loss... Answer: "Because those cars are finished. Time for a new one!".

I think a lot of people take satisfaction in the hobby end. Planning, building, refining, revising, modding, breaking, fixing, shopping, installing, buy-and-sellling... etc.

I regret nothing!

[Brent F]

Originally Posted by marie

If I went straight to a 175g tank I doubt I would have even got into the hobby. It's one thing to spend $100 here and $500 there upgrading (I refuse to think of how many hundreds and five hundreds I've actually spent) but the cost of setting up a large tank straight off would of scared me silly

I started with a 175 as my first salt tank 15 - 20 years ago. Sold it 10 years ago when I moved cities. Just got back into salt and started with three nano tanks - no interest in getting a big tank again. Too expensive and too much work.

The one thing I would do differently - drill my tank instead of using a CPR overflow.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Marie,

I totally agree. I got my 210g reef setup for an excellent deal, but shelling out $1250 in one shot would have caused me to switch to a cheaper hobby. I think it takes a year or more of spending ridiculous amounts on your tank to make you immune to such spending decisions. Now I can easily drop $200 in a day visiting LFS, but balk at spending $80 on groceries. Hmmmm, don't need those groceries but the tank sure needs some new corals & fish. NUTS, eh.

Anthony

[bv_reefer]

i would have put a good 2'' of sand, and did my aquascaping with pvc for better design

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Marie,

Now I can easily drop $200 in a day visiting LFS, but balk at spending $80 on groceries. Hmmmm, don't need those groceries but the tank sure needs some new corals & fish. NUTS, eh.

Anthony

Sad but true

[Zylumn]

Originally Posted by christyf5

I started with a 20 gal as well and almost immediately went to a larger tank. I wish I had started with RODI water from the very beginning and had more patience

ditto here as well

[Northreef]

1) Taller stand so my sump/skimmer can be accessed easier
2) Spend the $$$ up front and get the light you want not just what you can afford as you will end up buying it anyway
3) Research everything!!!!!

Best of Luck!

[krschulz]

Just started 3 months ago and built my 90 gallon tank into the furnace room. Looks great from the rumpus room but is difficult to clean/vaccuum/ scrape algae. Also, taller stand would have been ideal. I did put a sink with running water in the furnace room and also and left the floor concrete for spills, etc. The cost wasn't an issue for me because I researched things for over a year before I decided to go for it and knew it was going to be expensive.