Results Of My Research

bbleifus · 04/28/2007, 07:51 PM

It has been three weeks of reading, asking questions, talking to people at the LFS and I have change my route several times.
I started out looking at the Red Sea Max (34 gallons) and then I started to look for larger tanks a 112 gallon and a 93 gallons. I priced the equipment that would be needed for the larger tanks and found out it would take around $3000.00 to get started with a reef system. This is alot of monsy for a new hobby. I am now looking at the RSM to get started and get my feet wet. If the hobby takes off I can always upgrade to a larger tank and keep the RSM as a secondary system. I know the RSM is a lot of money but for what you get I think it is a good starting point. I am looking to go with a lot of coral and invertebrates with a very light fish load. Is this hobby just for those with heavily padded wallets. I added up the watts per gallon and it comes out to just under 4WPG. Can I keep any types of coral in this tank. What are your thoughts? I would love to go with the larger tank but to start out that is a lot of money. By time you add a chiller, RO/DI, lighting it is a sizable lump of change.

pv1191 · 04/28/2007, 08:02 PM

it is a sizable lump of change.

Yes it is,

As a newbie myself I went Craigslist. If you don't mind used equipment and doing some cleaning you can find awsome deals. I bought my 50g with stand, 192 watt coralife PC lighting and 80lbs of live rock for $250. The tank was established for 2 years. I had to drill an overflow and do some plumbing but it was well worth it. I did buy new pumps and a sump but that was all the NEW equipment I had to get. After buying a skimmer and chiller used from a friend I think I'm into it about $900. Not including the current livestock. And afer I bought my tank I found complete systems for less than that! Just an idea.

MTB · 04/28/2007, 08:09 PM

My 55gal system was a low budget project. I skimped on lot's of equipment. My tank still thrives cause of my choice to go with easier to care for corals. I like zoanthids so I am doing an all Zoas/Palys tank. I saw all equipment was about $1200, but I would have saved a ton by ordering off the Internet. 1 year later I am going to start collecting the stuff needed to get a larger system going. I'll prob. go with a 120 unless a good deal pops up.

Satori · 04/28/2007, 08:12 PM

It is a lot, depending. But it isn't always expensive. My first 6 months cost me maybe $100. I was working with a free 30 gallon, and put in marbles and fake plants. Added saltwater and a yellow tang and clownfish. (I still have the same tang, but accidentally squished the original clownfish)

Of course, this hobby progresses. 3 years later, I'm in it for ~20k, so beware!

matttaylor · 04/28/2007, 08:20 PM

There are ways to go cheaper. Used equipment as mentioned is a viable way to do it. You just have to be open to doing some work, and looking for deals. My current 135 gallon tank was free (had to repair broken center brace) and so was my lighting (2 X 250 watt metal halide and ballasts to run a combined 250 watts of vho and normal output fluorescents) and the filter was even free as it was part of the previous setup. Half of my rock was dead base rock (old live rock) and was free as well. The only money i've spent has been in some live rock and corals / fish. Most of what i have received has just been from being in the right place at the right time. Craigslist is a great place to start, so is being involved in your local club. I have a 46 gallon tank waiting to be setup was also free from a local reefer.

sirjohn · 04/28/2007, 08:24 PM

I second the call for used equipment. There is a lot of sub-par equipment out there. Price being equal, I would rather have a used, good piece of equipment (widely recommended by member here, for example) than a new piece of equipment that may be sub-par.

silverwolf72 · 04/29/2007, 10:33 AM

I would suggest not rushing it, I pick up the more expensive stuff like 1 piece at a time maybe every other month, it' almost 3/4 of a year and I'm still stetting up my tank.

supervdl · 04/29/2007, 10:39 AM

I think you should start slowly and keep some easy lifestock first which does not require all the equipment that is out there. Used equipement is a good way to safe money. Buying lifestock from somebody going out of the hobby is also. I saved some money buying liferock from somebody breaking down the tank.

