How Much $??

[kysmith]

OK guys here's the plan.....
After finals I'm going to start saving to start a modest 20 gallon tank. Of course I will also be doing a bunch of research all summer so I'm ready to go in the fall, but I'd like to get some idea of how much money I should save up for what I have in mind.
Goals:
Eventually I want to have a mini reef, a little bit of coral, possibly an anemone, one or two of those red shrimp with the white stripe down their back, and a fish or two that won't mind the small tank (I like clowns if they would be happy in there).
I'm willing to buy atleast 50% base rock and just wait the extra cycling time for it to become live (I can wait 3 months for it to cycle, that's ok with me, seems that the slower the better in this hobby) I'm not sure how many lbs of live rock would fill a tank this size, but I want it pretty full looking.
I realize that some of this stuff requires expensive lighting to keep it alive, I'm going to be going with the cheapest lighting possible to begin with and upgrade.
So could someone provide me with a list of equipment that I need along with approximate prices. If you know any hot deals my email is kysmith@vt.edu (are there deals to be had on ---- in this hobby?)
Eventually I'd like to get a bigger tank and make this my hospital tank.

 

[birdy]

For a 20gal tank here is my suggestion:
First: Forget the anemone for at least a year, or better yet at all. They are just so touchy and require lots of lighting and hard to keep in a nano due to water quality.
List of supplies:
1. Sand substrate
2. 20-30lbs of LR (or 50% baserock also)
3. Emporer 280 power filter
4. CPR HOB protein skimmer (you can bypass the skimmer if you keep meticulous control of water quality and frequent water changes, but much better with skimmer).
5. Power compact lighting (less expensive to buy the lights once instead of upgrading).
6. heater
7. two powerheads.
8. Test kits.
lots of other misc stuff, USE RO/DI water.

 

[kysmith]

So how much for all that stuff (approximately, I of course wouldn't expect an exact estimate)?

 

[birdy]

I would think you could spend from $200-$500 dollars easily. Not including the tank,stand, canopy.

 

[brownleaf]

Here's my 20
Tank and stand $100
Light: 2-65w PC w/ fans $130
Skimmer $65
powerhead: 2 $40
Heater: came w/ tank
Test kits: ~ $50
LR: #30 $120
LS: $30
Other: $50
Fish: 2-perc $12
Invert and corals: $250-$300 for now.
total: ~$900
plus: salt water from LFS @ $4.50/g

 

[watergal]

Nice looking tank!

 

[brownleaf]

Thanks, Watergal.

 

[kysmith]

when I'm cycling the water do I need the powerheads and protein skimmer?
Do I really need to buy the salt water? I thought you put in your own water with special marine salt added, then cycled it for like 2 months.

 

[greatfullreefer]

Power heads leave on skimmer not required for the initial cycle but recommended after and you are correct you can add marine salt to r/o water, mix it test it and add it. Good luck and welcome to this wonderfull hobby