Terrible idea to start with a reef tank?

[TheStrangler]

You'll be fine starting with reef. Just start with cheap corals and fish because regardless of where you started, there's a lot of trial and error. Be patient, ask questions, and do some quick searches here and you'll avoid a lot of mistakes. Its an expensive hobby but you can reef on a budget in a lot of areas, the tradeoff is time. The fancy high dollar equipment mostly just amounts to decreasing the time you spend doing actions manually. Skipping the $600 Apex Trident just means dedicating a bit more time to manually testing. Water changes, filtration, and dosing are all interrelated. You most likely will never need fancy dosing equipment if you're willing to devote a little more time to water changes to replenish minerals that get used up (This is a bit of an oversimplification don't attack me R2R). If you spend some time researching you'll find what equipment to invest a greater portion of your budget on, and what you can get away with more simply. Quality of brands and equipment can be researched. The most expensive and greatest is normally pretty good, but the price may not warrant the step up from a mid priced contender.

Be patient, move forward carefully but steadily and you'll be fine.

Its tough to give you a ballpark budget, but I guarantee you it'll be more than whatever you calculate. Bulk Reef Supply has a lot of videos on youtube of products that are common in the hobby. If I was trying to put together a comprehensive list of equipment and add ons that I was going to spend money on, I'd skim through their videos and price stuff out. You might not need the $400 circulation pump they recommend and opt for a much cheaper one, but it works exceptionally well for those little trinkets that you aren't even considering right now.

 

[sfin52]

I’m in south Alabama, near Mobile. Haven’t seen much on Craig’s but will keep looking. Just joined a Facebook group for fish keepers here that has some good deals.

Sometimes it fsn be much cheaper to buy a complete setup

 

[Auquanut]

I can understand the advice saying to go FW first. It's easier. The learning curve is less dramatic. BUT. Coming from a guy that went from FW to a reef, we're talking apples and oranges.

I still keep a FW tank, but in my opinion, if you do your research upfront, you will do better with your reef without the preconceived ideas from FW.

Sometimes, I still want to attribute lessons learned with my FW tanks to my reef. Again, apples and oranges.

Just go slow, do your research, and ask lots of questions. It comes down to what you're willing to put into the hobby. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

[I like pizza]

tonight go out for dinner. Have a lobster starter then the biggest prime rib on the menu and a nice bottle of red....follow it up with a double chocolate cake...
tomorrow start a reef tank and in the future look back at that last wonderful meal and enjoy your mac a

I can understand the advice saying to go FW first. It's easier. The learning curve is less dramatic. BUT. Coming from a guy that went from FW to a reef, we're talking apples and oranges.

I still keep a FW tank, but in my opinion, if you do your research upfront, you will do better with your reef without the preconceived ideas from FW.

Sometimes, I still want to attribute lessons learned with my FW tanks to my reef. Again, apples and oranges.

Just go slow, do your research, and ask lots of questions. It comes down to what you're willing to put into the hobby. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Wow thanks for all the great advice and encouragement! I think I will start with a reef tank. I’ve got some time before I can get started so I’ll dive into research mode and learn all I can before I start buying equipment in a month or two. Psyched!

 

[Mathew0]

I had a freshwater tank for a decade and kept a painted turtle for over 5 yrs. That experience taught me nothing that could be applied to reefing.
I would look for a local Marine society group. Here in Minneapolis it’s TCMAS. There’s a ‘MAS’ in the Dallas area, too. I suspect there’s one near you too.
Buying used can save you a ton of money and possibly some time, if it’s still running. You could largely skip the nitrogen cycle and ugly stage.
Regardless, just do lots of research and plan ahead. Think about water changes, how big your tank is, how much water & salt you’ll go thru monthly, is it better in the long run to get a RODI. Don’t be afraid to ask “dumb” questions.
I think you’ll do great if you put stuff in there that interests you.

 

[Idech]

Maybe I’ll start with some cichlids and if I like them jump to SW.

I’ve had freshwater tanks for 40 years. I was always too afraid and busy to try saltwater. I decided to make the jump and start with cichlids. I went with M’bunas and hated it. I like peaceful aquariums and those fish are on acid 24/7 so not fun to watch at all.

I don’t know why people say to start with cichlids; it doesn’t have much of anything that prepares you for saltwater, really. If you want a reef tank, then get a reef tank. Just be aware that the vast majority of people who try will quit in the first year. It is a very complex hobby and you can make so many mistakes and ruin your tank and lose a lot of money. Or not so many. Luck plays some part, but temperament also. People who aren’t patient and don’t like doing lots of research shouldn’t do reefing.

About the price of a low tech 75 gallons, just the lights can cost 1k-2k. So that gives you an idea.

Start with a reef tank. I doubt freshwater teaches much of anything that useful to saltwater outside the nitrogen cycle.

I don’t agree with this statement. Sure, the saltwater world is much, much more complex, but in many ways, a fish is a fish. An experienced freshwater person will make a lot less mistakes than a person with no fish experience, beyond cycling and knowing how to start a tank without as much algae and bacteria blooms.

I have to admit though, saltwater is fascinating and challenging. Like having a bronco as a pet instead of a hamster.

 

[BaliReefBox]

Wow thanks for all the great advice and encouragement! I think I will start with a reef tank. I’ve got some time before I can get started so I’ll dive into research mode and learn all I can before I start buying equipment in a month or two. Psyched!

You wont regret it...well you will and you will wonder why you let yourself slip into the rabbit hole hole but all that said it is a great and fulfilling hobby, just be patient and dont give up....good luck and enjoy

 

[Tamberav]

I don’t agree with this statement. Sure, the saltwater world is much, much more complex, but in many ways, a fish is a fish. An experienced freshwater person will make a lot less mistakes than a person with no fish experience, beyond cycling and knowing how to start a tank without as much algae and bacteria blooms.

