Thinking about a new hobby...

[james123]

i would recommend you go for it. I have a 55 which is a lot smaller than what you want to do, but the work is minimal, a few minutes a day and an hour or so once a week. you WILL find yourself always wanting something, though, count on it. Whether it's equipment or livestock, you will always be needing something for your tank. But it's a hobby, that's what hobbies are about.

 

[acevudoo]

Welcome!! Don't dismay, you will grow with your habit and all things will fall into place. All things considered, you're quite focused on some basic tennets that seem to escape even the experienced(ie. Size vs. Upkeep). Best of luck and we are here for you!

 

[trekker]

i would recommend you go for it. I have a 55 which is a lot smaller than what you want to do, but the work is minimal, a few minutes a day and an hour or so once a week. you WILL find yourself always wanting something, though, count on it. Whether it's equipment or livestock, you will always be needing something for your tank. But it's a hobby, that's what hobbies are about.

Thanks for encouragement!

Welcome!! Don't dismay, you will grow with your habit and all things will fall into place. All things considered, you're quite focused on some basic tennets that seem to escape even the experienced(ie. Size vs. Upkeep). Best of luck and we are here for you!

Thanks! I tend to over research everything to a fault. I'm sure that I'll have many more questions in the future!

 

[acevudoo]

No such thing as over-research with such expensive responsibilities! Yer all good!

 

[mak3mydae]

I would also suggest a slightly smaller tank. imo 55 gallons is huge and 135 is insane. but if all goes well, you can always get your money back with frags

 

[milesalive]

If you enjoy it you can sell and trade frags to off set cost witch will make the price less of a burden

 

[Catpicklesdog]

I made the plunge straight from pond to saltwater and have never regretted it. I'm on my third tank and would have saved a lot of money if I'd started with a bigger tank first of all, so I think a 135gal tank is perfect

As others have said, there is no definate right way in this hobby - plenty of wrong ways but when it comes to the right way, that can vary on opinion as much as anything else. My advice is, ask the questions do some research and make your own informed choice

I started off doing fish only with live rock (FOWLR), and then as I got more confident, I started adding cheaper smaller corals (mushrooms, Xenia, toadstool etc). Then I progressed to the more expensive ones such as SPS & LPS.

I can't help you on the costs as I'm in the UK, so prices are different, but I do know that once you start going to down the SPS, LPS and anemone route then it gets more expensive because of the lighting involved.

The best advice I can give, is look around other peoples tanks, decide what you want in your tank and ask questions, with regards to equipment you've found (or have been recommended), find a decent LFS (one that you can trust) ask questions again and go for it

 

[kryptic4l]

my only advice is if you got frustrated with a freshwater tank due to any kind of nuscience in the tank. do not pick up salt water. the battles are longer and more time consuming if you end up with some of them .