New Setup Opinions! All Help Appreciated!

[fishfeeder]

I am a newbie to saltwater tanks...actually any tanks to be exact! But I am really interested in starting a saltwater reef tank. I have read several books on saltwater and have read many of everyone's post on this forum. To start with the help I need, here is the senario I have:
Looking to start a reef tank (slowly), I have plenty of space for a tank and stand about a 6' -7' area. I have about $500 dollars in startup cash, this may be enough and it may not? I am looking to get the 411 on what everyone thinks is the best setup for the money with some left for fish and what not's! I know everyone has their own opinions but all info can help! I don't mind to start slow but don't want to waste money buying stuff that will need to be upgraded quickly! I would like to know tank size, filter recommendations, protein skimmers, pumps, heaters, lights, overflows, qt's, ect, ect, ect. Keep in mind my money...if this isn't enough to get a pretty good start I would gladly postpone my hobby! ( but I'm very anxious!) Please help! I have been to many pet shops to get started and everyone says something different! So I am going to rely on the people who actually maintain and care for these type of aquariums---that would be all of you!
thanks for the advice!

 

[treybomb]

i think a 500 budegt is pretty tight to do reef
i would suggest getting the biggest tank you can find and afford
if you havent already.. read the conscientious marine aquarist by robert m fenner
im not a reef guy so sorry this is the only help i can offer

 

[fishfeeder]

If $500 is too tight to startup with, what did everyone's startup cost?

 

[treybomb]

im saying for reef cuz lights can be 500 alone

 

[soo high]

1000 So Far And All I Got Is 75 Gallon Tank, Stand, Hood, 120watt Lights, 260 Pc Lights, 65-70 Pounds Of Rock, 4 Bags Of Sand, 150 Wetdry System 2 Heaters And A Protien Skimmer On The Way And Also A Hermit His Name Is Hermy Very Strage Crab But I Like Him

 

[soo high]

Well Its 1130 I Think Because Of The Protien Skimmer I Had Order Online

 

[soo high]

there no budget in saltwater tanks so the sky the limit
more money is a healthy and nice looking tank.... less money is a dead tank get the point

 

[fishfeeder]

ok so my money's short...but added I had a little more money...what would be some recommendations for a good starter setup? not fish just equipment, rocks, sand?

 

[celacanthr]

make ur rock, seed it with a couple of pounds of lr, build your stand, buy home dep01 sand, and get PC lights.

 

[oceana]

this one is a bit tuff. for 500 you will nto be able to get everything you need to set up a good reef.
you can however get started.
with that cash i would buy your tank stand and hood. look at used. for 500 you should be able to find a 125 tank stand and hood in a local paper and or online message boards. chances are it will come with some stuff as well. there are some great deals to be had if your looking every day.
if your looking at a smaller tank then i would say you can do a bit more with only 500 bucks. this hobby is not crazy expensive like some people think it is but it is going to run you more then 500 bucks by far for a tank the size your looking at.
to give you a very ruff idea since i have never really added it up. (affraid to

)
In our 140 if i had to guess we have around 9k including all live stock. that cost is not what i have spent becasue i have spent alot more on things i did not need things that died things that broke but that cost is what it would cost me about to set up my tank again as is. i feel we have a nice reef but we could have spent ALOT more. this is all over time some it was not spent all at once but it is amazing how fast it adds up. add it the cost of up keep and the cost would go even higher. if you take your time and build your system right the first time and THEN get it running you will be very happy you did. it also will help the hit to your wallet

 

[drose]

Where you live can determine start up costs. My folks live "next door" in Georgia and you can find really great deals at yard sales. Just make sure the tank is not too old (no metal frame) and you really should have one that's at least 36 gallons, preferably more, for a reef. If you're not in a hurry, which you shouldn't be with this hobby, take the time to explore all your options. Sometimes I've seen spanking deals on the Classifieds at this site when members have to dismantle their tanks in a hurry for moves or landlord compliance. Good Luck!

p.s. When it comes to protein skimmers, don't skimp.

 

[fishfeeder]

Thanks, I am currently looking for a 75 to 125 tank...because I would like to have tangs in my tank and my lfs say anything above 75 should be acceptable? what are your thoughts on that? Also what like should I invest in to start with? I hope to eventually add some clowns and anemones! Also would like to grow some things on my lr that I buy so I would need maybe a PC light? and do you think a 55 is a good starter tank and if so how long before I might have to upgrade tanks?
A small shop that deals in used tanks has a 55 and a 75 for sale not sure if it has a metal frame or not...I will have to check, but anyway she said tank,stand(short, maybe 24" tall, wood), looks like a regular flouresent light, some seeded CC, regular CC, a lr (not to large, 6lbs? has stuff growing on it), and some seeded filter, for $150? What do you think? The 55 has calcium build up all over the back of it? Good or bad? She said it was good for the corals? Let me know if these are worth it or not?
thanx!

