cost of switching a 55 gallon to salt water

ben691717 · 03/03/2006, 08:13 AM

Hi,
I am new to this site and hoby. Browsing the forums has been very informative. I have a 55 gallon tank that I formerly kept cichlids in and I am interested in converting to salt water. I am interested in what you think the cost would be to switch over. As a grad student the amount of money I have to spend isn't immense. But this is something I would really like to do and I am willing to invest as much time as needed. (Its just a question of investing $$). So what do you think the costs would be for each and in total?

protien skimmer ?
live rock ?
hydrometer/thermometer/more reliable heater/salts ?
power heads/pumps?
lighting? - If I was to go with a FOLR system I could get less here, just enough to maintain the live rock? What is required lighting to maintain the live rock? What is the minimum to keep some of the low light corals? There are some cheap lights on ebay that JEBO sells. Anyone have experience with these?
RO system (do I need this/what should I do for water)?
anything else?
Total cost - - ?

Thanks I appreciate it. I just don't want to get to far into this and realize it is too expensive for me. If thats the case I could always keep freshwater fish again...although I would really like to keep saltwater fish.

Thanks!

dhoch · 03/03/2006, 08:20 AM

A good way to gauge, is to take a look over in the used equipment forum...

You will find people selling used equipment (which is what I would recommend as far as getting equipment to outfit)..

the live section you can often find live rock (look for someone in your area)..

If you have a local reef club that would also be a good place to start.

Dave

Konadog · 03/03/2006, 08:24 AM

ben691717,

To Reef Central

As dhoch mentioned, look for a Marine Aquarium Club in your area. You can usually pick up used equipment at bargain prices, meet some great people, and learn from there mistakes so it doesn't cost you $$.

Read thru the Reef Club Forums index to see if you can find one here on RC.

sundance1 · 03/03/2006, 08:25 AM

It all depends on the namebrand and style of what you purchase.My advise is to take your time and buy good stukk to begin with.It is a slow process to set up a saltwater tank so you don't have to buy things all at once.
First off buy the salt,a bucket to do 200 gallons should be around $50 give or take.
Heater,hydrometer,and thermometer for around could range anywhere from $50 to $100.
Powerheads are on e-Bay in lots of 4 for around $30 + shipping.
Live rock will probably be your biggest investment in a FOWLR tank.That should run anywhere from $300 and up.
Skimmers are also on e-Bay for $100 to $150 for a good one.
If your not getting any corals you stock light should be ok in a FOWLR tank.
You did not mention a filtration system,to set up a refugium will be around $150 to $200.
I got my RO/DI filter from e-Bay for $120.

wojo · 03/03/2006, 08:41 AM

i just went through that 3 months ago, be prepared to spend close to $1500 to get this size tank (not big) looking decent: around 80lbs of LR, sand, skimmer, lights, etc, fishes. I did a lot of DYI'ing too and bought all my LR from others reefers so i saved buncha there...

One thing you have to remember is to take it slowely, do not make $500 decisitions in your LFS, i know its easy because you want all of it, fast! you want it tomorrow but this is not a good thing. research and collect things slowely, you will be able to save 50% by doing so. Check 'For Sale' section in this forum, visit it daily, cuz good deals are only there for couple of hours.

Hope this helps, good luck

bfenster · 03/03/2006, 12:49 PM

I have heard 35-50 dollars per gallon for new setup depending on equipment. Don't even want to add up or think about what I have spent.

reverendmaynard · 03/03/2006, 01:14 PM

Even just doing your shopping on line at one of the big pet supply vendors like Drs Foster & Smith, Marine Depot, Big Als, etc. can save you 50% or more on most items. Used equipment can be had for a song, if you are patient enough to look for it and wait for the right deal.

DIY is another big money saver, if you have the time. If you could be doing something else to earn money instead of spending your time building a cabinet or something, you really don't save anything (actually probably lose money), but if you do it in your "spare" time, when you would have just been watching tv, you can save big bucks.

I wouldn't get into it expecting it to be cheap. Plan on at least $1000, IMO.

ben691717 · 03/03/2006, 03:09 PM

Do I need a refugium and do/I water system?

reefgeek84 · 03/03/2006, 03:17 PM

Before you even attempt to figure out what you need, you need to decide what you want to keep this is going keep. Once you have figured this out, then you can decided what you need to get.

I would suggest that you start out with some hardy fish and hardy corals. Zoas, shrooms, and some softies. All this can be kept with minimal equitment and will give you an idea of what you are getting your self into.

