Decisions! Decisions!

So my dilemma is that I have a 55g tank that I am not sure of what I should do with it. Originally my plan was to plant it heavily, get a little aquascape action going. With this idea I could hook up my 10,29, and 55 to a single sump making it easy to maintain all of them.

Then I start doing a little research on salt water and reef aquariums and I thought maybe I should try. Now I am insistent that if I decide to experiment with salt water I would use my 10g to do so, knowing that it can be expensive and hard to maintain. Now of course everyone has different opinions on what is right and wrong on setting one up and maintaining it. HOB vs sump, protein skimmer vs surface agitation, live rock vs dead, fish only vs reef. It is just way too much to go on!

Now there are a few things I can compromise on such as fish only vs reef. I would love to have the full natural setup of a reef, but I know that requires more maintenance, time, and more importantly money! Of course the other things I can cough up some cash for if necessary is a protein skimmer since it seems to be important in the filtration process. What I cannot afford to do in regards to both space and finance is create an entire sump for the one salt water aquarium. The one thing that remained constant was that the sump had a million components and plumbing and required a whole 'nother setup that I can not afford to figure out. So HOB filtration will be my way to go, but I don't know what kind of filter media to use in this case.

Of course everyone knows bigger is better because you have a larger margin for error so I am willing to make the 55g my salt water experiment, but only if I can guarantee I won't be wasting time and more importantly money knowing that I have these limitations. Honestly I am tempted to just Walstad it up with the 10g and see where it goes.

I appreciate any input whether negative, positive, or neutral!

Thanks for reading and don't be afraid to talk to me I could use the pointers as well as ideas!

De'Shawn R. Wilson

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Comment by Kurt on November 29, 2013 at 2:42pm: Honestly and planted tank would be bom but I've wanted to do a salt water tabk for ever just not enough cash and I'm afraid to kill everything..

Comment by DR Wilson on November 29, 2013 at 3:23pm: That is my major concern! But I did watch a video that has me thinking I can get away with just doing a low maintenance 10g reef successfully without spending a million bucks and more importantly without killing everything! Check these out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq_jbJDcTN8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Xm-yYi0wo

Comment by Kurt on November 29, 2013 at 4:12pm: i think its a great idea start small and setup a 10g reef. just like every ones first 10 g freshwater tank with a castle and colored gravel lol. not that theres anything wrong with that.

Comment by DR Wilson on November 29, 2013 at 6:34pm: Lol exactly! At least if I screw up a 10g it won't be the end of the world

Comment by Luke Deer on November 30, 2013 at 10:40pm: I would use the 55 for a planted tank just because they look awesome full of plants. A 55 gives you a lot of room to really get into some aquascaping. If you want to do a reef or saltwater tank, I would do it with the ten and learn off of it. I stay away from salt just because it is soooo expensive. They are still really cool, but I like how you can just let a balanced planted tank sit there.

Comment by David Lucchesi on December 2, 2013 at 9:56pm: I agree I would plant the 55 and use the 10 as sw ata least if it doesn't go right you wont have too much invested in it .