29 gallon reef (first marine tank)

[ZackGraham]

Wow, I think you guys are coming in pretty low on those price estimates. Here are some real-world numbers from the 30g I'm setting up now:

Tank & Stand: $245
Skimmer (AquaC Remora): $165
Overflow box for skimmer: $30
Drain fitting for skimmer: $15
Lights (Icecap 175w 10k Halide Retrofit): $250
Circulation Powerheads: 4x$15 = $60
CSL 2x36w Actinic Retrofit: $130

So, thats the bare minimum, no hood/canopy, and its ~$900

Yes, I could have gotten cheaper lights but everything else is a fairly good deal, and very high quality, all electronic ballasts, etc.

I could have bought a hood for about $150, but decided to build my own, and its costing about $100, plus my time.

And there's still a ways to go:
- Refractometer (~$70)
- Live Rock & Sand (40 lb each, ~$250)
- Heater ($30)
- Electrical: Timers, Switches, Powerstrips, Extension Cords, etc. ($100+)
- Livestock ($250+)
- Wavemaker ($50-$300 if you go with a full blown controller)
- Auto top-off system ($25 DIY or $50+ for a topoff product)

I think $1500 is fairly conservative for a full-blown stocked system, and reasonable for a very high quality unstocked (except for rock & sand) system. Yes, I'm a perfectionist, but I've learned that getting it right the first time is the true key to success. Mistakes are very hard to correct.

Steve

well....unfortunately, I can't afford to pay $1500 on a basic setup.....what in the heck is a refractometer?

 

[ChrisRD]

well....unfortunately, I can't afford to pay $1500 on a basic setup.....what in the heck is a refractometer?

Zack, you can definitely get going for much less than that. I think the point people are trying to make is that there are some significant costs associated with setting up a reef tank - the tank is the cheap part.

By the time you get a few books (highly recommended as the first step), tank, rock, circulation/filtration equipment, lighting, test kits, etc. it can start adding up. I would highly recommend against trying to go skimmerless for your first reef, and I would also recommend avoiding a very small tank (something like the 29 gallon or larger would be good IMO).

I would also recommend against trying to get the cheapest stuff you can - you'll end up spending more in the end when you upgrade. Get a few books, do some research, plan your setup and do what you can afford to do with decent equipment - that's my recommendation. If there's a local club or an experienced reefer in your area that can be a great resource.

BTW, a refractometer is an optical instrument used to measure the specific gravity (SG) of your tank water. Same idea as a hydrometer only more accurate.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Place stand(70bucks)in area free of direct sunlight. Place tank(40bucks)on stand. Place sand(30 bucks)in tank. Mix and add saltwater water (15-20)using Hydrometer(15-25 bucks). Attach heater(15-35 bucks). Attach Aquaclear power filter(25-35 bucks). Place Thermometer(10 bucks) in tank. Place Normal Flourescent Strip(30-50 bucks) on tank. Place 10 pounds dead lacerock(20 bucks) in tank. Mature tank with 4 Damsels(12-20 bucks). You now have a tank that will support some softies and mushrooms. Change 3 gallons water every week after Nitrogen cycle has completed. Not responsible for errors.LOL I use fish to mature my tanks. Leave me alone about that. Please! LOL. Used a Niger Trigger to cycle my 100 and it worked great. Total cost about 300 bucks usa money. I figure about 10-17 bucks per gallon up to 120 gallon tanks.The higher end includes liverock,skimmer and uses power compact lighting, Enough for some Leathers,Mushrooms,and Zooanthids. Oh Oh.........I
forgot the pump/pumps for the circulation you will need. Ouch!!!! Ok maybe another 30-300 bucks.

 

[ChrisRD]

Zack,

Please check out the following links:
http://www.reefs.org/library/newbieguide.htm
http://www.reefs.org/library/reading/

My suggestion would be to get a good book or two, and do your own research. As mentioned above, finding a local club or individual who has experience with reefkeeping could also be a huge help.

Best of luck with your setup and don't hesitate to post any questions here you may have along the way.

 

[Anonymous]

I tried to do it as cheap as I could but still have good, simple, sturdy equipment, etc ... I am at $1400 so far and I have yet to stock a critter. Down the right gutter, if you click the 'master plan' link you can see a chart of all the equipment I purhcased. So expensive, my wallet is still crying.

http://www.website-x.com/reef/

 

[ZackGraham]

Alright. Thanks for your help. But, I am not going to cycle it with damsels.....I guess I will have to save up a little more

 

[paramediclane]

i have a fully set up and stocked 90 gallon for sale if anyone has room.

 

[ZackGraham]

oh yeah....what kind of filter is best for a reef? What does everyone prefer?

 

[Inno]

Most people tend to go with either a plenum (sump), dsb (tank), or both along with LR and LS. Most tanks will probably incorporate a skimmer as well. There of course, are always refugiums that can work wonders.

 

[Anonymous]

oh yeah....what kind of filter is best for a reef? What does everyone prefer?

