Noob in waiting

I think he was getting at MH would heat the water on a nano pretty well, while the other don't transfer as much heat.

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef

 

Ok, I didnt catch that. Thanks

 

Welcome to 3reef 8)

 

Thank you all for the welcome posts! Good to be here...

 

Well, my first tank was a biocube 14. IMO a biocube 29 is a good size, I can say that my 14 really took off after 4 months. If you can find a deal for one i would definitely try it until you can get a nice big tank.

Think of it like this; the experience you gain from maintaining a "small" tank (not small to me) will just make it easier when you get a bigger tank.

Also i upgraded mine to LEDs for a relavtively cheap price considering a brand new 14 is worth like 200$.

If i were you i would look on craigslist for a used 29 biocube w/ or w/o a stand.

 

Welcome to 3 reef, Thor

 

Thanks again for all the kind words and encouragement! Initially I was just doing tons of research, reading and planning out a larger system (say around 120 gallons) that I would start-up once my wife and I could get us out of our condos and into a house. Yes, that darn economy/housing market has us in check mate, and I know we aren't the only ones these days.

Anyway, we are limited in space and so I was concerned about starting up a small system here. My previous experience in marine aquaria was with a 30 gallon hex tank I inherited from a previous roommate. I loved it, and loved the experience and learned a heck of a lot. It was a fish-only tank and to save money/space I scrimped on filtration, etc. Well, I paid for it and lost some very fine and innocent fish when the new tang I brought home spread white-spot to the entire tank. Yup, I was one of those guys who didn't think quarantining applied to him (young bravado=irresponsible in hindsight).

That being said, and with the encouragement here, I am considering a build of a 60 gallon cube, which I think I can fit in our current condo. I have identified space for the ro/di unit and to store purified water/pre-mix in a closet. The only remaining piece is to find room for the QT, but I am working on it.

To save costs, I am planning to pull my father-in-law in to help me do the stand and build a custom acrylic sump. I have to rework my stocking list to fit the new size, and mainly identify what corals I want to keep. Eventually I'd hope to graduate to being able to care for a few sps and perhaps a maxima clam, but will be starting out with the fish, and slowly add in some soft and easier to care for LPS. I've even got a few ideas of an ATO and/or kalk doser with the resevior stashed up into the rafters of the stand above the sump, but I have a lot more research to do in that area.

I've much more reading, learning, and planning to do before I officially kick this off. If and when that day comes though (hopefully in the next few months) I will be sure to start a build thread (in the appropriate forum of course).

In short, you have inspired me to dive in now rather than wait. Who knows, but they time we are able to get a house I may be ready skills wise to upgrade to more of the dream tank I had in my mind anyway .

Thanks for your encouragement all!

Thor

 

+1 I'm in exactly the same boat. Wanted to go super big on account of the "bigger is easier" thing. But, that was gonna cost a crap ton of $$, so we went with a BioCube 29 (~ 2' x 2' footprint) to get our feet wet. We started with cured LR and live sand and haven't had any problems at all so far (been about a month now). Very small/short cycle and everything's coming along nicely. Good luck!

 

welcome to 3reef!