Down grading from 125 to 90

yellowtruck75 · #1 08/11/2007, 09:55 PM

I am in the process of buying my first house and I think I might down grade my tank from a 125 to a 90 gallon tank. The reasons for the down grade being size and electricity consumption. The questions I have about this is that in the 125 I have a powder blue tang, 4 anthias, 5 green chromis, a hawk, and a green mandrin. Will these fish do alright in a 90 instead of the 125? Also for flow right now I am using a Tunze 6000 and a Tunze 6100 for the SPS, will this be too much flow for the size of tank?

Thanks

yoboyjdizz · #2 08/11/2007, 10:41 PM

I would keep the tank, your anthias and tang will love you for it. If your using the same equipment i don't see the cost coming down on your electric bill?

Justin James · #3 08/11/2007, 11:17 PM

If possible I highly recommend keeping the 125. Your fish need it!
and yes if your using the same equipment then your power wont be any different.

lavith · #4 08/12/2007, 08:38 AM

James is right, same equipments don't make the cost lower unless you change all to energy efficient equipments.

virginiadiver69 · #5 08/12/2007, 08:58 AM

DOWNGRADE...? What is this word you speak of. Is that a foreign language?
Seriously though...I really don't think that is aloud in this hobby.

REEF-n-Chicago · #6 08/12/2007, 09:24 AM

Say it isnt soooooo!

Seriously though, I see what your saying but with the same stuff cost will be the same. Keep it for the powder blue!

E-A-G-L-E-S · #7 08/12/2007, 09:28 AM

Well, less top off. Less salt for water changes. Slower depletion of RO/DI filters. Less dosing required to keep alk/ca.
Also, a 6' tank and a 4' tank should not be using the same lighting? Won't you be using less lighting?
Can sell some of your live rock instead of jamming it into the 90g.

But the tang will be angry

davidryder · #8 08/12/2007, 09:32 AM

If a new light fixture needs to be purchased I I doubt the energy/water/salt savings will justify a downgrade - and of course the cost of the tank & stand. Energy savings between a 90 & a 125 IMO is going to be very insignificant. 6' tanks look sooo much better than 4' tanks!!

diver_ua · #9 08/12/2007, 09:35 AM

I had 150G mixed reef, but now I downgraded to 30G. And I'm so happy! The creatures stay much more closer, power consumption is much lower, I needn't power skimmer at all and I have no predators, so the biodiversity in my tank grows.

Just think about it.

E-A-G-L-E-S · #10 08/12/2007, 09:36 AM

A 125g is not great, at least in my experience. When going 6'L you need to go 24" wide or it looks funny - ime.

Also, depending on what lighting he uses now he can just use less of it. Like two halides instead of three. Or less T5 lamps or smaller ones.
That would save a nice chunk of money on elec. and he could sell the extra lighting for more money.
Also all the things I listed add up quite quickly and to no small amount for most non-rich reef keepers.

davidryder · #11 08/12/2007, 09:43 AM

I could see a difference between a 150 and 30 but between a 125 and 90, that's only 35 more gallons. At a 20% water change/mo that's a 25 gallon water change vs an 18g wc - I just can't imagine those numbers adding up that fast. Without any replies we can't really know if he has a 6' lighting fixture or not - but - the 90, with the increased height, might end up needing as much light as the 125.

I had a 125 for a while and now have a 90 and would do anything for the 125 again... although to each his own!!

E-A-G-L-E-S · #12 08/12/2007, 09:54 AM

I just went from a 125g acrylic to a 90g glass and would never go back until I can fit a 24"w + tank again.(like 180g)
I've owned 9 different size tanks and the 125g was my least favorite.

The added 4" of height will not make the lighting any different unless he was running tiny 175w SE's or 150w DE's...but since it was sps I doubt that.

It's not a whole lot cheaper water/salt/dosing/RODI-wise, but over a year I'd bet a couple hundred just on that. not alot, but can make a BIG difference for a non-rich keeper.

-jmo

usmcsgt · #13 08/12/2007, 09:55 AM

I love my 125 and could even think about going back to a 90

yellowtruck75 · #14 08/12/2007, 10:32 AM

The reasons I am thinking of downgrading is because I am buying a new house and it is smaller than my parents house which I live in now. The 90 would fit better in the "den" of this house and I would be able to just sell one of my MHs and only use two. I got a price today for a 90 gallon with internal overflows for about $300 so with the sale of my 125 I won't be into it to much. I think that the fish will be alright as long as I don't jam it full of rock. I plan to use some of the rock in my sump instead or sell off a few pounds to free up some space. What do you guys think about flow? I keep mostly SPS and in my 125 I have a Tunze 6000 & a 6100. Will this be too much flow for the 90 gallon? All of the equipment I have might be overkill but I plan on upgrading to a 180 or 220 in a few years when I build a home so I think it will be fine for now. I also like the 90 because of the depth that the tank has. This tank will be free standing unlike my 125 now which is built into a wall so no one notices the shallowness of the tank.

How does this all sound?

nattydread · #15 08/12/2007, 10:41 AM

You are going the wrong way.

180 is the next stop.

E-A-G-L-E-S · #16 08/12/2007, 10:44 AM

So selling a halide set-up and you should get more than $300 for your 125g so you make money there and then you save on elec. and other water stuff.
Most importantly it fits in/with your living space, not a huge tank in a small room.

As for flow, I'm running two vortech's(3k gph each) and ~600gph return in my 90g sps with DSB.

usmcsgt · #17 08/12/2007, 10:55 AM

Why not keep the extra light for your future upgrade you spoke about?

virginiadiver69 · #18 08/12/2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by E-A-G-L-E-S
A 125g is not great, at least in my experience. When going 6'L you need to go 24" wide or it looks funny - ime.

This is why you should actually UPGRADE to a 180.

yellowtruck75 · #19 08/12/2007, 11:35 AM

Well a 180 might not seem right in a little bitty room.

E-A-G-L-E-S · #20 08/12/2007, 11:37 AM

It won't...but it depends how much that makes a difference to you.
180g's are great tanks.

How big is the room L x W x H?

davidryder · #21 08/12/2007, 11:38 AM

Just get a 10,000 gallon tank!! LMAO I get it now... you'll be fine. It will be a ton of hassle but you will come out on top by the looks of it.

diver_ua · #22 08/12/2007, 12:26 PM

If you like to live in a boiler, it's your choice. I had 150G in my room about one year... Huge Beckett skimmer stood near my bed. It was real nightmare! Never more...

I like sea, but some smaller size

yellowtruck75 · #23 08/12/2007, 12:42 PM

The room is 12' X 9.5'

All the equipment will be in the basement below the room. Upgrade is an issue since buying my first home makes me a bit strapped for cash.

diver_ua · #24 08/12/2007, 12:59 PM

then don't buy new equipment and go with your 125g

New systems generate new problems and new systems need much more resources than we have - Murphy's laws

E-A-G-L-E-S · #25 08/12/2007, 03:50 PM

Is it going to be basically 'just' the fish room?
If a living room or family room at that size I personally think a 75g/90g/120g would look much better. 120g a little stretch due to 24"W.
-jmo

My family room is 16' x 14' and the 125g looked way out of balance and took up too much room.
Another thing to think about is the humidity in the room.