If you go with this, you will only need PC lighting, a skimmer and some sort of filtration device, this will keep your costs down.

And of course the small stuff: heater, test kits, refractometer, etc.

If you ask alot of the Reefers in here, they will all tell that when they want to upgrade to something (usually a bigger tank) it takes them quite a while, because of how expensive everything is, they accumilate over time.

Also if you want to keep corals, it is not just initial investment it is also the invertment to maintain everything. That is why I suggest starting with fish and some very low maitence hardy corals, so you can get a feel of what it is like phyiscaly, mentally and finacialy.

I would highly suggest the RO/DI water but no real need for a fuge.

reverendmaynard · 03/03/2006, 03:37 PM

Not to argue with reefgeek but...

I highly recommend that you do not get PC lighting. If you want to upgrade from that, you'll most likely have to ditch the PCs completely. VHO or T5 are not much more expensive for a moderate output system, and can be either added to, or if you choose to get MHs, can still be used as supplimental lighting.

Virtually every poster in here that I see with PC lighting regrets the choice and wants to upgrade. I very rarely see PC's used as supplemental lighting with MHs.

Yeah, they're the cheapest on initial investment, but all of that money is wasted when you upgrade. That's not usually the case with VHO or T5.

This being your first SW tank, there's something to be said for buying the cheapest setup you can get, since you may want to get out within 6 months-1 year. However, you end up losing pretty much all of the money you spent on the cheap stuff when you go to buy the good stuff you should have gotten in the first place. Also, skimping on something like a skimmer, may just become a self-fulfilling prophecy. i.e. "I'm getting out of this hobby because I can't keep my water quality high enough without all kinds of siphoning and water changes!" v.s. "This skimmer was the best money I spent on this hobby because it saves me so many other headaches. I can't wait to upgrade my tank."

reefgeek84 · 03/03/2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reverendmaynard
Not to argue with reefgeek but...

I highly recommend that you do not get PC lighting. If you want to upgrade from that, you'll most likely have to ditch the PCs completely. VHO or T5 are not much more expensive for a moderate output system, and can be either added to, or if you choose to get MHs, can still be used as supplimental lighting.

Virtually every poster in here that I see with PC lighting regrets the choice and wants to upgrade. I very rarely see PC's used as supplemental lighting with MHs.

Yeah, they're the cheapest on initial investment, but all of that money is wasted when you upgrade. That's not usually the case with VHO or T5.

This being your first SW tank, there's something to be said for buying the cheapest setup you can get, since you may want to get out within 6 months-1 year. However, you end up losing pretty much all of the money you spent on the cheap stuff when you go to buy the good stuff you should have gotten in the first place. Also, skimping on something like a skimmer, may just become a self-fulfilling prophecy. i.e. "I'm getting out of this hobby because I can't keep my water quality high enough without all kinds of siphoning and water changes!" v.s. "This skimmer was the best money I spent on this hobby because it saves me so many other headaches. I can't wait to upgrade my tank."

I have discussed in a couple of other threads.. In reality I think t-5 and VHO's are very over rated and are the "fad" right now. I am not turning this into a PC vs. VHO thread. But you can not find a t-5 or VHO set up with 130watts of light for less then 150.00 brand new and you can find PC systems for 100 bucks brand new that is why I mentioned that.

And just cause no one supplements with PC does not mean you can't, that is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard. A lot of people supplement with PC's.

reverendmaynard · 03/03/2006, 04:51 PM

I don't believe I said he couldn't, just that it's rarely done.

I doubt anything I said is as ignorant as saying VHO is a fad.

Like I said, I don't want to argue with you. I was just presenting the other side of the coin to the "buy cheap now, upgrade later" method.

reefgeek84 · 03/03/2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reverendmaynard
I don't believe I said he couldn't, just that it's rarely done.

I doubt anything I said is as ignorant as saying VHO is a fad.

Like I said, I don't want to argue with you. I was just presenting the other side of the coin to the "buy cheap now, upgrade later" method.

He is on a budget, that is his main concern...so that is the reason for going with PC's, a 100 bucks to throw away later is better then 200+ later if he quits or decides to upgrade.

I am just trying to help him keep it cheap, there are plenty of more routes he could go, but they would not be cheap.

Your piont is well taken though.

reefgeek84 · 03/03/2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reverendmaynard
I don't believe I said he couldn't, just that it's rarely done.

I doubt anything I said is as ignorant as saying VHO is a fad.

Like I said, I don't want to argue with you. I was just presenting the other side of the coin to the "buy cheap now, upgrade later" method.

