$6000.00 to spend

[Overthetop1]

I've had freshwater tanks for 12 years. I've saved $6,000 to start my first reef tank. What size and equipment would be a good choice?
Thanks in advance

 

[Chris Adams]

You can do a heck of a lot with that just don't rush to buy
Although the Red Sea Reefer systems are real nice
This was 1 of the price lists I was putting together for a build I just can't swing right now
Red Sea 525 XL 2599

vectra v1 pump 450

hydra 52 x2 1200

t5 kits 60" x2 280

MaxSpect Gyre XF150 270

Apex Gold 800

skimmer (this is low budget you could do much better)400

finnex titanium
500 Watt TH Heating Element X2 2 80

sand 145 lbs

TE-TE03816LR20 3 $101.97
Tropic Eden Live Reeflakes Sand 20lb
TE-TE03620SP30 2 $79.99
Tropic Eden Tonga Pink Sand 30lbs (0.8mm)

 

[Broadfield]

Although the Red Sea Reefer systems are real nice.

I was thinking the same exact thing!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

spend 2k.
then spend 4k when you have learned the ropes.
then you'll have 2 seriously nice tanks.

 

[Danny1496]

reefer 525
and take your time choosing the rest .

 

[120reefkeeper]

I think you'll get many different opinions here, but I think most would agree. Buy the biggest tank you can safely afford. The larger your setup the easier it is to maintain.

A lot of it also depends on what type of fish you'd like to keep. Larger fish in the tang family need lots of swimming room and 4 ft tanks just don't cut it. If your budget allows IMHO..... A 300 gallon setup will allow you to keep a very large variety of fish.

Now in saying that be prepared to open your wallet! Lol [emoji51]

 

[120reefkeeper]

Btw!

 

[BoneXriffic]

Welcome!

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R. @Chris Adams is that your wish list @Overthetop1 this going to be a good build.

 

[Chris Adams]

With $6000.00 I am not sure what direction I would go.
Could go custom tank but the wait time can be ridiculous.
The Red Sea systems are real nice for first time hobbyists in my opinion. Great for the advanced also but thinking from a starting point in hobby.
IM SR-120 are a cool tank.

Either way I say OP should take a month, put together prices lists and equipment, get ther R@R opinions which we have tons of and start things right.

Don't rush in this hobby it is your quickest way to death and depression

 

[120reefkeeper]

Patience = success

Rushing = disaster

Doing your homework = priceless!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

With $6000.00 I am not sure what direction I would go.
Could go custom tank but the wait time can be ridiculous.
The Red Sea systems are real nice for first time hobbyists in my opinion. Great for the advanced also but thinking from a starting point in hobby.
IM SR-120 are a cool tank.

Either way I say OP should take a month, put together prices lists and equipment, get ther R@R opinions which we have tons of and start things right.

Don't rush in this hobby it is your quickest way to death and depression

Patience = success

Rushing = disaster

Doing your homework = priceless!

+1

thats exactly what I said

spend 2k.
then spend 4k when you have learned the ropes.
then you'll have 2 seriously nice tanks.

Theres a lot of nuance to owning a reef. Animal and equipment. so how do you choose a dream car if youve never driven.
At 2 k you can easily get into a seriously SERIOUSLY nice used system and totally fall on your face maybe crash it once or twice and learn what you like and what is the best stuff.
then when you buy the dream house its really just an easy upgrade, take your favorite stuff with you and now you know what your looking for if you want to go full custom. thats what id do at 4 to 6k and 18 months maybe 2 years.

id start at a used 100 gal cube or a red sea, or a 100 or 90 bow Starfire 120? depends on where the tank is gonna go. a peninsula?. with a 40g fuge/sump and a 29g jbj nano for a QT. w sb reeflight upgrade in the hood and and ai sol set or kessils over the display with maybe a 2 t5 retro and floating canopy.
pretty easy to do for 2k 2.5


my 02

 

[shadow1013]

I think I have a "dream build" using a Red Sea Reefer I'll post tomorrow since it's on my laptop and I'm in bed.

But one thing I'll say you'll want that no one has mentioned is a RODI unit. Best thing we bought since we were getting water at the store for ages but when we went with 100+ gallon tank going every week for 10+ gallons was taxing.

 

[d2mini]

spend 2k.
then spend 4k when you have learned the ropes.
then you'll have 2 seriously nice tanks.

Good advice here.
Start with an all-in-one, like one of the smaller Red Sea setups. One that comes with a sump, because that's the type of setup you'll probably want for your next tank.
Learn the ropes on this. You'll learn soooo much more this way without biting off more than you can chew.
The average time in this hobby is 18 months. Don't become that statistic by going balls out on your first tank.
No matter what we tell you to buy, it could be disastrous for you.
The less you have invested and the smaller the system, the easier it will be to recover from mistakes.
Something like this would be perfect. Decent amount of water volume, not an overwhelming size.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reefer-170-complete-system-34-gal-red-sea.html

 

[aaron23]

Larger - The easier to maintain, however that means more maintenance cost. Water changes electricity fish coral etc

 

[Diesel]

I'm just going to sit here and listen.............

 

[pdt7361]

Everyone is always so big on the Red Sea systems, but I don't see the appeal for a first time reefer....and I'm speaking as one. I set up a standard 4ft, 90 gallon system and pieced it all together after careful research. This allowed me to take the time to review what each component was for, baselines for how they should be setup, and what would best fit for my needs (needs being space, budget, and long term reef wants). I also enjoyed things like learning how to do the plumbing - now knowing that if anything were to go wrong with it, I could fix it since I built it.
The advice I would give to anyone is to take your time, decide what your fish/coral wants are (fowlr, reef, predator, etc), and build your system around that. The only other thing I'll add is to say the same as others....more water volume makes it easier - allows for small mistakes to not hold such a big impact. So don't start with less than 90 gallons in the display and a 20-30 gallon sump/refug supporting it.

 

[pugcrush]

$6k, nice budget. Set up a little pico & get yourself a $6k bounce mushroom. Look it up. You might be $50 over budget for adding the pico, but you'll already be the IT in the hobby.

For real though, I also agree on some of the red sea reefer tanks. Take a look at dimensions & people's build threads on here. Then make a decision on what size is right for you.

And welcome to R2R! Lots of good info here!

 

[mcarroll]

I think I like what someone else recomended:

Spend a little on a trainer tank now and keep saving the bulk of your money for later – when you're really know what you want.

Start with an all-in-one

The Red Sea tanks are nice, but pricey IMO.

For an alternative, get a bare tank from 15 gallons (or smaller) up to 180 gallons and add a Tunze Reefpack if you really want the "all in one" style.

Just for an example of a build for the largest Reefpack model:

$800 - Plain Aqueon 180 gallon tank
$400 - Aqueon Stand
$600 - Tunze Reefpack 500 (skimmer; filter/reactor; ATO)
------
$1800 - just add lights and flow

$1000 - Current USA Orbit Marine Pro 72" DUAL
$570 - Two Tunze 6105 Stream pumps
------
$1600

Grand Total
$3400​

A Red Sea S-650 is the only thing they have comparable and it runs from $5000-$5500.

You'll find similar economy in other alternates too.

 

[Pruett-nc]

One point I will add . You mentioned you saved . Not asking about financial but think about costs after you build or but this huge tank . Can you afford to keep up the maintenance on this huge tank . Everyone would love to have an ocean and some could afford to buy it but do you have money after you spent all your savings .