Things you will need when starting a saltwater aquarium.

dbacksrat · 07-27-2004, 05:02 PM

just to show those of you that are considering setting up a sw tank how much it costs: $300 for 29 gallon tank, stand, and canopy w/ 20 watt light at petco
$346 for equipment ordered online (food, filters, etc--i could have gone cheaper, but i wanted my tank to be successful)
------------------
as of now i am saving $150 for live rock as we speak
i hope to ask for a compact flourescent retrofit kit (2x 55 watt) for christmas ($65, not including the bulbs)

this is an extremely expensive hobby--i havent even considered a Q tank yet

i got the tank and stand for my bday in march and it still doesnt have fish it yet--hopefully they will be added around christmas

be sure to research a lot--TFH Publications has some good books out (dont know the names though)

1979camaro · 07-27-2004, 05:53 PM

of course...im assuming the tank was only 50 and you an do without the light that dbacksrat got cause you are likely to not use ikt anyway...canopy is obviously optional...and a cheaper stand is available...i think you could get the tank/stand for about 125 if you dont want it all pretty like...but yes, still not a cheap aspect of fish keeping

S.Reef · 07-28-2004, 12:53 PM

Yeah...I'm still in high school and could have a really cool car if I didnt spend all the money on fish tanks.

dbacksrat · 08-08-2004, 10:33 PM

same here s. reef--in order to complete my tank i'm going to have to get a job--i guess its time to enter the real world

sorry to be off topic though--before you buy fish, be careful: some stores have certain policies with their saltwater fish
places such as petco have no guarantee that sw fish you buy will live, but some places online have a 10 day guarantee for most sw livestock

fishdude07 · 08-08-2004, 10:59 PM

all i have to say is...great thread!

TurbineSurgeon · 08-08-2004, 11:43 PM

A couple of things I would like to add:

Saltwater tanks are somewhat less forgiving than their freshwater counterparts, not to mention that instead of losing a $2 tetra, you could be losing a $50 coral or fish. Research is essential here, and I strongly feel that there is just too much that needs to be understood with saltwater to be able to get it in little bits and pieces on the internet. I think a good book such as those mentioned above should be on the mandatory list, even before the tank itself.

wayne · 08-09-2004, 08:13 AM

Instead of losing a single fish its pretty easy to take down the whole tank, especially if its small.
You can do saltwter for less money than this, but the cheaper it is the more understanding you need of whats going on.
Cheap, easy, successful - pick 2 of these 3

S.Reef · 08-09-2004, 09:22 PM

LOL...thats the way it goes.

Lotus · 08-09-2004, 10:43 PM

The way I figured it, getting a couple of the most recommended books was kind of an investment in the tank. It's easy to spend $40 on the wrong equipment or fish if you don't know or understand what you're doing. Having a book to help you through it will probably save a lot of money (as well as some of the oceans' treasures) in the long run.

FiSh15 · 09-07-2004, 05:35 AM

i was thinking about turning my 29 gallon planted tank into a sw tank. i pretty much have most of the equipment except a protein skimmer and all the other sw stuffs. i was just wondering what are the recomended readings for ph, etc....

07-27-2004, 05:02 PM	#11
dbacksrat Super Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 1,865	just to show those of you that are considering setting up a sw tank how much it costs: $300 for 29 gallon tank, stand, and canopy w/ 20 watt light at petco $346 for equipment ordered online (food, filters, etc--i could have gone cheaper, but i wanted my tank to be successful) ------------------ as of now i am saving $150 for live rock as we speak i hope to ask for a compact flourescent retrofit kit (2x 55 watt) for christmas ($65, not including the bulbs) this is an extremely expensive hobby--i havent even considered a Q tank yet i got the tank and stand for my bday in march and it still doesnt have fish it yet--hopefully they will be added around christmas be sure to research a lot--TFH Publications has some good books out (dont know the names though) __________________ -Matt

07-27-2004, 05:53 PM	#12
1979camaro Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 5,862	of course...im assuming the tank was only 50 and you an do without the light that dbacksrat got cause you are likely to not use ikt anyway...canopy is obviously optional...and a cheaper stand is available...i think you could get the tank/stand for about 125 if you dont want it all pretty like...but yes, still not a cheap aspect of fish keeping __________________ "Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. " - Thomas Jefferson "In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That's all." - Bankei A Website Dedicated To My 90g Reef!

07-28-2004, 12:53 PM	#13
S.Reef Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,829	Yeah...I'm still in high school and could have a really cool car if I didnt spend all the money on fish tanks. __________________ Sam Reef 46 gallon Bowfront-Salt 280 gallon in the works

08-08-2004, 10:33 PM	#14
dbacksrat Super Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 1,865	same here s. reef--in order to complete my tank i'm going to have to get a job--i guess its time to enter the real world sorry to be off topic though--before you buy fish, be careful: some stores have certain policies with their saltwater fish places such as petco have no guarantee that sw fish you buy will live, but some places online have a 10 day guarantee for most sw livestock __________________ -Matt

08-08-2004, 10:59 PM	#15
fishdude07 Super Fish Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,445	all i have to say is...great thread! __________________ My Fish Website (Last updated on 2/11/05) My Fish Gallery 55 Gallon Tank -10" Tiger Oscar -2 Common Plecos I'm proud to be an American. Why? Because in Soviet Russia, road forks YOU!

08-08-2004, 11:43 PM	#16
TurbineSurgeon Super Fish Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,227	A couple of things I would like to add: Saltwater tanks are somewhat less forgiving than their freshwater counterparts, not to mention that instead of losing a $2 tetra, you could be losing a $50 coral or fish. Research is essential here, and I strongly feel that there is just too much that needs to be understood with saltwater to be able to get it in little bits and pieces on the internet. I think a good book such as those mentioned above should be on the mandatory list, even before the tank itself. __________________ I remember when sex was safe and flying was dangerous In this great pond we call life, it is important to remember how big a fish you are

08-09-2004, 08:13 AM	#17
wayne Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,077	Instead of losing a single fish its pretty easy to take down the whole tank, especially if its small. You can do saltwter for less money than this, but the cheaper it is the more understanding you need of whats going on. Cheap, easy, successful - pick 2 of these 3

08-09-2004, 09:22 PM	#18
S.Reef Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,829	LOL...thats the way it goes. __________________ Sam Reef 46 gallon Bowfront-Salt 280 gallon in the works

08-09-2004, 10:43 PM	#19
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	The way I figured it, getting a couple of the most recommended books was kind of an investment in the tank. It's easy to spend $40 on the wrong equipment or fish if you don't know or understand what you're doing. Having a book to help you through it will probably save a lot of money (as well as some of the oceans' treasures) in the long run. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

09-07-2004, 05:35 AM	#20
FiSh15 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: guam Posts: 40	i was thinking about turning my 29 gallon planted tank into a sw tank. i pretty much have most of the equipment except a protein skimmer and all the other sw stuffs. i was just wondering what are the recomended readings for ph, etc....