First saltwater tank. 40gallon

Hello,

I have been reading through some of the Saltwater forums out there for the last month. I think this one fits me the best as far of the consensus on various options for tank set up.

I was originally going to use a 20gal as a nano to experiment in the saltwater side of aquariums. After reading that 55gal is the threshold for stability in cycling and something larger would be easier to maintain I started looking for something larger. I got a deal on a 40gallon tank and picked that up.

Now I have a 40(36L x 18W x 16H) and a 20(24L x 18W x16H). I'm going to use the 20 as a sump/refugium.

The Freshwater guys call the 40 a breeder tank. I thought it was good for saltwater cause of it being shallow and wide. Can have a 36" light on the top and good surface area for O2.

I have been going around to the local LFS for ideas and to take inventory. One employee when hearing the tank dimensions eyes lit up and said it would make a great frag tank and should get another tank and start a craigslist frag operation...
I want to start with FOWLR then slowly move to Coral. I don't know if I was being up sold or the guy was just overly enthusiastic.

Moving to salt is becoming more daunting then I had thought. Luckily there are a lot of LFS in the CFL area to visit still.

Sorry if this was a ramble. I guess my next thread will be in New To The Hobby - 3reef Forums with my proposed tank setup.

 

This sounds good. I have a 37g FOWLER. It's been running for a year, without a sump. It's a great set-up for me, living in an apartment.

 

Great idea to start FOWLER!!!

You can ALWAYS upgrade to a reef setup further down the line with the proper start on the FOWLER.

In order to do a "Craigslist Frag Operation" you are looking a long way down the road.

I am sure many of the experienced reefers here that do this for a living will tell you that it is certainly do-able - but it will require TONS more research, TONS more experience, and TOOOOOOOOOOOOOONS more $$$$$$$$.

If you have the capabilities to explore all three of those options - DO IT!!!

Just dont dive headlong into it counting your "frags" before they "grow".

That's just my $.02

 

welcome to 3reef bustopher. good to see your doing your research , ask all the questions you want. you will get lots of help here. goo luck.

 

Welcome to 3reef, the best forum out there... if you need any advice many of us are certainly able and willing to help. I think its a good idea to start out with a FOWLER and not get into the reef game immediately. It takes a lot of research and understanding of all water parameters and special needs of the species. So, good luck to you and be patient. Do your research and make sure you keep the adult size of the fishies in mind.

 

Thanks guys,

I have been doing a lot of reading and the learning curve for coral is high and the cost is even higher. Be real bad to wake up to a bleached white tank one morning without a clue why...

I asked him more about the Frag Game and it seems like you really have to know the supply and demand of the area. i don't know that I am that much of a wheeler dealer.

I am more interested in watching the fish swim then the coral grow at this point.

I made a thread on my build to expand on that. http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/1st-saltwater-40gal-breeder-tank-build-96500.html

I swear this is like trying to hit a moving target sometimes making decisions..

 

welcome to 3 reef bustopher

enjoy the experience , the road is just as much fun as the destination in this hobby

Steve

 

i have a 40 too. but mines a cube.

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef

 

Welcome to 3reef