Still in the planning stage, with a bunch of questions!

funder · 03/03/2006, 12:14 PM

Hi all,

I'm in the pre-reefkeeping stage of life right now - as in, I've been wanting and planning a tank for several years now, but I'm still in law school and we don't have a house yet. We'll be living in an apartment for about 2 more years, and I don't want to set up a reef tank that I know I'll have to move. I've got a planted 29g freshwater that I had to move last year and it was ... difficult.

Anyway, I have a few questions so far.

I'm thinking of getting a couple of books I saw recommended here: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, The New Marine Aquarium by Paletta, and Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock. Do these sound like a good start?

What size tank should I be planning for? From browsing around the forums, I've seen a lot of people saying how happy they were that they went with a 75g instead of something smaller. My instinct is to go with something smaller, but everybody seems to say that's a bad idea - that I'll want more volume to cushion the changes in water parameter.

Last, the sticker shock doesn't make me want a tank any less. But I can't figure out just how much money I should be planning to spend. If I started from scratch with a 75g, with a good filtration system, a ??g sump and refugium, and DIY plumbing / lighting, how much (roughly!) am I looking to spend in initial setup costs? Are we talking closer to $5000 or more like $10,000? I do know that I'll spend more than I ever budgeted, but I've gotta have a number to start budgeting with.

Thanks!

sassyfishy · 03/03/2006, 12:23 PM

To Reef Central

The first two books you mentioned are awesome. I'm not familiar with the third.

You'll probably kick yourself in the butt if you go with a smaller tank - only because you'll eventually want to "move up".

I've only got a 40 and wish I had a larger one - but I have no space. (In my previous house, I had more than 60 - yes SIXTY - aquariums going at any one time - all freshwater). The biggest pro to getting a larger tank is that you can keep more of what you want - but also it can be much more forgiving in terms of error.

As for cost - I'm guessing this can be highly variable - but I'm into the hobby for about $2,500 right now, and this is a 40 gallon tank set up for four months (not fully stocked yet).

NCreefwannabe · 03/03/2006, 12:35 PM

the reason for people wanting the 75 over the 55 is that its wider. gives more space for aquascaping. obviously mroe room for fish also. im still cycling my tank, but i have most everything I need except a few mroe select items. im around $1000 so far including lights. I bought most of my stuff used though to save. just dont skimp on a skimmer lol.

REEFUR · 03/03/2006, 12:38 PM

just be patient!!!!

mystikdragon7 · 03/03/2006, 12:39 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by funder
[B]I'm thinking of getting a couple of books I saw recommended here: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, The New Marine Aquarium by Paletta, and Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock. Do these sound like a good start?

Yes, those books have very good info in them.

What size tank should I be planning for? From browsing around the forums, I've seen a lot of people saying how happy they were that they went with a 75g instead of something smaller. My instinct is to go with something smaller, but everybody seems to say that's a bad idea - that I'll want more volume to cushion the changes in water parameter.

I think a 100gal or a 125gal tank is good to start out with. With more water volume the less chances of something going really bad. However, the bigger the tank the more it's going to cost you. More live rock, bigger lighting, bigger skimmer, salt, ect, is going to cost you a little more up front. But I think it's well worth it. I got a 60gal with a 20gal sump and it looks great. I do wish I got a bigger tank though, not really for more water volume, but more room for more fish and corals.

Last, the sticker shock doesn't make me want a tank any less. But I can't figure out just how much money I should be planning to spend. If I started from scratch with a 75g, with a good filtration system, a ??g sump and refugium, and DIY plumbing / lighting, how much (roughly!) am I looking to spend in initial setup costs? Are we talking closer to $5000 or more like $10,000? I do know that I'll spend more than I ever budgeted, but I've gotta have a number to start budgeting with.

