Thoughts

[kien]

Originally Posted by reefcanada

I would replace my softie reef, so the cost would not be that great and I have most of the gear already.

It sounds like you are already ahead of the game!

Keep in mind the ongoing cost too tho. Heating, lighting, water, salt, additives, time . All is directly proportional to the size if your tank.

[reefcanada]

Originally Posted by kien

It sounds like you are already ahead of the game!

Keep in mind the ongoing cost too tho. Heating, lighting, water, salt, additives, time . All is directly proportional to the size if your tank.

You will have to come over one day Kien. I already have a 400 gal fw tank, a 200 gal softie reef, a 60 gal sps reef, a 150 gal eel tank and a 14 gal amano plant tank. I would replace the 200 and shut down the eel tank if I did this. So I think I would break even. Maybe

[Delphinus]

That's quite a choice. Both tanks are pretty nice, but they're hardly comparable. It's like asking if you'd rather have a really big camper or a ... um .. I'm stuck on a metaphor here .. a ferry. Seems to me it depends on what fits the space, budget, energy level for maintenance, etc. .. and what's going into it.

[kien]

Originally Posted by Milad

i beg to differ on that. I think there is a fine balance.

I just got a 14g nano to house some clowns and I swear that thing is so annoying compared to my 180g. For a water change i split water everywhere and **** got messed up and all kinds of stuff.

the 180 i can do a water change in like 5min while having tea, no spills

i think there is a point where it can be too large but i dont think 415 would be too large. would be fun!

You don't have to "beg" to differ

can't you just scoop out 1.4 gallons and then dump back in 1.4 gallons for a 10% change on the nano? It would also seem to me that making up 10% water changes for a 14g wouldn't take as long or as much resources (time, money, salt, water, etc..) as the 180g.

[kien]

Originally Posted by reefcanada

You will have to come over one day Kien. I already have a 400 gal fw tank, a 200 gal softie reef, a 60 gal sps reef, a 150 gal eel tank and a 14 gal amano plant tank. I would replace the 200 and shut down the eel tank if I did this. So I think I would break even. Maybe

Wow.. In that case, man up and set them both up! Better yet, plumb them both together!! Now we're talking!

[Milad]

Originally Posted by kien

You don't have to "beg" to differ

can't you just scoop out 1.4 gallons and then dump back in 1.4 gallons for a 10% change on the nano? It would also seem to me that making up 10% water changes for a 14g wouldn't take as long or as much resources (time, money, salt, water, etc..) as the 180g.

nano doesnt have a skimmer so i do ~3-4g water change
taking it out takes longer than my setup on the 180g
and its also messy because i dropped the hose and it went everywhere.

then when i poured the water back in, all kinds of stuff got knocked over

the 180g i just flip a switch on the computer and drink my tea, flip another switch, drink some more tea, then play some starcraft while fresh water is being added for new sw mix.
i guess i just setup the 180g better than the nano. I even have to top off the nano because it doesnt have a ATO yet.

funny part is im going to make it easier to do the water changes soon because i want it done in under 5min and i want to be able to do it remotely just in case.

anyways, my vote is 415 kien is 250
and I would suggest to go peninsula (or 4 side viewable) for the added fun since you already got a bunch of tanks that im assuming are standard viewable. you gota challenge yourself!

[reefcanada]

The place this tank would go, is 81" wide and the tank would slide in there perfect. I am not a fan of tanks viewable from more than two sides. Just my preference.

One thing that concerns me about this build is getting the closed loop intake so that my nems. don't crawl into it.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by reefcanada

The place this tank would go, is 81" wide and the tank would slide in there perfect. I am not a fan of tanks viewable from more than two sides. Just my preference.

One thing that concerns me about this build is getting the closed loop intake so that my nems. don't crawl into it.

but then you are missing half of the excitement in your tank!

[reefcanada]

Originally Posted by Milad

but then you are missing half of the excitement in your tank!

I will only have about 150 lbs of rock in this tank, so the fish should always be out.

[Delphinus]

Split the intakes a few times, less suction same flow.

If it was reef I'd go with the 250 even if the 80x60 footprint fits. Particularly if you're not going with 3 or 4 sided viewing, really the only thing you're getting further is lots of ravine possibilities. Unless you're really into ravines ... You won't get the same close up viewing possibilities (like someone stated already), and it's gonna be a beehive working in that tank unless you harness up and suspend yourself from the ceiling and pretend you're all Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. As fun as that sounds I wonder if the novelty will wear off eventually. Plus Tom Cruise totally ruined Mission Impossible. Plus they made Jim the bad guy? What the .. ? Really? Screw that. Go with the 250.

Unless you really need the extra volume for big fish. That would make an awesome FOWLR tank. IMHO.