It is a Fad in its popularity... People are trying to compare T-5's to halides, I feel that is due to popularity.

Serioussnaps · 03/03/2006, 05:44 PM

Can anyone say-------------loaded question?
All i will say in the essence of saving time, do alot of research before you make the jump, this will save you money and i mean alot of research.

theplatypus · 03/03/2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ben691717
Do I need a refugium and do/I water system?

It appears that once the argument started this was overlooked. You don't have to have a sump/refugium. A sump is used to increase total water volume and enables you to remove most/all equipment from the display.(heaters,powerheads etc.) A refugium can be either part of the sump or a seperate entity. Its purpous is to aid in the export of excess nutrients. Neither a sump nor a refugium are absolute needs;however, they do have their advantages. An ro/di unit is a must. Hope this gives you a place to start.

Alaskan Reefer · 03/04/2006, 12:51 AM

Um, T5 PAR is better than most halides watt per watt, it's not just a fad. How many outstanding VHO and T5 only tanks do you see around here and how many outstanding PC only tanks are there? PC is cheap, the bulbs burn out quickly, and they're the worst for PAR output per watt -- why buy it? If you're going FOWLR, use regular old normal output flourscents that you probably have laying around from the freshwater setup. Once you decide to go reef, then you can invest in better lighting.

Plan on $1500-$2000, and get the best skimmer the budget will allow -- assuming as a newbie you don't want a sump, I would go with at least a Remora Pro, preferrably a Coralife Super Skimmer 125, and if you really plan to take this to the limit long term (and don't want a sump), get the Deltec MCE600. It will make everything about managing the tank easier.

mpomfret · 03/04/2006, 10:07 AM

I have some recent experience on this. I just started my set up this week. I don't have the receipts in front of me but I'm probably close to $1500. Including the 75 gal tank and the LR. No fish yet since the tank will be cycling for the next couple of weeks.

I did a lot of the stuff DIY: stand, canopy, sump (from an old 20gal I already had). I have not bought a skimmer since I am experimenting with my own. If you like to tinker with stuff, DIY will do 2 things for you. It will take some of the cost out of your gear and it will slow down the drain on your bank account. Both of these are good for a limited budget.

I spent a lot of time debating with myself over lighting and RO/DI. I was able to borrow an MH set to have a look and loved it. I found a good deal at HelloLights and got a complete 250W retro kit for $200 (incl bulb). The price was comparable to some of the other lighting I found while shopping. Heat from the MH is a little bit of a problem, but fans are cheap.

I read a bunch about RO/DI and asked questions on RC as well. I wouldn't go without it (not with the city water I have available). One response I got said basically that H20 is the basis for the entire setup, why skimp ? I went with that and am glad I did. Per someone's suggestion I bought mine from Buckeye Field Supply.

One other thing. This is a great place to pick the brains of people with a lot of experience. So ask and read alot. There is always a lot of good info to be had. Sometimes the best info is buried in the lengthy debates with conflicting opinions. The questions that seem to start the hottest debates often contain the words "what is the best....."

Good luck.

Matt

sgarrett1108 · 03/04/2006, 10:32 AM

I agree with mpomfret. Water is the main ingredient in your tank. You want to make sure what you put in it is the best. You don't see farmers planting fields in soil that is worthless. I started this hobby by buying the cheapest equipment before I found this forum and I bet I don't have much of my original equipment left. I will be replacing the skimmer this weekend. Also I found to by stuff that will work on a larger tank as well. If this hobby bites you, you will soon be looking for a larger tank. Another thing I learned the hard way is to watch out for pet stores. Not all but some of them give you advice with some direction of what they have to sell also they are more exp than buying used or online. Good luck!!

jpitch · 03/04/2006, 11:07 AM

Just for the fact of you briefly mentioning you might be interested in getting into "some type" of corals means you will be spending $1k+ from what I gather. I'm going to be blunt because that's probably the easiest way to get this across to you. If you don't DIY (do it yourself), like myself, be prepared to spend twice what you thought you would! Some will disagree with me but if you happen to like your setup when you begin you will FIND ways to spend money. I started almost 3 months ago. My wife surprised me with a 95 gallon wave tank, stand, Mega-flow wet/dry, and strip hood at $2k. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS later I'm still not done! LOL

Drewpy · 03/04/2006, 07:45 PM

whatever you think it will cost you---
double, then multiply that number by how many days it takes to walk up to the Alaska and ask the alaskan reefer a question or two....
seriously... i bet i am not far off

Mike.B · 03/08/2006, 10:51 PM

Im leaving my 55g basically just to keep my rock living. (Canadian dollars)I got my 70 going and the tank stank and hood cost $750, alright now you need plumbing, now sand, lighting, so what next, well you need a return pump, a closed loop pump, a skimmer, a phos reactor(good idea), more plumbing, timers, test kits and all the little BS $20 dollar stuff.

