New nano reef diary

Super Saltie Noob

Hey there Nice setup,

After finding out that i really dont want to breed Angels i have a dormant 20 gallon in my room and I was just wonder before I invest countless hours learning marine aquariums, about how much did that setup Cost you? Can't be spending all my time on the research if I can't afford the goods!

Any help is appreciated THANX
 
Um... break out your chequebook, LOL :D

I'll list what I can remember - all this is in Canadian dollars including taxes/shipping/brokerage fees etc., and all approximate. This may just give me a small heart attack - it's easy to spend it bit by bit, but it's been a while since I've added it all up into one lump sum.

Equipment:
Tank - $30
Glass top - $20
Satellite PC 80W fixture - $275
Prizm skimmer - $175
Remora skimmer with MaxiJet 1200 to replace it - $250
Live rock (23lbs) - $150
Aragonite sand - $30
Salt (200g worth) - $90
Distilled water - $75 (plus another $5 each week)
Powerhead - $10
AquaClear 70 & AC20, 30 & 50 impellers - $80
PhosGuard - $50
Media bags - $5
Carbon inserts - $20
Mag-Float - $7
Test kits - $60

Corals/macro:
Xenia - $50
Zoanthid frag - $20
Purple mushrooms - $30
Ricordia mushrooms - $25
GSP frag - $3
Tulip anemone (a pest, but a cute one so I keep it) - free
Chaeto (imported from a hobbyist in the US) - free, $35 for the shipping

Inverts:
Trochus - $3
5 Astraeas - $10
2 Indies - $5
Pistol shrimp - $35
Cleaner shrimp - $20
2 Scarlet hermits - free
I had some other hermits and an emerald crab, but returned them for credit.

Fish:
Fairy wrasse - $25
Yellow nose prawn goby (didn't make it) - $20
Clown goby - $15
Shrimp goby - traded for some Crypts

GRAND TOTAL:
*gasp* $1623.00, but worth EVERY PENNY :D
 
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Back to the Drawing Board!

Well, Even if i took my time and calculated it all into USD it still wouldn't be in my price range! I guess I'll cruise on back to the freshwater forums and continue my path to nature aquarium over there! Thanks soooo much for doing the math though!

(Sry about all the ! points i dunno whats up tonite)
 
LOL no worries, it was a good exercise for me - maybe I'll think twice next time I want to bring home another coral! Oh... and you can tack on another $35 for the Ebo-Jager heater, so $1658.00CD all told; about $1375US according to the exchange rate site I just found via Google.

ADD: tack on another $30 for the hydrometer, now we're up to $1688.00

Honestly, you can do SW cheaper than I have - I indulge myself; I get the things I like and tend to go in for convenience. I could have DIY'd my lighting, bought less attractive but just as functional rock at work for much less, gone with a cheaper heater and no HOB fuge, kept the Prizm, bought smaller frags, fewer fish etc... but this tank is my first SW endeavour and brings a great deal of stress relief, so my husband turns a blind eye when I spend a little more than I might need to because he sees that it makes me happy ;)
 
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The tank is looking awesome. I got today my cleaning crew, and a japanese pistol shrimp, hopefully it will pair with a goby.
 
I saw your $$$$ list Blinky lol I've spent close to 600.00.
I used the aquarium I had on hand, and a small heater I had as well, so I didn't count it in there.
I didn't count the $25.00 50/50 bulb I used until my new lighting came.
I still have to add on a skimmer, a refugium, and corals. (buy phtoplankton, reef crew and maybe make my own baby brine shrimp)
All told, it will be well over 1000.00. in the end. AND, R/O water, about 6 dollars per week with tax.
 
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Hey blinky from what I read you waited 7 days to start adding teh cleaning crew, and the shrimp. Did anything change in you tank after? Cloudiness? amonia up? ph down? anything?

My japanese pistol shrimp is hidding behind the rocks all the time, how did you make yours to be in the front of the tank?

Thanks
 
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SF, I should qualify the list - I did add in things I already had, like the tank, top, test kits and some odds and ends, just wanted to add it up as though I was starting from the beginning... it's frightening to see it all summed up! Sounds like you're managing to keep your budget under control so far, congrats - it's not that easy to do IME :)

Freddy, thanks so much :D

ganjero, to answer your questions... yes, I added the crew really early, but it only took a few days for my tank to cycle - there was never any measurable ammonia and only a teeny NO2 spike (0.1 for a few days), the rock was completely cured and the store is only a half hour from home.
There haven't been any changes (spikes, pH changes, cloudiness etc.) in the tank so far, but I'm pretty uptight about maintenance ;)
As for the pistol's caves being out front, that's totally his choice; I just got lucky. He's got about four entrances/exits along the front now, several on the sides, and at least one hole at the back. He and his goby spend all day playing, zipping in one hole and out the other. I hear loads of clicking when the wrasse investigates the tunnels - she LOVES caves and tunnels, she's always cruising in and out of the rockwork. I don't think you can force a pistol to create a cave where you'd like, you just have to cross your fingers and hope they'll stay out where you can see them. I've read posts from people with large tanks that place a pair into their tank and then never see them - sometimes they create a cave at the back, and there's really not a lot that can be done.
 
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