Need help getting started.

The first thing you need to do to have a stable reef tank is RESEARCH,read read,and read some more. There are so many ways to set up and run a reef tank. If you start buying before you know what you need you will most likely waste some money.
You have started off great by asking Qs on equip. Once you get some idea of what you want ,research it. Find out what it does and why it does it.
Good luck, I hope you can create a tank your friend would want.

PS. IMO a 50-75gal tank will be easier to maintain than a smaller one.

 

Hello.

the bigger the better bbut also the more expensive. I havw a 20 gallon and love it, but im working on a 75 now and would have just done a 75 gallon if I had know what I was doing in the begin LOL that being said there are plenty of peeople who get rid of stuff on here and will do so for a good price so there is that option too, also have you concidered a 50 cube since the equipment is less in the begining, than a 75 gallon.

 

My friend just happens to be "Stoney Waters", it seems he is pretty popular on here. im not really sure if youve heard of him. anyways, i dont want to waste money, so thats why im doing everything i can to make sure what i should do for as cheap as possible... thanks!

I dont think id be able to manage the cost of the maintenance of a 50 gallon. Unless the tank is cheaper to start off with then the 26 bowfront, and if it would be easier to hide the filter and sump in the stand. I just think water changes would be more expensive.

 

No I dont know him. That is not the point. Sometimes in this hobby cheap is not the way to go. If you go the cheap route (as many of us have done) you soon find out thru research and trial and error that it was not worth the money or it didnt do as you thought it would. Then you go and buy what you should have got in the first place. Now neither was cheap. Do you see what I mean. The more you understand how and why IT does what it does you will be able to make a better decision on what will work for your system.
With your friend being so well liked here you have a good source of been there done that. Use it

 

you can go cheep as atated before but you will get some trial and error screwups you could do an ATS andyou can do FOWLR and just progress from there and it would be cheeper inatially and also try craigslist you never know what you might end up getting
;D

 

Take it from me. I have been in the hobby since September and I have already gone theough a 29 gallon. 40 gallon and Sunday I just bought a 150 tank stand 100+ lbs of live rock skimmer uv sterilizer mag 18 return pump sump and some other stuff for 300$ off craigslist.

Do your research and save up to get at least a 75. But I also loved 40 breeders.

 

a 40 breeder would be great as a starter tank IMO

 

While you're getting some good advice here, I'm surprised this sticky wasn't pointed out to you:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/whats-important-successful-tank-108699.html

I believe that to be the most informative bit around here.

 

thanks everyone for your replies. But my local fish store is closing because the owner is retiring. They offered to sell me the saltwater tank and everything in it for a reasonable deal. i was wondering if i should do that? and if i do do that, how should i transfer everything?

 

They did? Is it thier huge 125g ( i think).