Now or later?

Hello, everyone! This is my first post here, but I've been reading quite a few threads here for the past few weeks, and you guys seem very knowledgeable, so I thought I'd register and ask a few questions.

I haven't had much experience with fish, but I'm really interested in starting a saltwater aquarium. I know I should probably work with freshwater for a while first, but none of the freshwater fish interest me in the same way. I know it'll be hard, but I'm doing plenty of research to ease the learning curve.

I'm only 18, so I'm still living with my parents, and don't plan on moving out until after college (so around 4 years). Here's my first question: Should I bother setting up a large aquarium, knowing I'll have to disband and move everything in a few years? My dream is to have a 220g tank, but at that size, I am worried the eventual moving trouble will outweigh the fun.

I could just get a smaller 55g instead, get some experience, then upgrade and use the 55g as a sump for my 220 (or whatever size I decide on). I could just wait altogether, and do this in 4-5 years, but that feels like a long time.

So, long story short (I apologize for all the useless info), do you guys recommend I:

- Do nothing, and think about starting an aquarium in 4-5 years
- Get a 55g, and upgrade in 4-5 years when I move out
- Get the large tank I want when I have the money, and deal with the problems later

Hopefully that made sense. Thanks for reading.

PS. Money isn't apart of my decision process yet, as I'm just deciding whether or not to bother. If I decide to go for it, THEN I'll start making choices based around $$$.

 

IMO, if you definitely don't want to go with freshwater first, and you are sure that you won't be moving out of your parents' sooner (like going to an apartment or dorm that doesn't allow 55 gal. tanks) then I would say go for it. Just do a ton of research, and when you feel like you have done enough research, research some more lol! Honestly though, since this is such an expensive hobby, once money does become an issue (with college coming soon) it might be a better idea to start with a 30 or 45 gallon tank. This would be easier to move, and could serve as a sump/fuge in the future

Bottom line is - the earlier you start, the more experience you will have once you go BIG!
Also, don't stress too much about moving. It's not a HUGE deal (unless your tank is enormous, or built-in), and is definitely worth the day or two of trouble.

Let us know what you decide!
Gabby

 

75g if you are staying home. It's harder to keep a small system stable. I think you will be happy with a 75. Some people only spend 4 years in this hobby IME. Go for it. Even a 90g is the same length. 55 are very limiting.

 

+ 1 on striking whilst the iron is hot
in 4 years time, you may have lots of other things that take your attention
and IMO - you may then never get around to trying a salt water tank

and later, you will look back and think "I wish I had got that 55 or 75 when I had the time"

Steve

 

My first tank 30+ years ago was a 55 and i did not keep it for long, it was too limiting with its shallow front to back depth and limited the possibilities for seascaping it.
My next tank I owned for 14 years was a 90G and I loved it. It was a fish only system so used the old undergravel filter plates with crished coral and two Fluval canisters. All the things you would not want for a reef system but it was an extremely successful fish only sysm with many fish exceeding 13 years old while I owned it, I thing the guy I sold it to even kept some fo the fish for several years after that then I lost touch with him.

I would start with a 75 or 90, same footprint but the 90 is a little taller which looks nice. Start out fish only or fish only with some live rock and learn all you can about maintenance and stocking. Once you have the basics down its easy to start converting to a reef with soft corals like mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers, zenia, kenya trees and the like, they are all hardy and do not have high light requirements. From there you could get into LPS corals like candys, trumpets and the like which again are pretty hardy but with a little higher demands on water quality and lighting.

The idea is to start slowly with the easier to keep things then gradually move up so you don't get discouraged. I see too many people jump right into hard to keep SPS corals and fish with special diets only to have everything die, then they get discouraged and quit selling all their equipment for pennies on the dollar. Only bad things happen quickly in this hobby, all good things take time. You are doing the right thing by joining a foum like this and asking questions. Take the answers with a grain of salt and never follow the advice of just one person, find some common ideas and go with it, most of us won't lead you astray. Enjoy!

