I just wanted thoughts on my "plans"

currently i have one 80 litres (21G) tank that is SW
and getting the choice from two tanks that are probably around the 600L-800L mark
Items ive already got that can be used... 2' T5 lighting (used in the little tank), fluval 405 canister filter, 2x 2000L/hr power heads
my original idea was just having one little SW tank and a big FW tank thats why i already bought the canister filter etc.
now i cant decide which way to go so here are the options...

1) MERGE
move everything in the little saltwater tank to the new big one and use the smaller tank as a refugim for macro algae. Things i would need to buy would be better lighting (comes with stock T8) but i can afford T5's and also a protein skimmer unless i can do without one?, and basic items for SW tanks e.g. salt.
so this option would be just putting all funds to this one single tank

2) UPGRADE
upgrade my little tank to maybe like a 3' tank and use the 2' tank as a sump/refugim with a protein skimmer, buy more lighting and for the big tank just keep it FW

let me know if its confusing... lol
thanks

EDIT: For spelling.

Seems to me the question here is more focusing on if you should keep a freshwater tank or not.

Since starting a nano reef, I have become disgusted with the poor water quality of freshwater tanks and limited lighting systems. Not to mention no color.

yeah pretty much, like should i have a fully upgraded small tank... just ONE tank... 2 tanks one FW one SW that kind of stuff

lol im hoping it makes sense

mostly time and money are the main factors

say, buying better lights for the big tank to be SW would be a cost
but then maintaining two tanks would be spending time



another thing,
would i need a protein skimmer for the big tank? or will the berlin method suffice?

if so i might just make the plunge into a big SW tank

im assuming initial costs are the main things, like lots of salt, lighting and all that
but once its going, just water changes are really all thats needed

A big tank almost always requires a skimmer. Even more filtration is needed because of the extended water changes. I personally change my 125gallon water every month @ 25-30 gallons a pop whatever I have on had at the moment.

A big plus to big tanks is the addition of a UV sterilizer. I highly recommend it on large tanks. Amazing device. Water clarity and ORP much improved, not to mention algae reduction and parasite/desease chances reduced.

oh wonderful, youve got a big tank

so is that about all you do for maintenance?

so do you think i should merge tanks? buy EVERYTHING i need and focus on only one tank?

I would.

Tank maintenance on a larger tank is the same as a smaller tank. Except we change water at longer intervals. Also Dosing essential chemicals as the tank matures and gets lots of coral.

Being a larger tank the equipment is larger so cleaning takes longer. Depending on how you setup your maintenance, you could spend 4 or more hours during a water change/cleaning cycle. I break down the sump every water change and clean out the heaters, skimmer and pipe clean pipes, trim the macros, clean out the return pump. Clean the hanging lights and wipe the tank glass. Sometimes I do more, sometimes I do less. Whatever needs to be done.

ahh that kind of maintenance turns me away from large tanks...
for my little one tank its just regular feeding, cleaning glass and water change is all i do


I think i might go this other option

3. keep the big tank FW since i have everything i need for it, maybe adding a UV sterilizer as you suggested but other than that ive got everything i need if it were FW
and my little tank would get a slight tank size upgrade say like a 3 foot tank... increased lighting, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, sump

that method would be most cost/time effect, do you reckon?

costs being lower since im buying smaller items, i.e. skimmer for a 200L as opposed to 800L
and time well doesnt change too much but yeah