Not the response I expected...
 

Well that was sure strange.
I've been reading and eying a new salt water setup for over a year now, and I figured that today when I was out checking out the Fathers day specials at Big Al's , I'd bring the wife along and see if I couldn't get her on board for a new 90 gallon SW tank. Well, she fell in love with all the different colorful fish, and corals, and seemed pretty willing to take the jump from fresh water (we have multiple smaller tanks already) to the SW world. BUT....
When I mentioned that since this would be our fist SW tank, I think we should limit ourselves to a nice 90, due to the fact that anything bigger would have to go in the basement, and would up the costs for rock and lighting, ect. She just said, that anything smaller than a 120 would be a waste, and really liked the look of 3 foot depth tanks. (eg: 5x3x3) (OMG!!!)

I'm thinking to myself....like kewl,....this is amazing...but then.....what does she wanna buy.....heh heh..... I'm getting the feeling new furniture is in the near future.

thats why u gave her the ring.... well partly why...

She is right you know....anything less then a 120 is a waste


Just don't assume it's going to be your tank :razz:

Go for length before depth. It will be the furniture first than a new dress, shoes or purse for every fish you buy. Hide everything and put the plastic bags in the garbage can before she comes home.

That's so true, bigger is better. Also Steve started me into the hobby but now wants nothing to do with it, so the tanks for the most part are mine now.

Yes, it true, but the moneys that would be needed for larger tanks, would break me I think. Yes, its a family tank, they kids help me do maint on all my fresh water stuff, and they'd be more than happy to jump in on the sw tank. They already have a list of fish then want.

LOL, Hide the bags...lol

I think after I start telling her that a light to support a large mixed spf lpf tank would be well over a grand, and that LR could be at least another grand, then there's a skimmer to handle a large tank, and a larger rodi system, ect.....she might think twice about a huge tank....

But then again...she might just start looking into leather furniture? heh heh

Or she will tell you that she needs a $2000 skimmer......





.......I'm the wife and all the tanks are mine :mrgreen:

Naw.....she's not really into the mechanical/biological/details of the tank (yet) ,,,,but is very artistic and I'm sure will have lots to say about fish choices, corals, and rock placement. It'll be my job to accommodate and make it happen. I'm confident that she can help make the tank look pleasing to the eye as she has helped aqua-scape the FW tanks, and is interested mostly in the final look of the tank.

The sad thing is, my husband never even raised an eyebrow when I told him I was spending $1500 on a fish toilet :suspicious:

Yup. You've had it now! It's all just a ploy. She's got you right where she wants you, under her thumb! Before you'll even know what hit you the kitchen will be remodeled and she'll be dragging you off on some expensive vacation. :mrgreen:

Wonderful, you paint such a great picture.

Guess I'll learn to hide the bags.

haha

Don't listen to Lance....the expensive vacation came about because he covered his poor beleaguered wife in algae goo.....twice


......and laughed

Got my wife pinned ...
mind you mexico help get me the ok for more fish :lol:

ouch...

way to alienate a majority of people on this board.

You may be lucky if its only furniture she will be wanting.
A redesigned kitchen, a new car, may also be on that list.
Regardless, congrats on making the move to SW.

Gobytron, I think Marie was posting that if you have a choice between a 120 and a 90 go for the bigger tank.
There are limitations many reefers have including money, space, a marriage, and personal preference in choosing smaller tanks.
If none of the above area an issue, go for bigger.

In that case, if you should decided to go larger, consider a custom built tank.
This way you have all the features you want, and you dont waste money and time in the future upgrading your tank.

Alot of the larger more pretty marine fish are avid swimmers, they require a lot of room to browse and swim.
Many fish become stressed due to the small area we provide for them.
A 6 foot tank would be your better choice.
The 6 foot 120 gallons can be bought at the larger stores in Calgary.
But if you want a really nice tank call up the marine only stores and ask for a quote of a custom tank build.

:lol:

bigger is better in my opinion but then you will spend more money in filling the tank :-)

Yeah, but she got me back. (with skimmate!)
Seriously though, go with the biggest tank you have room for or can afford.

Size matters. You don't want to end up with tank envy.

I love my 95 gallon seamless.
I started with an aquapod 12 then moved to a 32 bowfront then to a 72 bowfront and now into a 95.

I have never thought that any of my systems were a waste of time.

One of the reefs I have run and gotten the most satisfaction out of was a 5.5gallon softie/zoa tank that I ran for a year with only a hermit, snail and yasha goby w. pistol shrimp.

It was far from a waste of time.
it, as all of my other tanks present and past taught me a lot about reefing and I got a lot of pleasure and personal satisfaction out of them.

regardless of size.

Started a good little debate.
Yes, if I can swing it, i think a 180-210 is in order. Might take me a couple months of picking up a couple rocks at a time, but that would be a wonderful size in my basement. I'm a little worried about maint on that size of tank though, that's a whole lotta water, and lighting. I would have the ability to have the tank out front in the main room, and backing on a wall that I can have a sump and small fish room in. (might need to pull over a dedicated circuit for the tank though) Also has water, sink, and drain. I was looking at tanks, (for ever it seems) and am wondering if anyone has a tank build buy RC (Kevin), and how it is? Will I end up paying more for a custom built larger tank? Compared to grabin a 180 myself and drilling it and making my own overflow boxes.

Kevin is a genuine good guy and sometimes I wonder if it would not just be easier to go in and slap my cheque book on the counter, and say....set me up. I'm sure he'd give me a good deal, with quality products. (less mixing and matching mistakes)

Any thoughts?

oh....

Any good metal frame builders out there? Been a while since I used my welding skills, and for this size of tank....someone that's a pro, is certainly in order.

talk to The Grizz he may be able to help you out

Yup, it is a slippery slope. First its, "oh, let's upgrade our tank to something a little bigger". Then its, "separate circuit!", "fish room!" :lol:

I have a 131g built by the Red Coral crew and I love it. They built everything into the tank that I asked for at a very reasonable price IMO. Plus, it holds water very well, which is just icing on the cake.

Customization gives you much more flexibility.