 

Yeah, that was my concern with the 55g. Based off the fish per gallon ratios I've been hearing, I'd run out of room real fast. If I'm going to be patient and do everything right, I might as well start at a size where I can actually do something, right?

My plan was to start with a FOWLR, and if everything went well, end up with a few beginner corals later on. My only concern is lighting. Can I get normal (for FOWLR) lights, then upgrade to coral-level lighting without wasting much money? Like, can I get a hood that supports both levels of lighting? I'd rather not waste money on coral-level lighting before I get corals, but if its going to cost more to upgrade, maybe I should just go for it.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Very helpful community you have here.

 

For fish only or FOWLR systems I used normal fluorescent shop light fixtures with upgraded bulbs for years. Very inexpensive and two fixtures fit well over a 75 or 90 G tank. Normal 4 foot fluorescent bulbs are available in lots of K ratings.

 

go for it. Don't waste your time waiting, there's no time like the present. I started a 55 last month and I am already looking to move to a 75. Like NorCalGuy said, 55s are rather restricting. Ps- my 55 reef is my first tank as well. I got 'saltwater aquariums for dummies' from the library and did a lot of onlone research and I am VERY happy I didn't go with freshwater. Just do your research and have fun with it.
JP

 

Like Gabby said, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, and more RESEARCH. If I would have knowing when I first started what I know now I would have done many things different and it has cost me a lot of money learning. If I would have just read until I went blind I would still have not known everything there I needed to. I am into this 1 year now but the money has been worth it, even though I could have gained all this knowledge for free if I would have just read first. Important factors

Know what kind of fish you want, how much room they will be comfortable with, how big they will get, peaceful to aggressive all that with fish. Learn about inverts.

Then decide if you want corals, LPS, SPS etc. Some need a huge amount of light while other corals will only get burned up by that much light and need less. Learn about corals and how to light them, some corals are dangerous to other corals, they each have a certain amount of water movement they like etc etc

Learn about equipment, what you will need for what you decide you want to do. Learn about the diseases fish can get and DO NOT EVER BUY FISH until after you look at them really good at the store, see if the LFS will throw a little food in there to watch em eat, if they attack the food and have no signs of disease then probably safe to buy so they wont contaminate your other fish you may already have.

Learn about testing your water, changing water, cleaning your tank regularly, etc.

After reading about all that and equipment you will probably be out of college, just kidding. Know what you want before you even buy a tank, knowing all this will help out the pocket book and as well as the health of your aquarium.

Just when you think you know all you need to know about this hobby you will wake up the next day you will have ten more questions.

All that being said I'm sure I forgot to mention a couple of things, but the enjoyment you will get is priceless IMO. Fish do have personality.

 

imo saltwater is easier than freshwater, unless you have corals but that's not as apples to apples in comparison. The rock that is used is much better than bio wheels, etc and cycling comes faster and beneficial bacteria seems to grow easier. If you had an open top tank then it might be different since evaporation would happen much quicker causing salt levels to rise, but with a well sealed canopy it's not that fast or anything.

One concern I'd have with the tank size is where it is going. Is it going in an upstairs room? You have to consider how much weight the floor can hold. Also, if you are going to a dorm you will have to have room for it. Most dorms won't have enough room, unless you loft your bed if it's allowed (some colleges don't for some reason). Another problem is colleges usually have a size limit. Mine is 20 gallons but the RAs don't even realize there is a size limit here so I get away with a 29 (and a 37 freshwater).

With cost, you will have to double it as well since you will be moving the fish too much to have one tank. I'm away in college and have 2 tanks with rock and a filter etc for each so that I can easily take the fish back and forth for Christmas and summer without stressing them out more, putting them through cycles, and because of the pain it would be to take down a tank after finishing a final to leave for break.

Also, half way through fall break etc I have to drive back to the college to feed the fish since it would be bad for them to go 4 or 5 days without food, even if they shouldn't die from it. It's a bit of a pain but worth it.