Small cheap anemones?

[gveng]

What about minus the tank, heater, filter, and lighting which I already have?
I can get live rock rubble from the lfs for about 3 bucks a pound, salt for 10 gallons for 5 bucks, and sand meant for 15 gallons for 10 bucks.
If coral needs too much care that's fine if I can't get it, but at the store they're selling a ton of frags for 4.99 and larger ones for 8.99.

So really, all I need to buy is rock, sand, salt, skimmer, and livestock.
Rock- about $10 altogether
Sand- $10
Marine salt- $5
Skimmer- $15

What lighting do you already have? If it's from a freshwater set up it might not be enough.

I completely understand where your coming from, but you have to understand the limitations of your age and budget. This hobby gets expensive quick, so start small.

If you only have 10-20 gallon tank available, then start a live rock and fish tank only tank. Forget corals for the time being, buy 1-2 hardy fish like damsels (after you cycle the tank) buy some hermit crabs and keep on top of maintenance (water changes, cleaning the glass, etc...) and if you still enjoy the hobby after a year, start upgrading equipment during birthdays and holidays.

 

[mbingha]

I can almost guarantee you, unless it was purchased with coral specifically in mind, it won't be sufficient. Expect to pay a minimum of $100 for the light. Also no skimmer that can be bought for $15 will be worth even using. It'll be a glorified air stone

 

[Fishmommy]

bet you can get a free majano to play around with. I have a nice looking one in a 5g and it's doing awesome.

 

[OrionN]

What about minus the tank, heater, filter, and lighting which I already have?
I can get live rock rubble from the lfs for about 3 bucks a pound, salt for 10 gallons for 5 bucks, and sand meant for 15 gallons for 10 bucks.
If coral needs too much care that's fine if I can't get it, but at the store they're selling a ton of frags for 4.99 and larger ones for 8.99.

So really, all I need to buy is rock, sand, salt, skimmer, and livestock.
Rock- about $10 altogether
Sand- $10
Marine salt- $5
Skimmer- $15

Rock- about $10 Maybe 50.00
Sand- $10 Maybe 25
Marine salt- $5 200 gal mix 60
Skimmer- $15 Maybe 150

Your estimate is off by a factor of 10

 

[Noah 123]

Rock- about $10 Maybe 50.00
Sand- $10 Maybe 25
Marine salt- $5 200 gal mix 60
Skimmer- $15 Maybe 150

Your estimate is off by a factor of 10

I was not estimating. Those are THE EXACT prices at the store.
Why would I need 200 gallons worth of salt?!
The rock is rock rubble so it's much less expensive.
The sand I was off by a little it's $15
Why would the skimmer be 150 bucks for a ten gallon?????!!!!!

If anything your estimate is off by a factor of ten.

 

[mbingha]

I was not estimating. Those are THE EXACT prices at the store.
Why would I need 200 gallons worth of salt?!
The rock is rock rubble so it's much less expensive.
The sand I was off by a little it's $15
Why would the skimmer be 150 bucks for a ten gallon?????!!!!!

If anything your estimate is off by a factor of ten.

Take it from those of us that have been doing this a LONG time, your off by a factor of ten. A $15 skimmer Will. Not. Work. You can not setup a tank for less than a couple hundred bucks. How about the cost of a refractometer, test kits, heater and pump for mixing water? You are barely touching the surface.

 

[Noah 123]

What lighting do you already have? If it's from a freshwater set up it might not be enough.

I completely understand where your coming from, but you have to understand the limitations of your age and budget. This hobby gets expensive quick, so start small.

If you only have 10-20 gallon tank available, then start a live rock and fish tank only tank. Forget corals for the time being, buy 1-2 hardy fish like damsels (after you cycle the tank) buy some hermit crabs and keep on top of maintenance (water changes, cleaning the glass, etc...) and if you still enjoy the hobby after a year, start upgrading equipment during birthdays and holidays.

Currently I've got fluorescent lighting, but can get LEDs or something else if needed.

All I want is a mini tank, so I'll probably never upgrade even if I can. I'll probably get a yellowtail damsel and a yellow clown goby for fish. For inverts, what about 5 blue leg hermits, 3 red leg hermits, and an emerald crab? Oh, and a micro brittle star.

This has gone way off topic from anemones and clownfish...

 

[Noah 123]

Take it from those of us that have been doing this a LONG time, your off by a factor of ten. A $15 skimmer Will. Not. Work. You can not setup a tank for less than a couple hundred bucks. How about the cost of a refractometer, test kits, heater and pump for mixing water? You are barely touching the surface.

Forget this. I'm not even gonna do it.

 

[salty160]

If u just wanna set up a small fowlr u can do it pretty cheaply ,but once u get into inverts/corals its a different story.
-10 gallon tank: 10 bucks petco's dollar per gallon sale
-Api test kits: ammonia, nitirite and nitrates at least. Around 20 bucks Doctors foster and smith
-Instant ocean 50 gallon worth of salt 25 bucks
-hydrometer 10 bucks. Refractometer is better but for your purposes u should be alright
-heater: 30 bucks
-filtration: you could get away with normal hob sponge filters, carbon and water changes.
-skimmer and light fix would be nice but not necessary.

