Time to size it up!! (that was quick..)

[Decoda96]

What's up guys!! to fill you in I've been in the saltwater community for about two months now with a 10 gallon nano. Everything has been running smooth but the tank is seriously just to small. I'm a college kid so I definitely can't just get hundreds of gallons like I dream... So I'll be picking up a 20 long this week to celebrate my upcoming birthday! I've read a little on up-sizing tanks, but wanted to see what your opinions were on my build. mainly sticking to soft corals, my two clowns, and maybe a coral beauty? I'll be running weekly water changes and heres the set up I priced out..

2 koralia 565gph pumps
Current USA orbit Marine aquarium LED light (24-36)
aquatop 100watt glass heater
Aquaclear 70 that I'll be modding for refugium

Ill be purchasing 32lbs of live substrate for the 20 long. I currently have 12lbs of live rock from my 10 I'll be moving, as well as purchasing another 13 lbs.

Does this all sound reasonable? opinions? please mind I'm still a poor college kid so I have to budget according :p

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[Decoda96]

lol I'm still curious if anyway cares. My 10gal looks sweet in my living room so I'm thinking of just having two tanks.. is that ridiculous???

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I can't really tell how much rock 30 lb would be but if I were you, I wouldn't add too much, because LPS like torches etc open up a lot and take up a lot of space, if you have too much rock in a 20 it will get packed really quickly. If it's 20 long I would set it up like a peninsula tank so that you can see it from both sides, if you do everything right, you'll have almost double the space compared to landscape set up.

 

[Decoda96]

Yea im going for the 20 long for sure! After more research I think I'm actually only doing about 15-18 pounds of rock. Im really just lost on the flow rate I should go for

 

[Macdaddynick1]

As long as the Corals don't close up , and stress you should be good

 

[Sm51498]

20 long is a great size though a coral beauty gets too big for it.

I'm not sure how you feel about it or if it is in your budget but oceanbox designs makes an aio conversion for a 20 long that is super slick. It would let you hide your heater, give you space for your refugium and give you their media rack. I think it's a better plan than an AC 70. Though more money by a little. But you could remove one koralia and the ac70 from your plan and add the aio kit and a return pump. The price difference is not enormous at that point and is much cleaner. I second the idea of setting it up peninsula style too as that gives you much more room.

 

[Decoda96]

20 long is a great size though a coral beauty gets too big for it.

I'm not sure how you feel about it or if it is in your budget but oceanbox designs makes an aio conversion for a 20 long that is super slick. It would let you hide your heater, give you space for your refugium and give you their media rack. I think it's a better plan than an AC 70. Though more money by a little. But you could remove one koralia and the ac70 from your plan and add the aio kit and a return pump. The price difference is not enormous at that point and is much cleaner. I second the idea of setting it up peninsula style too as that gives you much more room.

First I dig the corgis!! I have one too! Looked into the ocean box because they're beautiful, but it's a little much for this student here. Still gonna do some research

 

[Sm51498]

First I dig the corgis!! I have one too! Looked into the ocean box because they're beautiful, but it's a little much for this student here. Still gonna do some research

Thanks! I love my boys, such great dogs.

You can build an AIO if you are even sort of handy and it would be MUCH cheaper but probably won't be as pretty. I think you'll be happier with an AIO even hand built.

 

[mdlc805]

+1 on making it yourself home depo sells sheets of acrylic for cheap or if you have an acrylic shop close to you it might be a good idea to just ask how much baffles would cost to make. I just set up a 40 breeder with 20 long sump and made everything myself except the stand but if I had the room I would have made that to. I'm in college aswell and you would be amazed how far a little elbow grease will get you in the hobby.

 

[Decoda96]

Thanks! I love my boys, such great dogs.

You can build an AIO if you are even sort of handy and it would be MUCH cheaper but probably won't be as pretty. I think you'll be happier with an AIO even hand built.

Any DIY videos? I work at an auto parts store, I love to use my hands!

 

[Tautog]

Yea im going for the 20 long for sure! After more research I think I'm actually only doing about 15-18 pounds of rock. Im really just lost on the flow rate I should go for

Go for the 30 long, you'll be glad you did, not a big difference in size, bigger is better!

 

[Decoda96]

Go for the 30 long, you'll be glad you did, not a big difference in size, bigger is better!

True but I live in apartment/ go to school full time/ already have one 10 gal I'm gonna keep.. 30 long is my favorite but man they carry a price!!

 

[Sm51498]

Any DIY videos? I work at an auto parts store, I love to use my hands!

You'll have fun doing it then! This is a good guide:
http://makezine.com/2015/10/29/skill-builder-acrylic/

I don't know about videos but I'm sure YouTube would yield something, it really is easy. Just be sure to use a very secure straight edge when scoring. I don't recommend trying to make teeth for the weir. You can use a dremel tool to do cut outs or a router with an acrylic bit if you are lucky enough to have one.

For applications like this that don't have to hold up to pressure, pvc cement works well too.

I would get black acrylic from somewhere. I like 1/4 inch, 1/8 could work but is flimsy and flexes too much for my taste.