This information is for a tank with a sump, seriously think about getting it drilled, it will make your life 10x easier and your tank will look way better without all that ****(heaters, powerheads..etc) in the tank.

Thats just to start, and if you dont get all this equipment before hand, your looking for trouble and a lot of work.

Now you can start and get live rock and eventually fish.

Not trying to scare you away but it is a very costly hobby initially, on your setup I would be looking at spending close to 1000-1500 to get it going.

Go price it out and make a list and then we can fill in the gaps.

03/03/2006, 08:13 AM	#1
ben691717 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	cost of switching a 55 gallon to salt water Hi, I am new to this site and hoby. Browsing the forums has been very informative. I have a 55 gallon tank that I formerly kept cichlids in and I am interested in converting to salt water. I am interested in what you think the cost would be to switch over. As a grad student the amount of money I have to spend isn't immense. But this is something I would really like to do and I am willing to invest as much time as needed. (Its just a question of investing $$). So what do you think the costs would be for each and in total? protien skimmer ? live rock ? hydrometer/thermometer/more reliable heater/salts ? power heads/pumps? lighting? - If I was to go with a FOLR system I could get less here, just enough to maintain the live rock? What is required lighting to maintain the live rock? What is the minimum to keep some of the low light corals? There are some cheap lights on ebay that JEBO sells. Anyone have experience with these? RO system (do I need this/what should I do for water)? anything else? Total cost - - ? Thanks I appreciate it. I just don't want to get to far into this and realize it is too expensive for me. If thats the case I could always keep freshwater fish again...although I would really like to keep saltwater fish. Thanks!

03/03/2006, 08:20 AM	#2
dhoch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,762	A good way to gauge, is to take a look over in the used equipment forum... You will find people selling used equipment (which is what I would recommend as far as getting equipment to outfit).. the live section you can often find live rock (look for someone in your area).. If you have a local reef club that would also be a good place to start. Dave __________________ Check out my tanks website... click the red box above my post Current Tank Info: 180 gal Acrylic, 29 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, Mag 18 -> 2 Sea Swirls, Tunze 6100, 8 x 80W overdriven T5 Lights, ASM G4 skimmer

03/03/2006, 08:24 AM	#3
Konadog Master of the 16 hour day Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Long Beach, So Cal Posts: 13,151 Blog Entries: 4	ben691717, *To Reef Central* As dhoch mentioned, look for a Marine Aquarium Club in your area. You can usually pick up used equipment at bargain prices, meet some great people, and learn from there mistakes so it doesn't cost you $$. Read thru the Reef Club Forums index to see if you can find one here on RC. __________________ Save the Reefs................................................................Save the world! -Ken Current Tank Info: Currently tankless, and loving it!

03/03/2006, 08:41 AM	#5
wojo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 752	i just went through that 3 months ago, be prepared to spend close to $1500 to get this size tank (not big) looking decent: around 80lbs of LR, sand, skimmer, lights, etc, fishes. I did a lot of DYI'ing too and bought all my LR from others reefers so i saved buncha there... One thing you have to remember is to take it slowely, do not make $500 decisitions in your LFS, i know its easy because you want all of it, fast! you want it tomorrow but this is not a good thing. research and collect things slowely, you will be able to save 50% by doing so. Check 'For Sale' section in this forum, visit it daily, cuz good deals are only there for couple of hours. Hope this helps, good luck __________________ "you work to live, you don't live to work" Current Tank Info: 75g Reef, 100lbs LR, 20g Sump/Fuge, (2)250W 12k Reeflux MHs, (2)110W Actinic VHOs, Dosing DIY 2-part w/ Aquamedic Twin Doser, all controlled by ReefKeeper2

03/03/2006, 01:14 PM	#7
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	Even just doing your shopping on line at one of the big pet supply vendors like Drs Foster & Smith, Marine Depot, Big Als, etc. can save you 50% or more on most items. Used equipment can be had for a song, if you are patient enough to look for it and wait for the right deal. DIY is another big money saver, if you have the time. If you could be doing something else to earn money instead of spending your time building a cabinet or something, you really don't save anything (actually probably lose money), but if you do it in your "spare" time, when you would have just been watching tv, you can save big bucks. I wouldn't get into it expecting it to be cheap. Plan on at least $1000, IMO. __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

