New Saltwater Tank, Costs??

Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#1
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#1
I was thinking about (maybe not right now, but later) getting a nano saltwater reef tank. I like the ones that I see online and in catalogs and I was wondering: What size I would need to keep a Firefish and a Clown Fish (suggestions on non agressive types please)?? I don't know if I'll put some anenome in the tank, I heard that Clown Fish (especially tank raised ones) don't neccessarily need their host. I was wondering how much it would cost to get the initial supplies and how much it would cost to keep it up and running. Like, what it would be like with the water changes, what type of light do I need, and what types of live plants/rocks do I need?? Plus, what do I do about the pH?? I don't want to use buffers and my pH is only 7.8. Does the marine salt bump up the pH?? I also have a rock the ups the pH, cuz I was originally going to get cichlids from my friend, but she backed out. I really don't care if I have a 5g with just a Firefish in it. I just really want a nano saltwater reef aquarium and a firefish. I love those things. :D
 

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KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#4
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
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Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#4
Its not cheap to start up, once its going its not much more then FW. If you want clowns you need at least a 30G, Fire fish can go in a 10G. You will need about 15-20 pounds of live rock and a crushed coral substrate is best due to its buffering abilities makes it easier on beginners in SW. A salt mix like instant ocean takes all the guess work out of making up water changes and having to add different stuff. With instant ocean their suggestion gets your salt level real close so there is little fiddling with that, the only other factor is getting the temp right. To do a 10G nano the right way you will need to start out with at least $300.00 providing you have a tank with a hood and light. I like to use the 18,000K light(s) (t5 or t/8 is ok) on my 10G nanos. Also Clown fish of any kind do not need a host unless they need to hide from something that thinks they are the lunch menu. There is tons of stuff to learn about SW, so read the sticky post as Thyra suggested and also be sure you get the reef master liquid test kit first. You will also need to use RO water to mix your salt, no matter what anyone says!!!! If someone says you can use treated tap water they do not even own a SW tank that is successful in most cases. The main reason for using RO water is because the salt mix has stuff in it to raise pH and other levels to mimic the ocean very close. So using a water that is low in everything is a must because the mix boosts these levels WAY up, so, if you use tap water many levels will be super compounded and bad for your SW tank parameters. OH, and you do not need a filter just some of those water circulating device/wave makers. If you do get a HOB filter do no put a filter in it, just get a big one for flow as this is very important for SW to have lots of water turn over.
 

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Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#5
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#5
Thanks KcMopar!! So should I get one of those RO Filters?? There's one at my lfs. I'm definitely going to need a job for this project, I'm lacking funds!! XD Still I heard that crushed coral can, later on in established tanks, can go out of wack and actually mess up your water (pH, ammonia, etc). Is this true?? How long have you been doing saltwater aquariums?? I love how you have so much information. Now, when it comes to decorating, what can I use?? I have 2 lfs and both sell really nice fish, but only one sells corals and live rocks. I want some corals, but not ones that will attack each other or fish. I really want some that are colorful and docile. Maybe something that you can notice when it grows, but not to where I have to cut it back every other week. Those suckers are hard, it's like trying to snap bone!! I really like going to my lfs and looking at their seahorses though. They just sit there but they follow your finger with their heads. Also, do I need a protein skimmer?? Were you talking about a power head earlier (the wave maker)?? I've seen those work but I don't want my fish to get stuck in it. Some of them can be dumb enough to try and swim up it and die from getting stuck. *oh look!! it's a black hole!! lets go swim in it and aghaghahgahgh!!! .....i died..... =P *
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#6
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#6
You can find RO units on ebay much cheaper!! I bought my 6 stage RO reef unit for about $160.00 bucks and it had a 3 gallon reserve tank with it. I have been into SW for about 15+ years or so. Sand can be a worse case scenario, so if you go with sand do not do it very deep, maybe and inch or two max. Nasty stuff can build up in deep sand and if it gets disturbed the toxins can release and wipe out everything. Also note that sand blows everywhere in a 10G nano, so crushed coral works better. As for ways to filter the SW tanks with those skimmers, reactors, and such is really not necessary on 10G nano. Hydor Koralia makes the power head you want to use, it will not suck up fish. I have gotten away from the traditional SW filter type systems, I use an Algae scrubber, its a natural way such as the ocean uses to clean and renew its water. Read here: http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/sal...a-powerful-nitrate-phosphate-remover-diy.html . This thread is loaded with good SW info too. Its a long read!!! If you do go with a 10G and you do weekly WC's you do not need any type of filter at besides a good water circulation device. I recommend new SW folks get a tank (10G in our case and as example amounts) with a 1-2" crushed coral, 10 LBS (at first) pounds of live rock, and a Hydor Koralia type pump then let it go for a few weeks. Once you have completed the cycle buy the rest 5-10 LBS of good quality cycled (growing) live rock and watch your rock grow all kinds of stuff and spread to your other rock. SW requires a lot of knowledge and a lot of reading to get this knowledge. You can not rush SW, take your time, read, then read some more. You will have to have funds for it to so a job is required for the extra expenses. Liveaquaria.com has good info on their SW livestock and lists corals personality so you can choose friendly coral mates. Start off with soft and SPS corals. Just remember failures in SW are costly,go slow, bigger SW tanks are easier to manage (70G is perfect), and start up cost is huge no matter what size compared to FW but, I feel SW is very rewarding. FYI, I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on the commercial SW skimmer and filter types and now only use a simple little algae scrubber and have much more success the natural way then I did with the accepted commercial ways. Anyway, there it is in a quick overview.
 

