Maintaining a 120 reef

[Casey Gore]

I am really on the fence about pulling the trigger on a 90 to 120 tank. I have always had a nano reef but I am really wanting to get some larger fish and do more. I know it would be funn but making a jump that big is giving me alot of anxiety. Compared to a 10 gallon nano how much harder is it to keep large reef tanks? I know I can afford it, its just such a large object and I keep trying to keep myself positive with all the cool things i could keep and how nice it would look.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Actually, I think larger tanks are easier to keep because the increased water volume allows for more stable water chemistry. Also, since dosing volumes are generally larger for larger tanks, automating dosing is probably a little easier than on a small tank. I'd bet it's pretty easy to get the water chemistry out of whack in a small tank just by misdosing an additive.

I honestly don't know how you nano reef guys do it!

 

[MaiReef]

Welcome to R2R!
A larger tank is easier because of the stability. Bad example but, a fish dies in a small tank, your whole tank could die. Same thing happens in a large tank and it may just be eaten or otherwise disposed of before it harms the tank. I recommend a sump if you go that size to hide things and hold items like heaters, a skimmer, or a refugium.

 

[SPR1968]

As already said, personally I think ‘normal’ size large tanks are easier to maintain as far as water parameters go and if you’ve managed a nano I wouldn’t worry to much at all.

Obviously if something goes wrong it can be very expensive so you possibly need to be very aware of your tanks requirements and have maybe backups in place or fail safes.

And welcome to R2R it’s great to have you with us!

 

[moz71]

Welcome!! To give you my thought I will tell you I had an 18 gallon and a 125 gallon. I shut down the 18 gallon!!! I just couldn't keep up with it fast enough meaning stability and nitrates (associated algae). There is just so much more forgiveness in larger tanks. The only bad things is the expense and if something does go wrong it is a much bigger project for example I needed to home all my fish to go fishless for a brook outbreak and that was not easy .

 

[Casey Gore]

Welcome!! To give you my thought I will tell you I had an 18 gallon and a 125 gallon. I shut down the 18 gallon!!! I just couldn't keep up with it fast enough meaning stability and nitrates (associated algae). There is just so much more forgiveness in larger tanks. The only bad things is the expense and if something does go wrong it is a much bigger project for example I needed to home all my fish to go fishless for a brook outbreak and that was not easy .

Why is it so hard to find canopies for large tanks?