Thanks to 3reef!

First off thanks to everyone who participates on this board! I visited a few others forums and found this one to be the best (hence I'm here). Its nice to see helpful replies instead of instant flaming like most other forums out there.

I have owned multiple fresh water tanks (piranha and barracuda) while in college and have finally started the research for my first reef tank.

Like any newb I almost jumped right in and bought a 29 gallon biocube, but after some research here found out that this setup will not allow me the reef I am looking for.

I am in the works of building/designing my house for construction. I will be starting with a detached garage with an efficiency above. The main house will follow. The efficiency will be roughly 1000 sq ft and I plan on making this my office after the main house is built. This is were I want to put a custom built-in reef tank. (I will start another thread with a floor plan).

A few general questions:

1. Is it worth starting a small reef tank and getting it going to build up the proper levels?
2. If I do start a small tank is there any harm in oversizing equipment that I can use at a later date?

Also, I have looked at many of your tanks here and they are stunning!

Thanks for your help and I look forward to learning from everyone here.

 

no real harm in oversizing equipment, just be careful with pumps if you go to big you wont be able to overflow enough water to keep the pump from flooding your setup unless you install a ball valve and regulate it back some

Good luck on the setups and let us know how it goes.

 

What exactly do you mean by this? Do you mean for a future transfer to a larger tank?

 

Do you think I can get away with a 29 gallon tank with a 180+ gallon tank in mind or is this just not possible?

 

Yes, for future transfer.

 

You could use a skimmer for a much larger tank, but as for flow and lighting, I think it will just be too much.

A smaller tank will help you get started in this hobby. You could start growing some corals and get a hang of this hobby. How long do you think until you want to start the 180?

 

The larger tank will be roughly a year away (still need to build the house first ;D)

 

Definitely!! That will work!! It's fun upgrading, especially from a 29 to a 180!!!

good luck!!