Starting a reef tank
 

Hi,

I am looking to set up a reef tank in the 70 gallon range. I would like to piece together a system on a budget. If anyone has spares that would help or a complete system for sale please feel free to contact me.I basically need tank,lights,rock and skimmer. Tank and rock would get me going at this point though.I don't really need a stand as I can make my own.

Thanks, Brian

For a reef you are gonna need lights too so goto Lite Brite in the NE and pick up a Workhorse7 Electronic Ballast ( $55.00 and you can run 3 power compacts ) this will at least get you started with some shrooms and such.

Look in the bargain finder for a tank the size you want and just phone around and make a offer you can afford ... somebody will bite eventually :)

For sand there is a sandblasting place south of Glenmore on Barlow that has sand blasting sand ( quartz ) for like 13 bucks for 100 lbs ( I know everybody says get aragonite but it does not actually buffer till your PH is so low everything is dead lol ) ... even Dr Ron says use whatever as it will populate with critters when you add live rock

As for pumps & live rock J&L is prolly the cheapest ( even after shipping ) ... I got a bunch of Fiji from them awile back and it was awesome with purple coraline growth !

HTH

Cheers

Rasta

PS ... almost forgot ... build yourself a Beckett skimmer ... you wont regret it ... just finished a dual beckett for my system and only need to use one beckett ... works that good

he's in bc! :lol:

Oops hehehe ... he can still goto his local buy&sell tho for a tank ... sure they have sandblasting companies there and J&L wont be as far to ship from :lol:
Cheers

Rasta

Thanks for the input Rasta. I have been checking the buy and sell and have managed to pick up a few things including a 20 gallon tank, which may eventually become my quarantine , as well as some crushed coral and a small hunk of live rock to get things started.

Brian

i think it's r_wellwood who's got a berlin classic for sale. good choice of skimmer for your water volume.

one warning i will give you though: i originally wanted to do my tank for $500 or less. i've spent $2000 so far and still have to spend almost $1000 on live rock, and only then can i start thinking about livestock. when i started, people told me if you're on a tight budget, you'll want to think hard before you jump into the hobby, and they were very much correct. of course it's well worth the money, from what i can tell :smile:

I am waiting to hear back about the Berlin classic. I am also going to look at another used skimmer tomorrow made by precision marine.It's there HOT model.If I buy that then I will still need tank,rock and lights among other things. I might even pick up some fish at some point! Would love to have some corals as well as they can be quite beautiful. Yes, I have been warned about the expense involved which is why I am looking used. Just having a good time right now learning about all the options available. Looks like a great hobby.

Brian

At this point of time you have no need for expensive toys. When you get your stuff together, and are up and running, you may consider a skimmer. For now the important things are the live rock, and a dsb. That is my opinion, and it works for me. :rolleyes:

Dude ... it IS only a opinion ... how do you know he cant afford it ? :rolleyes:

You pick out a PS at the bottom of the post to critique so you can say the same thing as I said above ?

laterz