[vaulter08]

are there any good ways to win my parents over to let me have a tank. we have the room but they are concerned with the expence. I am trying to have a father son project. tried to tell them they would know were i am but no luck. any ideas looking at a 120 gal tank. then i would build my own stand. i am good at building things. i didnt take 2 years of wood shop for nothing

[Twan013]

hmm... 120 gallons, concerned with expense.... all i can say is good luck with that! lol.... i thought my 55 was expensive... since you're good at building things and whatnot, i'd say look at every DIY you can find... i think they have 'em that tell you how to do anything from building the tank all the way to making your own liverock using concrete and some other stuff... they also have cheap kits that you can buy to make your own preferred light system... but all in all, IMO, it would still be expensive...unless you want to go the GARF route... i read something about a 12 year old girl that did everything herself, with her allowance money...

[angie555]

I will tell you I am new to this and I have a 30 gallon with a 210 gallon on its way and I have spent ove 1,000 dollars on my 30g allown! So just rember that you will soend 25 to 50 per gallon! I have no doubt that if you read and talk to people that you will beable to do it!

[MattieFingaz]

vaulter,
Some experts and a bunch of enthusiasts (including angie who helped me in another post) estimate that when you're setting up a new tank you can expect to budget a minimum of about $25 per gallon on the complete setup of a new tank...with a 120 gallon tank that's about $3000. To most parents putting up three grand is a bunch of money.

I've actually read your post before (I don't know if it was here at reef-builders or somewhere else) and what follows is the best advice I can give you....I'm a newbie to setting up a tank but I am a parent and remember what it was like when I was when I was a teenager (I'm assuming here that you are in your teens)...

You've mentioned that you're looking for a father/son project and that you took a couple years of wood shop...maybe you should concentrate on creating a father/son project that focuses on the wood shop stuff...maybe you could show your dad something with the skills you've learned in those 2 years.

Being honest it looks to me like you're wanting to put together a project that you and your dad can share...

Why don't you start with asking your dad to help you build the stand for a 55g tank for a freshwater tank and go from there...That will get you both involved and you can learn about the daily needs of maintaining an aquarium....trust me it's at ton of work...

Good Luck with whatever course you choose, but communicating your thoughts and feelings to your parents, in my opinion, should be where you start.

[sameul]

i am a quote junior member and i wanted to do the same thing but mom and dad did not want me to invest three four thousand dollers. i was going to use the plans on garf and to build the tank it was going to be 157 gallons and over 1700 pounds and i had discoverd the concret rock but mom and dad still thought it was to costely so i have decided to make it a freshwater tank out of it and eventuly change it to saltwater

[angie555]

That would work just make sure that you do not use anything containing copper if you want to turn it in to a saltwater tank.

[volitan_fa]

Yeah....the expense on a 120 gallon will be huge. Especially for parents to put up for their kid, that's a car for school right there. Try something a little smaller....maybe you can convince them of a nano at first and get them hooked

[ninnybone]

im a dad of three boys 11,9,and 7 and one baby girl 2. my advice would be beg everyday and do alot of pouting.if you do it and do it right i think it will work. it always does will mine.

[vaulter08]

thanks for all the help dad is starting to lean in my direction

[glampka]

Most parents will look at the expense & freak out. Try keeping the expense low. The GARF system mentioned earlier is a low cost method which at least for them has resulted in some wonderful looking results. You have many options open to you - DIY, used equipment, eBay (provided you know what you're buying & what things are worth). You can always upgrade later to better lights, etc. Most of all, show a commitment to it. If there's 1 thing your parents are not going to like is shelling out the $$ & 6 months from now you decide you don't want it any more. Good luck! I commend you for trying to share something with your father!

[jade4286]

if you want a large tank, 50 gal or more, go with freshwater, much less expensive, if you are really stuck on having a saltwater tank i'd suggest a nano tank, these can be anywhere from 1 to 20 gallons, just remember the bigger the tank the more the expense (duh!!) lol...you really do end up paying @ $25-$50/ gallon on a marine set up!! good luck

[Brians125]

Can i call you kid lol you never typed your name..........But here's my idea for you.....(IF) your into saltwater and a freak about any thing about saltwater like me ;0) save your $$$$$$$$$$ go buy your self for say a 35long aquarium start small and grow some coral's...Start with soft coral's they spread fast......Buy some extra peace's of small live rock 1-2lb's put it by your other coral's and wammo your makeing money for your BIGGER aquarium that you want....Beside's you really dont want a huge tank that you'll have to move soon anyway if your close to 18....I have a 125 reef it hurt's the wallet some time's..Total i have about 13 thousand into my tank and thats just the low side...So G/L with mum and dad......I wish my kid's would get into salt water it's a cooool world..
G/L Kid
Brian