04/28/2007, 07:51 PM	#1
bbleifus Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 8	Results Of My Research It has been three weeks of reading, asking questions, talking to people at the LFS and I have change my route several times. I started out looking at the Red Sea Max (34 gallons) and then I started to look for larger tanks a 112 gallon and a 93 gallons. I priced the equipment that would be needed for the larger tanks and found out it would take around $3000.00 to get started with a reef system. This is alot of monsy for a new hobby. I am now looking at the RSM to get started and get my feet wet. If the hobby takes off I can always upgrade to a larger tank and keep the RSM as a secondary system. I know the RSM is a lot of money but for what you get I think it is a good starting point. I am looking to go with a lot of coral and invertebrates with a very light fish load. Is this hobby just for those with heavily padded wallets. I added up the watts per gallon and it comes out to just under 4WPG. Can I keep any types of coral in this tank. What are your thoughts? I would love to go with the larger tank but to start out that is a lot of money. By time you add a chiller, RO/DI, lighting it is a sizable lump of change.

04/28/2007, 08:09 PM	#3
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	My 55gal system was a low budget project. I skimped on lot's of equipment. My tank still thrives cause of my choice to go with easier to care for corals. I like zoanthids so I am doing an all Zoas/Palys tank. I saw all equipment was about $1200, but I would have saved a ton by ordering off the Internet. 1 year later I am going to start collecting the stuff needed to get a larger system going. I'll prob. go with a 120 unless a good deal pops up. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

04/28/2007, 08:12 PM	#4
Satori Cancer Sucks Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 3,134	It is a lot, depending. But it isn't always expensive. My first 6 months cost me maybe $100. I was working with a free 30 gallon, and put in marbles and fake plants. Added saltwater and a yellow tang and clownfish. (I still have the same tang, but accidentally squished the original clownfish) Of course, this hobby progresses. 3 years later, I'm in it for ~20k, so beware! __________________ I'm reaching for the random or whatever will bewilder me. --Tool, Lateralus

04/28/2007, 08:20 PM	#5
matttaylor Jeeper in my free time Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 3300', Nevada County, CA Posts: 921	There are ways to go cheaper. Used equipment as mentioned is a viable way to do it. You just have to be open to doing some work, and looking for deals. My current 135 gallon tank was free (had to repair broken center brace) and so was my lighting (2 X 250 watt metal halide and ballasts to run a combined 250 watts of vho and normal output fluorescents) and the filter was even free as it was part of the previous setup. Half of my rock was dead base rock (old live rock) and was free as well. The only money i've spent has been in some live rock and corals / fish. Most of what i have received has just been from being in the right place at the right time. Craigslist is a great place to start, so is being involved in your local club. I have a 46 gallon tank waiting to be setup was also free from a local reefer. __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: 150 softie garden

04/29/2007, 10:39 AM	#8
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I think you should start slowly and keep some easy lifestock first which does not require all the equipment that is out there. Used equipement is a good way to safe money. Buying lifestock from somebody going out of the hobby is also. I saved some money buying liferock from somebody breaking down the tank. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

04/28/2007, 08:02 PM	#2
pv1191 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Right Here Posts: 517	it is a sizable lump of change. Yes it is, As a newbie myself I went Craigslist. If you don't mind used equipment and doing some cleaning you can find awsome deals. I bought my 50g with stand, 192 watt coralife PC lighting and 80lbs of live rock for $250. The tank was established for 2 years. I had to drill an overflow and do some plumbing but it was well worth it. I did buy new pumps and a sump but that was all the NEW equipment I had to get. After buying a skimmer and chiller used from a friend I think I'm into it about $900. Not including the current livestock. And afer I bought my tank I found complete systems for less than that! Just an idea.

04/28/2007, 08:24 PM	#6
sirjohn Feeding Frenzied Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: miami, fl Posts: 516	I second the call for used equipment. There is a lot of sub-par equipment out there. Price being equal, I would rather have a used, good piece of equipment (widely recommended by member here, for example) than a new piece of equipment that may be sub-par.

04/29/2007, 10:33 AM	#7
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	I would suggest not rushing it, I pick up the more expensive stuff like 1 piece at a time maybe every other month, it' almost 3/4 of a year and I'm still stetting up my tank.