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Originally Posted by phlounder
You mentioned being worried about being able to afford the support equipment. Why don't we start at square one. How much are you wanting to spend on this project? What is your ceiling for hemorrhaging cash? That will determine a lot.
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Originally Posted by DAVEK
I usually tell people that they will spend $35 to $50 per gallon of water in the main display tank by the time they get the tank all set up and stocked. As estimate for your system, with two very large tanks of about 100 gal each, is about $7000 to $10000. This doesn't even begin to consider the special feature you want.
My point is that unless you are willing to spend that sort of money on your system, plan something a bit more modest. This is not a hobby where you can go cheep on the equipment side of things, and still expect good results. While you need not get every silly thing out there, you do need top quality basic equipment.
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Affording the equipment would not be any problem. I'm more interested in doing something radically simple like MDP's 55g"test" tank. Frequent water changes(for a combined system of around 290g) of about 30 - 40 gal per week should be adequate. I'm just want to skip all the reactors and specialty items as I have zero knowledge of these products. I believe it can be done simply. The only support equipment I want would be skimmers and refugiums/sumps.
You all have convinced me that one large display will have the desired effect. only question now is of what size/dimensions.
And, BTW, thank you for your opinions, they have helped me so far to make what should have been obvious choices(obvious for ya'll, not for a novice like me)
So...if you had YOUR choice of any size/dimensions what would it be?