beginning marine tank :want help

[chimera]

what did you think i meant? that the k was a typo?!!!

yeah, you can do cheaper if you read read read and understand the theory behind the water chemistry etc and what you need to do outside good filtration to keep your water stable (good base of live rock, more than regular water changes etc) a decent protein skimmer and halide lighting are pretty important and are probably the two biggest expenses for the tank. you can get away with less but means higher maintenance typically.

[Pies]

How much eh? There are people on here who were confident the could setup for less than 1k (thats $1,000.00). Have a chat with them (Ira springs to mind) about what and how things worked out in reality.

I suspect 4k is a little on the shy side, but there are so many things to consider.

Once they are up and running there is electricity, bulb replacement, supliments and live stock to consider. Notice I didn't mention feeding, it costs so little its hardly worth mentioning.

I suspect its like expensive European cars, they don't put the prices of them in the windows, because if you have to ask...

Pie

[Brianemone]

if you have to ask you dont want one enough

[Ira]

How much eh? There are people on here who were confident the could setup for less than 1k (thats $1,000.00). Have a chat with them (Ira springs to mind) about what and how things worked out in reality.

I still stand by the $1000(ish) for what I was aiming for at the time, a basic FOWLR and given I had the tank, stand, etc.

It only stayed a fowlr for 9 months, though.

[livebearer_breeder]

reptimax- Talk to Misnoma about how much hes spent, and what he's setup.

Shae

[misnoma]

$4000

He's not wrong

Okay....

Skimmer (Deltec MCE600 second hand) $650

Salt (25kg Red Sea) $130

Pumps (Streams - TS24 kit) $1200

Rock (live rock) $450

Sand (coral sand from jansens) $50

Refractometer $100

Testkits (salifert pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, calcium, phosphate) $180

Rowaphos $50

Kalk $40

Tank+Stand $1400 (aqua one R2 - 150 - 5' 100Gal tank)

Lighting $900 (2x250W mH pendants, still need to buy the 2nd one)

Total: $5150

Given you could get a tank+stand for cheaper, say $500, you're looking at around $4250 - nice estimate

Now.. that's not including any livestock, I tend to leave that out of "setup" costs, since you can save for that whilst you watch your tank cycle/mature etc.

I started with a couple of Seios ($240), and decided they just didn't flow enough for what I wanted (there were lots of dead spots etc), so I got the streams, knowing they'll handle a larger tank in future etc. For the record, the Seios were silent, started every time and never gave me any issues

[wasp]

That looks pretty fair to me. There could be a few bucks shaved off here and there for example someone may skip for example the rowaphos, although then they will not have the water quality.

I think that post should be used as "standard issue" to people who enquire about start up cost. It gives a good ball park figure people may be able to make adjustments from there, eg, if they are going sandless, or whatever.

[HelifaxNZ]

Have a look in private trade. There is someone selling theirs on Trademe for start bid of $750. That will get you going quickly.

[Ira]

For the record, the Seios were silent, started every time and never gave me any issues

And still is, despite me realizing saturday the "new" one had been set on low.

[raeh1]

My tank has cost (excluding stock)

$2,250

Acardia 3000 series (1* 150 watt metal halide and twin blues) +$456.50 (trade me 6 months old)

Deltec MCE600 new $700 (via the net)

Surface skimmer $20 (trade me)

Seio M1100, and M820 $100 & $85 (via mate and net)

Heater $40 (local pet store)

Tank $140 (local pet store)

Stand $200 (via builder mates, mate)

Safety cut out boards $30 (dick smith)

Coral sand $50 (local pet store)

Coral rock $200 (via mate and local pet store)

Test kits & other etc.. $208.50 (via pet stores) barrels, glass cleaners

Fans $20 (the warehouse)

So its possible for under 2,500. as I am adding a Reverse Osmosis unit for under $200 soon

[wasp]

Well done raeh1.

To me, that establishes a bottom line dollar amount, for a reasonable set up. Newbies would need to be aware that that involved a fair bit of thought, and shopping around, but proves it can be done

What size is the tank?

[jetskisteve]

That makes Jettin's one on trade me a BARGAIN

[Brianemone]

dare i begin??

tank 500$

stand 300$

plumbing 250$

return pump 280$

power heads 120$ need more

lighting 300$

rock 300$

ocean werx becket skimmer 530$ plus waste collector60$

fluidised reactor 125$x2

calcium reactor 650$

add shipping of about 200$ for those

yet to come is more lighting, lets say about 500$

co2 bottle 100$

reg and needle valve 120$

live stock???

[wasp]

That makes Jettin's one on trade me a BARGAIN

Yes there is no money to be made in selling complete set ups.

I think it's because people are just not prepared to pay the full cost. Many of us started not knowing just how much it was all going to cost. I've seen some complete set ups going on Trade Me for a fraction of what the guy would have spent on it, feel real sorry for the vendor. Buying a reasonable set up on Trade Me is probably the cheapest way to get entry to the hobby.

Is Jettin leaving the hobby?

[Feelers]

Hes upgrading from what I read, it sucks that the resale value of a whole tank is so low. If it were me I'd be tempted to sell it bit by bit, as generally newbies would be the only people looking for whole setups, and the prices stay low.

Skimmers always seem to get a high price on tm, so I would imagine individual peices would sell well.