salt water tank general cost

The all in one idea by schackmel is good to.

 

I think AIO are a great option.

Also look into local reef clubs, you can usually find out at the local salt water stores how to join.

Many times people can not get rid of some soft corals fast enough, or they upgrade and need to sell equipment, plus they can be a resource for basic husbandry information.

Do not know how many times I have read or heard, " I need to get rid of this fish".

 

approximately 3 billion dollars I think the idea of the all in one is a good idea. I would go fish only to start on a student's budget. I would think you could plan on getting a few fish, live rock, live sand and some clean up crew with all in one figuring $500 and plan on another $5-7 hundred with things you'll need.....so approximately $1000-1200 to start total.

I had to comment on Face's gateway comment, that was pretty funny

 

+1 to schmackel from me as well.

I ran a 30+ gallon for years, but started it as fish only with base rock, which turns into live rock as it lives in the tank. Buying most of your rock from someone like reefcleaners or BRS will save you a lot of money, and then you can add a few pieces of live rock from your LFS to start algae growth etc. You can get a really good all in one from JBJ for about 350, and it comes with lights that will be great for corals down the road. There is a stand that they make for the tank thats available for 150, although sometimes online stores run sales where they throw it in for free. I'd start FOWLR, until you get the hang of maintaining your water parameters and quality. That will also allow you to experiment with fish that might not be reef safe, since there are a lot that will pick at corals if given the chance. That being said, if you go for putting a tank together from components go with the biggest tank you can fit and afford. Stands and lights will often be more than the tank itself, and a skimmer and good filter is a must. So are powerheads, and good test kits. For a good all in one system, you're probably looking at 700 minimum for the tank, stand, heater, skimmer, test equipment, and sand. You can get around 40 lbs of dry base rock online for anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks, depending how much you want. If you buy 25 lbs of rock from reefrocks.net they will throw in 40lbs of sand, as long as you pay the shipping.

Another important factor is the water that you use to mix your salt. Using RO/DI is the best, because tapwater can bring in unwanted nutrients. I learned that the hard way, it caused massive algae problems. You can usually buy it by the gallon, or there are 75gpd units online for about 80 bucks.

Salt tanks are money pits, there is always something else you can add, but for a basic set up right around 700-1000 is going to be the cost, and that will get you everything you need to start and minimize further upgrades down the road.

Here is a couple of links for rock, and tanks etc.

Aquarium Rock for Saltwater and Reef Aquariums

http://www.reefrocks.net/index.php?...&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Nano Cube Reef Aquarium Kits: JBJ Lighting Nano Cube 28-gallon CF-QUAD

Nano Cube HQI Aquarium Stands: JBJ Lighting 28 gallon Nano Cube Cabinet Stand

Aquarium Protein Skimmer: AquaticLife Internal Mini Skimmer 115

 

+ 1,000

They have CraingsList where you are? You didn't say where you where.

There are FREE things on there, inexspensive things, etc.

Get to know your local reefers, trade, and/or get things for free, or really cheap!

The system in my DT vid, (bought off CL), some of the fish and coral (CL, local reefkeeper sites) etc, and all the DIY stuff, livestock, corals, and the 125 mixed reef, has certainly cost me about $1200 thus far!

You can do a smaller scale for much cheaper. It would be a little more work that going ot a LFS and 'buying' it all though.

Go for it

 

If I could do it again... watch Craigslist and your local reef hobby forum for someone tearing down their system. When I started I bought everything brand new. Spent approx 1k and did not get anything beyond stock lighting. All this on a 55 gallon with no built in overflows, didn't even know they existed at that time! Watch CraigsList for a month and see what you can get with your budget. Also, as someone else suggested do your research first! Nothing worse than buying that 35g nano with a pretty picture of a Regal tang on the front only to find out that you need a tank 3 times that size to keep one.

 

+1 on the used stuff and finding local reefers. Additionally I'd say find a good lfs, a great place to learn and also possibly a second job and discount stuff.

I've a 40gal tank with lots of coral hard and soft, and have a lot of ,money into it, mostly the livestock.

I think $300 is the least you'll get away with starting out, and that is slowly saving and upgrading as you go. That's all used.

 

My initial start up was 200 dollars. It was a 55 gallon saltwater "kit" from petco. By saltwater kit, they meant there was enoug salt in the kit to mix 55 gallons of saltwater. About 2 months later, I ditched everything but the tank and spent about 1000 bucks doing it right.

 

I was just like you when I started.....then the tank crashed so I took a lot of time and did it right for the second go. Here's a little breakdown of what it cost me. (I do a lot of DIY, it helps)

-Tank: 40 breeder from petco, managers discount = 75$
-King starboard from ebay 1/2" black (barebottom) = 63$ shipped
-3 skimmers (HOB best choice aquarium products from ebay) used for parts to make my own = 130$
- Dry rock 50 lbs (marco reefs) = 90$
- Glass for top (local glass store 1/4" polished edges) = 40$
- HOB aqueon 55 for macro algae type filter (petco managers discount) = 50$
- Marineland heater - Free because stealth fried my tank, DO NOT BUY THIS BRAND. Shop around 250 - 300watt will do well... 40$?
- Pump for skimmer (mag drive 7, ebay) = 110$
- Venturi for mag drive 7 (ebay) (kent marine) = 20$
- Plumbing supplies = 50$, leave room in your budget for this it's not free
- Hydor koralia 3 (ebay) - 50$
- Light; DIY LED 6 10 watt 19k and 3 10 watt 452nm blue with 3 ballasts and all wires/soldier/heatsinks and aluminum for structure = 300$
- power strip = 30$
- Timers = 50$
- Light for HOB filter to grow cheato (15 led strip at 6500k, ebay, DIY) = 60$
- TIME SPENT = 3 months, a little every day.
- Forgot salt = 50$
I use bathtub water, always have. Tried distilled straight from the store when setting this up this time and got green water for 1 month during cycle. Back to bathtub water and all is good. = Free
- monthly electric bill with 55 gal and 40 breeder running = 65$ month

Without the electric bill this comes to... 1,158$ with no stock.

I have never done the math before and now I feel sick. And I just spent 200$ on Sunday on zoanthids and now when I look at my tank I want more. Then I read about violet LEDS and now I want those too (another 150$ to the lights). Good luck. Do what pleases you, that is the pursuit of happiness.

 

The bathtub water will be fine until your live rock fills with phosphates and starts wicking in the form of algae. Just sayin.