new guy venturing out

[rwesurfn]

I am about to purchase my first saltwater tank soon, I can't afford what I want so am going to buy what i can afford to setup properly. I have been browsing the forums for a few months and purchased several good books you all have recommended, have been reading and reading and reading.
I would like to set up a reef tank with LR and DSB, i plan on keeping mostly softies and lps but would like to be set up to do sps as well. Oh yeah....maybe a few fish too. Any way i seem to be having trouble deciding an a tank size :? I dont feel like i can afford to start with much over a 29 g tank for now. my plan is to start small and move tank to bedroom when i can afford what i want this summer or fall (wife will be outta school and boat will be paid off..woohoo). i have been looking around and kinda like the 28 bowfront, any of you have experience with bowfront tanks....what are your likes and dislikes? I have fairly good carpentry skills so stand and canopy will not be a problem.

or would suggest something else??

thank for all your help


Mike

 

[mountainbiker619]

I do not care for the bowfronts because the view is distorted and warped, unless you stand directly infront and at the same level.

 

[Supergenius74]

Sorry I can't say i've ever had one personally but i know of people with them and have never heard anything bad about them. Some do seem to distort the view of the reef but i have also seen some that look beautiful and almost seem to make the reef tank look "bigger". The only reason i have never used one is because they usually cost a bit more than a tank of the same volume but square. I think the "lesser" bowed ones look better than the "more" bowed ones, maybe less distortion or something.

 

[Joe_fro]

I personally like cubed tanks. I just purchased one myself a 32gal. Although it isn't actually a cube it is w24" d18" h18" but it damn sure looks cool. I don't have anything in it yet but a friend of mine has the same tank with all the goodies for almost two years and it looks great.
check this out http://www.geocities.com/for_joes/

 

[CAT]

I have a 28 gallon bowfront and really like it - very cool little tank and I'll keep it going even if I set up a larger system. This one works for me right now because I move around alot and it's easy to move without disturbing the sand - I've done it once already.

Set-up:

28 gallon bowfront (softies and a bubble coral)
4 inches dsb
20+ lbs l.r.
2 powerhead (plus return from sump)
Lifereef overflow
BakPak skimmer (heater inside)
50/50 PC Lighting (smartlights)
5 fish (3 chromis, 1 banggai, 1 firefish)

15 gallon refugium with about 12 gallons in it
3 inches dsb
8 lbs l.r.
4 types of caulerpa and tons of pods
1 small powerhead
50/50 PC Lighting (smartlights)

I made the stand out of oak because I wanted to see the fuge. I made a regular looking stand out of 1 X 4 oak and brass bolts. It has a flat, curved top to support the bowfront and I added bracing below to hold the fuge which is a 15 gallon aquarium.

I had the aquarium going for about a year before adding the refugium and I wonder why I didn't do it to begin with I find it as interesting to watch as the display and it keeps my A,N,N and phosphates at 0.

HTH,
Cherry

 

[ChrisRD]

rwesurfn:

If you're eventually planning on keeping SPS and you're doing a small tank, try to get something with no centerbrace. That way, you'll be able to light the tank with a single halide bulb (which you'll probably want to do down-the-road) with no shadow.

To save money in the long run, think about what you'll ultimately want. For example, you can go with a pair of PC or VHO tubes for your lighting to start out, and then later on you can add a single halide lamp and use the fluorescents for actinic. Keep this type of stuff in mind when you build your hood, stand, etc. That way you can just add-on your upgrades without having to replace stuff and waste money.

Or, you could just do the single halide now if you know you want SPS and a halide is in the budget.

 

[Anonymous]

You better find a bowfront that is already set up and stare through it for a while. My friend has one and it hurts my eyes after I stare for a while. My friend even admits now that he's had it for a couple of years that he wishes he did get a bowfront.

Afterall, you are doing this so that you have something to stare at! :wink:

Louey

 

[CAT]

I've never had trouble looking at mine - I don't even notice a difference. Must be the type of tank I have, though I don't know what brand it is.

Good point about the centre brace and halides though.

 

[LFS42]

I run a 72 bow and I love it.
The most difficult part was making the canopy.

That said,
I would highly look into getting the bigest tank you can now and build it into the perfect set-up.
You'll always want the bigger tank, and I've found that unless I have that perfect tank, I didn't care for it like I should have.

 

[31-2c]

I would take the money you have now, and save it. then this summer you can properly set up the tank that you really want.

Be warned that not everyone enjoys having a tank in their bedroom, they find that it can be tough to get the noise down to a tolerable level.

Since you have spent time on these boards, then you know that patience really pays off

just my thoughts

David