03/03/2006, 08:25 AM	#4
sundance1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bedford,PA Posts: 230	It all depends on the namebrand and style of what you purchase.My advise is to take your time and buy good stukk to begin with.It is a slow process to set up a saltwater tank so you don't have to buy things all at once. First off buy the salt,a bucket to do 200 gallons should be around $50 give or take. Heater,hydrometer,and thermometer for around could range anywhere from $50 to $100. Powerheads are on e-Bay in lots of 4 for around $30 + shipping. Live rock will probably be your biggest investment in a FOWLR tank.That should run anywhere from $300 and up. Skimmers are also on e-Bay for $100 to $150 for a good one. If your not getting any corals you stock light should be ok in a FOWLR tank. You did not mention a filtration system,to set up a refugium will be around $150 to $200. I got my RO/DI filter from e-Bay for $120.

03/03/2006, 12:49 PM	#6
bfenster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Omaha, Ne Posts: 8	I have heard 35-50 dollars per gallon for new setup depending on equipment. Don't even want to add up or think about what I have spent.

03/03/2006, 03:09 PM	#8
ben691717 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2	Do I need a refugium and do/I water system?

03/03/2006, 03:17 PM	#9
reefgeek84 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portlan, OR Posts: 997	Before you even attempt to figure out what you need, you need to decide what you want to keep this is going keep. Once you have figured this out, then you can decided what you need to get. I would suggest that you start out with some hardy fish and hardy corals. Zoas, shrooms, and some softies. All this can be kept with minimal equitment and will give you an idea of what you are getting your self into. If you go with this, you will only need PC lighting, a skimmer and some sort of filtration device, this will keep your costs down. And of course the small stuff: heater, test kits, refractometer, etc. If you ask alot of the Reefers in here, they will all tell that when they want to upgrade to something (usually a bigger tank) it takes them quite a while, because of how expensive everything is, they accumilate over time. Also if you want to keep corals, it is not just initial investment it is also the invertment to maintain everything. That is why I suggest starting with fish and some very low maitence hardy corals, so you can get a feel of what it is like phyiscaly, mentally and finacialy. I would highly suggest the RO/DI water but no real need for a fuge.

03/03/2006, 03:37 PM	#10
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	Not to argue with reefgeek but... I highly recommend that you do not get PC lighting. If you want to upgrade from that, you'll most likely have to ditch the PCs completely. VHO or T5 are not much more expensive for a moderate output system, and can be either added to, or if you choose to get MHs, can still be used as supplimental lighting. Virtually every poster in here that I see with PC lighting regrets the choice and wants to upgrade. I very rarely see PC's used as supplemental lighting with MHs. Yeah, they're the cheapest on initial investment, but all of that money is wasted when you upgrade. That's not usually the case with VHO or T5. This being your first SW tank, there's something to be said for buying the cheapest setup you can get, since you may want to get out within 6 months-1 year. However, you end up losing pretty much all of the money you spent on the cheap stuff when you go to buy the good stuff you should have gotten in the first place. Also, skimping on something like a skimmer, may just become a self-fulfilling prophecy. i.e. "I'm getting out of this hobby because I can't keep my water quality high enough without all kinds of siphoning and water changes!" v.s. "This skimmer was the best money I spent on this hobby because it saves me so many other headaches. I can't wait to upgrade my tank." __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

03/03/2006, 04:51 PM	#12
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	I don't believe I said he couldn't, just that it's rarely done. I doubt anything I said is as ignorant as saying VHO is a fad. Like I said, I don't want to argue with you. I was just presenting the other side of the coin to the "buy cheap now, upgrade later" method. __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

03/03/2006, 05:44 PM	#15
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Can anyone say-------------loaded question? All i will say in the essence of saving time, do alot of research before you make the jump, this will save you money and i mean alot of research.

