Well I really don't like the tank (45 gallon) in my living room sitting empty, which it has been for the past 8 months. We were planning on doing a saltwater tank, complete with getting it drilled and installing a sump/fuge. But with a baby on the way, I'm not sure that I want to do a saltwater tank anymore just because the maintenance would be more difficult. I'm kind of leaning towards going back to my low-light planted tank, which was super low maintenance. I already have most of the stuff for the saltwater tank, including a nice 156 watt Nova Extreme light fixture.

So should I continue on with the Saltwater tank, since I already have most of the materials? I would still have to get the tank drilled and construct the sump, but everything else is ready to go. I love the thought of getting a pair of clownfish and a goby, along with some colorful corals, but I'm not sure I want to risk losing everything if I don't have time to maintain the tank. Or should I just make it a low-light freshwater tank, and sell all of my saltwater stuff? Hubby wants to sell everything, but I don't like that idea.

If I do decide to go freshwater, what should I put in it? I would like to get a nice pair of cons, because I've never kept them before and I think they are beautiful fish. But with all of my inverts, I would like to be able to throw some in this tank if the others get too crowded, and the cons would surely snack on shrimp & crays.

The more that I think about it, I might make my little desktop tank a saltwater nano.  That way I could still enjoy the beauty of saltwater but with less hassle.  And I could still keep maybe one small fish or invert, and a few corals. 

Also, the 45 gallon isn't ideal for a saltwater tank because of the depth, or lack thereof (12").  Which again makes me want to just scrap the saltwater tank until I have more time and money to invest in it. 

MOsborne05 said :

Also, the 45 gallon isn't ideal for a saltwater tank because of the depth, or lack thereof (12").  Which again makes me want to just scrap the saltwater tank until I have more time and money to invest in it. 

 

If you wanted to go that route I could help you on the setup and design and also provide you with some starter coral frags.

The problem with the 45 is that it is so tall, but not very deep.  I think it would be hard to get the nice rock structure that I want with lots of caves and crevices because of the limited space.  I would like the rock to extend at least halfway up the tank, if not more.  We did buy mostly base rock that way we could construct it up with pvc so that it would be more sturdy.  I want lots of zoas & mushrooms so I need a lot of rock/floor space. 

What is the maintenance like on your 40 gallon?  I don't mind doing a water change/top off once a month, but I think weekly maintenance would be a problem.

MOsborne05 said :

The problem with the 45 is that it is so tall, but not very deep.  I think it would be hard to get the nice rock structure that I want with lots of caves and crevices because of the limited space.  I would like the rock to extend at least halfway up the tank, if not more.  We did buy mostly base rock that way we could construct it up with pvc so that it would be more sturdy.  I want lots of zoas & mushrooms so I need a lot of rock/floor space. 

What is the maintenance like on your 40 gallon?  I don't mind doing a water change/top off once a month, but I think weekly maintenance would be a problem.

I did start the tank out with Live sand and all live rock and live water sea water.  I did an article on it for our newsletter a little while back on the cost and setup of it.

I'll do a water change on it tonight and I'll take some pics and post everything and show the current state of it.

So do you think I would be able to run a 45 gallon without drilling it and adding a sump/fuge?  I know the sump/fuge is ideal, but it seems like too much work right now.  And this pregnancy is totally zapping my energy!!!! 

Right now I have 2 Hydor Koralia 2's for circulation.  And I have a 156 watt Nova Extreme Fixture with lunar lights.  Although I wouldn't be able to run my protein skimmer without a sump, but I guess I can live without it. 

MOsborne05 said :

So do you think I would be able to run a 45 gallon without drilling it and adding a sump/fuge?  I know the sump/fuge is ideal, but it seems like too much work right now.  And this pregnancy is totally zapping my energy!!!! 

Right now I have 2 Hydor Koralia 2's for circulation.  And I have a 156 watt Nova Extreme Fixture with lunar lights.  Although I wouldn't be able to run my protein skimmer without a sump, but I guess I can live without it. 

I have no protein skimmer on my tank either.  I've got the bare minimum on an SPS tank.  A lot of people call me crazy and say its impossible to keep a tank that way, but its working for me.  As long as you do a 10% - 15% water change once a week you should be fine.  I also use Giant Eagle Distilled water for doing all my water changes and top offs.  I also change my light bulbs frequently as well.  I change my PCs ever 6 months, and MH once a year.

I also dose with 3 seachem products after every water change as well to boast my trace elements.

I have an RO/DI unit that I bought for this tank.  A 10% water change wouldn't be a big deal either, I think I can handle that. 

But if I'm gonna continue with the saltwater tank then I should just go ahead and get the tank drilled and do it right.  That way my chances of having problems would would be reduced because I would have more tank volume. 

Decisions, decisions

MOsborne05 said :

I have an RO/DI unit that I bought for this tank.  A 10% water change wouldn't be a big deal either, I think I can handle that. 

But if I'm gonna continue with the saltwater tank then I should just go ahead and get the tank drilled and do it right.  That way my chances of having problems would would be reduced because I would have more tank volume. 

Decisions, decisions

Who's to say what is right and what is wrong.  What is right for one person maybe completely wrong for another.  Its really a science and you have to experiment to see what works best for you.  Good luck on what you decide.