55gal tank or 75? First timer...

seasalt101

seasalt101

Active Member
you already have the tank and a filter, how many gal. filter is it? you have 400.00 to play with it's limited but you can do it relatively easy but down the road you will need to keep throwing money at it so be prepared if you look on the classified adds here you can find some really good deals, even in your part of the country, you will need a skimmer and i'll bet you can get a good used for 50.00, live rock you can probably get it at 3.00 a lb. but you can get it here for 185.00 for 45-50 lbs w/free shippingyou then can add more when you can afford it that is 135.00 gone, salt 50.00 for a bucket that will make a 160 gal. that will last you awhile 4 months anyway,185.00 gone a basic test kit 30.00, refractometer 40.00, live sand, about 30.00 for 20 lbs. then you can get that play sand at home depot not sure of the brand but someone can chime in with that should not be more than 25.00 for 50 lbs. the ls will seed the ps, that takes you to 310.00 hopefully you already have an ro system or you will have to buy your water, your fish you will have to research what you want but i believe you mentioned clown fish, if so you can get a pair of perculas for about 30.00 that's 340.00 leaves you 60.00 bucks for base rock, some bulbs for your basic lighting, you could probably get actinic lights, but basic flourescents will do for now, but the conscientous marine aquariust book by fenner would be a good investment just showing you it can be done with a few bucks leftover for a can of coffee to stay up late and read and stare at the tank for hours good luck tobin :happyfish
 
murph

murph

Active Member
Yikes 400 bucks should be more than enough to get started if you already have the tank and until you get a feel for whether or not you want to be in the hobby long term you should probably try not to spend even that much.
First off purchase your supplies on line for a substantial saving over buying retail.
To start layer in under one inch of sand and use base rock and one maxijet 900 for circulation. Neither live rock or live sand is necessary for a tank to cycle. Look over at your freshwater tank. See; no LR or sand. When you pick a spot for the tank make sure to leave plenty of room around the tank to maneuver for ease of maintenance and possible addition of a sump.
After the tank cycles add a few inexpensive hardy fish. This usually means a few ocolaris clowns. A few snails and hermits also for clean up.
Now just progress slowly as money allows or you are willing to spend. Small portions of cured live rock can be added each week. Next month maybe a sump the following month maybe a light fixture etc. Its all up to you and your wallet.
You may find you are perfectly content with a fish only system (this is the only type of system we could have in the years before LR). The "evolution" of the tank could take a year or more so avoid the temptation to add a bunch of livestock until the you feel the tank has been finalized.
 
fatmatt

fatmatt

Member
Ok sounds good, i was thinkin of maby buying one of those cubes? and havin a mini reef tank, i alrdy have this 50/50 light think for a 20gal tank cost me $100 a year back or so.
 
oak

oak

Member
Originally Posted by Fatmatt
Ok sounds good, i was thinkin of maby buying one of those cubes? and havin a mini reef tank, i alrdy have this 50/50 light think for a 20gal tank cost me $100 a year back or so.
I know of this website that has this really nice Nano Cube by Cube Masters and some cheap hawian live rock ($1.50) a pound. There nano cube is $89.99. Here is there website.
http://www.oceanproaquatics.com/shop/index.php/cPath/30
(you can only by the nano cube and hawian rock on there site.)
 
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