03/04/2006, 12:51 AM	#17
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Um, T5 PAR is better than most halides watt per watt, it's not just a fad. How many outstanding VHO and T5 only tanks do you see around here and how many outstanding PC only tanks are there? PC is cheap, the bulbs burn out quickly, and they're the worst for PAR output per watt -- why buy it? If you're going FOWLR, use regular old normal output flourscents that you probably have laying around from the freshwater setup. Once you decide to go reef, then you can invest in better lighting. Plan on $1500-$2000, and get the best skimmer the budget will allow -- assuming as a newbie you don't want a sump, I would go with at least a Remora Pro, preferrably a Coralife Super Skimmer 125, and if you really plan to take this to the limit long term (and don't want a sump), get the Deltec MCE600. It will make everything about managing the tank easier. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

03/04/2006, 10:07 AM	#18
mpomfret Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 94	I have some recent experience on this. I just started my set up this week. I don't have the receipts in front of me but I'm probably close to $1500. Including the 75 gal tank and the LR. No fish yet since the tank will be cycling for the next couple of weeks. I did a lot of the stuff DIY: stand, canopy, sump (from an old 20gal I already had). I have not bought a skimmer since I am experimenting with my own. If you like to tinker with stuff, DIY will do 2 things for you. It will take some of the cost out of your gear and it will slow down the drain on your bank account. Both of these are good for a limited budget. I spent a lot of time debating with myself over lighting and RO/DI. I was able to borrow an MH set to have a look and loved it. I found a good deal at HelloLights and got a complete 250W retro kit for $200 (incl bulb). The price was comparable to some of the other lighting I found while shopping. Heat from the MH is a little bit of a problem, but fans are cheap. I read a bunch about RO/DI and asked questions on RC as well. I wouldn't go without it (not with the city water I have available). One response I got said basically that H20 is the basis for the entire setup, why skimp ? I went with that and am glad I did. Per someone's suggestion I bought mine from Buckeye Field Supply. One other thing. This is a great place to pick the brains of people with a lot of experience. So ask and read alot. There is always a lot of good info to be had. Sometimes the best info is buried in the lengthy debates with conflicting opinions. The questions that seem to start the hottest debates often contain the words "what is the best....." Good luck. Matt

03/04/2006, 10:32 AM	#19
sgarrett1108 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grinnell Posts: 227	I agree with mpomfret. Water is the main ingredient in your tank. You want to make sure what you put in it is the best. You don't see farmers planting fields in soil that is worthless. I started this hobby by buying the cheapest equipment before I found this forum and I bet I don't have much of my original equipment left. I will be replacing the skimmer this weekend. Also I found to by stuff that will work on a larger tank as well. If this hobby bites you, you will soon be looking for a larger tank. Another thing I learned the hard way is to watch out for pet stores. Not all but some of them give you advice with some direction of what they have to sell also they are more exp than buying used or online. Good luck!!

03/04/2006, 11:07 AM	#20
jpitch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Middle Island, NY Posts: 908	Just for the fact of you briefly mentioning you might be interested in getting into "some type" of corals means you will be spending $1k+ from what I gather. I'm going to be blunt because that's probably the easiest way to get this across to you. If you don't DIY (do it yourself), like myself, be prepared to spend twice what you thought you would! Some will disagree with me but if you happen to like your setup when you begin you will FIND ways to spend money. I started almost 3 months ago. My wife surprised me with a 95 gallon wave tank, stand, Mega-flow wet/dry, and strip hood at $2k. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS later I'm still not done! LOL __________________ 36X36X30 DT, 75g sump, Vertex Vectra L1 return pump, Apex 2016, Apex DOS +DDR, Apex 1link, 4 X Kessil A360's, Vertex Alpha 170, Maxspect Gyre 250 x2

03/04/2006, 07:45 PM	#21
Drewpy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid coast, Hope, Maine Posts: 861	whatever you think it will cost you--- double, then multiply that number by how many days it takes to walk up to the Alaska and ask the alaskan reefer a question or two.... seriously... i bet i am not far off __________________ drew Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront, t5 ho 4 x 39 tek fixture, turboflotor 1000 multi, hob refugium

03/08/2006, 10:51 PM	#22
Mike.B Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 548	Im leaving my 55g basically just to keep my rock living. (Canadian dollars)I got my 70 going and the tank stank and hood cost $750, alright now you need plumbing, now sand, lighting, so what next, well you need a return pump, a closed loop pump, a skimmer, a phos reactor(good idea), more plumbing, timers, test kits and all the little BS $20 dollar stuff. This information is for a tank with a sump, seriously think about getting it drilled, it will make your life 10x easier and your tank will look way better without all that ****(heaters, powerheads..etc) in the tank. Thats just to start, and if you dont get all this equipment before hand, your looking for trouble and a lot of work. Now you can start and get live rock and eventually fish. Not trying to scare you away but it is a very costly hobby initially, on your setup I would be looking at spending close to 1000-1500 to get it going. Go price it out and make a list and then we can fill in the gaps.