How big for my first tank

[fresh water]

I control around a 1000 fresh water gallons at home the big tank is a 700. Wanting to try salt and maybe get another big tank or a something like 250 to 350 gallon range and let what I put in there just go free. And I if possible I wanna put in a say 3 fish being predator stye like a jaguar grouper and some other bigger pretty that it couldn't eat. Is that possible or am I dreaming in the salt water world. I do things differently for fresh I dont follow the rules after 18yrs of it

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

I think a lot depends on your budget. In general, saltwater tanks tend to be a lot more expensive than freshwater tanks.

I might honestly suggest a much smaller tank to see if you like saltwater before jumping into a 250+. But, if you've got the cash and think you'll like it, then go for it!

@vetteguy53081 is knowledgeable with truly huge tanks, maybe he would have some insight here.

Good luck!

 

[Rocks reef]

Agree. Start smaller and see how you like it.

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[backbayreef]

Welcome aboard!

Try reading this thread? ;)
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/3...s-and-a-plan-all-for-this-dream-fish.1053463/

Since you’re already familiar with with large tank, I would go 500gal+ salt. Large marine fish are so majestic.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I control around a 1000 fresh water gallons at home the big tank is a 700. Wanting to try salt and maybe get another big tank or a something like 250 to 350 gallon range and let what I put in there just go free. And I if possible I wanna put in a say 3 fish being predator stye like a jaguar grouper and some other bigger pretty that it couldn't eat. Is that possible or am I dreaming in the salt water world. I do things differently for fresh I dont follow the rules after 18yrs of it

I recommend a 90 or 125g tank to start with for available room, reduced maintenance and lower equipment requirements opposed to a 210, 300 or more volumed tank. Once you conclude you are truly loving this hobby, you can then get that BIG tank and use the 90 or 125g tank as a quarantine system

 

[Michael Hughes]

I agree wholeheartedly with Vetteguy. Something else to keep in mind is salt mix is not cheap, especially for larger tanks. You'll be doing water changes - especially with predatory fishes - and the salt cost will add up.

Since it sounds you're leaning toward a predator tank with some other cool fish, I've always thought the following would be a fun stock list for a 125 (though I'm not sure it would work in practice):

Snowflake eel
Zebra dwarf lionfish
Red coris wrasse
Harlequin tusk
Foxface rabbitfish
Australian stripey

 

[DCR]

If you are sure you want a large predator fish only tank, then I would go large like you plan as you will need a large tank to successfully keep those type of fish (triggers, groupers, large angels etc). Keeping that type of tank is not a lot different or more expensive than a similar sized freshwater tank. You would want a sump and a protein skimmer, but other than that and the salt cost, the set-up is similar to freshwater. It is when you decide you want a reef tank that the costs really sky-rocket with increasing tank size. For a reef tank I would not recommend much more than a 75 gallon as a starter.

 

[tbrown]

I control around a 1000 fresh water gallons at home the big tank is a 700. Wanting to try salt and maybe get another big tank or a something like 250 to 350 gallon range and let what I put in there just go free. And I if possible I wanna put in a say 3 fish being predator stye like a jaguar grouper and some other bigger pretty that it couldn't eat. Is that possible or am I dreaming in the salt water world. I do things differently for fresh I dont follow the rules after 18yrs of it

Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR) is what you sound like you're planning.

My mom had a grouper and an eel in a 70 when I was growing up. That's actually my origin story into saltwater.

When I was a little older (married, kids, my own house, etc.) I was driving home and passed a thrift shop. Sitting outside was a tank that looked just like the one she used to have. I bought it for $5, got a light, HOB overflow, and a wet/dry filter and went to work!

I started with the 79, ran that for 4 or 5 years, tore it down in a move, set up a 6 gallon, set the 70 back up, upgraded to a 125, moved back to a 70 with the ESHOPPS M70, and currently running the M70, an IOAOI 8 gallon, and a 5.6 gallon homemade from a Tenecor kit.

With the FOWL, you're definitely going to want close to or more than a 100 gallon tank. 110 Extra High is a cool tank if you don't have fast swimmers, 125 or even 180 is a good tank for a longer one. My sister's ex-boyfriend had a neat 220 Cylinder tank as a centerpiece tank in his house for a while.

 

[mcarroll]

If you're keeping it as a true fish-only tank – meaning it's set up like a freshwater tank just with saltwater instead – then it's going to be very familiar to your current husbandry practices.

If that's the case, I say go for the tank you're imagining.

Havng to mix saltwater for filling and water changes is the main difference – if you can measure .5 cups per gallon fairly accurately then mixing saltwater will be easy. You'll want 50 or 100 gallon (or better) vats to make RODI water and saltwater in.

You *might* want to do filtration differently than your freshwater by including a large protein skimmer (check out RK2 and Lifereef).....that would be a very cool upgrade for you but I wouldn't say it's a requirement if you just wanted to keep things as similar as possible between your freshwater and salwater on the backend.

2¢