Nijessi
Community Member
Greetings All!
I have been a lurker on R2R for a couple months now and I am really amazed at the community and knowledge base here. It is to that powerful hivemind that I now humbly ask assistance
I am trying to start my journey into reefing. I have had freshwater tanks in the past up to 40 gallons -- currently I only have a small 10 gallon freshwater with a beta, couple corys and snails. In addition to the watery pets my home is also host to a ball python, african grey parrot, 2 fancy rats, and three dogs. So my daily and weekly pet maintenance is already a baked in part of my life. That realization struck me and lead me to finally consider what has been my secret desire for a reef tank. I have been hitting up the LFS in my area (and some a bit beyond my immediate area), watching videos and reading forums. I work in tech so data and research are a big part of what I do. Unfortunately that trait, which is normally my super power, has lead me to near paralysis trying to decide on the best way to move forward.
My initial thought was a midsize tank that was an AIO so I could test the waters as it were - particularly I was looking at the Red sea max e-170. I'm most interested in coral and as for fish I'm a huge fan of colorful and pairs/schools. As I began imagining it in my space, pricing it out, and looking at others I realized that I would likely end up wanting a bigger tank in short order if things go well for 2 reasons. First, a bigger tank 100-120 would look much better in my home (its a "great room" style living area) and second, I like to build with tech. A larger tank with a sump would scratch both of those itches and, I thought, would allow me to plan out a basic build with an upgrade plan over the next couple years (add a doser, reactor, etc). I also had several LFS employees discuss the benefits of maintaining parameters in a larger tank vs small/mid-size. I didn't want to invest in smaller tank that would just be replaced in a year. This lead me to start considering the Nuvo INT 100 from Innovative Marine -- almost pulled the trigger on that yesterday but my LFS said that they weren't able to order it. So I went home looking to order it online and got stuck in the research rabbit hole again -- learned about SC Aquariums and started looking at their options. I sent them an email for some more information (I prefer aluminum or real wood stands...well, my spouse does....and canopies aren't really my thing). While I'm waiting for their response I began to wonder if it would make more sense to get a smaller tank and spend the budget on getting great electronics that I could then use on a future big tank build RATHER than getting a big tank with just the basics. Then I made the mistake of plumbing Facebook marketplace for used aquariums and equipment -- when I found myself looking at a Red Sea S-650 new that was 2 hours drive from me I stepped away from the keyboard. I realized I was now just floundering around and way afield from where I started.
SO, I'm looking for advice, guidance, even just a "chill bro" -- I'm finally at a place where I can get into a hobby I've wanted for a long time and I don't want to start the journey on the wrong foot. Any sage wisdom would be appreciated.
I have been a lurker on R2R for a couple months now and I am really amazed at the community and knowledge base here. It is to that powerful hivemind that I now humbly ask assistance
I am trying to start my journey into reefing. I have had freshwater tanks in the past up to 40 gallons -- currently I only have a small 10 gallon freshwater with a beta, couple corys and snails. In addition to the watery pets my home is also host to a ball python, african grey parrot, 2 fancy rats, and three dogs. So my daily and weekly pet maintenance is already a baked in part of my life. That realization struck me and lead me to finally consider what has been my secret desire for a reef tank. I have been hitting up the LFS in my area (and some a bit beyond my immediate area), watching videos and reading forums. I work in tech so data and research are a big part of what I do. Unfortunately that trait, which is normally my super power, has lead me to near paralysis trying to decide on the best way to move forward.
My initial thought was a midsize tank that was an AIO so I could test the waters as it were - particularly I was looking at the Red sea max e-170. I'm most interested in coral and as for fish I'm a huge fan of colorful and pairs/schools. As I began imagining it in my space, pricing it out, and looking at others I realized that I would likely end up wanting a bigger tank in short order if things go well for 2 reasons. First, a bigger tank 100-120 would look much better in my home (its a "great room" style living area) and second, I like to build with tech. A larger tank with a sump would scratch both of those itches and, I thought, would allow me to plan out a basic build with an upgrade plan over the next couple years (add a doser, reactor, etc). I also had several LFS employees discuss the benefits of maintaining parameters in a larger tank vs small/mid-size. I didn't want to invest in smaller tank that would just be replaced in a year. This lead me to start considering the Nuvo INT 100 from Innovative Marine -- almost pulled the trigger on that yesterday but my LFS said that they weren't able to order it. So I went home looking to order it online and got stuck in the research rabbit hole again -- learned about SC Aquariums and started looking at their options. I sent them an email for some more information (I prefer aluminum or real wood stands...well, my spouse does....and canopies aren't really my thing). While I'm waiting for their response I began to wonder if it would make more sense to get a smaller tank and spend the budget on getting great electronics that I could then use on a future big tank build RATHER than getting a big tank with just the basics. Then I made the mistake of plumbing Facebook marketplace for used aquariums and equipment -- when I found myself looking at a Red Sea S-650 new that was 2 hours drive from me I stepped away from the keyboard. I realized I was now just floundering around and way afield from where I started.
SO, I'm looking for advice, guidance, even just a "chill bro" -- I'm finally at a place where I can get into a hobby I've wanted for a long time and I don't want to start the journey on the wrong foot. Any sage wisdom would be appreciated.
