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The cost of a new reef will depend heavily on the lighting you need to keep what you want and how handy you are. If you can
DIY alot of stuff, the cost comes down, if your only wanting softies, the lights won't be as expensive, etc... It's hard to put a price tag on it, for my
SPS 20g tank I've spent between $1500 and $2000.
LOL, but I can
DIY myself right into the hospital and still have to buy a prefab item, also I have a prefad
MH pendant lighting system.
Whether to commit to a new one...I'm gonna say yes, if you had one before and you liked it, there is no going back. Some reefers are successful in setting up a
FO or
FOWLR tank
if they already have a reef, but if your a reefer and only have one tank, it's gonna end up being a reef sooner or later, might as well save yourself the trouble of switching later and start out reef now.
There have been many advances in the last 10 years, the most profound of which is to less technology usually equals a better tank. We attack the filtration with mother nature and allow the rock and sad to biologically filter the water, add a protien skimmer to remove excess waste and add strong lights and water mothion and your on your way. If you really want to though....there are still plenty of gadgets you can add to your tank.
