Thinking about getting back into the hobby

Discussion in 'Say Hello!' started by Blue Falcon, Jun 26, 2017.

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  1. Blue Falcon

    Blue Falcon Fire Goby

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    Messages:
    1,301
    Location:
    NC
    Hey guys! I sure have missed you! Some of you may remember me i'f you're still around. I'm sure there's alot of new members out there since I was last active on the site.

    As the title suggests, I'm thinking about starting up a new aquarium. Just a short background on me, I left the hobby about a year and a half ago. I was moving into a new house and having a baby and just didnt want to move my 75g reef at the time. It was a mature reef and I was just doing monthly water changes and daily feeding. Pretty much on cruise control. I think the funnest part of the hobby for me is starting new tanks and getting new fish and corals and watching them grow. Once its all stocked and filled in I didnt get much enjoyment out of just looking at a pretty display tank. I had thousands invested and very large beautiful mature corals. I'm kicking myself for selling it as cheap as I did but at the time I just needed a break with all that was going on in my life. Here's a pic of my 75G just before I took it down. (R.I.P.)

    [​IMG]

    My daughter just turned a year old and I took her to the public aquarium and she loved watching all the fish swim around. I really started to get the itch to set up another tank. I even thought about doing freshwater for simplicity; but reef tanks are just so much more colorful and the fish have so much more personality. I said to myself "I'll just set up a small 40g breeder and it will be relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain". but I've always been the "go big or go home" type and I know I would not be happy with a 40g. I would want fish that would not fit in a 40 breeder (tangs) and want more stocking options. So I started thinking about doing a 120G because I just love the footprint of 120's and it would allow for me to keep the fish that I want to keep.

    The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger is that I would have to buy everything from scratch again. I think to myself... "Do I really want to spend thousands setting up a new tank and getting it stocked?" I was browsing my LFS this weekend and saw the high prices on some of those frags! Again.... I'm kicking myself because I had some really nice large colonies that would be worth hundreds. Same with equipment (LED lights, Skimmer, RO/DI unit ect.) I'd have to buy it all over again. I've been watching craigslist for a good deal but I don't really want to move a complete setup. I'm keeping my eye out for a tank that is in good condition for the right price. I don't have a truck so I'm not sure how I'd move it. I guess I could borrow my dads but he wouldn't be able to physically help me lift a large tank. I'd also prefer to drill the tank myself because I don't like reef ready overflows They take up real-estate and are hard to get fish out of. I prefer just having a bulkhead at the top corners.

    Another thing I can't figure out is where the heck I would connect an RO/DI unit in my house and keep my water mixing barrels. My Garage is on the other side of the wall the aquarium would be on, but I'd have to move a chest freezer and workbench out of the way, and the only water source for an RO unit I can think of is if I tapped into the water supply that goes to the hot water heater in the garage. I really dont want to drill holes in walls if I dont have to.

    Anyways..... this post is long enough and I apologize for the rant. Just wanted to stop in and say hi and soak up any words of encouragement you guys may have to offer.

    Thanks!
     
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  3. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2012
    Messages:
    3,817
    Location:
    Cocoa, Florida
    Congrats on the baby, it's not easy taking care of a reef tank with a new addition. Me and my wife know all about that! I'd say go with the bigger tank now and slowly grow into it. Take your time and do it right. Your 75 was really nice so I'm sure the 120 would look great. Our daughter gets more interested everyday looking at all the fish in our tanks. Welcome back and hope to see some progress soon.
     
  4. Reefing Madness

    Reefing Madness Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2011
    Messages:
    267
  5. SantaMonicaHelp

    SantaMonicaHelp Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2011
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    Santa Monica, CA, USA
    Hey :)

    Welcome back to the hobby)
    You had such amazing tank, I am sure that the new one will more beautiful!
    What is your daughter's favorite fish?
    I am sure that she will be very happy that you will have tank at home;)

    Zhenya
     
    garvin.blackmon likes this.
  6. chum

    chum Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2013
    Messages:
    375
    Location:
    west chester, pa
    welcome back and lets get this baby started !
     
    garvin.blackmon likes this.