Start up and maintenance costs question

Thanks everyone for the advise. It is very helpful. I'm still in the process of deciding whether or not to go with salt. It is still a ways down the road if I do, and obviously if I did go with salt, I would do a heck of alot more research.

As it stands now if I went with it I would probably get a cardinal or 2, a few compatable but smaller fish, and a few easyish corals, like mushrooms and such. To me live rock is a must I dont care the cost, just as I believe live plants are a must for FW. In this stage of my life I could never afford the beatifull reef tanks I have seen. But with a little planning and research I can still have a quaint little ecosystem, while managing to keep the costs down some.
 
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