I had planned on spending about $2000 for my 60gal. I ultimately ended up spending about $3200. The only DIY thing I did was my canopy, doing that saved me about $300. With that I was able to put more into my lighting. Lighting is and should be the most important thing you invest in, especially for a reef tank. IMO, do not skimp on your lighting. For a 75gal I would plan on spending about $3500, you might go over that though. Also, IMO get the biggest skimmer your wallet and space will allow.

funder · 03/03/2006, 04:05 PM

Whew, yall's responses are really reassuring! I know, it's like any other hobby, you can spend as much money as you want. But $3k is not that bad!

I know that lighting's really important, and I plan to get plenty of it. I have this dream of one day keeping clams, y'see... but that's way far off. I'll probably go with a DSB. I'm actually much more interested in inverts than fish and the thought of having all those icky looking little copepods and stuff crawling around in my sand is pretty awesome. Anyway, I know I just have to do a lot more reading and lurking and figure out for myself what kind of filtration system to go with. Ack.

Next question! Is it possible for me to set up a tank with, maybe, 90% captive propagated / fragged livestock? I know I can get aquacultured (is that the right adjective?) live rock that's "grown" in Florida, which sounds nice. And I see tank-raised clownfish in Petco all the time.

(No, I'm not going to buy fish from Petco, but I get to look when I'm there getting rawhide for the dog!)

Alaskan Reefer · 03/04/2006, 12:59 AM

$3000 will get you started. By the time I broke down my 75 I had about $6000 in it, including about $1000 worth of equipment I bought over again (skimmer, powerheads, lighting). Yes, the 75 is the minimum size you want -- 18" of depth is KEY for having any fish of medium or larger size and for having good looking aquascaping.

aquaman67 · 03/13/2006, 08:39 AM

Hey funder,

I case you don't see the thread in the little used Tennessee Reefers forum, there is a local club you might want to check out.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...s=&forumid=378

03/03/2006, 12:14 PM	#1
funder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Memphis, TN, USA Posts: 4	Still in the planning stage, with a bunch of questions! Hi all, I'm in the pre-reefkeeping stage of life right now - as in, I've been wanting and planning a tank for several years now, but I'm still in law school and we don't have a house yet. We'll be living in an apartment for about 2 more years, and I don't want to set up a reef tank that I know I'll have to move. I've got a planted 29g freshwater that I had to move last year and it was ... difficult. Anyway, I have a few questions so far. I'm thinking of getting a couple of books I saw recommended here: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, The New Marine Aquarium by Paletta, and Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock. Do these sound like a good start? What size tank should I be planning for? From browsing around the forums, I've seen a lot of people saying how happy they were that they went with a 75g instead of something smaller. My instinct is to go with something smaller, but everybody seems to say that's a bad idea - that I'll want more volume to cushion the changes in water parameter. Last, the sticker shock doesn't make me want a tank any less. But I can't figure out just how much money I should be planning to spend. If I started from scratch with a 75g, with a good filtration system, a ??g sump and refugium, and DIY plumbing / lighting, how much (roughly!) am I looking to spend in initial setup costs? Are we talking closer to $5000 or more like $10,000? I do know that I'll spend more than I ever budgeted, but I've gotta have a number to start budgeting with. Thanks!

