looking for free of cheap fish tank setup
- Thread starter cata
- Start date
Might as well go reef, I have the 4x65w powercompacts i can hook you up with wich is about 13 wpg on a 20 long 
so you would be able to keep most anything, this is not the prefered lighting for reefs now adays but that doesn't mean it don't work.
If you go with that tank I can build you a basic canopy that will look nice and let the heat out for the lights, since it's a retro kit the lights are not in a fixture so you will need it.
so you would be able to keep most anything, this is not the prefered lighting for reefs now adays but that doesn't mean it don't work.If you go with that tank I can build you a basic canopy that will look nice and let the heat out for the lights, since it's a retro kit the lights are not in a fixture so you will need it.
I got you covered on the lights, the 4x65w pcs are quite a bit but would give you the option to cycle your lights, I am also a light junkie there is no such thing as to much
I can also set you up with 15lbs of base rock which is dry live rock, you would need to seed it to bring it back to life with a few pounds of live rock. so adding 5lbs of live would give you the recommended 1lb per gallon.
I can also set you up with 15lbs of base rock which is dry live rock, you would need to seed it to bring it back to life with a few pounds of live rock. so adding 5lbs of live would give you the recommended 1lb per gallon.
you still need sand, skimmer, pumps. I would do a 4" sand bed and with the 20lbs of rock you will have what you need for natural filtration, then maybe run a hang on filter full of carbon and or phos remover "no filter pads", that coupled with some good flow and a good hang on back skimmer and your set for success
In a 20L 1-2 fish tops and of course the hermits,snails, and other creatures.
You need to get setup first and if you want a successful tank you will need to be patient and let the tank cycle properly and mature, if you rush putting fish corals and other livestock into the tank you will simply overload the biological and the tank will crash. The key is patients and double checking everything you are told from LFS then draw your own conclusions. A lot of LFS don't have knowledgeable employees even though they all have a good spiel so always double check your facts.
Even what I tell you is subject to question Thats why these forums are so great.
You need to get setup first and if you want a successful tank you will need to be patient and let the tank cycle properly and mature, if you rush putting fish corals and other livestock into the tank you will simply overload the biological and the tank will crash. The key is patients and double checking everything you are told from LFS then draw your own conclusions. A lot of LFS don't have knowledgeable employees even though they all have a good spiel so always double check your facts.
Even what I tell you is subject to question
Thats why these forums are so great.I can see that your new to the hobby, and real anxious to get everything going. Here is my advice to new people in the hobby, presented again, by popular demand.
DaveK's Standard Lecture #1 – Advice for people new to the hobby
The very first thing you want to do, before you spend any money on equipment or livestock, is get yourself a few good books on state of the art reef systems. Then read and study them, so you have some idea about what your are doing.
Here are two to start with -
The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner
The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Paleta <---This book has an especially good section on fish suited to someone starting off in the hobby.
This is information that you can not easily obtain from the net. While it's out there, it's all over the place, and there is a massive volume of information.
Once you get that done, plan or rethink your system. What do you want to keep? Do you have the necessary equipment? Do you have the knowledge to keep the livestock you want? Do you have the time to dedicate to keeping a system and it's livestock?
Many salt water fish, corals and inverts often have very specific requirements. Some are extremely difficult to keep alive, even if you do everything right. Before you get anything, research it, and be sure it will work out in your system.
Lastly, you will find that most LFS people are clueless when it comes to SW systems. Verify their advice, until they prove otherwise.
Additional thoughts.
Saltwater systems, no mater what you do are going to be expensive. It is true that you can save a lot getting used equipment and bargain livestock, but many things are needed and they can cost a lot.
For buying new equipment you can figure spending about $35 to $50 per gallon of water in the main tank by the time it's all set up. So that 20 gal tank would cost between $700 and $1000 by the time your done. Using used equipment can lover this quite a bit, but it's still a lot.
Please make sure you can afford the hobby, not only the initial investment, but the ongoing costs, like salt, light bulbs, filter media, replacement parts and so on.
DaveK's Standard Lecture #1 – Advice for people new to the hobby
The very first thing you want to do, before you spend any money on equipment or livestock, is get yourself a few good books on state of the art reef systems. Then read and study them, so you have some idea about what your are doing.
Here are two to start with -
The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner
The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Paleta <---This book has an especially good section on fish suited to someone starting off in the hobby.
This is information that you can not easily obtain from the net. While it's out there, it's all over the place, and there is a massive volume of information.
Once you get that done, plan or rethink your system. What do you want to keep? Do you have the necessary equipment? Do you have the knowledge to keep the livestock you want? Do you have the time to dedicate to keeping a system and it's livestock?
Many salt water fish, corals and inverts often have very specific requirements. Some are extremely difficult to keep alive, even if you do everything right. Before you get anything, research it, and be sure it will work out in your system.
Lastly, you will find that most LFS people are clueless when it comes to SW systems. Verify their advice, until they prove otherwise.
Additional thoughts.
Saltwater systems, no mater what you do are going to be expensive. It is true that you can save a lot getting used equipment and bargain livestock, but many things are needed and they can cost a lot.
For buying new equipment you can figure spending about $35 to $50 per gallon of water in the main tank by the time it's all set up. So that 20 gal tank would cost between $700 and $1000 by the time your done. Using used equipment can lover this quite a bit, but it's still a lot.
Please make sure you can afford the hobby, not only the initial investment, but the ongoing costs, like salt, light bulbs, filter media, replacement parts and so on.