First saltwater tank

[phillybean]

You'll want to start a cube then.

I'd go with a 24 Gallon Aquapod with a 150Watt HQI Metal Halide. Should be able to find one for $350 - $400 bucks or so.

There are more "hidden costs" in keeping a reef than there are in having a cell phone.

Test Kits, Salt, Refractometer, Additives, RODI Unit, heaters, powerheads etc etc etc.

When I first decided to set up my 75 gallon, I budgeted for $1500. I bought everything as cheap as I could and now, including live stock I'm at around $3500, which is quite good for my set up...if my wife asks, I'm under 1500 though...