03/03/2006, 12:39 PM	#5
mystikdragon7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mill Creek, WA Posts: 1,051	Re: Still in the planning stage, with a bunch of questions! [QUOTE]Originally posted by funder [B]I'm thinking of getting a couple of books I saw recommended here: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner, The New Marine Aquarium by Paletta, and Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock. Do these sound like a good start? Yes, those books have very good info in them. What size tank should I be planning for? From browsing around the forums, I've seen a lot of people saying how happy they were that they went with a 75g instead of something smaller. My instinct is to go with something smaller, but everybody seems to say that's a bad idea - that I'll want more volume to cushion the changes in water parameter. I think a 100gal or a 125gal tank is good to start out with. With more water volume the less chances of something going really bad. However, the bigger the tank the more it's going to cost you. More live rock, bigger lighting, bigger skimmer, salt, ect, is going to cost you a little more up front. But I think it's well worth it. I got a 60gal with a 20gal sump and it looks great. I do wish I got a bigger tank though, not really for more water volume, but more room for more fish and corals. Last, the sticker shock doesn't make me want a tank any less. But I can't figure out just how much money I should be planning to spend. If I started from scratch with a 75g, with a good filtration system, a ??g sump and refugium, and DIY plumbing / lighting, how much (roughly!) am I looking to spend in initial setup costs? Are we talking closer to $5000 or more like $10,000? I do know that I'll spend more than I ever budgeted, but I've gotta have a number to start budgeting with. I had planned on spending about $2000 for my 60gal. I ultimately ended up spending about $3200. The only DIY thing I did was my canopy, doing that saved me about $300. With that I was able to put more into my lighting. Lighting is and should be the most important thing you invest in, especially for a reef tank. IMO, do not skimp on your lighting. For a 75gal I would plan on spending about $3500, you might go over that though. Also, IMO get the biggest skimmer your wallet and space will allow. __________________ Patience is a vitrue Current Tank Info: 60gal reef, 2 175 watt MH, 2 95 watt VHO Actinics, 20 gal sump; 30gal FOWLR, pair of B&W baby perculas

03/04/2006, 12:59 AM	#7
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	$3000 will get you started. By the time I broke down my 75 I had about $6000 in it, including about $1000 worth of equipment I bought over again (skimmer, powerheads, lighting). Yes, the 75 is the minimum size you want -- 18" of depth is KEY for having any fish of medium or larger size and for having good looking aquascaping. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

03/03/2006, 12:23 PM	#2
sassyfishy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 118	*To Reef Central* The first two books you mentioned are awesome. I'm not familiar with the third. You'll probably kick yourself in the butt if you go with a smaller tank - only because you'll eventually want to "move up". I've only got a 40 and wish I had a larger one - but I have no space. (In my previous house, I had more than 60 - yes SIXTY - aquariums going at any one time - all freshwater). The biggest pro to getting a larger tank is that you can keep more of what you want - but also it can be much more forgiving in terms of error. As for cost - I'm guessing this can be highly variable - but I'm into the hobby for about $2,500 right now, and this is a 40 gallon tank set up for four months (not fully stocked yet).

03/03/2006, 12:35 PM	#3
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	the reason for people wanting the 75 over the 55 is that its wider. gives more space for aquascaping. obviously mroe room for fish also. im still cycling my tank, but i have most everything I need except a few mroe select items. im around $1000 so far including lights. I bought most of my stuff used though to save. just dont skimp on a skimmer lol.

03/03/2006, 12:38 PM	#4
REEFUR Moved On Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: shelby twp. MI 48317 Posts: 54	just be patient!!!!

03/03/2006, 04:05 PM	#6
funder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Memphis, TN, USA Posts: 4	Whew, yall's responses are really reassuring! I know, it's like any other hobby, you can spend as much money as you want. But $3k is not that bad! I know that lighting's really important, and I plan to get plenty of it. I have this dream of one day keeping clams, y'see... but that's way far off. I'll probably go with a DSB. I'm actually much more interested in inverts than fish and the thought of having all those icky looking little copepods and stuff crawling around in my sand is pretty awesome. Anyway, I know I just have to do a lot more reading and lurking and figure out for myself what kind of filtration system to go with. Ack. Next question! Is it possible for me to set up a tank with, maybe, 90% captive propagated / fragged livestock? I know I can get aquacultured (is that the right adjective?) live rock that's "grown" in Florida, which sounds nice. And I see tank-raised clownfish in Petco all the time. (No, I'm not going to buy fish from Petco, but I get to look when I'm there getting rawhide for the dog!)

03/13/2006, 08:39 AM	#8
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	Hey funder, I case you don't see the thread in the little used Tennessee Reefers forum, there is a local club you might want to check out. http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...s=&forumid=378