is salt water tanks hard?
- Thread starter nate da fishman
- Start date
SW is expensive to do right. I wouldn't even attempt it unless you have a thousand bucks to start.
I'm doing a Red Sea Max right now, and at this point I'm at about $2,000 in and I have no corals or fish yet.
You need a lot of test kits, RO/DI or distilled water, salt, sand... It adds up. I expect this tank to run about $3k when it's done, and it's only 34g!
I'm doing a Red Sea Max right now, and at this point I'm at about $2,000 in and I have no corals or fish yet.
You need a lot of test kits, RO/DI or distilled water, salt, sand... It adds up. I expect this tank to run about $3k when it's done, and it's only 34g!
Not exactly correct, people can get their first marine aquarium up and running, a simple little reef for starters, by purchasing a lot of stuff from Craigs list or ebay. There is no need to spend thousands of bux on a marine system only to find its not for you...
Then, after its been up and running, or when the finances are better, upgrade..
Far too many people get scared out of setting up their first marine system. I am certainly not saying that it is cheap, it is not, but, it can be done on a mediochre budget to start off with...
Niko
people keep saying they are expensive but there not really. Here are my big things and there costs, If i go 2h it means second hand
2h 150 watt mh - $200 (you could go with a second hand PC light for like 70 dollars, PC is fine for FOWLR)
Tank and stand - 100
skimmer - 130 (and in nanos this can be seen as an option)
heater - 15
sand - 20
20lbs AQ live rock - 150
maxi-jet - 15
hydrometer - 50
Salt (reef crystals) - 36
Thats about it, add about 30 dollars for test kits, 30 dollars for fish, corals (optional) free if you get frags from your local reef club. Then RO water, im gonna change 2 gallons a week, 50 cents a gallon, 52 dollars for a years worth of water changing water, then probably 5 gallons a week for top off water, so thats like 200 dollars of water for a year of top off. Anyway im saving up for an RO unit so it will be a lot cheaper when i get my RO unit.
2h 150 watt mh - $200 (you could go with a second hand PC light for like 70 dollars, PC is fine for FOWLR)
Tank and stand - 100
skimmer - 130 (and in nanos this can be seen as an option)
heater - 15
sand - 20
20lbs AQ live rock - 150
maxi-jet - 15
hydrometer - 50
Salt (reef crystals) - 36
Thats about it, add about 30 dollars for test kits, 30 dollars for fish, corals (optional) free if you get frags from your local reef club. Then RO water, im gonna change 2 gallons a week, 50 cents a gallon, 52 dollars for a years worth of water changing water, then probably 5 gallons a week for top off water, so thats like 200 dollars of water for a year of top off. Anyway im saving up for an RO unit so it will be a lot cheaper when i get my RO unit.
My tank didn't cost a whole lot
36 gallons
Live rock 45 pounds $350
Skimmer $150
Tank and Stand $250
Sand $20
Powerheads $50
Heater $20
Testing Equipment $70
Lighting $300
Inverts (non-sessile) $50
Thats most of it, not counting fish or corals which will add to the price.
You can get stuff for cheaper too, like going to a local reef club or shopping online. The most expensive part is really all the livestock including the rock, corals, fish, inverts, and the lighting.
It surely is rewarding though.
36 gallons
Live rock 45 pounds $350
Skimmer $150
Tank and Stand $250
Sand $20
Powerheads $50
Heater $20
Testing Equipment $70
Lighting $300
Inverts (non-sessile) $50
Thats most of it, not counting fish or corals which will add to the price.
You can get stuff for cheaper too, like going to a local reef club or shopping online. The most expensive part is really all the livestock including the rock, corals, fish, inverts, and the lighting.
It surely is rewarding though.
but if i do get one it would be the bare minimum at first.
probably next summer after i save up for my 91 camaro z28.
nate
probably next summer after i save up for my 91 camaro z28.
nate
LOL setting up a SW
tank is going to be chicken feed compared to maintaining a 91 z28
i know people that will help me. my friend over last summer made 16 grand buying cars fixing them up and selling them so he bought a 3000gt with over 370HP............what a beast.
nate
nate
Catpicklesdog
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
I first started with one of these http://www.commodityaxis.com/ProductData.aspx?id=17 I know a lot of people don't like the wet/dry filter but it worked for me. They're cheapER and cheerful and what I found useful was the fact that all the filters were contained and it was easy to learn with. 4 months later I upgraded to one similar to these http://www.commodityaxis.com/ProductData.aspx?id=25. 3 years later I'm in the middle of upgrading to this http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112779. What I'm saying is that you can start at a very basic level which needn't cost the earth and you can upgrade as and when you want to.
Good luck and I hope you give it a go as it is a very satisfying hobby!!!
Good luck and I hope you give it a go as it is a very satisfying hobby!!!
