Extras of having a large system?

[Twitterbait]

So besides the larger tank and increased area produced by having a large tank... what are some of the extra things/goodies that you can have with a large tank. any equipment that just dosn't work on smaller tanks?

[ski1297]

Sharks and a skimmer as big as you!

[skeety]

not sure about equipment.

I think the BIG plus is the opening in options when it comes to livestock.

I've DREAMED of having an Achilles tang...which really is NOT an option until you get into the larger systems. So that's what I'm gonna do. Build my in-wall 330, and make that dream come true.

but not just an opening of options, but a difference in quantity too.

I started out in this hobby, and knew you couldn't keep many fish in a 20 or 30 gal system. So I gave in, and bought a 75...biggest tank I'd ever owned up until then. Thinking I could load it up.

While waiting for it to cycle, I found TRT, and was sad to find out...that my newly aquired mega-tank (in my eyes), was really mid-sized at best. And that I'd probably only be able to keep a few fish.

That was a bit heartbreaking to me. But when you get into the larger tanks...suddenly you can get a school of Chromis, or MORE than one tang (if done right). It's a whole new world.

But as far as equipment...only thing(s) I can really think of are Tunze's Streams and wave-makes (good ones). When the tanks bigger, you suddenly have the option of adding this type of equipment.

But other stuff...I think you can do on a smaller tank too. Lights, skimmer, Ca reactor, etc...

[Twitterbait]

I was looking at some and saw Plankton reactors and large fluidized sand bed filters as an example.

[VWD]

Larger tanks are cool and do cost alot more to start. Need more rock, Sand if You want sand, Bigger pumps , Salt, more lighting , it all add up pretty fast. so a good thing to have is a bigger budget.

[Kent E.]

You need pumps for sure! I have 4 darts. Waterchanges take an entire bucket of salt, and huge skimmers.

[dgasmd]

You do have to upsize equipment significantly and change your mentality completely. When you get good flow with 4 powerheads in a 30g tank does not work well with 40 powerheads in a 300g tank. HOwever, if done right, the equipment actually does become more efficient. Electricity use is a huge concern and a huge bill too. It can get out of hand very easily. Other expenses increase as well like tap water filters (RO prefilters, carbon filter, DI), salt, carbon, PO4 removers, etc. The biggest increase by far is electricity!!

Ont he other hand, it provides something you cannot get with a smaller tank: plenty of room for fish and corals. You get fish to act a lot more naturally, something you don't even realize or know until you get a large tank and add 30 anthias in it.

[monkeyreefer]

Originally Posted by skeety

I've DREAMED of having an Achilles tang...which really is NOT an option until you get into the larger systems. So that's what I'm gonna do. Build my in-wall 330, and make that dream come true.

I would have to kindly disagree here, keeping achilles tangs all comes down to husbandry. I kept one in a 90 for a year and a half with no issues what so ever. Granted it is now in a 300 and still happy. The key is to find a good specimen from the start. Since they are delicate shippers, many come in near death to begin with. Nets are a no no with these fish as well as it will actually damage the fish's "skin". I also provided a lot of current to keep the tang happy as well, remember that these fish come from surge zones in the reef, so it is best to try to mimic these conditions as much as possible. Lots of room to swim in and out of rocks is a must as well. Oh, and on top of it all you have to feed regularly. Low nutrient tanks are not the best place for an achilles IMHO .

[motorslave]

You end up with more room for sure with a bigger system but Ive been in the middle of re-doing my 150 and am realy leaning in the direction of simplicity. I have a large skimmer, CA reactor, chiller and an extra tank plumbed in in a constant by-passable circuit for water changes but thats about it. Auto top off will be done through the RO/DI and the whole system will be hooked in to the house water and sewer for ease of miantainence. Ive seen awesome tanks with tons of plumbing and every do-hicky on the market, then Ive seen awesome tanks with simple set up designs too. For me the simpler it is to keep the better!

Robet

[fchidsey]

I love the idea of a huge 300 but then it becomes 500 and so on. I am afraid of the FPL bill.