How much??

[nibor]

We are thinking of getting a 55gal and trying to do a salt tank.

How much does set up cost? What do you need for a salt water that you would not need for a fresh water? How is set up/ running of a salt different from a fresh?

What is the difference between salt and reef?

What other questions should I be asking?

It will be after Christmas when we get the $$ together to do a tank, so I have plenty of time to research SW tanks.

 

[jjamontan]

Go to bulkreefsupply.org and look at there videos on seeing up a salt water tank there is like 5 videos on this start with #1 and so on.

 

[joy13]

If you are going to do a new tank it will be a lot more than buying used. I usually get used myself for my 55 I paid 295 it included a furniture grade stand. skimmer. fuge. light. pump. and hood. I had to get sand, rock and powerheads. I just upgraded my light this week to one with a timer and individual reflectors which I bought used as well.

A there are tanks with live rock sand and fish reef tanks have things like coral in them.

You will want to get a refractometer to measure the salinity and a good liquid test kit.

Cycling is about the same for sw and fw.

One thing you want to do is pick fish out that work well in a 55 gallon tank together.

 

[jjamontan]

Wow you found one smoking deal!

 

[huma-huma]

$300 for my 125...that included EVERYTHING, I means. Live rock, test kits, food, and even 5 fish.... I also recommend going used, youll usually save a whole heapload of money. Research, research and more research.... as a matter fact just research till you puke lol. It'll help immensely in this hobby

 

[TLTGF]

For my 54 gallon corner, I bought used with tank, stand, 4 bulb t5ho lights, pump, sump, liverock, sand, and four fish, along with a bunch of food, I paid $400 on CL.

Since then, I've put another $500+ into corals and livestock.

I'm around $1000 so far, but as a disclaimer, not all tanks are the same, not all needs are the same and my case is just one example.

 

[carey]

I found the queen deal on my 125g SW tank. paid $100 for the tank, stand and a set of 48" lights that I ended up selling for $75 to a friend. so all in all my tank and stand came out to $25.

Just have to watch for quality and make sure it's a solid water holding tank before you buy used.