New to salt water

[Nick G]

hey!
so, I have a question, and im sure its asked all the time on here. But here goes
i am interested in starting a reef tank, but eventually, because im trying to keep it on a budget.
I have only ever kept piranhas and I have a 30 gal high tank that i want to eventually have be a reef tank. (after i get the hang of salt water)
a buddy of mine (chapz) told me about this site and he has told me that first i want to get a hodrometer, live sandand salt to start the cycle
My plan is slowly amass everything i need.
What would you guys suggest i get and in what order?

 

[Killerdrgn]

RO/DI, salt, heater, live rock, live sand/regular sand, skimmer, lights.
Missing anything?

 

[inkblue]

Read some insights on budget reefing

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/34303-reef-budget.html

 

[Nick G]

Thanks Guys!

 

[marki24]

nick g if you on a budget then its going to be hard keeping a reef tank. This hobby is EXPENSIVE and addictive. So be careful what you get urself into.

 

[JLAudio]

I would say set your tank up with live rock, a heater, power head, livesand (cheaper to mix half live half non-living) and saltwater at roughly 1.022-1.025 sg (this can be assesed w/ hydromoter which you will also need). You can get away with tap for the initial water but should treat it for chlorine and get a rodi filter or at least a di tap water filter soon. This will be much more important if you plan on keeping corals. Than I would add a little food to the water a cpl times a week and let it begin cycling. WHile this is cycling you will have roughly a month to get the other necessities, which will be a good skimmer, lighting (varies on what type of tank and or corals you plan on keeping). Other elements like refugiums, phosphate reactors, might become necessary down the road but you will be able to begin your hobby.
good luck

 

[alfani]

if you are serious, save up for a good skimmer, lights, pumps, RODI, refractometer. should run about $500

 

[basiab]

A high tank may be a problem depending on what corals you want and what kind of lighting you get. Lighting is lost as it goes deeper into the water.

 

[h20 freak]

A high tank may be a problem depending on what corals you want and what kind of lighting you get. Lighting is lost as it goes deeper into the water.

A high tank also has less surface area for gas exchange compared to a long tank of the same volume,basically less capacity for livestock.

 

[masterswimmer]

A high tank also restricts the size fish it can accommodate. Fish swim left to right, side to side, horizontal, not up and down or vertical. A tall tank (assuming it's not a tall, 500 gallon tank ) will limit your choice of fish.

swimmer

 

[Awibrandy]

Welcome aboard the MR ship!!

What ever you do DO NOT start your tank with tap water!!!!!!!!!!!

The first piece of equipment you should get is an RO/DI whether your starting with a fish only, or not!!!! (Listen to that, the dye hard tap water user toting the RO/DI now.LOL) There's a reason for that. Do a search for my before and after thread.
If you are in fact starting with fish only, you do not need to upgrade your lights just yet you can use the lights currently on your tank. Everything else has already been addressed on the previous posts.

 

[ellebelle]

IMO, live sand is a waste of money. You can buy regular sand and seed it with yourself with your live rock during your cycle, or just get a cup of sand from someone with an established tank to seed your sand bed. Some of the prices of "live sand" are outrageous considering "dead" sand will soon become live in a reef.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Welcome to MR

 

[Quang]

Hey! Welcome to MR.

If you haven't already, I recommend you start reading extensively on how to start a saltwater fish tank, and decide on what kind of tank you want to start. Make a list of things you'd like to purchase.... this way it'll be easier for us to help you. Good luck!