Starting a tank

Just be aware of the LR/LS cost in starting a 90g tank. As well as a good protein skimmer, all the powerheads you will need etc, etc. I would start looking on Craig's list now. Get used to how much you need to spend on the initial set up. Also, make your wish list up on the computer with the prices of that which you need. And remember. DON'T SKIMP. You will end up buying stuff twice.

Oh, and I did forget a power head in the list above. You could probably get away with 2 Koralia-1s placed on either side of the tank. If you want corals, you need flow, and you need the ability to control the direction of the flow. Do not purchase these at the LFS. They will overcharge you. Get onto eBay and buy both from one reputable dealer for cheap and save on shipping. That's what I did on my K-3's. The great thing is, you will be able to use them on your 90g if you decide to break down your 20.

I admire your quest for success in the SW arena (being in college). I spent 10 years in college. I know just how much money you have while you take classes.....next to 0.

And thanks gazog......I appreciate you researching the prices to back up my guess work. K+

 

WOW, some of these prices are high (I do realize this was just a quick list by PharmrJohn, so off the top of his head, those are roughly what you'd expect to pay). After doing some research here's some lower prices. For dry goods I'd suggest DrsFosterSmith.com. And I'm not knocking PharmrJohn. Just updating this list with (what I think) are better prices. Since he did the initial leg-work, it was much easier to get these prices.

Try one of these sites:

Dry Rock

Specials

The first one had 20 lbs of base rock (shipping included) for $29.48 This is non-live so you won't see much coraline algae (if any) without some seed coraline from some other source (my cleanup crew from ReefCleaners.org had Florida Cerith snails with green, pink, and purple coraline algae on their shells).

Forget Lowes and just look at DrsFosterSmith:

Marine Substrates: Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand at Drs. Foster & Smith

$20 for 20lbs of good argonite sand. This is exactly what I use.

Again, look at DrsFosterSmith (and that's what I'll use for all other drygoods links):

Power Filter: Bio System Power Filter & Surface Skimmer from Drs. Foster and Smith

$22.99 for the model 25. It also has a surface skimmer built in. Very good idea to be able to skim the oily substances off of the surface.

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit

$17.99 for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH.

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals KH/carbonate and Calcium Test Kits

$3.99 for dHK (alkalinity)
$6.99 for Calcium.
Yes, you do need to test for these.

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Phosphate Test Kit

$7.79 for Phosphate. Not absolutely needed, but very highly recommended. Good to occasionally test your replacement water to make sure you're not adding any phosphate to the system.


Aquarium Water Quality & Testing: Red Sea Magnesium Test Lab

$10.39 for Magnesium test kit. Seems expensive, but you have to know your Magnesium level to be able to keep your Calcium and dKH levels correct.

Saltwater Aquarium Salt: Aquarium Systems Instant Ocean & Reef Crystals Synthetic Sea Salt

Instant Ocean:
$9.69 for 50 gallon mix, $27.60 for 160 gallon mix.

Reef Crystals (what I use):
$11.19 for 50 gallon mix, $29.99 for 160 gallon mix.

May as well buy one of the 160 gallon mixes if you plan on staying in this hobby for more than a few months. The amount you'll save in the long run (shipping costs for salt add up) will be substantial.

Really nothing to say here, except you may want to invest in a refractometer in the future (way more accurate than a hydrometer). Look to eBay for one (I got a good one for $31.50 shipped).

Again, not much difference here, but just because I've been pricing most things from DrsFosterSmith:

Aquarium Heaters: Visi-Therm Stealth Heater

100w heater for $15.09. Again, not a big difference, but every little bit helps.


You'll also want a Protein Skimmer somewhere down the road. It won't be needed for at least the first two months (and possibly as long as four months; depends on how fast and heavy you stock your aquarium), so you can wait on this one. Get a good one. Getting some POS skimmer will just frustrate you, and then you'll end up buying a better one anyway (so you'll have wasted money buying two of these, instead of one). I'd suggest either a used AquaC Remora Nano or AquaC Remora. I've personally purchase two use AquaC Remoras for about $98 each (shipping included in that average). You may be able to find a good used one cheaper, but the number I showed, is a good ballpark figure to shoot for. I'd suggest the Remora as it's rated for tanks up to 75 gallons, so if you decide to go to a bigger tank in the future you'll be able to re-use the skimmer.

Powerhead(s):

I, as PharmrJohn already suggested, recommend the Koralia powerheads. Two Koralia #1's may end up being too much, but one Koralia #1 would be a good start.

Water Pumps & Wavemakers: Hydor Koralia Water Circulation Pumps

$28.49 for a brand new #1. You won't find much cheaper used ones (I've been pricing them for about two months now (used), and they average about $25 shipped).

Lights (the big purchase):

If you don't plan on keeping LPS and SPS corals (as wells as clams), then this light (which I have) will do:

Compact Fluorescent Aquarium Lighting: Single Satellite Compact Fluorescent Fixtures

$59.19 for the 24 inch model. Will allow you to keep fish, coraline algae, poylps, mushrooms, and other low-light softies. I have this light on my 20g tank. Works well, but it definitely doesn't put out enough light for the harder to keep corals.

If you think you may try harder corals (which I don't suggest doing in the first year if you've never done saltwater before):

Current USA Sundial T5HO - 10K / 460nm Actinic Light Fixtures


$191.04 + $3.95 fragile handling charge (shipping is free) for the 24 inch model. You'll be able to keep almost anything in your 20g with this light. Clams, and high-light demanding LPS and SPS, will need to be kept in the upper half of the tank. They can be kept, but only by an experienced saltwater hobbyist.

 

Thanks Reeron...yeah, those prices were off the top of my head. After getting to the end of my post, something just seemed wrong with the total amount. It wasn't adding up to what I would expect a 20g start to cost. Thanks for your in depth research and to all who posted before. I have a soft spot for college kids trying to do anything that costs money.

And Reef Crystals are what I would use also. You will pay $65 at the LFS for the bucket so online is the way to go. I am getting ready to buy my next bucket here in a few weeks. It goes fast.

 

Oh NO!!!! I did the math wrong. Reeron said that 2 K-1s would be too much. He is right. I was aiming for 20GPH per gallon of water. I doubled that. Oops. Yup 40 is a little high. I would still go off of eBay for the Koralias though. I was just looking at a deal for two here before I read Reeron's post.

2 PUMPS! Koralia 1 Pump Powerhead 400g NEW Hydor WAVES! - eBay (item 190246328523 end time Sep-01-08 12:29:34 PDT)

 

Hey, that is a good link. With that price, anyone could afford to buy them "a la carte".

 

Welcome to 3reef!

 

Thanks for everyone's help.

Update #2:
Cleaned tank 2nd time
leveled out stand
filled tank with water before i left for work
(leaving overnight filled to see if there are any small leaks)

Other notes/comments:
I was talking to my boss over the weekend about this and he told me if i get really into this that he's going to let me and my friend design/setup/run a 200 gal tank he's thinking about putting in at the bar/bowling alley that i work at. haha setting up a tank on the owners money NICE!!!