I have no idea!?

[erinmont]

I really want to get a salt water tank and have been doing my research but I'm so confused on what to buy! I know I'm going to get a 75 gallon with stand and glass lid. The guy has a T5 output light that he is selling for 250. Is there other places I can get a good light for a reef tank without spending that much? I looked on aquatraders.com and they seemed so much cheaper so I'm not sure... also will need to find a good protein skimmer and pumps. Please HELP!! I want to do it right but would like to have some money left so i can eventually fill it! I would appreciate any advice or places to buy some of these things for less that is a good place!!

[Sitaga]

A lot of reefers give this long list of things you need to buy before you can start adding livestock. I've been one to think you can add stuff slowly. Get the protein skimmer a month or so after you start. Get nice lights later also. Just use a standard aquarium light (freshwater) for now if you are on a budget. Start with fish, buy the light, then move to coral, then get the skimmer.

Just take it really slow. If you can't afford everything right now, wait a month to get started. I know its easy to get impulsive, but take a breath. Start with fish, then move on to coral. If you learn a little about keeping your levels in check before moving to higher end equipment and coral, you will save many lives (coral and fish) and make more informed decisions in the long run.

[Saltwatercoral2]

Do you plan on having a sump or what?

[erinmont]

Well that makes me feel a lot better!! I feel like every time I go in all of this info and expensive stuff is thrown my way. It freaks me out and I end up leaving with nothing every time. I know it's not cheap to get started but I'm wondering if I'm just being told to buy the really expensive stuff since I don't really have any experience yet. On the sump pump I have no idea?? Should I?

[Saltwatercoral2]

People have successful reef tanks without sumps. but a majority of the people I believe run sumps, due to the fact its more water volume, you can grow chaeto in there. add more live rock for filtering.. But again, you can get away with just a HOB skimmer, just make sure its a good one!

[erinmont]

If I go with the skimmer at least to start with could you suggest any good ones? Is there a huge price difference in going with the sump over the skimmer?

[Saltwatercoral2]

I dont think i understood that sorry. Do you want a skimmer that will go in your sump, or just a skimmer that hangs on your tank?

[erinmont]

Skimmer that hangs on your tank

[erinmont]

Also found on aquatraders.con an Odyssea 48' 216W T5 HO light fixture for 98.00. Is that enogh watts for coral? How many watts do you need to keep coral alive?

[Saltwatercoral2]

Honestly, I wouldnt trust odyssea, there was problems with them catching fire.

[Saltwatercoral2]

What kind of coral are you interested in doing? as for hob skimmer, find a Reef OCtopus skimmer

[erinmont]

I'm not really sure yet. I know I should probably know that! I just kind of figured I would have it all ready to do the coral but just start with fish and go from there.

[Saltwatercoral2]

yeah, I dont really mess with SPS corals, as they seem to be much harder to keep alive, i stick with LPS softies, ill do clams and anenomies to.

[erinmont]

Ok thanks so much! That is really good to know as starting out I would like to be able to keep them alive! Thanks again!!

[jeff@zina.com]

Originally Posted by erinmont

I feel like every time I go in all of this info and expensive stuff is thrown my way.

You should feel like that. This is an expensive hobby. Not every expense is justified, many things can be bought used and a few things can wait. My personal suggestions on what cannot wait:

Tank, stand, heater, salt, etc.
Rock and sand (starting with dry rock can be cheaper, but longer to start up)
RO/DI unit - Plan on $160-$200
Skimmer - Plan on $150 for up to 100 gallon
Good lighting - Plan on $200 and up, or get used.
Refractometer - Plan on $50

Skipping quality purchases on those items early in your setup will bite you later. Whether or not you go with a sump, buy an all-in-one tank or whatever, these are important purchases. You'll already find more that you need, such as power heads, pumps, plumbing, etc. long before you get to buying fish. And you'll be at least $1,000 into it before you're ready for anything to look at.

Jeff

[jeff@zina.com]

Originally Posted by Saltwatercoral2

Honestly, I wouldnt trust odyssea, there was problems with them catching fire.

