How much $ to switch FW 12 to SW?

venarius

venarius

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Jan 21, 2009
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I have a hydroscope 12 (12 gallon all in one) aquarium set up for Fresh Water right now with only 3 fish in there. I'm thinking I might be able to dump them into my 29 and then I could turn the 12 into a Salt Water tank for my girlfriend to have a pair of Seahorses, snails, and hermit crabs and shrimp maybe. Also I read Blennys are good with the seahorses...would a 12 be too small to house a blenny and a pair of seahorses?

Here is how my girlfriend currently has her tank set up...
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But the big question is, how much $ would it take to turn the little 12 gallon into a salt water tank? I don't need special lighting with all sorts of crazy anemene I think, so that will save some $.

This would be my first SW venture, so I don't know how much it would cost.

Estimates?
 
i wouldn't set up a 12g as a salt water tank. too small, will be difficult to care for. also, if you are new to salt water, getting sea horses first mostlikely will turn into a desaster. also, it's difficult to say how much it's gonna be because it all depends on what you are getting. say, if swing arm is $10.00, something more accurate is $50.00 and even better one is $100.00. rock runs from about $4.00 to $10.00 per pound. you have to figure out what you want and then check prices with your LFS or whoever and calculate. good luck
 
Yes I understand that small tanks are not as stable. However, my girlfriend wants seahorses, and I don't want to transfer my 29 gallon or higher to SW for seahorses, as I read that seahorses are mostly a species only tank.

And given that, from what I read, a pair of seahorses are fine in a 10 gallon, I figured to give it a go in her mostly unused 12 gallon.

So, can anyone help me with an estimate?

As for prices. I figure I'd just start with the live sand and all, and then get some 'cured' live rock (more expensive but more bacteria and jazz on it) for like 7-8 bucks a pound.

I guess I am looking for the base price to set up a 12 gallon for seahorses.
 
Hate to be a debby downer man, sea horses are very hard to keep alive, they have to be fed 4 times a day and 12 gallons is to small for them anyways, there IS ALOT ALOT ALOT more then to the things you would need besides what you stated. i spent a total of about $450 on a Biocube 14gal, 17 pounds of live rock a heater a swingarm and sand and salt watermix, you would need an R/O machine if you cant find a vendor and if you want a FOWLR or Reef tank then you would need to buy a testing kid (which you would need anyways) honestly about 800 dollars is what you would need its not cheap and shouldnt be done cheap.. and for a marine newbie sea horses are totally out of the question.. some people on here who are very good at it would agree with me im sure.
 
on corals and fish and other things i probably hit close to a grand so far. in a month
 
dont even get me started on filters and sumps, hobs and flows. your better off buying a nanocube 12 gal. and starting a FOWLR in it with a nice little clown! :)
 
and blennys need a very mature tank with alot of copepods to eat i made the mistake of buying one and its near starved becuase it doesnt have enough food, they come in the tank are bascially what make your sand "alive" paired along with other things, i really hate to sound mean but you should do alot of reading before you get yourself into this... its worth it once you know though
 
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