| Reef Builders Forums » Saltwater Aquariums » New to the Hobby (Getting Started/Setting Up) » Typical 100 gal set up? |
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| New to the Hobby (Getting Started/Setting Up) Think you can upgrade to saltwater? Your probably very confused, but remember ask questions and you'll get your answers on here! |
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08-08-2007, 06:04 PM
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 Typical 100 gal set up? I ran this past Ryan G in a PM before posting and he said it would be a great set-up without going cheap at first which some have done in his opinion, only to end up spending more. I have to say I'm shocked at the costs for a Reef tank. I have read Greg Skomal's book and various I-net posts for my initial Q & A and the below based on that research is what my Nube mind is telling me. I'd like any honest feedback if you think this is over the top, and any suggestions on products or set-up changes you would make so we can all benefit and know what we are getting into from the start. on a 100 gallon typical set-up. I'm $500 over the standard $25 per gallon I read somewhere else, $200 - 300 of that is for my custom stand, so its not far off after I put all this together. I will have to sell off some of two other hobbies, RC flying and Guns to even get to the $2K mark I think. ( A Sig P-239 9 MM with nightsights and custom Hogue grips as well as two airplanes ready to fly if anyone’s interested  ) Anyway please give your honest feedback and suggestions for any changes (to maybe help reduce costs) Or the misc I have forgotten.  Tank by Glasscages.com Reef Ready Starphire Glass 48 x18 x 25 Overflow w/blue cover for Skimmer, two holes , bulkheads $485 total with pick-up in ATL Stand Custom made by local carpenter friend (using on-line plans) $ ??? Lower than a store Euro-Reef RS 100 $288 Tunze 6060 Turbelle Stream $140 Reef Keeper 2 $270 Turbo-Sea 1090 Main Pump $150 Nova Extreme T5 1123 Light with Moon $400 ADHI -30 Refugium $339 90 lbs Tonga Deep Water Live Rock $130 per 30 lbs $390 25 lbs Ultra Tonga Live Rock $170 120 lbs live sand $300 1 in line Heater $50 Seachem Salt 160 gal $40 Test Kit all purpose Reef $25 Hydrometer $7 2 - 5 gal buckets $10 2 –nets small and large $10 Sub total: $3084 !!! before stand materials $200 lumber & stain  |
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08-08-2007, 06:44 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? have you thought about seeding arganite sand with live sand. it will help reduce the cost a small portion, and your tank wont be as stable right away. i feel that with a good portion of LR you might not ever notice! something to think about.
__________________ 65 gallon reef 3 maroon dartfish 1 clown goby 1 duskie jawfish 1 bubble tip anemone 2 tank raised clown fish 3 sets of assorted mushrooms 1 devils finger leather 100 lbs LR 80 lbs of LS 192 watt power compact 42 watt t-5 |
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08-08-2007, 07:05 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Instead of the Euro reef skimmer you can get a ASM and save a little more money. They are basiclly the same skimmer besides the name on the label.
__________________ I've learned more about this hobby than the stuff I go to school for. |
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08-08-2007, 07:14 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Keep um' coming this is what we all need for feedback, great suggestions so far |
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08-08-2007, 07:26 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Personaly I would be a bit leary of the 2.16 watts per gallon you will get with the nova extreme.I would suggest a diy set up that is 41$'s under your budget including bulbs and will give you 3.4 watts per gallon.You can use the 41$'s to get your friend to build you a canopy.I am recomending a t 5 vho diy unit by Ice cap. 4 48 inch bulbs at 85 watts per bulb.All you need is a screwdriver.Have a look here. T5HO Retro Kits - DIYReef |
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08-08-2007, 07:29 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Look here and you might save some money on your rock choices.Marine Aquarium - Live Rock - Corals - Tonga - Fiji - Vanuatu - Marshall Islands |
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08-08-2007, 08:52 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? also, instead of getting a 30g fuge and buildign it yourslef, you can just go to walmart or your lfs and get a 30g tank and get a few baffles in there, and you have yourself a sump/fuge for 1/3 the price. if not a 30g tank, look into some large plastic containers from walmart.
