I Need some help planing my next tank.

[cheeto1060]

Well, im going to be taking a big step in to saltwater tanks. In about a half of a year im planning on getting a 150 gal tank for a salt water tank (Now i know this will be very expensive but im looking for this to last more then a few years). I want to make this a combo tank with both reef and fish mainly reef but with some fish. Here are some of my questions. First is a 150 gal to big (i thought about a 500 gal hehe the parents didnt like that idea)
next what will i need along the lines of filters i want a sump with a skimmer (i want to keep heaters and ofher stuff in it)i would like to custom make it if possible instead of buying a pre-fab. Next i want a bare sand bottom and i read about tropical play sand from home depo so thats the way i will more then likly end up going ($$$) how deep do i want it about 5"? Last major thing would be lighting im thinking of a custom MH and VHO any suggestions on lighting? or anything else that would be of help to me.

Any help would be very Helpful to me.


Thanks
Phil

[Doug1]

No Offense but at this stage I would give the tank you have a year or so, get the maint and basics down and then think about a larger tank. Personally I like a 180 vs a 150 cause of the width front to back and bigger footprint which makes for better sand and water air surface. You are gonna need at least 250 watt halides prolly with VHO supplementation, so lighting alone is going to run over 600 if ou do a lot yourself, premade will run more. Either tank will need at least 200 lbs of live rock and a 4" sand bed tho you can reuse the rock you have and use the sand bed, if seeded properly, to kick start the new one,but still assuming you can get southdown sand at leass than $5 a bag you still need 8 bags or so plus your ols sand to cover it, around $800 in Live rock unless you can pick up from a good dealer and save the freight. Plus the cost of the tank(prefab is much cheaper than custom and unless you are really skilled and have connections in the biz forget building), dealer cost on a Reef ready AGA 10 is over $600 so you are easily up to $2200 now, plus a sump, pumps for returns, and all the odd stuff you need.
Dont forget no you need to shop online sales on Instant ocean salt in 200 gal buckets for good price and free shipping, othewise its around $75 a bucket, one for first fill and one for water changes. Add in the cost of decent test kits, pH meter and refractometor($300+) dont want to skimp om water quality at this point , not to mention the cost of an adequate skimmer(not cheap at this stage) and $5000 is a good starting point to budget but realistically it can way exceed that once you star stocking a reef tank, Fish only is cheaper. Speaking of fish, be sure and research and get reef compatable fish(most in the trade aren't)
I really dont mean to discourage you but you need to know what you are facing, believe me I started with a free 29, went thru a 55 and now have the 75 and large sump. WHat I spent learning before discovering the net would have setup the 180 in wall of my dreams,HTH

[cheeto1060]

When i said i wanted a custom i meant as in the sump not the tank sorry for the confusion.

Phil

[GaryG]

Amen to the $$'s

I had a 55 for about a couple of years and recently decided it was "too small". Just upgraded to a 150 in April. It cost about $5,000 on day one, and it was far from complete. Now I am working on building up the reef, adding wavemakers, etc, etc, etc ....... Every Friday night I go to the local store and buy something, a pump or a few pieces of live rock or a piece of coral, a fish, a bucket of salt, whatever. I never get out for under a $100 and it's usually closer to $200.

If you average it at $150/wk I have spent another $1,000 and I'm still not done.

I'm adding the live rock and building the reef wall slowly so I don't upset the chemistry which was transfered over from the 55.

I had figured that the 150 would be about 3 times the cost (initial and ongoing) as the 55. (seems logical three times the size should be three times the price). Wrong! It's probably more like 10 times +.

I'm very lucky that my wife is really into it also. We are both avid scuba divers and this gives us a chance to reef view in our living room between dive trips. I'm also lucky that we both have good jobs because reef keeping is a VERY expensive hobby.

Again, not trying to discourage you, but you sounded young (the comment about being in your parents house) and may not have a bottomless pit of money. If your parents are giving you a blank check than go for it !!!

[PoorGirl]

GaryG... I second that. I am relatively new at this hobby and I started with out with a 110 and after 1 month and a $3000 startup bill I'm still spending about $200 a week and I think I'm moving slowly. And I only say relatively new because alot the decisions on my tank have been made by my brother who has been into SW for years. I know that without his constant/daily help I would have pulled the plug by now.

[ 06-22-2001: Message edited by: PoorGirl ]

[cheeto1060]

Yeah im only 18 still living with my parents as of right now i work 50 hours a week with NO bills except for feeders for Felix and oscar (my two rather large oscars), gas for my truck, and taking my girlfreind out every so offten. So i was planing on getting every thing i could now (see as how price only seem to be going up) and the storing it untill i get out on my own and set up. So this is a long term investment.

[Blake]

I'm 18 and live with mom & dad. I pay for my car, insurance, gas, and the reef. I work about 40 hrs/week. I have been saving my money for a ~250 gal system; someday I will get it. But next year I am off to Iowa and I don't think it will fit nicely into a dorm room. I'm planning on having an apartment junior/senior year at college so then maybe I can get that big system.

I have learned the trade on my 46gal bow. I was told by my LFS that (2) 40watt NO bulbs would be enough, sure it's enough! Now I have VHOs and I'm building a custom hood with my dad and I am looking at putting in two 175watt MHs. My point is that you should learn the trade on a smaller tank before going all out and getting a 900gal system.

[Kinesthesia]

Just one thing to add... money in the bank is lighter than a tank in storage... Unless you plan on moving into your own home...

I'm an apartment dweller, and just moved my 120 from one apartment to another in the same complex and it was not at all fun.

Just food for thought.

[cheeto1060]

Yes money in the bank is lighter but i cant spend a tank on something i will forget what it was i spend it on two weeks later lol!

[cheeto1060]

Hey Blake i see you are from the Chicago Burbs where abouts?