If you could start all over..

Starting over, I would have thought out my purchases better and not bought the cheapest products I could find. I've spent more money replacing equipment than if I bought better stuff in the first place, even if I had to delay the start-up date to save up.

I'm beginning a 105 build and will do it carefully and slowly this time. For instance, it will start a few weeks later than I planned because I bought a tunze skimmer instead of buying a cheaper one that I thought would be "ok for now". "Ok for now" will bite you in the butt everytime.

 

Well I have upgraded one time since I started fresh water. Finished my basement and built my tank into my wall which obviously isn't a option for everyone but even after all my research and planning after I was done I was so much happier with my new setup but still had things I wish I had done differently. Plan as much as you can and be prepared to change if need be. With this hobby, there are no 100% answers. Always learning. I would also say make things as easy for your self as you can as far as maintenance goes so that you will ALWAYS do it.

 

Exactly what I was going to say. On my first tank I bought cheap stuff at first or what was just "barely sufficient" for my needs at the time. I just ended up upgrading or replacing equipment and costing myself more money in the long run.

So get decent equipment and don't cut corners (with equipment and husbandry) is what I would recommend.

 

not sure if i mentioned this already but....... GLUE THE ROCK WORK!!!!

 

I think I have a good game plan together from all the advice. I'm also going to give all my fish to my LFS for store credit (except my one clown) and leave the tank sit and do its thing for three months or more possibly six. It seems like my tank cycled awful fast this last time around and I jumped in too fast adding livestock then my params went whacko and my fish started acting up with ich & brooklynella. I'm picking up my new used lighting fixture today. Also thinking of upgrading my return pump up to a 750 from a 500. I'm also going to set up my LR to be better coral friendly and add some egg crate in places as well. I want to focus more on corals then fish this time. How would I go about glueing my LR when it's going to be damp and covered in coralline? Main thing will be let my tank SIT quietly for a LONG time before I start messing with it again.

 

If I were to start over it would be dependant on the space of my home (I would only start over if we moved to a different house). I would probably setup a peninsula or a round tank in the middle of a room for increased viewing angles.

That's about the only thing I would like to change. My current tank is only 8 months old so my current setup is how I would do it again within the confines of my floor plan.

 

Marshall, CB-

I've got one of these on the way now, that I'll be adding to my 2 Led's I currently have.
Evergrow Dimmable Full Spectrum D120 120W LED Light for Reef Saltwater Aquarium | eBay

This have more spectrum and dimmers- awesome price too!
90 degree lenses too!

My 2 current Tao Tronics have only a blue color, and a white color, and no dimmers, and 120 degrees.

This is to add a third light on my soon set up 180.

That light looked good too- the one you linked to.

 

Drill my tank and run a sump/ref

 

And, Get a drilled tank, put a side to side coast to coast overflow, with drilled holes- no over the tank edge siphon tubes, and a large front to back tank.

Oh wait a minute- I've already done that!- unfortunately it's still sitting dry in my cold garage- waiting for me to get things finalized for my 125g- 180g transfer.

I"m definitely taking my time now, getting my lighting- check; return pump- check;, etc.

 

I bought my T5 8 bulb fixture and the bulbs are next. Any suggestions? I know ATI's but what color scheme? Dennis sent me a list of which ones to get but I lost it.. Middle of moving and I have sh*t everywhere/.