Thinking of starting a nano reef

[spikehs]

I'd also looking into getting dry rock (ie from bulkreefsupply.com) its MUCH cheaper, less nutrients introduced into the tank, you just need to add a scoop or so of live sand and then your rock will be come alive, for a fraction of the price.

[lorenz0]

IMO setting up a nano can be very cheap or stupidly expensive. My 17gal is now around $600 for the set up cost and besides the powerhead (vortech mp10) everything was used. It really depends on how much you want to spend in the end.

If you want something around the 200-300 mark i would go with a 20gal long, some retro t5's, an aquaclear 110 and a Koralia 1 powerhead. You will be able to keep zoa's, softies, mushrooms, lps. almost everything you want.

[whatcaneyedo]

I was able to put my 20gal long together out of nearly all used equipment. The only thing I had to buy new specifically for the tank was the light fixture for about $200. However if I were to price the entire thing out brand new I think its worth at least $800. If you shop around in the used equipment and livestock sections I bet you could do something similar for less than half that.

[ribbie]

I paid about $800 for all the stuff I needed to start my 15 gallon. I'd estimate it costs me about $25 a month to run not factoring electricity.