[jamesdelanoche]

So as you may have read, i've been thinking of making a saltwater tank (between 100-200 gallons). I want to make a reef tank, with lots of rock in the back and a sandy area up front. How much money do you think i'm lookin at? Lighting it looks like its gonna be 500-1000? How much live rock will I need? As you can see i'm a complete newb at this. I've been reading the fourms all night and still can't figure it out. My girlfriend wants a powder blue tang so its gonna be a community reef tank. Can someone help guide me?

 

[00nothing]

So as you may have read, i've been thinking of making a saltwater tank (between 100-200 gallons). I want to make a reef tank, with lots of rock in the back and a sandy area up front. How much money do you think i'm lookin at? Lighting it looks like its gonna be 500-1000? How much live rock will I need? As you can see i'm a complete newb at this. I've been reading the fourms all night and still can't figure it out. My girlfriend wants a powder blue tang so its gonna be a community reef tank. Can someone help guide me?

[snapback]853499[/snapback]​

rock go with 1 to 1.5 lbs per gallon

lighting depends on corals i am going with t5's on my 6ft tank and its not even costing me that much

u can spend upwards of $10,000 creating a setup like this but there is no need to

if u want some ?'s answered u can contact me on msn [email protected] or aol slydeways7

 

[jamesdelanoche]

i've read a lot about making your own live rock? will this be cheaper? also , i live withing driving distance of the pacific ocean, can i collect rock/sand from there?

 

[Blitz023]

I'm assuming you are starting from scratch

lighting will cost you around $300-$600.
Live rocks will be 3.99/lb and you will need about 100-150 lbs for a 100g tank.
live sand is $1/lb you will probably need 100lbs.
You will need a skimmer prob $100.
a decent filter or you can make DIY sump.
a couple of powerheads prob around $150.

You may get sand and salt water from the beach but I would not recommend because of the pollution.

So roughly you will need $2500. 00 including the corals & fish that are living in it.

Just my assumption though

 

[diddye]

i'd personally buy rock from somebody local(what i did)...its normally cheaper maybe $2 a lb and its already cured....and less change of bad hitchikers

 

[acestro]

Good point. You could also cure your own live rock if you have the room and some sort of tub/pool.

Depending on expense you can add live rock as you go (not all 100-150 at once). Also, I wouldn't add the tang as the first or even second fish, wait a while on that one, tangs are sensitive.

 

[Raptor]

Tangs are difficult to care for. I would hold off till ya get your feet wet with some experience.
Now think of it this way you will be much happier if you do it right the first time spend the extra money and do it right because it will bite ya in the ass later. (Alot of people ignore this, But it will.)
I have over 10 g in my 190, and i'm a little more than halfway done with what i want, So ont think this is a cheap hobby. You only get out of it what you put into it.

 

[jamesdelanoche]

geez, thanks for all the replies everybody. I was going to do a saltwater tank instead of building my own tank for some big cichlids but it think that will be what i end up doing anyway. I think i'll wait untill i'm out of college for a saltwater tank!