LoGaN Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 what is the smallest size of tank you can have a a small setup of marine fish what things do you need for the setup and how much aproximatly woudl it cost ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 4 foot, $5,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 yep, thats about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Damn.... thats a lot. If I ever go marine, I won't use a small tank. Ill get a bigger one. If you are going to spend heaps of money, don't do it half-assed. Actually it depends on what ya wanna do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 I put it too you, that it would cost less that $5k but over $3k. A friend (Barney for those of you who know him) has a 3ft tank. Successful marine tank with live rock, soft corals and mushrooms. He uses 2x3ft fluros, 1x 150watt halide, backpack hangon skimmer, heater, ehiem caniser filter, asorted powerheads on a wavemaker. Without a sump the tank does have a lot of visible equipment, but he is on a budget, and is good with his routine. He has a yellow tang, cleaner shrimp, clownfish (+ anemones), bi colour blenny + snails and small starfish etc. He uses lots of water changes (20% every fortnight) and tops up about 1L of fresh/kalk every day or 2 from a cerial container on a shelf above the tank. Shows it can be done. His tank is his pride and joy, and even though its small its still captivating and interesting to watch. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Sounds like he's got what I'm aiming for long term, just mine will be a foot longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 agreed pies, but i opted for the top end of the scale coz there are so many little costs that you just dont account for (usually) when setting up, eg: test kits, even those aren't cheap! also depends on whether you go marine or reef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Agreed Pieman Barneys tank is proof in the pudding! How about that tank & gear thts 4 sale in WGTN??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 I don't dissagree, infact I do agree. But to help promote the hobbie for newbies/younger people/tight people it should be pointed out that it can be done cheaper. It may require slightly more time and energy on the keepers behalf, you don't have to go full blown SPS reef and can start small and upgrade over time. The example I was giving above was supposed to be encouraging to people wanting to start. And I belive you can, but you will have to putup with increased maintenance and visible equipment and other inconvienances and disadvantages. HOWEVER if you want a tank to look as nice as some featured on the board (Steve, Alois, Adam, NickS etc) you will need to spend 10k+. Thats $10,000.00 plus, mucho denero. To put it in perspective Alois has spent half of that amount on his current skimmer alone... Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Exactly my point, if It costs a lot, it is bad to go in and get a 3 foot marine, spend 5k on it then Decide to get a 6 foot marine.... might as well save up and go for the 6 foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 jeez scroll down...... same subject different title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minchton Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 To those that are giving realistic costings for marines THANK YOU. As most of you will be aware we have just started a marine tank and we have not spent anything like the high end of the scale, but also we have a long way to go. We have a picturesque tank with some soft corals and no fish.(still to come). we also have enough equipment to run our tank without overloading our workload. Which ever way you go always go for a bigger tank than you think because marines are definately a disease. Dont try to get a full set up yesterday but investigate, talk to other addicts, investigate, talk to other addicts and so on and so on. Look around, there are bargains to be had second hand, be it equipment or stock. There are some real helpers out there so listen to them and again take your time. Rome wasn't built in a day nor will your marine tank be. We have to thank Nick. jetskisteve, chris, barry and pies for putting us on the right road, and for all their help. Another thing to watch for is marine books. Make sure they are currentv as some of the older ones could mislead you. Debby & Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 breakaway, have to totally agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoGaN Posted June 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 whats the difference between marine and reef ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 sorry, should have put it as "fish only" or "reef". meaning whether you keep just fish, or fish, live rock & corals, or many variations in between. often referred to as things like FOWLR (fish only with live rock) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 For my tank, so far, for a FOWLR without a sump, not including the price of the tank I'm up around $1350 for hardware and I don't think there's anything major left that I absolutely need. That's skimmer, liverock(For this we'll call it hardware), a couple powerheads, test kits and a few light tubes. Of course there's heaps more you can spend, that would be nice but I think I've got the minimum now. So, I'd say $1500ish for a 4 ft 220 L FOWLR If you already have the tank and stand. Maybe $3K if you have to include the price of the stand new or have a sump along with all the expensive luxury bits like...I dunno, a tunze osmoregulator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 IRA, you have been patient & lucky most people might not score some of the deals you got, Brian (hamilton) should keep a tally & let us know he too is looking hard for bargains & doing ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 IRA - does that factor in the price of that berlin skimmer too? ) Its the 'extra essentals' that start to cost. $500.00+ RODI anyone? Etc et al. Ohhh and lets not forget the fish... $200.00 yellow tang anyone? $165.00 Hawkfish? or for the even more elite... purple tangs and black tangs... ouch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 As an example, here's my costings: Bought a 4 foot tank, sump, deltec skimmer, fluoro lights, heater, eheim 1060 return pump, about 40kg live rock with various soft corals and about 8 fish/3 shrimps for $1,400 (bought 2nd hand) I estimate this new to be around $4,500. I also aquired a 3 foot tank free which will become my refugium (or new sump, havent decided which yet). I have also bought/budgeted for the following (mostly 2nd hand) stuff too: Hallides $400 Temp controller $200 Chiller $850 Closed Loop $270 More Rock $280 Calc Reactor $600 CO2 System $300 Dosing pump $200 Corals $400 Test kits $100 That totals $5,000 exactly. Ok, so I get a couple of bucks back when I sell the fluoro's but that goes towards a refractometer - a "luxury" item perhaps but something I'd like. Not all the above are needed of course (eg: chiller) but most items I define as "highly necessary", eg: if we have a hot summer, temperature controller plus chiller is going to come in real handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 I refuse to list my costs based on the fact that if I actually saw, in back and white, how much I have actually spent, I suspect I would at first cry, out loud and a lot and then spontaniously explode. $1.5k rock $2k coral $1k fish $1.5k Skimmer $1k Halides $500 T5s $500 RODI $1k tank and stand $1.5k Tunze Streams $1k Return pumps and closed loops Lets stop right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Ah, RO/DI, forgot most people need that...For the moment that's on my don't need list because I'm on tank water. And the Berlin...Well...No doesn't include that, but it was only $120 and that included a pump that would have cost me near that anyway that I still plan to use eventually for a sump or closed loop. Planning on finally getting some fish about beginning of July since I'm going to christchurch, about time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 ira, why would you not need RODI for tank water?? I am on tank water and could not do without DI. The organics load would be very high with all the decaying matter, dead birds, bacteria etc. Do some tests and tell me how high your phostphates are in your tank water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Because for the time being I'd rather live with the extra organics than the extra cost and massive amount of waste water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 di does not waste water. whats another $200 to the budget, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 Another $200 is half a weeks wages, a big chunk of a MH, a couple fish, most of what I'd need for a sump, etc...After I've got a topoff system and some lighting maybe I'll worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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