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turn-key aquariums and the new hobbyist
- Thread starter CiXeL
- Start date
CiXeL":12xeyjlc said:they have 60 gallon tanks at Mermaids by my house for $30. pine stand for $100. thats what ive been using my reef tank with for 3 years.
What dimensions is the 60? That's kind of an odd size--is it squarish or more like a taller 55? I've got a 130 that's same footprint as a 125, just a hair taller.
peej: oh nothing. i just think that all the equipment should be alot less expensive and that we're being unnecessarily gouged in alot of things.
sharkky: 48 long x 15 wide x 18 tall
i want to upgrade to a 120 gal at some point.
i didnt think it was an odd size. maybe odd for a marine aquarium, of course most hobbyists tanks ive seen are 100g+. i must say though theyre very very popular among freshwater aquarists and also in my other hobby carnivorous plants as terrariums for large tropical pitcher plants (nepenthes)
sharkky: 48 long x 15 wide x 18 tall
i want to upgrade to a 120 gal at some point.
i didnt think it was an odd size. maybe odd for a marine aquarium, of course most hobbyists tanks ive seen are 100g+. i must say though theyre very very popular among freshwater aquarists and also in my other hobby carnivorous plants as terrariums for large tropical pitcher plants (nepenthes)
"60 R 48x15x18"
Looks like it's a hair taller and deeper than a 55 L. I used to have a custom 30 with the dimensions of a 55L, except with the top cut off. Imagine a 12" by 12" square 4' long. Nice and shallow for the corals.
CiXeL, (sp?)
A lot of these systems already exist. TruVu makes a design called the Aquasystem truvuaquariums.com
that comes with sponge filter, wet dry compartment, and a return pump. Then they also sell lights and there's space for a skimmer and heater. JBJ makes a 12 gallon with everything included (except a heater) to keep soft corals for as low as $100. I'm sure lots of other companies do similar things. It's everything you need, just add water, salt, and live rock....(and yank out the bioballs). I'm working off memory here, but the whole 40 gallon system including lights (65W 50/50 PC) and heater is less than 300 wholesale.
Looks like it's a hair taller and deeper than a 55 L. I used to have a custom 30 with the dimensions of a 55L, except with the top cut off. Imagine a 12" by 12" square 4' long. Nice and shallow for the corals.
CiXeL, (sp?)
A lot of these systems already exist. TruVu makes a design called the Aquasystem truvuaquariums.com
that comes with sponge filter, wet dry compartment, and a return pump. Then they also sell lights and there's space for a skimmer and heater. JBJ makes a 12 gallon with everything included (except a heater) to keep soft corals for as low as $100. I'm sure lots of other companies do similar things. It's everything you need, just add water, salt, and live rock....(and yank out the bioballs). I'm working off memory here, but the whole 40 gallon system including lights (65W 50/50 PC) and heater is less than 300 wholesale.
This type of thing has been done for freshwater. They are designed to suck in the "oh that's pretty, I'll take it" type of consumer who isn't willing to put effort into what is inherintly a complex hobby. Predictably, this is also the type of consumer who moves from one hobby to the next very quickly, because he or she can't find the one that is right for them (ie. "oh, I stopped doing that, it was too hard/expensive/time-consuming"). Owning a great reef is like owning a great car. To keep it great, you have to make an investment of time and/or money.
Teevee and Carpentersreef are seeing the bigger picture, CiXeL, why is captive raised life any less valuable than wild caught? If the clownfish was capable of expressing an opinion, I'd think that the captive raised one would have to question your logic.
Teevee beat me to the post - ready-made setups offer no incentive for the "hobbyist" (cough) to learn or do anything for himself.
As for the glut of used systems out there, going dirt cheap - there are plenty of them out there from people who had more money than common sense, who sunk hundreds and thousands into it, only to get bored with it, or have a job transfer or divorce or whatever.
You want a cheap system? They are out there. Just look at your local newspaper's classified section.
If you don't want to see Nature raped - support LFS and other industry entities that promote net-caught fish instead of cyanide caught. Educate yourself and others about this issue. Know where your specimens come from. Sometimes "cheap" is not the only concern.