 

[fishfeeder]

I also found a 92 gal tank in the classifieds with what he calls a tide pool, but when I called him it said the lady that had it said it would keep your tank full...he describes it as a large plastic container that you fill that is suppose to keep your tank full? Sounds fishy to me (no pun intended)

He's asking $275 but might take $225? Worth it ? No other equipment included?

 

[wieselspor]

I just started the saltwater hobby in august and I am keeping an excel shhet to track my expenses. I added just the equipment up to $1700 including LR and sand. The LR will getcha. This is for a 36g bowfront. I havent added any corals yet! I have two clowns and a cleaner shrimp. Anyways, I got started and kept needing things if I am going to do it right. I dont hav a lot of experience but I would say a tank and stant will run 400-600 for your size and live rock for a 55g will run ~$300 if you get it on this site. You need those at a minimum maybe not all the lr at once. But you will need a skimmer and power heads and all the supplements which are about $20 bucks a piece. I dont want to discourage you because i've had nothign but fun with mine so far but be prepared, I dont want you to get into it and have to over spend yourself.

 

[mike h.]

I started my 55gl. about 1 and half years ago. Have about $1500 invested. It takes time and patience to establish a healthy tank. Take your time, and buy what you need (wich is also too expensive) alittle at a time.

 

[fishfeeder]

Does anyone have any comments on the used tanks I talked about previously(post #12, second part)

 

[jdragunas]

Well, i'm not sure about used tanks, as i purchased mine brand spankin new. But word of advice to a cheap start-off. Buy the cheapest LR you can online, and have it shipped to you. I purchased mine for $1.99, and it was worth it. I cycled my tank with it, so it was cured after my tank cycled. You have to cycle your tank anyway, so why purchase LR for more?
I do wish i wouldv'e purchased used stuff though.
For a reef tank, if you want anemones, you'll need to have MH (Metal Halide) Lighting, which is insanely expensive!!! The rule of thumb is that you should have about 5 watts (or more) of light per gallon, so if you want a really really healthy reef, you should definately not go cheap with lighting.
Now, i was also wanting to have anemones, as i have a false perc. clown, and i wanted him to host. I just found out that false perc. clowns also like to host mushrooms. If you want a reef tank with just soft corals, like mushrooms, zoos, polyps, ricordea, etc, you only need like 4.5-5 watts per gallon, and you can go with PC lighting. All depends on your personal preference. The first thing to do is decide what corals you want, and then base your equipment needs off of that. If all of the corals you want only require "medium light", you'll be good with PC's, if they require "strong light", you'll want MH's... you get the drift.
Hope i didn't ramble too much. Glad to help!!!
Jenn

Edit:
Don't use CC, use sand only. I started with a 55, and i'm glad i chose that size. It's perfect for a starter tank, but if you want tangs, you'll have to upgrade in only 2 years, so i'd say splurge and get the 125. They say tangs require a 75 or higher, but that's like saying "well a 5 member family CAN live in a 1 bed, 1 bath apartment." It'll be cramped for a tang at 75. Also depends on what kind of tang you want. Blue hippos (dory) require more swimming room than yellow tangs, and sailfin tangs require even less room.
Like i said, figure out what you want in the tank first (after all, that's why you're getting it), and then base your tank size and equipment off of that.
BTW, you also definately want to make sure the fish you want are reef compatible (meaning they won't eat your corals). There's a book called "the pocketexpert guide to marine fishes". this tells you everything you need to know about 500+ species of fish, including if they're reef compatible or not. AND YOU SHOULD DEFINATELY GET FENNER'S BOOK "THE CONSCIENTIOUS MARINE AQUARIST". This is a must read!
sorry for rambling more!

 

[crystalsta]

a used tank should be fine just make sure you check it for leaks before you set it up. I found two tanks (29&55) in someone's front lawn, they said take it away.

They had filters and gravel I had them set up for years as freshwater. After we moved, the 55 sat for a couple of years now I am in the process of turning it to Salt. Put in ls, playsand, lr, base rock and saltwater($200). Then a couple days later I noticed salt and sand dipping form the tank. Now I have been chasing a leak all over the bottem of the tank.

I'm just glad I have an open metal frame so I can get to the bottom. It didn't leak much just some into my fw and on the eletrical stuff :scared: . even going the cheap way will cost you I still need to upgrade my filters and lighting and I don't even have fish yet. :happyfish
good luck
Darlene

 

[ameno]

If you look around you can get started for $500 dollars. I bought a used 80 gal hex about 6 weeks ago completely set up and running with 100 lbs of live rock and even two fish. for $500. The only problem is once I got it set up I realized I need better lights, better skimmer, refugal system and so on. for addition cost of over $1500. Usually a used tank does not have all the latest equipment, so you will want to upgrade, but it's something you can do a little at a time.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by jdragunas
For a reef tank, if you want anemones, you'll need to have MH (Metal Halide) Lighting, which is insanely expensive!!! The rule of thumb is that you should have about 5 watts (or more) of light per gallon, so if you want a really really healthy reef, you should definately not go cheap with lighting.

not to worry it is far from being insanely expensive. you can set up a nice retro kit for that tank for around 500 bucks. not cheap yes but not to bad when compared to other things in this hobby