__________________ Revelation 20:15 I have cheato for sale....look in the marketplace! If there is something in life you want, reach out and grab it! - into the wild |
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08-08-2007, 09:17 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Books $ ??? Flashlights $ ??? Plumbing supplies $ ??? Refractometer $ ??? Fans $ ??? Chiller $ ??? Top off unit $ ??? RO?DI unit $ ??? Buckets $ ??? Another Powerhead $ ??? Stuff for in your Fuge $ ??? Light for fuge $ ??? GFI $ ??? Power strip $ ??? More test kits $ ??? Higher light bill $ ??? RB premium membership $ ??? Quaratine tank with filter $ ??? Seaweed clips $ ??? Magnet glass cleaner $ ??? Algae scraper $ ??? Tongs, Turkey Baster, Sea Squirt $ ??? Lots of Paper towels $ ??? Extra gas going to all the fish stores $ ??? Some additives for your tank $ ??? After all that and you wait 4-6 weeks for your tank to cycle, You get to buy snails and crabs and brittle stars and shrimp and.... And if you are serious about it: Cacium reactor $ ??? Carbon reactor $ ??? Phosban Reactor $ ??? Ozonizer $ ??? Im sorry this is not a complete list but it should get you started in the right direction. Please understand this was done in the spirit of good fun and I welcome you to RB. It a great place to learn about this great hobby/addiction!!! |
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08-08-2007, 10:03 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? That is far less thas I spent on my 55 gal!!!!
__________________ 55gal AGA, 2 hydor koralia 2 PH, 1 MJ 900 PH, Aqua C Remora skimmer, Eheim 2227 W/D filter, 6 light Nova Extreem Pro T5's, 60# LS, 60# LR, 2 carki clowns, 1 pygmy yellow angel, multiple colored zoas, ricordias, multiple different shrooms, frog spawn, nuclear candy cane, assorted leathers. Assort. snails, and hermits. Assorted SPS corals. |
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08-08-2007, 11:51 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? on my 55, im at around 3500
__________________ Revelation 20:15 I have cheato for sale....look in the marketplace! If there is something in life you want, reach out and grab it! - into the wild |
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08-09-2007, 10:03 AM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? I think I'm having second thoughts about getting a tank with that additional laundry list of items. I know its easy to take hobbies to extremes (like RC Flying). I'm looking for a safe tank not to rebuild the Atlanata aquarium! I'll look to scale down but if its this much hassle and cost I may just stick to RC Flights which I have about $2K sunk into now. Just my initial reaction after being here only a few days. |
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08-09-2007, 04:14 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Sticker shock... We are at about $4500 on our 95G reef set-up, and I am still staring at 144# of cycling uncured live rock in an otherwise empty tank...  Six months from now, I know it will be worth it... JMHO LL
__________________ 180G AGA Reef w/ SPS, LPS, fish; 95G Oceanic Wave mixed reef tank with breeding hippocampus reidi; 20G Frag tank. Ask about our Reef Cam |
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08-09-2007, 08:59 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? ( Now 75 gal !!! ) Actually I went with a 75 and trimmed off $400 and changing/adding a few items from the laundry list sent which most are not needed to start. Realizing this is just to get the tank going before critters I'm now at $2730 plus or minus $300, I think depending on which on-line vendors have sales , best service, deals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tank by Glasscages.com Reef Ready Starphire Rimless Glass 48 x18 x 21 75 Gallon Overflow w/blue cover for Skimmer, two holes , bulkheads $445 ($505 with ATL Pick-up) Stand Custom made by local carpenter friend (using on-line plans) $ ??? Lower than a store Euro-Reef RS 80 $238 Tunze Nano Stream 6025 X 2 $125 Reef Keeper 2 $270 Turbo-Sea 1090 Main Pump $150 Nova Extreme T5 1123 Light with Moon $400 Custom Sump/Refugium by Glasscages $125 Light for Refugium $35 Stuff for Refugium $30 60 lbs Tonga Deep Water Live Rock $130 per 30 lbs $260 25 lbs Ultra Tonga Live Rock $170 100 lbs live sand $275 Hydro ETH 300watt in line Heater $50 Seachem Salt 160 gal $40 Test Kit all purpose Reef $25 Refractometer $45 2 - 5 gal buckets $10 2 –nets small and large $10 Sub total: $2730 before stand materials $200 lumber & stain Would this not get my tank going before adding crabs tec to start? |
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08-09-2007, 10:36 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? If you bought southdown playground sand, you would save on your live sand costs, just ask a RB member to give you enough to seed your tank. Drop the Turbosea pump and get a mag 9 or 12...that would save you $50 Total cost savings: $325 Also if you spread this out over a period of time it would be easier for you, instead of getting everything at once, slowly build the system. Look on cragis list for a used aquarium...get a local glass shop to drill you overflows...granted glass cages does a nice job of doing that for you already.
