Here is my situation. I want to upgrade to a 75gal sps reef. My problem is that I might be deployed for 15months sometime in the next 2 yrs. I really don't want to start a 75gal project which involves tank maturing, only to turn around and break it down. My solution is to use my current 14gal bio cube which is 7 months old and does not have many corals in it. My plan is to remove hood from tank and replace hood with 14k 70w sunpod. I love acrapora. I know there are extreme problems and difficulties in growing acropora in this size tank. I really want the challange. My lfs is the best, and the owner is extremely honest and helpful, the place reminds me of some kind of coop. The guy who owns it will help me walk through the process. I just wanted to get the opinion from you guys since I trust people here, unlike other sites. If anyone has other equipment suggestions as far as lighting, please advise. Thanks

I'd consider a 150 instead of the 70. I had a 150 over my 12, and was glad I didn't go with the 70. Growing acros was indeed a chalenge, but it was certainly doable.

i would definitely add a sump with an ATO to the nano. the parameters swing a LOT in a small volume of water. this will keep the parameters more stable in the tank.

Thanks guys for your input. I actually presented my lfs guy with the idea, he said it can be done, but he said if I have the 75gal, and as long as I take it slow, I could be deployed and my wife should be able to handle the duties which he said should not be much depending on what I keep. I will probably hire someone to come over twice a month for cleaning.

I am going to approach this from another angle. How into the aquarium is your wife? And what is her temperament? My sister is ANG and was deployed. She has a hubby and 2 daughters who were 5 and 15 years old when she was in Iraq. He is a take charge, type A guy and it was an awful lot for him. Frankly, I don't think he would have needed the extra responsibility of a hobby that wasn't interesting to him. He would have done it but it just would have made it that much the harder.

i also agree with Carmie. my wife would do it, but she would not do it like i would. my system is almost fully automated so all she would have to do is make RO/DI water every week, but she would probably forget unless i called her every week to remind her.

if your wife is not as into it as you are, or willing to learn it ... i think that i might wait.

Not in it at all! She does like dwarf seahorses though. I told her that I would even hire a guy to come over twice a month, but still she said no. On the bright side she said I could buy a 150gal when I return home from afghanastan.

I know that you may be in danger much of the time, will be in a war torn country without many of the things that we are used to (like daily showers) and separated from your family and it is hard for you. I spent many a long hour chatting with my sister, a medic, talking about her non-classified experiences. I think it is better for you to have the anticipation of a new tank to set up when you get home than her to have to worry about it.

I hope you don't have to deploy. Please keep us posted.

I will thankyou so much for your concern. I was already in Iraq, so she has a little experince with the whole thing. I have been so confused about what I want to do with the whole tank situation. When I think I want my 75gal, I keep thinking about smaller tanks. I cant keep my mind of them. I started thinking about how cool it would be to have a 20L, but keep the tank as simple as possible, I dont want a wall of rock, and I dont want a lot of rock. I want maybe two small islands of montipora maybe, just maybe acropora. I know it will be a challange but I really like the challange. What size pendant MH would I need?

I am not a MH gal but for a 20L I think you might be OK with a 70. For sure a 150 would get the job done but in a tank that shallow I am not sure if it is the optimal choice.

Ok well what about a 29gal? I should have the distance from the light? I can use the 29gal I have. What should I do about the aquascaping, I really want to do a minimilist setup, I want a lot of room with not a lot of rock. If you look at some of the reefs in the ocean, they are like rolling hills.

I think you would definitely want a 150W with a 29. The problem with the minimalist approach is that your rock is your filtration. That takes room unless you are sticking it all in the sump. You can choose heavy dense rock to make it look like less. The little bacteria certainly don't need big holes?:)