My First Saltwater Setup

Rychek

It isn't optimal, but that's just the way it is sometimes. I still plan on doing a SW tank, but it will be quite a while before I have the room and sufficient cash flow to properly maintain it.

blackbmagic

You can do it...you got almost all of the stuff you need...except for the power heads and L/R... sand is cheap you most definitely do not need live sand just a cup from an established tank...If you go ahead and start cycling with L/R you will have quite some time before you have to start buying much else..and just to add to L/R post real quick the liveaquaria sale is 99.00$ for the 45# box but that is not shipped its about 160 shipped i just bought a box ..Which is still a great deal only about 3 and change a #...hope you can get it started soon its a real exciting hobby

Rychek

If you keep talking like that, you'll convince me to plan for SW again!

I guess I should break Excel out and figure out approximately how much it will cost to maintain my tank for a year. I was thinking I would save money going with FW....

*sigh...* now I have to wait until I get home to figure out if I can really swing a SW setup. I really wish I could make up my mind.

chadf

The only difference I can think of in maintenance cost between fresh and salt is buying the salt for waterchanges (not that expensive if you get a tub that make 160 gallons for like $40 shipped from liveaquria.com)

hell on wheels

Speaking of Salt. If you have a petsmart in your area, get a petsmart card. They put IO on sale there from time to time if you have the card. I just picked up a 160 gallon tub for $34 bucks with the card.

Rychek

As a matter of fact there is a PetsMart near me and I do have their card. I just told my wife I'm thinking SW again and she just laughed. She knows I'm obsessed with my new tank and impatient to get it setup and cycling. Unfortunately I can't do that until after I move next month.

In the mean time, what is the best economical (not purchased at the lfs) type of sand that I can make live sand out of?

chadf

I'm not sure about sand that isn't live but check this out. I put 240 lbs in my 90g and am very pleased with it. I got them for $17 per 30 lb box for buying bulk. http://cgi.ebay.com/30LB-NATURAL-WHI...QQcmdZViewItem

Rychek

I've been looking at that sand and really like the idea of white sand, but the cost is a bit high. If I've got to have at least 4" for live sand to make a strong impact on nitrate, I would need at least 200 lbs of sand which would cast ~$195 after shipping. I could get one box of live sand and the rest non-live from them, but it would still cost upwards of ~$170 shipped. I was hoping to spend less than ~$50 on sand in order to keep the setup cost near what it would be for me to go FW and purchase a good canister filter.

After looking at their other products, they sell Live Lava Base Rock, 11 lbs for $18.00, free shipping and it comes with some live sand. I may have to call them and see if they could make the deal a little better if I buy sand and rock in one fell swoop.

blackbmagic

You can buy any Estes marine brand sand they sell it at most LFS and i got mine from one of the pricier LFS for 10$ for 25lbs..When you go to seed it just use a small bag 5lbs maybe of live aragonite and a cup of sand from the LFS im sure they will be happy to give you a cup. Just remember if you dont go saltwater and you do decide to go fresh its just gonna be twice as much when you decide to go SW because of the money you already spent, and you do not want to use the equipment you have used for freshwater on your new SW tank..IMHO Go salt just do your research and don't spend extra money when you don't have to it will only cost slightly more than a new FW setup.

Rychek

I'm going to check out a couple of local stores today. Hopefully I can find a better total price than what I can get from fijisandman.

http://cgi.ebay.com/WHITE-NATURAL-MA...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/30LB-NATURAL-WHI...QQcmdZViewItem