what would i need
- Thread starter slowmo115
- Start date
Welcome to the marine forums.
What you need depends on what you want to keep. Do you want
FO Fish only
FOWLER Fish only with live rock
Reef
What you need depends on what you want to keep. Do you want
FO Fish only
FOWLER Fish only with live rock
Reef
A reef will be more costly and will require more attention. Lighting alone will be a big cost difference.
Sincerely, the best thing is for you tell us what your vision is and for us to make suggestions based on that. If you're wanting a more general overview instead you could try reading the sticky posts in the Marine Newbie forum at the top of the page.
Sincerely, the best thing is for you tell us what your vision is and for us to make suggestions based on that. If you're wanting a more general overview instead you could try reading the sticky posts in the Marine Newbie forum at the top of the page.
i have always wanted a fish tank and i got a fw tank a year ago and now i really want a sw tank its like a dream of mine and i hear it is easy to take care of if it is a about a 55g tank so thats why i want to see how much everything would cost and how much they would be
Whatever you try to go with, reef or fish only with live rock. If cost is an issue use www.craigslist.org, you can usually get pretty good items half the price of LFS and online vendors. Or if you decide to buy online, buy everything that you need at once (if you can) usually it comes cheaper on shipping and you might if be able to use coupons.
How much it will cost will be dependent upon many factors. New or used equipment, how much DIY you can get, if you get local deals from local reefers, what you stock with, how prepared you are, etc.
I can tell you I've bought a lot of stuff used and I'm not nearly done and stopped counting at about $1000. I'm only 3 months in the hobby. I have a 55. I've heard of people spending that much on nano cubes. I'll be spending much more on mine.
When you say you want a SW fish tank. What kind of fish appeal to you? Do you want inverts like starfish, shrimp, crabs? How about corals?
The list of what you need is so dependent on what you want to keep I might scare you with what I'd start off with and you don't need it. For instance, I have (2) 250watt Metal Halides over my 55g. That is going to be expensive if new, and you might only need basic lighting which will be far less in cost.
Another option, if you have a budget in mind, give us that and we can help with how we'd best make use of it to get started.
I can tell you I've bought a lot of stuff used and I'm not nearly done and stopped counting at about $1000. I'm only 3 months in the hobby. I have a 55. I've heard of people spending that much on nano cubes. I'll be spending much more on mine.
When you say you want a SW fish tank. What kind of fish appeal to you? Do you want inverts like starfish, shrimp, crabs? How about corals?
The list of what you need is so dependent on what you want to keep I might scare you with what I'd start off with and you don't need it. For instance, I have (2) 250watt Metal Halides over my 55g. That is going to be expensive if new, and you might only need basic lighting which will be far less in cost.
Another option, if you have a budget in mind, give us that and we can help with how we'd best make use of it to get started.
This new thread might help you as well:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118995
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118995