How do you answer "What do I need to do to set up a saltwater tank?"

[reefwars]

i get this question with just about every email i get or person i meet and i usually start with the basics like a tank goes along way as do salt lol for the most part i say it takes someone who can stick to a regular schedule, who can understand at times its expensive,patienece is a must.i tell people to read everywhere they can and to sign with canreef and ask all they can.i tell people to go look at other tanks and see what it is that they like that makes them weant to start one or do the switch over. i guess there is no real answer which is why i end up going to peoples house and putting all this on paper for them to follow as its alot for a new person to remember. for those who i have helped start tanks i tell people to contact me at anytime when they have questions or if they need me to come over just to ask and i will be glad to drop in.i put down names of places to read things that are a must to have and where to find them and i tell people not to buy anything they dont know about or understand.i tell people to do research on every littyle thing they can.knowlege is the most important thing if you ask me and you cant buy that so its not a fast process and like you said if it was super easy everyone would have one or ten in their house but for the select few who are dedicated enough to take on a project and apply their best to it it can be quite easy at the same time.......o and like my mother use to say...."leave it alone and let it grow" hehehe