I don't think there is a "best filter"..........I use a combination of powerfilter,liverock,2-3 inch sandbed,liverock,and skimmer. Bangbangs Redundant Sysetm.LOL Works for me. The "best" is system that works for you and your style of reefkeeping. I would just stay away from canister filters(can start pumping acidic water in your tank)and UGF because they are easily uncovered by inhabitants.

 

[Anonymous]

Alright. Thanks for your help. But, I am not going to cycle it with damsels.....I guess I will have to save up a little more

How much can you spend?Don't give up! Yeh! Many people attack me for usin fish to cycle my tanks but I have been doin it for 44 years without any problems. I Use methods that I know will work and experiment a little along the way. Thats my style and it has worked for me. I have not crashed a tank in over 28 years.

 

[panmanmatt]

as a simple guideline figure on $30-$50 per gallon before livestock. That will give a pretty close idea of the price. Good luck and don't get discouraged it will all happen with time.

 

[Anonymous]

as a simple guideline figure on $30-$50 per gallon before livestock. That will give a pretty close idea of the price. Good luck and don't get discouraged it will all happen with time.

That is really goin high end and that would discourage me if I was settin up my first Marine Tank....................what are you using that puts your tank at 50 bucks a gallon. Woweeeeeeeeeeeeee! ..........are prices that high in New York?

 

[ZackGraham]

8O Wow! $50x29=$1450!! I certainly cannot afford that! That is way toooo much to pay up front.

 

[ChrisRD]

as a simple guideline figure on $30-$50 per gallon before livestock.

That is really goin high end and that would discourage me if I was settin up my first Marine Tank....................what are you using that puts your tank at 50 bucks a gallon. Woweeeeeeeeeeeeee! ..........are prices that high in New York?

Actually, he's in New Jersey - not New York, and IMO, again, it's not very hard to spend over $1000 setting up any reef tank - even a small one like a 29 gallon. The original poster asked about setting up a reef tank, not a fish-only marine tank. Big price difference IMO...

 

[ChrisRD]

$600? there is a good hood/tank combo at the LFS for $80 and the stand is another $80.. LR would probably cost around $90...get coral frags from people for cheap and a skimmer $140-$170.......is that correct? Also the filter,hydrometer,heater,thermometer...

Zack, if we go with your numbers from your earlier post (which look fine BTW):
Tank w/hood = $80
Stand = $80
Skimmer = $165
Live Rock = $90

and then add some other ballpark numbers:
150 Watt heater = $20
2 Small Powerheads = $40
Aragonite sand = $25
Salt mix (50 gallon size) = $20
Floating hydrometer/thermometer = $20
Electrical cords, timers, etc. = $30
Reef book = $25
Test kits = $30

TOTAL = $625

And this really doesn't include a lighting system that is suitable for many corals (the tank/hood combo is probably just a single normal-output fluorescent lamp). Basically, that budget is for a fish-only with live rock (FOWLR) that you can add better lights to later to upgrade to a reef.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

You can always do it my way

Get the tank 55 gal 275$

Build the stand

add water and salt

add fish

Spend the next 2 years convincing the wife to let you have enough money to get the next big thing for your tank

That is what I did, and the amount of money I spent on the little I have is embarrasing.

However, I have a 20 gal quaranitine tank that I have set up for under 100$ perfectly fine for keeping salt water fish in indefinitly.

It all depends on your eventual goal. There is also no reason to have to plop all the money out front. if I were you, this is what I would do.

Buy tank, stand, cheapo hood, heater, powerhead, hydrometer, salt

Set it up

add sand and liverock

add a fish or two after the tank has fully cycled

get a skimmer later, but have it be the very first thing on your list, and don't waste money on a cheap one.

get good lights later

Remember, the posts above have made it clear that it is impossible to start a full blown reef cheaply, but there is no reason why you can't start slow.


Most of all, have fun at it

Good luck

Bryan

 

[panmanmatt]

Yes i am in new Jersey not New York. The prices i gave were for a reef tank as original was stated in the first post. By far the most expensive piece of equiptment i bought was my lighting. 250w Mh in a SS hood with 32w actinic pc - set me back $550. I know the pc is a little low wattage but it's the highest wattage that will fit into a 20 inch wide hood. Heck tank and stand only cost me $200. So lighting is a very important, and can be an expensive, part of a reef set up.

 

[MLVA123]

Lighting is relatively cheap and so is filtration.

I respectfully disagree. It really depends on what you get. I have asked here on this board (check out this thread) what people would do differently if they could do it over and the response is "don't buy cheap stuff. You only wind up throwing it out and then paying for the nice stuff you should have gotten in the first place."

Just my 2¢

 

[Inno]

Of course it depends on what you get and you should never buy a cheaply made product; however, that does not mean you cannot find a quality product at a relatively cheap price, which is not exactly hard to do

Lighting is relatively cheap and so is filtration.

I respectfully disagree. It really depends on what you get. I have asked here on this board (check out this thread) what people would do differently if they could do it over and the response is "don't buy cheap stuff. You only wind up throwing it out and then paying for the nice stuff you should have gotten in the first place."

Just my 2¢