thinking of starting a saltwater tank!!??

[squirt_12]

ok well i have a 20 gallon tank and a 33 gallon tank and i was wondering how much it would cost to start them up with saltwater???
And i would wonder what kind of fish i would beable to put in it for a starter!!!
Also i would like to maybe get a little bit of coral and or live sand!!!
So if you could estimate how much it would cost i would appriciate it!!!! Thanks!!!!

[Drumachine09]

I read i think yesterday, someone mentiond expect to spend about $50 per gallon for a well stocked reef aquarium.

[squirt_12]

Well would that include like all of the stuff you need to buy to run it???
like:
- filter system
- salt
- lighting ( like do u need a special type of lighting??)
and like all of that stuff!!!!!!

[Fishguy2727]

That should include everything to get going. Many things affect this though. 2 pounds of live rock per gallon at $9 per pound at the LFS or one pound per gallon at $4 per pound online. Equipment online, or from an overpriced LFS. Lighting for stony corals, or just to see the fish.

[squirt_12]

So you mean that you only need a special type of light if you want live sand or coral???

[kkyyllee]

you only need special lights for corals, or other things that requir photosynthesis for food, lives sand and liverock dont need light

[unleashed]

also remember that you will need special marine lighting to grow benficial algaes and bring out the colour in the fish

[Fishguy2727]

I would go with a basic compact fluorescent with live rock, but a good double bright fluorescent would even work. Live sand doesn't need any special lighting, but most who have it also have other stuff that does need it.

[squirt_12]

o ok then!!!! I don't know if i will open one but i just want the details so if i can open one i will know what i will need!!!!
Thanks

[kkyyllee]

liverock doesnt need any lighting at all

[Fishguy2727]

Live rock used just for biological filtration does not need light, but the beneficial algae on live rock does need light. The best rock comes from properly lit display tank, not the unlit tub in the corner. Any other beneficial photosynthetic organisms on the rock will also need light.