Hello all. I'm completely new to reefing, so apologies in advance for any stupid questions/comments/etc.
I've been wanting to get into reefing for a long time, but it's always seemed very daunting and like a lot of work. That being said, I think I'm finally ready to dip my feet into it and I've been watching all of the BRS 5 min videos, looking up tanks, costs, etc, but I am still having difficulty understanding what I should get, so I would love any/all suggestions.
Ultimately, I'd like something that won't require too much time each week and will also allow me to easily go on vacations without having to worry about the tank or needing to pay someone to come maintain it while I'm out (longest trip I'll ever take is maybe 2 weeks - I'd use an autofeeder or something). Also, what I want is the ability to have some coral (nothing too difficult and no coral that would require me to start checking calcium/alkalinity), along with maybe 5 or so fish (maybe 2 clownfish, a small tang, etc) - and yes, I understand Tangs get big, but I can always rehouse them and replace them with a small one again as needed. And I eventually want to add an anemone as well for the clownfish.
I'd like to get a tank around 60 gallons (I have the space for the tank), but my difficulty there is I don't really have any place to put the RODI along with giant 40 gallon trashcans. I can stick the RODI in my laundry room and hook it up to the washer outlets/drain, but I won't have any room for the trashcan/bucket in there to keep water sitting around. The other issue with such a large tank is they're obviously more expensive (I have the money for it so I don't have a problem spending the money, but I'd rather not if there are better options). That being said, I don't want just a plain tank and then have to add things that hang around the sides and back of it - aesthetics matter a lot to me, so I'm willing to pay more for that if/as needed.
I'm also open to going with a smaller tank, like a 40 gallon, in order to maybe do away with the giant trash cans to house the clean water, but then the downside is fewer coral/fish.
So what all do you recommend? Again, focusing on that trash can space issue along with wanting something that will be as easy and low maintenance/work as possible (meaning, it will need to have an ATO).
The tanks I've been researching and that I like so far are the Waterbox Marine X 60.2 Plus Edition and the Marine X 90.3 Plus Edition, or the Red Sea Max E-260 Complete Reef System (and adding an ATO to it). Thoughts? I'd absolutely love to spend much less on the tanks and the sump and equipment and all, but love to hear all suggestions!
Thank you!
I've been wanting to get into reefing for a long time, but it's always seemed very daunting and like a lot of work. That being said, I think I'm finally ready to dip my feet into it and I've been watching all of the BRS 5 min videos, looking up tanks, costs, etc, but I am still having difficulty understanding what I should get, so I would love any/all suggestions.
Ultimately, I'd like something that won't require too much time each week and will also allow me to easily go on vacations without having to worry about the tank or needing to pay someone to come maintain it while I'm out (longest trip I'll ever take is maybe 2 weeks - I'd use an autofeeder or something). Also, what I want is the ability to have some coral (nothing too difficult and no coral that would require me to start checking calcium/alkalinity), along with maybe 5 or so fish (maybe 2 clownfish, a small tang, etc) - and yes, I understand Tangs get big, but I can always rehouse them and replace them with a small one again as needed. And I eventually want to add an anemone as well for the clownfish.
I'd like to get a tank around 60 gallons (I have the space for the tank), but my difficulty there is I don't really have any place to put the RODI along with giant 40 gallon trashcans. I can stick the RODI in my laundry room and hook it up to the washer outlets/drain, but I won't have any room for the trashcan/bucket in there to keep water sitting around. The other issue with such a large tank is they're obviously more expensive (I have the money for it so I don't have a problem spending the money, but I'd rather not if there are better options). That being said, I don't want just a plain tank and then have to add things that hang around the sides and back of it - aesthetics matter a lot to me, so I'm willing to pay more for that if/as needed.
I'm also open to going with a smaller tank, like a 40 gallon, in order to maybe do away with the giant trash cans to house the clean water, but then the downside is fewer coral/fish.
So what all do you recommend? Again, focusing on that trash can space issue along with wanting something that will be as easy and low maintenance/work as possible (meaning, it will need to have an ATO).
The tanks I've been researching and that I like so far are the Waterbox Marine X 60.2 Plus Edition and the Marine X 90.3 Plus Edition, or the Red Sea Max E-260 Complete Reef System (and adding an ATO to it). Thoughts? I'd absolutely love to spend much less on the tanks and the sump and equipment and all, but love to hear all suggestions!
Thank you!