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bleachandvomit

Help me decide on my next tank!

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6 Comments
by
bleachandvomit
, 01-05-2010 at 03:28 AM (1199 Views)
First allow me to give an introduction of sorts. My name is Justin, and I'm currently deployed far far away from my mated maroon pair being cared for by my girlfriend (PLEASE BE ALIVE WHEN I GET BACK!). Being away from the tank for a year + the internet = tons of research and planning. I find myself at a crossroads and was hoping the community could give me some feedback. "Garden" tanks don't really tickle my fancy, as I feel concepts such as cross-species competition and chemical warfare are conflicts that we cannot fully understand as hobbyists at this point in time.

Proposition one:

-48x24x20 shallow rimless ~95 gallons with 1" lip
-2x 250w MH's, undecided temp. (10k or 20k)
-10 or so percula (raised together)
-10 or so BTA (clones, propagated possibly)

Once I saw Mobert's tank on RC, I flipped the script. A large tank full of RBTA's and Percs, the motion in this tank is art. I understand that there is a very large chance of this going awry, but I am very confident in my abilities.

Proposition two:

-2x 24x24x18 rimless tanks, adjacent, same sump
-Same said lights
-Pair of designer clowns in each
-Natural host anemones in each

A safer approach, but just as many bugs as the first idea. Lacks space for expansion or serving a purpose 3 years down the road when I want tangs, lookdowns (kidding), etc. This setup however allows me to keep multiple species of clowns that I've been drooling over (SPOTCINCTUS OHMA GODDDDD).

I feel like I'm forgetting to elaborate on some of my rationale, you all must think I'm crazy. It all stems from my purist attitude towards creating something great, which I'm sure some of you feel as well. Please give me resolution.

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Comments

  1. VulcanRider's Avatar
    Proposition 1: I like the idea of a community of clowns rather than just the designer pair. Be safe out there.
  2. melev's Avatar
    Proposition 1 sounds gorgeous, and Mona's tank is one I've loved seeing over the past few years.

    Proposition 2 would allow you to have different species of corals as well, if you decided you wanted to have two different biotopes to house around those clown pairs with their hosted anemones.

    Either would be nice.

    Thank you for your service to our country. Stay safe, and come home soon.
  3. Montdj's Avatar
    I like prop 1 myself.
  4. coigula's Avatar
    I like your planning!

    I would seriously consider two aspects. One is getting all captive breed fish and anemones and raising juvenille fish together.

    The other aspect is layout and contrast. I would do a shallow layout with duplication and a race way for water flow and fish swimming. The wow effect in reef tanks is not done by have 50 3" frags but by having obviously healthy livestock grown out in a display that takes advantage of white space and proportioning.

    I've given away 50+ BTA anemones and they are simple with consistent husbandry. I would suggest smaller type rocks such as eco-rox from BRS supply that are very easy to cure and can be taken out and replace as removing a foothold is a bad idea.
  5. rarelyseriousb's Avatar
    what about a larger custom glass tank with dividers in them. you could have the diversity you would like (saves on lights plumbing and such) but if you wanted to go a different direction you could cut out the dividers.
  6. bleachandvomit's Avatar
    Wow! Tons of replies! I appreciate everyones feedback, you guys have nudged me towards the bigger tank. The eco-rox are pretty cool and cheap as well, which brings me to my next topic that i might touch on in weeks to come (I'm full of ideas).

    I just feel I have the opportunity and resources to break the mold and create something truly different (along the lines of bonsai reef, dropoff reef, etc. as a vehicle for my concept). There is still so much to be done in the hobby as a whole - not just aesthetics but methods as well.