Baptism by fire....

[us~^>shark]

Hi all!
I am new to the hobby, but I am learning fast! Got a great deal on a 135g tank with a brand new oak stand and canopy. I thought this is great, will have a really nice tank and relatively cheap!
Wrong. I knew I needed stuff... but it sucked me in like quick sand (as opposed to live sand??)
So, I got the wet/dry filter with a protein skimmer. Cool.
I got the pumps and built an underground jet system for water movement. Cool.
I got the RO/DI filtration for water. Cool, but starting to get expensive.
I got the heater, sand and base rock (I spent how much on that stuff???)
By now I'm thinking I have a really expensive hobby, then I realized I needed lights. :help: More than $800 later I have a really nice retro-fit triple MH (250W ea) with 2 VHO 72" Actinic lamps with reflector. :scared:
I must say, I love my wife for putting up with me. My $450 initial investment has multiplied by about 5, and still growing. I haven't even got it filled with water yet, let alone LR and any animals of any kind.
Please tell me the pain will subside soon. But I'm sure once I have it done it will all be worth it..... right? Right!??
Thanks for letting me vent (but I am excited to get it done!)

 

[masala4080]

Im at the same stage you are, and feel the same way, except with a 90 gallon. My original plan was a 125, but that would have cost SO much more. Some words by Who Dey...
Saltwater tanks?............. priceless!!!! you all know it's worth it!!!! KEEP SPENDIN
From what I heard, it is 150% worth it! (at least I hope:nervous: )

 

[chevcam]

Ya I told my wife " this is the last thing I will need" What started out under $1000 now has grown over $2500 But really this is the last thing I will need and then we can sit down and watch fish.

:happyfish

 

[who dey]

3 years=$6,000. worth every penny!! nomatter what the old lady says

 

[who dey]

had a 125 back in college, didn't spend $6,000 on the 55 thank god. only about 2,000 so far!! did i mention its only 3 months old. I think i will chek into the Betty Fish Clinic, i just can't stopppppppp!!!!

 

[scubadoo]

You can always purchase used equipment. You can find some pretty good deals here on the classifieds and also on that big auction site.
Just remember to take it slow with your additions as you want to minimize loss and expense. DO your research. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE LFS without verifying what you are told. DO not pick one piece of advice even heare based on if it is the answer you are looking for. If more say don't then do....don't.
Let your system mature before adding delicate fish such as tangs and angels. A minimum of 6 months are even longer. Only place anmals in your system that can live comfortably through adulthood.
The hobby is not fun if you buy animals and they die quickly. be careful what you purchase and from where. make sure the animals are healthy and eating.
Although I do not use one and beleive in certain situations they can be counter-productive ( I am in the minority on this issue) ...set-up a QT tank if you plan on having fish. Make sure the QT tank is big enough for the animals. I would never advise against the use of a QT tank to a new hobbyist.

 

[xnikki118x]

Don't worry, it gets even more expensive!!
I think it's worth it, though. Hell, I'm a 19-year-old college student, and I'd rather buy a nice new fish than a nice new pair of shoes. Now THAT'S something!!

 

[who dey]

amen 2 dat

 

[cveverly]

Welcome to the hobby. You may want to join my chapter of “Saltwater Fishholics Anonymous”. My daughter wants to go to college in the fall, screw that we got to setup another salt tank.

 

[us~^>shark]

Thanks for the advice, and the shrink session.:

At least I am not alone in this! Thanks for the replys and I will be taking this very slow so I do it right. I've had the tank 3 weeks now and haven't even put water in it yet, so patience is something I have learned pretty well over the years. By the middle of next week, I should have everything I need to start it up and begin the cycling process.
At least I'm not alone in this craziness!
:happyfish

 

[bailey52]

haha, when i started this hobby 10 years ago and i was 12, the LFS told me it would cost $40 to upgrade my 20 gal from fresh to saltwater... haha my dad was a little surprised when he saw his credit card bill

 

[mudplayerx]

I got a $1,000 Christmas bonus from work and though, "Hey I've always wanted a reef tank."
$2,500 later I haven't even really begun to add the expensive inverts.

 

[tripleup05]

Hey scuba doo, why do you not like quarantine tanks? I just lost two of three fish to ich, and started wishing i had QT'ed em for awhile. I always like to hear different opinions though

 

[scubadoo]

I would need a very large QT tank to house the fish I keep. Mild outbreaks of disease can easily be treated in the display tank with vitamins and garlic soaked food. In fact, this approach can prevent the outbreaks., along with good water quality, a healthy diet, constant temp at 80 or above, and minmizing stress.
QTing a fish in a cramped tank is not good im my opinion. The road from the ocean to our display tanks is long. I beleive it is better to move the fish to the display tank sooner ranther then prolonging with an additional stop along the way. The QT tank if samll can add to the stress and actually cause from stress what you are trying to prevent....disease.
I also do not beleive in using copper as it is hard on some species and can cause internal damage. Copper is like CHemo for some fish.
I know my view is in the minority. I have been successful with this approach and will not change. I have only lost one fish in five years...I forgot to cover my tank and my Tusk jumped out and committed suicide.

I do understand why the majority view is to use a QT tank. I jsut choose a different approach that has worked for me. I had even greater success before I moved out west...longer period with minimal loss. I had to get rid of my fish 6 years ago when I moved from Louisiana

I strated over with no problems....yet

 

[tripleup05]

That sounds like good logic to me. Thanks man. I havent really decided if i'll use a QT tank or not, but you have a good point. And good job on that one fish in five years! for me that would be amazing (even with fresh) but is that fairly normal for avid reefkeepers?

 

[scubadoo]

I do not have a reef tank and stear clear of the delicate fish. BUy your fish from reputable local fish store that runs a UV and let them keep the fish for a couple weeks or so...use them as your QT tank. Pay extra if you have too.
I am not certain if it is normal..but I have been in this hobby for 30 plus years. Rest assured...I suffered numerous casualties and made ALL the mistakes.
You cannot get lazy in this hobby and let your systems slide from lack of attention or failure to do research.

 

[bailey52]

hey scooba... what casualities have you suffered?? I believe you just say you have only ever lost one fish:notsure:

 

[pontius]

your 135, stand, and metal halides cost less than my 72 with T5s, so it could be worse.

 

[dad&son]

the way I figure it it seems to run somewhere around 35 dollars a gallon and that is with out the corals or any real expensive fish. All these formulas to rember for this hobby watts per gal for lighting , salt per gallon when making water up and then the everchanging one whats it all cost I think I have figured it out develop a plan and intial budget now take that number triple it and then divide by the amount of times you fib to your spouse or loved one about what it really cost. The put an additional 35 percent on to your total and you should be just about 1/2 way there at least I am .
PS check your credit score before you start you may want to pick up a few credit card with really low interest rates, mailed to a PO Box your wife doesnt know about .....LOL

 

[scubadoo]

One fish in the past 5-6 years. I have been in the hobby for over 30 years. Record was a little longer bprevious gbefore I moved to Arizona. A few losses but not too bad. Previous to that..I would say the foirst 15 years was not good.