Thinking Of Starting A Reef Tank

[Skim]

So the other day I met up with a old friend, and we shot the normal stuff back and forth and then he asked how my tank is and I told him fine and just the same old battles Phos. Nitrate always waiting to pounce when you get a little lazy. I asked how his is, he has nice Freshwater setup mix of fish a few plants not a Dutch but nice and he says he gets compliments all the time from people. Now he says he want to start a Reef Tank and was looking for info so I was listing places for good info and books and so on, but the entire time in the back of my head I was running numbers and by the time we finished I told him it's NOT WORTH THE MONEY especially right now with the dollar. I said I know you and what you would want size wise and you guys go on Vacations so then you need some automation, this is not like calling you neighbour and having him take a boo and making sure the food dispenser has food and add a little water. I told him for Tank, Stand, Lights, Skimmer you're looking at 3 to 5 grand and that's before you put water in it. Then add another 5 grand for all the other stuff like RO/DI Automation system containers and then you have to factor in the stuff you may not be happy with because I know how picky you can be. Then I said, I would hate to be your shoes when you go and tell the wife we can't go on vacation because I spent too much on the Reef Tank, I said this is not like for you now where you go to B and A and get 5 for 10 deal you walk in and it starts at 10 for a 1/2" and Corals 15 for a 1/2" anyhow in the end I had talked him out of it. I told him to stick with the tank he has now or get a bigger one and build it into the basement like he wanted to for the reef. I do not think he had any understanding of costs for a Reef Tank because when I was listing them this glazed look came over his face and used is out of the question with him, I not dealing with someones elses headache is his saying.
I don't know is it just me but in the last 6 months has not the cost of supplies and livestock just started going out of this world.

Skim

 

[reef keeper]

Ya. But it's so worth it.

 

[Nick James]

I've found livestock cheaper in Canada than on US sites. I haven't been in it as long as you for comparing outside the last 6 months tho..

 

[Nonuser]

The problem with reefers is they have to have it all and right now!

Fresh is almost never like this it's usually piece by piece or there isn't as much needed.

For some reason everyone thinks you can just create an entire reef in less than a year.

 

[Nighthawk26]

If you take your time and keep a close eye for used pieces (QUALITY, NOT JUNK), over time you can collect a good chunk of what you need for a reasonable price.

Getting on a forum like this where everyone knows everyone, and there is a little stronger element of trust also helps. I'm sure as hell not buying a tank for example for some schmo on KIJIJI, but from someone on here that has a history, you can see his old posts, lots of people have seen the tank, well you can score some killer deals.

I have 3 of the more expensive hobbies one can have. Cars, Home Theater, and now this last year Saltwater Aquariums, and one thing they all have in common. The are VERY much like a Girlfriend. When things are going well, it's fantastic. You want to see her all the time, she makes you happy, life is great. When things AREN'T going well, you want to throw her off a fucking cliff, and tell all your friends you wish you were single with them. SO when people ask me for feedback or advice on cars, or Home Theater, or now like you with your friend asking about the setup you have and experience, I always try to answer big picture and remember the good and the bad, and that just like that relationship, there are ups and downs. At the end of the day, we often marry those Girlfriends so we clearly find the good outweighs the bad.

So my advice. Have your friend join the forums, make some friends, keep his ear to the ground for people selling stuff, and then read read read, and read some more. Then decide what tank size he wants, and go up at least 1 more. Then set a realistic budget based on what he's seen things going for. Then add 50% to that budget and start planning on how to hide shit from said GF.

Done.

 

[nathan]

If you take your time and keep a close eye for used pieces (QUALITY, NOT JUNK), over time you can collect a good chunk of what you need for a reasonable price.

Getting on a forum like this where everyone knows everyone, and there is a little stronger element of trust also helps. I'm sure as hell not buying a tank for example for some schmo on KIJIJI, but from someone on here that has a history, you can see his old posts, lots of people have seen the tank, well you can score some killer deals.

I have 3 of the more expensive hobbies one can have. Cars, Home Theater, and now this last year Saltwater Aquariums, and one thing they all have in common. The are VERY much like a Girlfriend. When things are going well, it's fantastic. You want to see her all the time, she makes you happy, life is great. When things AREN'T going well, you want to throw her off a fucking cliff, and tell all your friends you wish you were single with them. SO when people ask me for feedback or advice on cars, or Home Theater, or now like you with your friend asking about the setup you have and experience, I always try to answer big picture and remember the good and the bad, and that just like that relationship, there are ups and downs. At the end of the day, we often marry those Girlfriends so we clearly find the good outweighs the bad.

So my advice. Have your friend join the forums, make some friends, keep his ear to the ground for people selling stuff, and then read read read, and read some more. Then decide what tank size he wants, and go up at least 1 more. Then set a realistic budget based on what he's seen things going for. Then add 50% to that budget and start planning on how to hide shit from said GF.

Done.

Well said

 

[Alberych]

I think you can build up slowly/cheaply for enjoyment of a saltwater tank.

To be honest, the difficulty is having the knowledge of where to spend your money in the beginning. You only get that knowledge after you've spent it in the wrong place. My dad used to say: "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." Few hobbies confirm this more than reefkeeping.

I think I had purchased 4 separate aquariums/stands/light setups before I got an RO/DI unit back in 2007. If you can get good water, salt, some water movement, and are willing to do water changes, you can keep saltwater fish and be happy. These are the fundamentals. It is hard to recognize as a new aquarist what additional steps are necessary to properly care for what inverts, how various pieces of filtration equipment are going to variously impact the 10 or so parameters that are relevant to keeping a wider variety of livestock, etc.

 

[heath]

It is and can be an expensive hobby to get into for sure, find a mentor that you are comfortable with and trust and take your time... there are a lot of beautiful and successful tanks out there that don't have all the bells and whistles, get to know your tank ... and have a plan...

 

[nathan]

It is and can be an expensive hobby to get into for sure, find a mentor that you are comfortable with and trust and take your time... there are a lot of beautiful and successful tanks out there that don't have all the bells and whistles, get to know your tank ... and have a plan...

That's what I love about fragtank. So many helpful knowledable people here. It's a great place to be.

 

[TORX]

I started with a 20 gallon Kijiji tank. From there I met Rick and was introduced to this site. Without it and its members, i would have never been able to afford this hobby. From there I bought, sold, and traded my way up to where I am. Also the Apex to Jebao cable that I sold was a life saver to upgrade to new equipment.

 

[Salty Cracker]

I started with a 20 gallon Kijiji tank. From there I met Rick and was introduced to this site. Without it and its members, i would have never been able to afford this hobby. From there I bought, sold, and traded my way up to where I am. Also the Apex to Jebao cable that I sold was a life saver to upgrade to new equipment.

You sold a whatsit now?

 

[EricTMah]

It is and can be an expensive hobby to get into for sure, find a mentor that you are comfortable with and trust and take your time... there are a lot of beautiful and successful tanks out there that don't have all the bells and whistles, get to know your tank ... and have a plan...

Great advice.
Many successful tanks including mine, that don't have all the expensive toys.


Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Chrismayu]

I was told early on -"someone is always getting in to reef tanks and someone is always getting out" aka buy used The only main equipment items I have brought new were both of my skimmers , heater and the main pump. All the rest used. my 2 cents