Just getting started.

[jheibel]

Hello
My family and I live in Hannibal Mo. About 90 miles north of St. Louis. I have three daughters and need an interesting and fun hobby to do together.
We are wanting to do freshwater somewhere around 50 gallon plus.
And we are starting from scratch!!!!!!!!!!! Any advice on where to shop and were to start.
And even maybe pay a visit to pick someones brain.
Plus give my kids an idea on the possibilities of what they can create.

Thanks for your time
Jeff

[Zagz]

Welcome to AA! This will be a wonderful hobby for you and your children to share! I'd recommend checking out our articles section. Particularily the Nitrogen cycle and Tips and tricks for your fastest cycle and fishless cycling . The fishless cycle article refers to SW but can be used for FW as well.

Do you have any idea of what kind of fish interest you? Colorful, small, activ? There are tons of possibilites.

[fijiwigi]

Welcome to AA using this site has made my fishkeeping experience much more enjoyable. Good luck with your experience this site is a great place to get your questions answered. glad to have ya around.

[roka64]

Welcome to the site.....come to the SW side..........

[jheibel]

I am a little afraid of the start up cost????????
But needless to say "That would be pretty cool stuff!!"
What is the ball-park cost to get started in the salt water world????
Thanks
Jeff

[Ziggy953]

Welcome to AA!!!

The ball park for getting started in SW. Hmmm....That is a very tough question to answer. It is more expensive then FW. You need a tank and stand just like FW obviously. But that is where everything changes. If you are going to have coral you need special lighting, you need a LOT more flow in SW then you do in FW. Filtration is done with Live rock which is costly, unless you are a patient person and buy base rock to start with.

Basically a 55 gallon tank to start out is going to run you anywhere from $1000 - $5000 to start. The reason there is such a big gap there is because of the different equipment you need and where you actually get it from. If you are a handy person and can do some things your self you can cut cost and land closer to that $1000 mark. If you have to rely on buying ready made equipment then you are going to end up closer to the $5000 mark. The cost all depends on what you plan on putting in the tank. Go to the article section of the site and do some reading, there is a lot of great information there.

Not trying to scare you away but it is more expensive then FW.

Again welcome to AA!!!

[roka64]

The initial set up cost can be high, but the monthly cost is pretty low. Ball-parking is really tough because it depends on what type of SW tank you want (reef, fish only with live rock or fish only).

[melosu58]

Welcome to AA. Welcome aboard.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by jheibel

I am a little afraid of the start up cost????????
But needless to say "That would be pretty cool stuff!!"
What is the ball-park cost to get started in the salt water world????
Thanks
Jeff

I am not a handy person really I have a 46g bow with custom ordered sump and am at about 2500 dollars or so with no corals really or much for fish yet. I have everything else I need for equipment the SPS corals take a stronger light adding about another 300dollars more than what I did. so If you got an extra $3000 dollars to spend within 6months to get started then go for it. Its a rewarding addiction for sure You could get away with less money if you decided to do a FOWLR tank and not go reef

[jheibel]

Great feedback!! Plus some really neat pictures. My girls and I need to decide which way to go????
Thanks
Jeff