Trying to get started in salt water.

[ericksenl]

As I am working on a remodeling prject for my walk out basement I am planning on setting up a salt water tank behind one of the walls near by my furnace and hot water tank (that is what is behnd the wall providing access to the tank for work and the such)
The space I have set up wll be able to house a tank 60X24X30 as my first salt water tank and largest tank ever (I did have a 55 Gallon tank that I had Oscars in years ago)

Now I want to make sure that I am on track to getting this tank set up correctly and at a fair price. Here is some information that I have from my quote from the local salt water store.

60W X 24D X 30 H Tank Black back and 2 over flows 1,150$
Pro 200 Filter $425
Mag 18 Pump $189
UV Sterilizer 25 Watt $225
Skimmer included
4' PC 4X65 LIghts $329
Salt 150 Callon Mix $45
3 Bags of Live sand $120
No heater quoted
Misc items
Polish, Hydrometer, mag cleaner $64

Total After Taxes OUCH
2744.51

I Think this might be a little HIGH but I am not sure. I was told by my slaes person he could go as low as $2,500.00 Would this be a fiar Price? I am about ready to ahve my taper come in and after that I want to have my tank put in place.

The tank will be arcryllic . So what is the good word or bad words for me as well as any other specific advise? I am planning on getting a large Garbage can to use as my water storage place, I do have a water softner in my house, and a Charcoal filter after the softner. I am planning on adding 1 more whole house filter prior to the softner.

[BBN]

Originally posted by ericksenl


60W X 24D X 30 H Tank Black back and 2 over flows 1,150$
Pro 200 Filter $425
Mag 18 Pump $189
UV Sterilizer 25 Watt $225
Skimmer included
4' PC 4X65 LIghts $329
Salt 150 Callon Mix $45
3 Bags of Live sand $120
No heater quoted
Misc items
Polish, Hydrometer, mag cleaner $64

.

The years of enjoyment this tank will bring you: Priceless :p

[BrianH]

I'm not familiar with the tank or filter your buying but here are some links for the mag drive http://www.aquatictech.com/pumps.html (http://) and http://www.bigalsonline.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?inCatID=24:Powerheads&inUID=1029464111.1029464111 (http://) .

Here is another link for a light fixture http://www.bigalsonline.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi (http://)

These two links could save you about $200 off the bat. You may want to shop around some to see if you can get better prices.

Brian

[Boogiechillin]

Yikes...some salesperson is trying to put a kid through college off of you! :D

First off, that tank price is **** high, even for an acrylic set up with dual overflows. Unfortunately, you can't order tanks online and expect to save anything, so just comparison shop locally. Even if you don't see it in the store, ASK a manager if they can order it. Play the LFS's off each other a bit to drive down the prices...just like buying a car!

Don't worry about the Pro filter. Odds are that you will want to use live rock and a deep sand bed in lieu of a mechanical filter, especially if you intend to keep invertebrates. Pass also on the UV sterilizer; it does nothing that good husbandry won't take eliminate for free.

Comparison shop online for the Mag pump and lighting system. Check out some of the following for drygoods:
www.bigalsonline.com
www.marinedepot.com
www.drsfostersmith.com
www.hellolights.com

A couple other things:
- Don't forget a good test kit
- What kind of skimmer are you getting? Some of them are quite inefficient and not worth the money.
- Don't buy the bagged live sand at the LFS, it's a ripoff. Buy it online where you will actually get a fair mix of invertebrates and infauna instead of just wet sand.

[Mandairn]

Invest in some good books too.

I agree with what Boogiechillin wrote...buy the tank at a LFS then the rest of the "dry goods" on line.

Another thing that would help us to give you advice is are u going with a fish only (FO) or Min Reef system?UV Sterilizer is point less if your not goin to keep coral, but 4' PC 4X65 LIghts is not enoghf light to keep alot of corals alive.

what filter system are you going to use too..I personly recomed the wet dry or trickle filter.

gOOd LUck AnD HAve fUN.