pixiexkp

I am thinking about entering the saltwater world. I currently have a 29 gallon freshwater tank and love it. So I was thinking about having a saltwater one too. I was looking at the nano cube and bio cube. What is the difference? Are they both take out of the box and add water, etc? I was going to go with the 28 gal one. What can I put in there? A couple of clownfish? Any info would be great. I don't have the space to add a large tank for now. Is it really hard to have a SW tank? Is there any books that are suggested or is all the info on the internet?

ATP

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...r_Aquarium.htm

Read everything.
Than read some more from other sources. Than read some more on specific species.
I've read a whole book and probably a whole month of research before I started my 125 reef.

On those cubes, I can't help you. I'm not into them because you have very limited options for equipment upgrades. I would buy a normal 30 gal. tank and buy equipment separately. You'll have better choices, but that's just my opinion.

pixiexkp

whats an estimate on how much it would cost to buy a 30 gal tank and then everything else?

ATP

depends on what you want to keep. Do you want SPS LPS softies or mix? It also depends on where you get your rocks. I bought my rocks from a local reef group forums for 2.50 a pound and in stores is about 7 dollars a pound. It also depends if you want a sump or not.

If you want a tank for really cheap, I would try and find one from craigslist or an aquarium society forums.

ATP

Read this too

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

pixiexkp

I want to be able to enjoy saltwater and not spend a lot of money. I have a spare 29 gallon tank. I want to be able to have a few fish in the tank. So I'm thinking fish with live rock. Does that seem ok? What kind of fish besides the clownfish could I put in there?

MizRamzi

Personally as a new SW keeper, I am so glad I went with my Oceanic Bio Cube. For me the expenses of setting up a raw tank was just to overwhelming, to say nothing of getting all the equipment needed for a raw tank.
Yes they are small (largest I believe is the 34g Red Sea Max) and we are limited to the amount of fish we can keep but the types of corals are endles. Otherwise it's like any other SW just on a smaller scale, and when it comes to learning. They come with everything needed.
I just know that as popularity for these little tanks grow, someone will come up with a grow up version of the All-In-One.

ATP

If you want to start new, I would get a 30 or 40 gallon tank (with stand) If you have the tools and skill, make your own stand and canopy. (I spent 900 bucks on my 125 stand and it would of cost me over 1500 if I ordered it). You don't really need a sump for a 30 gal.

In my old 38 gallon I used a Coralife Super skimmer. (rated for 65 gal)

I would suggest:

1xCoralife Super Skimmer (65)
2xKoralia Power Heads
1xTitanium Heater

(unnecessary) This is something you could add up later (upgrade) You could make a metal halide canopy and buy like a 150 or 175 watt single bulb ballast and make your own halides or if you don't have the tools you could buy a ready made one. (If you upgrade to like a 50 gal, you could still use the lights) (ready made is probably double the price depending on the brand)

All you really need is PC lighting, but the halides would probably make your SPS grow like crazy in a 30 gal. (I have three 175 watts in my 65)

A power filter is unnecessary, but I used to put one so I could put de nitrate and phosphate.

________________________

Sump:

You'll need a drilled tank or you could make one your self or you could buy an overflow box. If you want to make it your self

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects...verflow/70.asp

I'm not sure how ti find the GPH (forgot), but I'm sure other members could tell you

If you buy one, It should tell you how many GPH is required.

For the sump, get a 20 gal empty tank at petco and buy a sheet of acylic and cut them to make sections on your tank (get them cut and at local acrylic shop if you don't have tools)

1 st section is where the water goes down from the tank. Than the skimmer (i combined it with the first section) Then refugim and the last section is it gets pumped back into the tank.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/attachme...p_fugium_2.jpg

I like sumps because they're better and you could have more choices for skimmers and you could have a nice refugim. (buying ready made sumps is ridiculously expensive. It cost me 100 bucks to make a 75 gal sump and it cost me 400 for a ready made 30 gal.

I would not get the coralife skimmer if you decide on a sump. There's better skimmers.

ATP

woops, sorry I thought you wanted a reef. Scratch the halides and PC lights.

aquarist48

Best of luck with your salt water set up Pixie!
Ken

pixiexkp

what does everyone think of the marineland instant ocean 29 gallon kit? is it worth the money? i saw it in the store the other day?

ATP

estimates for a tank without sump is 250 (online)

That's with

Finnex 200 watt Titanium Heater
2 Koralia 2
1 CPR Bak Pak II Protein Skimmer (rated for 65)

You always want to go above for skimmer so you could have more fish and corals and keep the water clean.

If you want Reef Lighting

T-5 Retro kit = 250
T-5 = about 300 with tax
Halides= around 500 (Unnecessary)

If you have a normal canopy you could buy retro kits and install them to your canopy (normal canopy should be fine) because that will reduce the price

Red Sea max
http://www.marinedepot.com/Red_Sea_M...FIAQCK-vi.html

It's expensive compared to most cubes but I like red sea max. (normal bio cubes are like 300 bucks or under)

If you go with a bio cube make sure you get the skimmer for it.
http://www.petco.com/product/106669/...:referralID=NA

http://www.petco.com/product/108200/...:referralID=NA

MizRamzi

How much is it Pixie?