Kiara1125

Kiara1125

Superstar Fish
#7
Jan 12, 2011
1,142
0
0
Florida
#7
Thanks!! I gonna just get a part time job, save up my money, and set up a sw tank. I really appreciate all of the help!! I'll definitely find you if I have a question. Which I'm sure I will. :)
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#9
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#9
I'm 25 now and been doing african cichlids since i was 16, thought about stepping up to salt water, yeah it turned out to be a HUGE learning curve, and i'm still learning and having problems, i've been able to keep it going for about a year but it's been a struggle. not giving up on it now cause honestly the 3 cichlid tanks are pretty much just on auto pilot so i enjoy the time, challenge, and reward of the saltwater tank and plan on in the future of getting a 55+ gallon salt water tank once i understand what i'm doing exactly or at least get a better idea lol
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#11
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#11
my lfs constantly has 55 gallon tanks either for sale or used but never any reef tanks, i have seen a few on criegslist like a 90 gallon for 900 but thats more then i can afford to spend right now. need new tires for my truck lol but one of these days i'll be getting a bigger tank. and in ut tanks the only thing u do to filter is the liverock and the ATS right? nothing else?
 

Fuzz16

Fuzz16

Superstar Fish
#13
Oct 20, 2006
1,918
3
0
Wellsville, KS
#13
cost depends on what kind of tank you want.

but it can get extremely expensive...so when you buy something make sure your not getting the 50$ thing cause its cheaper than the better working 80$ thing...cause youll want that better working thing thatll probably last longer too. not a hobby to be cheap with. prob my biggest tip...find a good deal though.

start up, just like anything, is expensive. tank, skimmer, pumps, sump, rock, substrate will be the biggest buys...unless you like those 400$ corals and 50$ fish that die after a day. :) which happens...more often than not. and it sucks when you buy a fish...or three to try them and they die and thats 200$ your flushing -.-
 

exhumed07

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
#14
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#14
i've been there with the fish or corals not lasting. tried a hard coral high in the tank and it lived but not real well then slowly started to die from the edges to the center till it was just solid white. and tried cardnals in my tank but they refused to feed and died on me. now u got some yellow clowns and they are thriving in my tank. seems to me right now my tank is kinda hit and miss and trial and error. but it may just be that i'm not experienced enough yet too.
 

Fuzz16

Fuzz16

Superstar Fish
#15
Oct 20, 2006
1,918
3
0
Wellsville, KS
#15
im afraid to add more fish...always seems ike when i do...something dies. lol. but its nice, we have a large SW club here in the KC area and people sell frags and sometimes the nice ones give you some. :) always nice to find nice people in the hobby!!

o and wider is always better. i started wit a 12g eclipse tank and kept a clam in there for about 3ish months before it went to the 58g and lived another few months before dying. (size doesnt always matter) but if you start with a 40breeder tank itd be super easy. not to big, not to small. not to tall, and has a good lentgh and width and leaves you a lot of floor space :)
 

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