Old. New versions are fine. Not great lights, but at least they don't burn the house down.

Jeff

[RedM3]

Originally Posted by jeff@zina.com

And you'll be at least $1,000 into it before you're ready for anything to look at.

While yes, it can be very expensive to get started, it also doesn't necessarily have to. I started out with a very basic set up - and I mean VERY basic. Undrilled 55g. Initially, all I bought was the tank / stand, heater, basic fluorescent lights, and a HOB filter/skimmer combo. I got all of this for around $300 new. I'm actually still running this combo for the time being. Granted, I had to drop another $400 or so for the live rock and sand.

My theory was this - I didn't want to spend tons of money getting a high end set up just in case I decided the hobby wasn't for me. For the forseeable future, I'll be sticking with a 55g tank, so that purchase was an easy decision. There really wasn't anything else that I ABSOLUTELY needed to get started, and it minimized financial risks if I didn't enjoy it. Now that I know this is something I like, I can start getting the additional pieces. Next will likely be an RO/DI unit, followed by an upgraded lighting set up. I figure I'll buy something that saves me money before I buy something that will make me spend more money in corals!

The point is, while the hobby is expensive, you can get started on a budget as long as you are willing to accept that you'll be limited on the life you can keep in the tank until you can upgrade or add on.

[SwampyBill]

Check on craigslist or here for some great deals on systems. You don't have enough 'meaningful posts' to sell anything on reef central yet, but I'm pretty sure you can buy things, yet I may be wrong. You're correct in the observation that LFS will try to sell you things you don't necessarily need at the moment. You've come to the right place to learn about this awesome hobby. & ask all the questions you need to BEFORE purchases. The only stupid question is the one not asked. Good luck & welcome to reef central!

[strout]

Originally Posted by erinmont

I'm not really sure yet. I know I should probably know that! I just kind of figured I would have it all ready to do the coral but just start with fish and go from there.

imo,, this is the most important decision you need to make at this time before you buy anything. My advice for your first tank, would be to go with a mixed reef tank. You could most likely buy everything you need to start your tank with used equipment from people in this forum at pretty good prices.

[Megatrev62]

Originally Posted by Saltwatercoral2

Honestly, I wouldnt trust odyssea, there was problems with them catching fire.

That's ridiculous.

[timistim]

I will suggest getting a sump. Heck my sump is an old fish tank with baffles glued in it. If you are a little creative in this hobby you can make alot of things for cheap. Besides the extra water, you also get a place to hide all the ugly crap like the skimmer, heater, pumps, etc.

[natsak1]

Sumps are great. I'd avoid a hang-on overflow box, though. The siphon always seemed to break when I went away for a couple of days, and I'd come back to a nice puddle on my floor and a dry running pump.

[erinmont]

This is great! I am so thankful someone told me to come here!! Thanks for all the advice and I think I will look into doing more of the used stuff to start out with and the sump for sure! Thanks for all the advice! I feel better about doing this now and not just getting the 1 opinion from the only guy in town. I feel like when I have questions all I will have to do is come here! Thanks again!! Any other suggestions for sure welcomed!!!

[Raggamuffin]

If you really want to max out your dollars you can find a local or semi local group on here as well which likely have thier own boards. Find them talk to them and I will bet anything you care to mention that there will be alot of friendly people with used equipment that is gathering dust in the garage that they will let you have dirt cheap. as an example I am picking up a $900 MH/CF/LED light this weekend for $150 and a 30g acrylic sump/fuge for $10 instead of $250.

There are only a couple REALLY important questions to ask. 1: Has copper ever been used in the tank/sump/whatever? and 2: Does it leak? the third question is for yourself... are you ok with going with used which may need cleaning in order to save a huge chunk of change which you can in turn use to buy better equipment or (in my case) the exact pets you want to keep?

The best bonus of finding a local group is they are close enough that if a major problem pops up you will have friends that can be there with advice, equipment, a couple extra hands, or even temporarily house your critters.

[erinmont]

You are not that far away from me since I'm in Manhattan!