Setup cost

[s3aL]

Reefing is such a expensive hobby! I thought mod'ing my car was expensive. This reef hobby is just as expensive if not more.

Im starting up a new 75g and look at how much it has already come up to!

75g tank & Stand - $450.00
48" Tek Light: 8-54W T5 w/bulbs w/adjustable legs - $600.00
Deltec MCE600 skimmer - $480.00
Refractometer - $60.00
250w heater - $25.00

I still have to buy ...

100lbs LR - $400.00
50lbs LS - $100.00
Vortech Propeller Pump 300.00?

Then I have to buy livestock?? :eek1:

 

[4MB]

Im almost a week in to my first S/W tank with only a 30 gal. Tank, Stand, Filter, Heater, Powerheads was about $450. Live Sand and Live Rock $350. Lighting was $250. It was a lot of money to scrap up over a couple weeks but I feel in the long run the investment will be worth it.

I just did my first test actually the other day and all the levels show that it might almost be cycled, which is really strange figured it would be longer. But I spent some time researching out the rock and spent a few minutes at the lfs looking over the rock and checking for coraline and nice porous rock.

Biggest thing that has helped is all my researching. I knew what I wanted in the future for the tank, so why cut corners now and then have to go rebuy items later on when I got hooked and needed to upgrade.

 

[aquawolf]

Good post 4MB, that is what I was trying to say earlier.

I started out running PC lighting over my 90 gallon. It was doing okay for some of the softies, but nothing spectacular.

Then I got an awesome deal on some LR from a guy who was moving, $2.00 a pound and it had tons of life including corals all over it. Well, some of the corals were SPS and I didn't want to just let them die, and my wife fell in love with them and didn't want to give them away, so I had to upgrade my lighting. I got another outstanding deal from the selling forums on here, but it was still another $500 chunk all at once.

If I would have done a lot more research before getting started, I would have bought the proper equipment the first time and saved a ton of money.

On a side note, anybody need 2 sets of Custom Sea Life 48" Power Compacts, Berlin Classic Turbo Skimmer, etc. etc. etc.

 

[Emmelemmo]

Don't get discouraged j007. I started out with a regular light strip, 2 HOB aquaclear filters, a $15 heater, and a single 5# LR piece. It can be done for $300 especially if it is fish only. During the first year, I then slowly added a protein skimmer, an RO/DI unit, and then just recently went to a wet dry and PC lights. I many have had to respend about $150 of my original money, but it was better than waiting a year or two to save everything up.

Also do your research, just because it is the most expensive or someone swears so in a forum doesn't mean it is necessarily the best.

If you want to start now, do it and add little by little as you can. You may backtrack a little cost wise but will get it back in enjoyment of your tank now.
I started with 2 clowns and 2 green chromis and they did fine and are still around.

 

[Nano Chris]

I would see if there are any reef clubs in my area and see if anyone is selling their setup, might be cheaper for you.