You also can probobly get away with conditioned tap for just a fowlr.

stocking: an occeralris or 2 would work. If all works out well you could buy a cheap light fix and grow hardy soft corals that would host the clowns

 

[SeedlessOne]

If u just wanna set up a small fowlr u can do it pretty cheaply ,but once u get into inverts/corals its a different story.
-10 gallon tank: 10 bucks petco's dollar per gallon sale
-Api test kits: ammonia, nitirite and nitrates at least. Around 20 bucks Doctors foster and smith
-Instant ocean 50 gallon worth of salt 25 bucks
-hydrometer 10 bucks. Refractometer is better but for your purposes u should be alright
-heater: 30 bucks
-filtration: you could get away with normal hob sponge filters, carbon and water changes.
-skimmer and light fix would be nice but not necessary.

You also can probobly get away with conditioned tap for just a fowlr.

stocking: an occeralris or 2 would work. If all works out well you could buy a cheap light fix and grow hardy soft corals that would host the clowns

Two clownfish in a 10g. Great advice.

 

[Noah 123]

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude but I'm just not going to do it. All I want is a few hermit crabs, and there is no way I'm spending 1000 bucks on all this crap I don't want! So save your time and don't post on this thread anymore

 

[ajt12]

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude but I'm just not going to do it. All I want is a few hermit crabs, and there is no way I'm spending 1000 bucks on all this crap I don't want! So save your time and don't post on this thread anymore

You may want to start a new thread about this in the nano section. I have seen some cool stuff done on a shoestring budget posted there.

 

[salty160]

Two clownfish in a 10g. Great advice.

I don't see anything wrong with putting 2 clowns (smaller species like percs, occerlaris in a 10 gallon by themselves. I've seen breeders do this with great results, and have done this myself in the past with spawning clownfish.


Anyways this thread is over.

 

[mbingha]

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude but I'm just not going to do it. All I want is a few hermit crabs, and there is no way I'm spending 1000 bucks on all this crap I don't want! So save your time and don't post on this thread anymore

You think anyone wants to spend money on anything other than the livestock? No, we do because it's required to keep the livestock LIVE. Everyone in here was trying to be helpful, and you are coming off as entitled...

 

[OrionN]

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude but I'm just not going to do it. All I want is a few hermit crabs, and there is no way I'm spending 1000 bucks on all this crap I don't want! So save your time and don't post on this thread anymore

If all you want is crabs then noe of these are needed. Tank sand rock and hang on back filter with heater. Any light will do.

Consider a Mantis shrimp or a reef Lobster tank. They are very neat and beautiful, interesting animal. In this type of tank a few Zoa will do fine. Fish is out of the question if you keep lobster or Mantis shrimp.
Even a pair of cleaners or Coral banded shrimp would do great in a small tank, and these invertebrates are very hardy.

200 gal of salt would last a long time for 10-20 gal tank but you will use them all. It is a whole lot cheaper to buy 200 g worth then 10 gal here and there.

My absolute last post on this thread

 

[Noah 123]

You think anyone wants to spend money on anything other than the livestock? No, we do because it's required to keep the livestock LIVE. Everyone in here was trying to be helpful, and you are coming off as entitled...

I know everyone is trying to be helpful. But some, like you, are telling me way more than I need. Like OrionN said, for hermit crabs I don't need a skimmer, powerhead, or anything else like that. I asked about fish and anemones and coral and other things, but I was asking if I could get them. Not that I have to or really want to have them.

 

[mbingha]

I know everyone is trying to be helpful. But some, like you, are telling me way more than I need. Like OrionN said, for hermit crabs I don't need a skimmer, powerhead, or anything else like that. I asked about fish and anemones and coral and other things, but I was asking if I could get them. Not that I have to or really want to have them.

I was telling you the minimum that you would need to keep anything other than crabs. Which is exactly what this thread was about. I don't take the hobby lightly, our hobby is already threatened by lobbyist claiming over fishing, and they have a point. Anyone in this hobby has the responsibility to take the best care they can of the animals in their tank that way this hobby can continue. Otherwise people say "oh it was just a fish, if it dies no big deal, I'll just replace it".

End of rant. And the best of luck to you.

 

[Dapg8gt]

Just find a used 12-14g nano cube all in one and call it a day ($50-$100).. That along with test kits you can keep any softie/lps you want size restricted obviously ..
Totally agree that you came off a little rude/know it all and entitled once you realized people weren't telling you what you wanted to hear. But you recovered from it better and more mature than most grown ups on here so good job =) ..

There is nothing cheap about this hobby.. The tank and what you have the day you set it up is just the beginning.. It's pricey any way you look at it.. What you think is going to happen won't and then the money gets spent.

 

[G_Sanab922]

P.P.S.
When I'm finished high school I'll be 18. Then I'll probably go to university for 5 or 6 years (that makes me 24). I'll stay at home for a few months, then move out and get my own house!:dance:

If only it was this easy lol

Good to see you have goals. that's good for your age. Things in life will change though. When you see money going in and going out you will realize it's not as easy as you think.
Do good in school and don't get into debt. Then you can have a 500 gal tank

 

[RobH]

Forget this. I'm not even gonna do it.

Noah, you should do it (if you get permission of course) and it's awesome that you are showing this much interest in keeping a saltwater tank, I wish I had at a younger age!

However, you are getting great advice and the advice is just trying to steer you in the direction of reality, and taking it slow and doing it right the first time. It may not be what you want to hear, but the people who are helping you want you to succeed and also don't want the animals in your care to suffer.

Best of luck to you, I hope it works out!