Plans progressing, decisions made...

[harmonic]

Thanks to everyone that helped with my LR!

There sure is a lot to consider when starting a SW tank. When I made up my mind I wanted to give it a try, the decision was based on the question of 'what to do with this darn 55'. The shape of the tank made it impractical for my FW needs so I thought, "why not saltwater?" The color of the fish really is a world apart from FW- that was my primary motivation.

Needless to say, in the month since the decision my plans have changes a hundred times as I read and talked to ppl with SW experience. So here's what I've finally concluded...

1. Most of the fishes that grabbed my attention in the first place are not very reef-compatible.

2. A 55g is not a very suitable tank for a reef.

3. I am now more interested in the reef habitat than I am the fish.

So what does this mean? Setup another tank. (but much later on)

The 55g is going to be FOWLR. I've been pouring through books and sites trying to pick out its future inhabitants and determine an introduction order. Any more about this tank will be in the fish-only forum.

On to the reef tank. I have a 40b on a custom stand with a 20g sump compartment underneath. This tank, aside from its volume related 'low mistake tolerance', is perfect for a reef setup. The 40b's shallow depth is more suitable for photosynthetic animals, and its width is more sutable for the type of hood I want to build. The 40b just seems to be perfect. (My brichardis will surely dissagree... )

Anyway, for now I'm concentrating on the 55 and the fish, but I'll continue to research and ask reef questions, just take my time and plan things out correctly. If anyone has any more advice, ideas or criticism, please let it fly! Guess I'll go post in the 'behind the name' thread- looks like I'm gonna stick around a while...

Thanks, Rob

[k9anna]

Hey. I started with a 55gal FO tank and later went reef and have never looked back when going reef you must not think of the fish but of the reef and think reef safe fish only. I have a very nice looking 55 reef with about 400 watts of lighting over it. I think i done such a good job with it that it helped my friend RealBigFish let me takeover his 150 gal so now i have 2 tanks to baby.