Well a couple weeks ago I noticed my 55 reef was leaking from somewhere on the bottom of the tank. Immediately after discovering this, I was sent off to Ohio for 2 weeks so I was unable to do anything with the tank. Luckily the leak stopped after lowering the water level, so everything was fine after I returned. Now I have to decide how to proceed. I am a little frustrated with the tank right now, as the leak occured right after losing frags to a chemi-clean treatment. I am not giving up on reef tanks, but when I start over I want to do it right. Preferably a tank over 125g, but I cannot afford to do something like that right now. Plus I am not sure I will still be living here by fall/winter. So I was thinking of alternatives, and I have a ~38g tall tank that's not being used, and I already have a nice CSL PC hood for it, and a HOB filter. So I think it would be fairly inexpensive to set this up at a planted FW tank, something I have never done but is appealing to me. It wouldn't cost much and would be easier to transport than a reef tank if I end up moving. The money I save on maintenance, etc., can be put toward my future reef. What do you think, should I try the FW tank or just say screw it and buy a small tank to move my reef into until I can upgrade?
Poll: Should I stick with a Reef or try a FW Planted tank?
- Thread starter Meloco14
- Start date
I'd like to try a SW planted tank if there was a larger plant selection. For the poll, I choose........hmmm.......follow your heart I guess. Reefs are interesting, but planted tanks are less maintanence and have their own qualities. Think really hard about it and it will become clear to you.
If you are going to be doing a full blown planted tank with co2 injection and tons of plants, then there is going to be a lot of maintenance. You need to constantly monitor nitrate and phosphate levels. Then measure out how much nitrate or phosphate you need and add it to the tank. Some people keep it very precise and measure out how much nutrients they are adding. Others will just add some here some there and then do an extremely large water change 1x per week. But there is something to do every day. THen there is still monitoring the ph levels as they fluctuate with how much co2 is being injected. Not trying to discourage you from planted tanks, but there still is significant maintenance.
You should go to aquaticplantcentral.com and do some research on planted tanks.
You should go to aquaticplantcentral.com and do some research on planted tanks.
The SW planted looks very interesting, and might be something I'd like to try in the future. Right now I still love having a reef tank. I am not looking for a permanent change. My current dream tank would be something like a 150, 60x24x24. This would be a huge step up from my 55 sumpless leaking setup. I would have to buy way too much and can't afford it right now. So in the meantime, the obvious choice is to buy a new tank to put all my current livestock in and save up for my "dream tank". But in my mind it seems like the money I spend on the new tank would be wasted if I'm just going to upgrade again in the somewhat near future. I would be able to save up for a 150 more quickly if I didn't have to buy a new tank and continue with SW maintenance expenses. That's why I was thinking of setting up this FW tank, because I already have the tank, lights, heater, filter, etc. All I would need to buy is some substrate and live stock, which would be less than $100. And then I have no weekly/monthly costs on salt, additives, RO water, etc. And the tank I have that I think would make a very nice FW planted tank is not well suited for a reef. I have used it as a reef in the past and I did not like it at all. I suppose I am just being picky, but it is very shallow front to back, and tall.
alexk3954":3fnsgkob said:
Yeah, I wasn't planning on going all out like that. I don't want the cost of the CO2 system and everything. I wouldn't overload the tank with plants, but enough to give it a more natural look and feel. I have read of a cheap DIY CO2 system using yeast that I would probably try. Thanks for the link, I will research some more on there.
Wazzel":1p3doajw said:
At first I was going to say this seemed like wasted money since I want to go bigger sometime soon anyway. But now that I am thinking more about it, I might be able to get a 75 and keep it undrilled and sumpless, and just use my existing lights and skimmer. Then when I upgrade to something bigger I can turn this 75 into the sump. My only large expenses would be the tank and stand. This might be a good idea...
If you are worried about the cost of the tank and stand, check out recycler.com . There are always good deals on that site. I bought a 125 gal for my plant tank from there and I got the tank, stand, a 200 dollar filter, 2 heaters, and some rock for only 300 dollars. You could maybe even find a drilled tank in your price range....
Mr. Jimbo":3e11v474 said:
I'm a bit confused about that comment also. I guess if you only use vascular plants, the selection would be limited at this point. But, with a SW planted, we have a vast selection of macroalgaes, in gorgeous colors and textures. I have actually found quite a few great preformers in a short time.
I think as it catches on, we will have a bigger selection.
And then, those FW guys are going to be so envious!
A FW planted can be more work than a reef IMO. Also quite expensive. All depends on how you go at it. If you use a high quality substrate and fert, CO2, test kits ect ect. If you might move, and your 55 is leaking move the reef into the 38 and stay with that. In the long run weather you go high end or low with a planted you are going to be spending $ on it. Cash that could be saved now towards the big reef. All that being said I have several books on planted tanks that I have no use for. You want them? Pay the shipping and they are yours.
Thanks for all your comments. I spent a lot of time yesterday looking at articles on planted tank sites and as you have all mentioned, this is not going to be a simple tank setup. I do like the idea of a planted tank with schools of tetras and such, but this will have to be done at some other time when I can commit time and money to it. The SW planted tank also looks appealing. It would be cool to have a nice lagoon setup, maybe with part of the tank being a beach with mangroves and the other part a patch reef in the lagoon. Sigh...too many ideas, not enough time and money. Anyway I think I may have a solution for my situation. My brother has a fairly new and empty 40 reef tank and a low stocked 100 FW tank. We are thinking of combining both our SW tanks into the 100, and moving his FW stuff into his 40. Between our LR and sand and livestock we should be able to make the 100 look pretty good without adding anything. I have 2 250W MH pendants that will be fine for lighting. The only thing lacking is the tank is not drilled. For now I will run my remora on it and it should be fine since it will be very lightly stocked. If we decide to keep this tank going long term I suppose we can drill it in the future and add a sump. Thanks for the help and advice.
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