ok, so my 120g's coming down, can't even keep freshwater in it. I should have just sold the entire thing, instead of converting it back to freshwater.
I still want a tank, but I think for small tanks, a nano-reef would be most rewarding for my lifestyle compared to a little freshwater. I'm a student, with a student's spare time, and a student's budget (not much of either). I still have various things for saltwater, like salt mix, the RO/DI unit, test kits, dosing chemicals, maxijets, a mag 700, a JBJ auto topoff. The "cost difference" between big and small isn't much for me since I already have some of the gear.
here's the issues, and I'm wondering if anyone has feedback on how to design a tank around them:
I need something that won't die out much when it's moved. My current living arrangements aren't permanent, and I may be moving again in december. I don't have much space and I'd like to keep some of the costs down. Something that will require the least maintenance; I was thinking skimmerless with weekly water changes would be less maintenance than dosing this and dosing that and emptying skimmer cups and all that jazz. What's the maximum size for a skimmerless setup really?
Because of the need to move around, I'm thinking softies and zoos would be the best. I'm thinking stuff that grows fast would be the best because the tank is not long term. Maybe some cubish tank 'round 20-30 gallons lit by a single 250W 20k MH light? possibly MH this time for a cube tank, instead of T5's. Sumpless would be fine, since I have a JBJ auto topoff unit, and it'd be skimmerless anyways.
The whole problem with my 120g was I got too caught up in the equipment. I ended up having to buy all sorts of equipment because of it's large size. I'm thinking less "gear" will be needed for a skimmerless nano-ish setup housing mainly softies and zoos, with the occassional lps. Maybe specialize in rare and expensive softies, since I'll be buying fewer of them
Oh and the less equipment I buy the better, because I'll probably change the entire system half a year later, since that's what I often do...
60g 24x24x24 is what I'm thinking, with a 250 or 400W 15k or 20k MH. Mostly powerheads for flow due to their versatility. Softie/zoo tank.
oh and I still have a fair ammount of liverock. Enough for a heavily packed 60g system even.