I have to admit though, saltwater is fascinating and challenging. Like having a bronco as a pet instead of a hamster.

Idk.. one can bring bad habits from the freshwater side to the salt. I have seen that before!!! Fast stocking of a tank with too many fish... like it is some petco community fish tank.

ugh.. actually seen it way too much..

if you don't have interest in it then I still see it as a waste of time when we have books and the internet.. can just start reading about saltwater instead of using that time to practice on a tank that a person doesn't desire.

 

[Idech]

if you don't have interest in it then I still see it as a waste of time when we have books and the internet.. can just start reading about saltwater instead of using that time to practice on a tank that a person doesn't desire.

Oh I agree with you on that. I was just talking in general. I wouldn’t recommend starting with freshwater unless that’s your main interest. Just take the plunge and go for salty !

 

[Andreas' Reef]

Hi all,

I’ve been scouring the net for an answer and came here to ask: am I doomed to failure if I start my aquarium hobby with a reef tank? Everyone says to start with freshwater, and then move to saltwater, and maybe eventually get into reefkeeping, but dang it I’m getting into this hobby because I’m fascinated primarily by coral and secondarily by fish. For what it’s worth, I’m a guy with 20 years of education, who works at home, who can constantly monitor tanks throughout the day. Is it really that bad an idea to start my aquarist hobby with reefkeeping? Would really appreciate any feedback!

You should start with whichever type of tank you want! With saltwater, you can't just dip your toes in, you have to take a dive, time and money speaking.

 

[sfin52]

About the price of a low tech 75 gallons, just the lights can cost 1k-2k. So that gives you an idea.

This isnt true. Low tech lights able to grow anything can cost as low as 250 thats including bulbs. A simple t5 fixture like hydro planet or vivosun can grow anything.

 

[bradreef]

No reason IMO you can't jump straight in to an SPS reef if you want. There is a ton of info available in today's world. you just have to put in the work.

new tank budget is going to be around 1k to 3k roughly



Tank-$ 125- 500 new

Petco 50% off is $125. Reef ready glass are around 500.

Petco tank will need to add 120 for overflow kit with drill bit

Stand: $ 75- 500

Diy cost maybe 75 in supplies, prebuilt ones go up to around 500ish

Sump: $ 60 - 300

Diy 20long or 29 gallon roughly $60 to premade sump roughly 200+

Return pump: $60- 200
Jebao returns are cheap and reliable.
Lights: $ 200- 1500
You could grow anything with 2 smatfarm light on the budget side or spend the world
Internal flow- $125- 800
You could run 2 jebao wavemakers up to a couple mp 40's
Dosing- $75- 400- i think this is critical to success long term.
Budget jebao doser up to a full calcium reactor
Rock- 100- 300
Dry rock and diy gluing vs live rock. I think you could buy roughly 40 lbs and creat a really cool scape by breaking it down and gluing into structures.
Sand- 40- 100
Skimmer- 0 - 500
Not needed at the start IMO. You could start with a refugium in your sump and eventually add one
Rodi- 75- 300
Add another $100 - $300 in random chemicals an stuff

 

[bradreef]

I add that and will follow with this. Every piece of the tank you will need to research. You will run into problems, but that is part of the experience.

 

[Idech]

This isnt true. Low tech lights able to grow anything can cost as low as 250 thats including bulbs. A simple t5 fixture like hydro planet or vivosun can grow anything.

I didn’t say that’s what it has to cost. I used « CAN » because lots of people like to have top of the line leds that are very expensive.

 

[sfin52]

I didn’t say that’s what it has to cost. I used « CAN » because lots of people like to have top of the line leds that are very expensive.

Ya but I don't count them as low tech.

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome to the Reef

 

[I like pizza]

$2-3k doesn’t sound too bad, but then that’s without livestock. And just one tank. I can definitely see myself getting a drag tank, a QT tank, a couple more display tanks, plus maintenance costs… I see how it really adds up.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Hi all,

I’ve been scouring the net for an answer and came here to ask: am I doomed to failure if I start my aquarium hobby with a reef tank? Everyone says to start with freshwater, and then move to saltwater, and maybe eventually get into reefkeeping, but dang it I’m getting into this hobby because I’m fascinated primarily by coral and secondarily by fish. For what it’s worth, I’m a guy with 20 years of education, who works at home, who can constantly monitor tanks throughout the day. Is it really that bad an idea to start my aquarist hobby with reefkeeping? Would really appreciate any feedback!

no, but I would really recommend getting a tank with a sump and not an AIO to start off.

 

[I like pizza]

no, but I would really recommend getting a tank with a sump and not an AIO to start off.

Is that because it gives you more flexibility to add filtration later? Or is it it just easier to work with?

 

[emmysnewtank]

We started a nano reef a little over a year ago. Was actually surprised how easy a nano aio tank can be.

I’d say start w a nano tank…Innovative Marine has a killer setup for their 15g for only $100. Get an inexpensive light like the Noo-Psyche k7 mini and you are rolling.

the nice thing about a nano aio is that it keeps it simple. No plumbing, simple filtration, and it allows you to learn basics without much work.

Even water changes we did weekly literally a gallon at a time. no siphons/buckets etc. don’t even have to learn how to mix saltwater…we just buy 5g at a time from out LFS.

plus your coral and livestock investment is low because it’s small.

We are about to upgrade to a 40L tank over the holidays and can literally transfer our now established rock and corals…plus we feel 99% confident we know how to handle it

also…issues that will invariably come up are also much easier to manage in a nano. Algae issue? Manually removing from small tank easier than a huge one. Need to water change? Even if we replace half our water it’s only 2 buckets.