Start a Smaller Tank or not?

I'm new to saltwater but not to Fish Keeping. I have had Show Goldfish, Angels, and recently Africans. Have had a planted tank for years. So I'm up to saltwater. Planning on just FOWLR to start.

I am planning a 6 foot plywood/Plexi tank that should be finished next year.

Should I start a smaller tank. I have a 75 and two 29s. I am thinking the 29s are two small for anything. Would they hold enought liverock to start the 6 footer. A pair of 29s would be great as a sumps and/or wet/drys for the big one. The 75 has too much value to be used as a sump ?

Looking for some input on this.

 

that sounds like a plan to me
set up both 29s as places to cure the live rock and even start the fish, invert, coral collection build up, until your ready to set up the 75

you might need some additional rock but if you go for base rock at that time you wont have new uncured or semi cured live rock die off causing parameter spikes ( additional cycle peaks)

and in the mean time if gives you a chance to cut your teeth on some of the easier to keep corals, fish etc

Steve

 

I have been reading again. I will start with 29s. I think I can get a couble larger pieces of rock in each.

For the long run, I think the 75 would made a nice ref/ sump. It has enough room to do a lot of things with. It needs a new braced top that I don't want to mess with and I ALREADY HAVE IT. I also have the parts to rebuild a 37 gallon tall.

I have some HOB filters over rated for the 29s. Will these be enought? I also have a 2 2x55/65w CF transformers. Lets see 2 x 65 = 130 w 130/30 = 4w+ per gallon. I think thats enough to start with.

I want tangs or any other shaped large yellows.Maybe angels?
Some clowns of some sort.
Blue/Green cromes
Damsels

Some bottom fish, etc. There are some golbes at the Petco. They are characters.

I am thinking a 7 footer . Will end up costing about the the same as a 6. Will not be doing a TALL tank. 20 is enough and will keep the cost of plexi , 3/8 down.

Until latter

 

I would say that lighting is good for a 29 gallon to start with some soft corals or low-light LPS corals. For higher light corals you will need to upgrade in the future.

IMHO - a 29 gallon tank is way too small for any type of Tang. It will outgrow a small tank and not have enough swimming room to be healthy and happy for very long.

 

If I do get anys Tangs , It will be long after the big tank has been going awhile. Thats why I deceided to build a long tank. I have long wanted a school of them (3) after seeing young ones school at the store.

 

My 29 gal tank has just a H.O.T Magnum canister filter on it that I use to run carbon and it also has live rock and caulerpa in the tank for filtration/nutrient export...I't nice and stable and has had only a touch of algae/cyano issues as it was maturing...not that it's that old (7 months). Now it's beautiful and crystal clear and ready for more corals than the softies & zoas currently in the tank.
Good luck, can't wait to see the build thread on your big tank.

 

I have these 2 x 55/65 ballests plus 2 96 watt singles and a 48" 4 x 96 that need new ballest 2 x 96w ( were using just the 2 single 96s). I think I have enough lighting for any of the lower end stuff. I tried to run a planted tank but give up. I think my water was funny.

 

Sounds like the 7 footer is going to be a sweet tank. Good plans. You are doing your research so that's a plus too!

I have a 29g now. It will be turned into a reef son...just working on some technical problems at the moment. I have a Coral Beauty (dwarf)angelfish. I will add some clingfish & maybe a goby + 2 cleaner shrimp to replace the ones I had.

For a large tank(if it were a reef) I would add say 5 yellow tangs & like 7 blue/green chromis. Maybe some red stripe anthias. The rest is up to you. haha.

 

change of direction

Reading can be a bad thing. The only reason I wanted a long tank was to keep tangs. And the main reason I wanted tangs was the general shape and color. I can get a yellow angel for that. They stay reletive smaller and don't need a huge tank. It will just cheap to start the 75 as it would to a pair of 29s.

I also been thinking about a 30 x 30 cube . I can use up the glass I have. Around 80+ gallon I figure. Should be enough for a angel / crown tank. I can get it into a corner. I'm still thinking about a cobalt blue african tank.

But before I can do anthing, I got to get the stuff I have out of storage.

 

You could have the 75 for the DT and use one of the 29's for a sump/fuge.