Looking for advise and guidance for a large reef tank in the future.

[Maxi]

I have a very good background when it comes to any type of aquaria except planted tanks.
When i was 12 I started breeding fish, and selling them to hobbyists (african cichlids). That was my job, tax free lol.
Now, in college my major is environmental economics. I have a 4g pico tank to go along with my college ride, and it is thriving.
However, when I graduate and get a good career blah blah blah etc. etc. you know the drill... I would like to set up a large reef tank.

What I am particularly interested in setting up is a really big cube. I have seen one before, made out of starphire glass, and it was just enormous. I fell in love with that thing, 3 years ago. It was up for a raffle, but I did not win. It was priced at 2,000 bucks with stand, drilled, sump, all together. It was at a LFS so they had it at an excellent deal in my opinion.
Enough chit chat, I just want to know because my excitement cannot go away, where can I get a tank like this? I'm looking for something of about 175~350 gallons. What light fixture? Of course this would be a SPS dominated tank. I understand all things about flow, and cycling, etc.
I'm just looking for an estimate of what my expenses will be, and what sources I should be looking for.

-Maxi :fish2:

 

[Maxi]

Expenses as in getting a tank of that size, with stand, light fixture including bulbs, and the quantity of vortechs.
Live rock is a different story, I will be using the man made stuff, just because I think everything in the ocean should stay in the ocean if we can already replicate it in our world.

 

[Maxi]

Anyone want to chime in?

 

[C Dog]

Criagslist. There was a 250 cube tank in the keys for $250

 

[peppie]

CL is a good place to shop.
Classified here at RC is another good source.
To many variables to give you a price, Huge difference in price of a 175 compared to a 350
Could be as low as $3000 and way more than $12000
You really need to decide the size, new or used, DIY or prof.

Not sure I understand your statement about what is in the ocean should stay in the ocean. What are you going to put in your tank??

 

[E Rosewater]

Look into caribsea rock or reef saver rock from bulk reef supply, it's harvested on land, but it's still nice porus rock.

 

[biecacka]

What kind of paintball gun is that your shooting??
I have an invert mini and love it
Corey

 

[Cac986]

To have a full blown sps tank in the 300 g range does get expensive even if you do alot of DIY. I have a mixed reef mostly SPS in a 300 g custum made lee Mar aquarium stand and canopy. You can easly spend around $5000 new for just the tank/stand/canopy. Then lights, sand, live rock, protein skimmer etc.... It can ad up to around $15,000 or more. However this is if you go new. I first started off with a 240 from craigslist and used equipment that I collected in the past and it didn't break the bank. But, just remember that the biger you go the more salt you will use, more RO DI water, and other supplies not to mention electricity.

 

[Maxi]

Let be me more clear, Cac986 hit the spot. I was looking for a range of what I'm looking at spending.
What I mean about what is in the ocean should stay in the ocean, is that there are plenty of corals that we already propagate that we no longer need to keep taking them out of the ocean. There are tank bred fish, man made rocks, etc. Meaning that to my strongest power I will try to find everything I can that is not taken out of the ocean but rather grown from another tank.
A 15,000 range seems just what I was expecting. Again this is for the future. I have never thought of looking at craigslist for a tank, thanks for the idea.