I need help starting my first tank

nightstalk

nightstalk

Member
Im planning to start a tank soon i dont have alot of money for this because im only sixteen, but im determined to do it somehow, even if i have to buy it peice by peice. I want to have a nice reef looking tank with some cool looking fish that are easy to care for. I need help picking out the kind of fish and corals and things to go in it. Im trying to make it look very exotic without making it too hard to care for. Please any suggestions/help would be very much appreciated!!
:joy: :happyfish
 
xdave

xdave

Active Member
The first thing you should get is a book. Heres some good ones. Books You can read them for free at the library and takes notes. Sounds like homework.
The bigger the tank is the easier it is to keep the water stable, so pick the largest you have room for and go from there. Make a list of what you equipment you want and wait for each piece to be on sale. If you get a piece at a time, wait untill you have enough to do it right before setting up. You'll need at least the tank, filtration, lighting and heat, equipment wise.
Not having much money is kind of a good thing. Most peoples errors come from going too fast.
 
nightstalk

nightstalk

Member
cool any suggestions on the types of equipment, like whats effective and wats not so good??
thanks for the books info
money isnt really an issue seeing as in how im just gonna go peice by peice but the cheaper the better,, while still keeping it nice looking you know?
thanks any further help will be welll......helpful
 
ryanhayes9

ryanhayes9

Active Member
well lets say you were going to get a 55 gallon tank with fish and alot of corals it would cost you around 3500 IMO minimum bucks to get everything you would like
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
i have a 75gal and im only at about 2200, will probably spend a couple hundred more on equipment.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
Originally Posted by nightstalk
I want to have a nice reef looking tank with some cool looking fish that are easy to care for. I need help picking out the kind of fish and corals and things to go in it.
i guess i misinterpreted FULL :p
definitely read up as much as possible before making any decisions
 
cwgibson

cwgibson

Member
check your local paper you can usually find the tank cheaper than just buying it at a store and will probably be larger.
 
cagrn

cagrn

Member
I read on here to check on craigs list for something I was looking for. I didn't find the particular item at that time, but I did find several people selling large tanks for little dollars in comparison to new. I also picked up a box of equipment for 25 bucks that I would value at about 360 if new.
If you don't mid use, you may save quite a few bucks. Just be prepared to read a lot, GO VERY SLOWLY, and I can't emphasize that enough, and make educated, well planned choices.
Look through this sites threads, other on line sites and take in as much as you can. You are only 16. If you go slow, learn much, plan, and do, you could easily establish yourself with a great hobby, great fish to watch and learn from, and in your home reefs that you can be proud of and boast here.
( I wish I had started at 16, not 36 )
Good Luck
 
xdave

xdave

Active Member
This was in my local paper today "75 gal., stand & all access. + extras. $350/obo." A used 55 setup usually goes for $100.
 
gen1dustin

gen1dustin

Member
Originally Posted by ryanhayes9
well lets say you were going to get a 55 gallon tank with fish and alot of corals it would cost you around 3500 IMO minimum bucks to get everything you would like

I don't thnik so. I got a hand me down 55g, built my own stand, free filter & I've only spent around 750 on everyhting including LR, salt & RO unit, & everyhting else needed for a reef tank. It's all about selective shopping.
If you want cheap live rock get Carribean, I think it looks great especially for the money. It don't have as much coralline as fiji premuim, but for 60 lbs at 212 bucks shipped :thinking:
 
L

lsu

Guest
I would wait until you have enough money to get the basics all at once ls, lr h2o, skimmer, filtration, lighting. if you get the basics all at once you are that much closer to enjoying your tank. just to let you know this is an expensive hobby i have a 55, 75 and a 125. the 55 is my newest its a fowlr and i probably have $2500 in it but it is money well spent, the enjoyment from my tanks more than justify the price. one more thing do your research on whatever you plan on buying.
 
murph

murph

Active Member
Well since your just 16 and on a limited budget why not lower your short term goals to a FO or FOWLR tank for now.
Many pet stores sell tank packages that will have the basic equipment you need. A twenty gallon long would be just about right here IMO. You can keep a few damsels/clowns and inverts (meaning crabs and shrimp) in a tank like this and if your still interested in the hobby this time next year you can start upgrading things. You will then have more experience and hopefully some money set aside by then.
This is the advice I would give anyone interested in getting started in the hobby whether they be 16,60 a millionaire or working minimum wage. I all to often see people sink a lot of money into new/first tanks only to see there interest fade or find that the daily maintenance is more than they had bargained for and there tanks are down in a year or so.
Start slow and on a reasonable budget until you are sure your not one of the people I mentioned above.
 
gen1dustin

gen1dustin

Member
Originally Posted by Murph
This is the advice I would give anyone interested in getting started in the hobby whether they be 16,60 a millionaire or working minimum wage. I all to often see people sink a lot of money into new/first tanks only to see there interest fade or find that the daily maintenance is more than they had bargained for and there tanks are down in a year or so.
Start slow and on a reasonable budget until you are sure your not one of the people I mentioned above.
Yup that does happen quite often that is why I disagree with people who say go the biggest you can get.
 
nightstalk

nightstalk

Member
thanks a buch i think i want to go with a 55 gallon tank and also id like to know what a skimmer is and what kind i should get cuz i saw that there were a couple of kinds??
 
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