Jenn
Teevee beat me to the post - ready-made setups offer no incentive for the "hobbyist" (cough) to learn or do anything for himself.
As for the glut of used systems out there, going dirt cheap - there are plenty of them out there from people who had more money than common sense, who sunk hundreds and thousands into it, only to get bored with it, or have a job transfer or divorce or whatever.
You want a cheap system? They are out there. Just look at your local newspaper's classified section.
If you don't want to see Nature raped - support LFS and other industry entities that promote net-caught fish instead of cyanide caught. Educate yourself and others about this issue. Know where your specimens come from. Sometimes "cheap" is not the only concern.
Jenn
clownfish dont have opinions. i am not an animal activist. corals = plants. they are not people, they are disposable commodities like cattle. captive raised is less harmful to the environment. i dont attempt to personify every animal on earth. sacred cows make the best hamburger. in nature, numbers matter, not the individuals. this is why learning to captive raise everything is very important.
Every so-called ethical LFS i see out there still carry animals and corals that we still have not figured out how to keep alive. those people should be crucified for that. and yes i am highly highly against cyanide caught fish having owned some myself before i knew better.
guys, i just want cheap equipment, not livestock, equipment. simply.
Every so-called ethical LFS i see out there still carry animals and corals that we still have not figured out how to keep alive. those people should be crucified for that. and yes i am highly highly against cyanide caught fish having owned some myself before i knew better.
guys, i just want cheap equipment, not livestock, equipment. simply.
CiXeL":14nstq93 said:clownfish dont have opinions. i am not an animal activist. corals = plants. they are not people, they are disposable commodities like cattle. captive raised is less harmful to the environment. i dont attempt to personify every animal on earth. sacred cows make the best hamburger. in nature, numbers matter, not the individuals. this is why learning to captive raise everything is very important.
Every so-called ethical LFS i see out there still carry animals and corals that we still have not figured out how to keep alive. those people should be crucified for that. and yes i am highly highly against cyanide caught fish having owned some myself before i knew better.
guys, i just want cheap equipment, not livestock, equipment. simply.
Exactly.
That's where you're missing the point. Reefkeeping is not about the equipment.
Mitch
wow..this thread took a very interesting turn. It's expenisive for a reason. And I'm glad it is. I don't mind spending the money. that just means that the people involved with it are going to be right up there with you and have the same desire to keep a bad ass tank.
i love my tank to death and clean it and maintain it a lot. conversely, the freshwater tank that i only paid 30 dollars for at wal mart ...well...its empt now and the fish died. case in point. i thought freshwater would be cool for me and it was cheap and i killed animals (sadly). i think this would be the case for lots of people if you could just buy a tank willy nilly and livestock to go in it.
i love my tank to death and clean it and maintain it a lot. conversely, the freshwater tank that i only paid 30 dollars for at wal mart ...well...its empt now and the fish died. case in point. i thought freshwater would be cool for me and it was cheap and i killed animals (sadly). i think this would be the case for lots of people if you could just buy a tank willy nilly and livestock to go in it.
you're detaching from reality here. you're telling me that you voluntarily want to pay more? thats like telling someone you'll pay them $10 for a cheeseburger just because you want other people to be able to enjoy it.
its a plastic box, it shouldnt cost hundreds of dollars. i eagerly await equipment prices falling. i eagerly await products failing that claim to do something but don't. its a hobby, 14 year olds should be able to afford it.
its a plastic box, it shouldnt cost hundreds of dollars. i eagerly await equipment prices falling. i eagerly await products failing that claim to do something but don't. its a hobby, 14 year olds should be able to afford it.
I am hard working middle class person. and i can afford this hobby. It is called..... Planning........saving........planning......saving...... do you get the idea. I think 99% of reefers can't go impulse buy what they want for their reef. we all have to take the time to do it right....
go ask any of the salty dogs on the board and they will tell you the same....
I think it is a good idea, but i'll design my own reef.... thanks anyway
go ask any of the salty dogs on the board and they will tell you the same....
I think it is a good idea, but i'll design my own reef.... thanks anyway
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