new to salt water setup

calvindo

calvindo

Member
Hi everyone,
have a quick question... How difficult is it to maintain a 50-70G reef tank? ie.... how often do you need to change water, check chemical balance, cleaning etc...
I used to have a 100G reef tank (about 12 years ago) which i didnt do too well... due to lack of care. I've grown to an adult now, of course handle responsibility much better =) Would love to have a reef aquarium again... but just not sure i have enough knowledge and man power to keep one running.
I'm sure filtration systems have improved a whole lot over the years... which means less difficult to maintain?
This is not a lazy people questions, i just want to know before diving in again and end up killing all the poor fish and corals. =)
thanks all for your response.
Calvin
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
Its not really that hard it just takes alot of patience, and money and some more money and yet a little more. O wait whats that,more money? yep mas denaro!!!
hop this helps by the why filters have improved alot and did I metion its expensive?:D
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
awesome! money? hmmmmm, i'm planning to invest 1K just for the tank, stand and filtration... wouldnt mind spending a bit more.... you think thats enough?
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
Just the thought of coming home from a long days work, lay down on the couch and watch them fish swimming around....... hmmmmm, you guys are soo lucky to own a aquarium. =)
oh wait... am i wrong? or is it... coming home from a long days work to scrubbing a tank and saving sick fish?
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
IMO ur investing way to much already. If u all ready havent made the deal look around :rolleyes: I know some one thats giving me a 216gal with everything besides a pump fro free!!All I have to do is buy lr and ls from him. He has two if u might be interested but u would have to pick up in tarpon springs,FL
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
dont think thats an option for me, as i am in California. So i guess 1k would get me a pretty good setup?
 
aileena

aileena

Member
1k is a pretty good start....
I paid $250 for a used 60g tank and a pine stand and canopy. I paid another $250 for the remora pro protein skimmer with the pre-filter box. A protein skimmer is a must have on a reef tank. There are hang on the back skimmers and in sump skimmers. I didn't want the hasstle of a sump so I went hang on the back. I also have 50lbs of Live Rock at about $6 a lbs, so that was another $300. I spent another $100 on powerheads for circulation. They are maxijets. 2 900's and 2 1200's and I have an extra 1200 lying around for emergencies. I also spent quite a bit on lighting for the soon too be reef tank. Icecap vho 660 ballast cost like $150 plus another $150 on 46.5" bulbs, endcaps, and mounting brakets. Thats about $1200.00 total...oh and add at least $200.00 for the livestock I currently have: yellow tang, pair of clowns, 2 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint, 3 turbos, 3 trochus, 3 emeralds, 10 scarlets, 5 ceriths, 1 brittle star, and hammer coral. oh ya and $50.00 on the Kent A and B Buffer for kh and calcium. Add about $50 for the water and salt too. somethin like $1500.00 and thats not including all the small nickel and dime stuff...I even got a 36 watt UV light for 150.00 that not included in the 1500. I'd say 2K would be more realistic. I keep all the receipts for everything I spend on my tank. I try not to look cause it always seems that I spend too much.
good luck
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
By far, this response is awesome! exactly what i'm looking to hear....
now that your aquarium seems to be all set up. How long have you had it and how are the fish and corals doing? any problem with water? dead fish? etc.....?
thanks for the perfect response.
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
Hey just noticed u like to fish!! I do also until all my stuff got stolen, by I still have my trusty drag net :D I get sea horses and file fish and alot of other cool stuff with it
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
I can imagine... your in florida! went there last year, along with keywest. didnt really do any scuba to watch the fish or even went fishing. Mostly speed boating....
Theres really nothing to watch here in cali, besides great white sharks... hehehhe, besides water is too damn cold.
catch some tropical fish and send them to me? =)
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
also a paint baller ehh? hey, i have an autococker that i wanna sell. let me know if you're interested. only used like 8 times.
 
calvindo

calvindo

Member
I would love to see some pictures of your setup. Maybe i can do an identical setup?
Thanks for your awesome response.
Calvin
 
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