DIY live rock.

[nfored]

So for a year I have been slowly collecting stuff for a 500 Gallon 48"tall tank. It was always meant for fresh just because I knew I couldn't afford 2k in rock. If I had to do that it would continue to site for years.

The more I think about it, the more it makes me sick thinking about doing fresh water. I just can't think of any way that the 48" tall tank wouldn't be wasted on fresh. Only a handful of fish would hang out at the top and they would need a tank wider than 30"

So I see sites that show how to make live rock, and I can only assume that this DIY live is only good for maybe placing coral on, and not of any use as filtration. Is there any more conventional form of filtration I can use that wont cost $2000.00. Like maybe a large Fluidized Sand Filter, and Larger Skimmer.

I would have to start out with just fish at first because of the lighting, I will have to buy lighting little by little.

 

[Rploaded]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but setting up a large saltwater tank requires big investments in equipment. Things like skimmers, lighting, pumps, cables, sensors, sumps, plumbing, electrical requirements, backup power, etc..... Oops almost forgot, rocks too....
Heck just the energy efficient circulation pumps will be $1000.00+.

Plan on spending $50 per gallon of system volume and your tank will be properly started.... Notice I used the word started, you have no livestock yet. I'm in the middle of a large tank build and am fully aware of the real costs. If money is an issue for you; walk away now.... In fact run.....

The monthly ongoing costs will also be in the hundreds.....

Trying to go cheap will cost you a fortune down the road, and more importantly the lives of your tanks inhabitants!

To answer your question: filtration is about surface area. The more you have the better. DIY, store bought, from the moon it's all about maximizing surface area...

My .02

 

[nfored]

I suppose your right I knew it when I bought it which is why I always thought fresh. I just got bit by the marine bug with this 55g. Oh well it was a nice dream.

 

[mjhall85]

If money is an issue then buy your equipment over the next year or so and then setup it don't have to have it all up and running right away. just buy equipment then once you have it all set it up and you can get liverock for pretty cheap from a local reefer or just go with dry rock but the cost of a large tank is costly. I am buying equipment for my 670gallon build as we speak and it will be a nice chunk of change once it's all done.

 

[dzfish17]

Its possible to build a FOWLR tank on a budget. I have a 600g tank that I initially set up FW because the economy went bad right after I bought the tank. I just turned it SW last year and it didnt cost that much. For the rock I went with dry rock (600 lbs.) from marcorocks. I use a reeflo dart on a closed loop and also use 2 canister filters for added flow and chemical filtration if needed. Lighting is done by a couple of T5s. My biggest expense was the skimmer... reef octopus xp5000 that was around 750.00.

 

[Rploaded]

I suppose your right I knew it when I bought it which is why I always thought fresh. I just got bit by the marine bug with this 55g. Oh well it was a nice dream.

I was not trying to rain on your parade. I wanted you to take a step back and really evaluate the "real costs". Get a piece of paper go to your favorite aquatic supply site and write down the items you would like. Try to think of everything, then add it up. You can join a local reef club and get deals on used stuff etc...... I just read your post and thought if your worried about the cost of live rock, the other real costs will be unmanageable.....

Also maybe you just accumulate stuff for a few years..... Or setup a tank savings fund....

You will get there, but be realistic with yourself. When your ready hopefully you can go all out so it will be the tank you've always dreamed of.....