__________________ |Join the Reef Builders on Facebook. |Want to find out about all the new and exciting products, rumors and gossip about the saltwater industry? Read the blog and get informed. |
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08-09-2007, 10:37 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Need at least 100 gal RO or distilled water. Are you going to buy the water or get an RO/DI unit. VERY important to use RO water. |
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08-10-2007, 10:43 AM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? ( Now 75 gal !!! ) Thanks Ryan I will check out the Mag 12 and the sand options to seed vs just all LS from the start. As for the ro/di I have looked at them and would like to save the cost initially, however we have a well that taps into an Artesian source. I took the water to my pool guy and he tested for iron and copper, both came up zero. The whole city is over it , thats why Miller brewery is here! I'm looking for another place to test as well, what do you think about well water vs city? |
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08-10-2007, 12:06 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? its not just the copper to be worried about, its phosphates also. most well systems dont contain copper, but i would still test for it. check your nitrates also. my well water is through the roof in nitrates and therefore unstable for a reef aquarium. i would do well vs city any day but for a reef, i would spend the extra money and get an RO/DI system. it will pay itself off in no time.
__________________ 65 gallon reef 3 maroon dartfish 1 clown goby 1 duskie jawfish 1 bubble tip anemone 2 tank raised clown fish 3 sets of assorted mushrooms 1 devils finger leather 100 lbs LR 80 lbs of LS 192 watt power compact 42 watt t-5 |
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08-10-2007, 03:12 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? RO water. You can do what you want. Ryan is a smart guy thats been in the saltwater hobby a lot longer than I. I listen to his advice on a regular basis. In fact, I listened to his advice 6 months ago when he said I needed RO water. I couldnt do the RO unit then as well. I believed Ryan and some of the other RB "Trusted Members" so much that this is how I got the water to fill my tank: Distilled water from Walmart. 150Gal. .67 cents a gal. It was great advice then and still is. Thanks guys.  |
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08-10-2007, 03:59 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? LOL, too funny. I never thought of that and in my case I won't need as much. So for a water change you just go get 20-30 more gallons right? Or just bite the bullet and get a RO/DI unit for your house? Believe me I trust Ryan without a doubt, its a great website. The idea of buying in stages helps to and is less on the budget and wife gripes etc. |
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08-10-2007, 04:20 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? A lot of us have Mighty Mites that only costed us about 100 bucks shipped. Think about it thats like 100g of water...its an additional cost but it will save you money right away...Im A big fan of getting stuff online. I saved at least 650 by using online to purchase stuff. I recomend MarineDepot.com they price match any webset and they have free tech support and free shipping on orders over 175 |
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08-10-2007, 04:22 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Also I got 100lbs of Walt Smith Fiji LR for 260 shipped already cured. You should look or ebay for stuff. I could give the names of some sellers for rock and live goods. |
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08-10-2007, 04:26 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Quote:
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08-10-2007, 04:31 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Great ideas please send or PM me on your e-bay sources. I'm usually leary of ebay due to returns and service issues when needed. Is my revised 75 set up on target to get started? Checking out Walt now. I agreed with on-line which isn't great for the local guy but....thats progress. |
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08-10-2007, 04:38 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? For LR eBay Seller: mrmarine: 50 LB BOXLOT FIJI LIVE ROCK WALT SMITH CURED items on eBay.com For LPS eBay My World - grizzvander You can just Pm grizz. He has tons of stuff and there all amazing. nothing for sale right now but he has them available. both sellers perfer paypal as well. |
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08-10-2007, 04:44 PM
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| Re: Typical 100 gal set up? Quote:
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