Hello Reef2Reef community,
Firstly, pardon any newbie mistakes in this post; I'm still getting acquainted with this platform.
A bit of background: About 5 years ago, I was the proud owner of a small reef tank. However, circumstances led me to sell it. I also have a history with freshwater aquariums. Recently, I've been yearning to dive back in, specifically into the realm of larger tanks, because of my passion for keeping sizable tangs.
Currently, I'm weighing options between the Cade S2 1800, the 2100, and the Red Sea 750 G2. But, an interesting offer came my way: a mammoth 3-meter tank for a bargain at under 4k$ USD. The dimensions seem to be approximately 300cm x 60cm x 60cm (L x D x H), although I need to reconfirm the depth, which might be closer to 75cm. The overall volume, inclusive of the sump, rounds up to 356 US Gallons or 1350 Liters.
I would like to keep costs under control, therefore, while I was looking into larger tanks, I am scared of the financial investment that these tanks will need. Therefore, is there a cheap way to run such large aquariums? if not, should I not buy this 3 meter tank and look into something smaller instead? (Ignore electricity costs as they're very cheap where I live, assuming the consumption is less than 3000 watt for the 3 meter tank, it's something that I can manage.)
Also, I have a few questions and concerns. I'd be grateful for insights from seasoned large reef tank keepers:
Firstly, pardon any newbie mistakes in this post; I'm still getting acquainted with this platform.
A bit of background: About 5 years ago, I was the proud owner of a small reef tank. However, circumstances led me to sell it. I also have a history with freshwater aquariums. Recently, I've been yearning to dive back in, specifically into the realm of larger tanks, because of my passion for keeping sizable tangs.
Currently, I'm weighing options between the Cade S2 1800, the 2100, and the Red Sea 750 G2. But, an interesting offer came my way: a mammoth 3-meter tank for a bargain at under 4k$ USD. The dimensions seem to be approximately 300cm x 60cm x 60cm (L x D x H), although I need to reconfirm the depth, which might be closer to 75cm. The overall volume, inclusive of the sump, rounds up to 356 US Gallons or 1350 Liters.
I would like to keep costs under control, therefore, while I was looking into larger tanks, I am scared of the financial investment that these tanks will need. Therefore, is there a cheap way to run such large aquariums? if not, should I not buy this 3 meter tank and look into something smaller instead? (Ignore electricity costs as they're very cheap where I live, assuming the consumption is less than 3000 watt for the 3 meter tank, it's something that I can manage.)
Also, I have a few questions and concerns. I'd be grateful for insights from seasoned large reef tank keepers:
- Water Changes: Even a 10% water change seems challenging and potentially ineffective for a tank of this volume. Bigger changes, like 20%, could be taxing on both time and pocket. Are there contemporary methods or advancements that allow a reef system to run optimally without frequent water changes?
- Flow Management: How do you achieve ideal flow in such spacious tanks? Additionally, suggestions for cost-effective flow and return pumps would be great.
- Battery Back-ups: For those with large setups, what battery back-up and wavemaker combinations are you relying on, especially during prolonged power outages? Looking for wallet-friendly options here!
- Lighting: Premium brands like Radions and Kessils are a bit too steep for my current budget. I'm considering Nicrew 150 LEDs and am leaning towards getting six. Anyone here with experiences or reviews about these lights?
- Maintenance Tips: How do you manage the upkeep of such large aquariums? Any advice for situations when you need to leave the tank unattended, say for a 1-2 week vacation?
- Saltwater Mixing station: How large of a mixing station do I need? is two 100 gallon containers or barrels enough?
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