changing from tropical to salt. help!

[alexpie001]

sorry to hijack a bit but isn't it possible to do the transition from fw to salt slowly?
Maybe buy the upgraded lights now then wait a few moths then get the skimmer.....etc. then once you have everything empty the tank and fill with the salt/ or am i wrong?

 

[k0y0te]

If i wanted to change my 125g African Cichlid tank into a saltwater tank with the live rock and coral how much would that run me?

a couple of thousand.

i have 1500 tied up into my 55 FOWLR just in equipment, sand and live rock. Thats not including salt or livestock

 

[Boose1357]

well all of this feedback just proves my point. My buddy didnt want to listen and I told him exactly what I was told. Thx for all the reassurance guys!

 

[snyder810]

it's doable for far cheaper than listed if your patient, but if it's one of those has to buy everything now from a store these guys are pretty accurate.

but with patience there is usually always someone gettin out of the hobby on craigslist selling their rock/equipment for cheap. heck when i was setting up my 110 i got 80lbs of rock and a yellow tang off a guy for $40, got free sand cuz a local store was changing their systems to bare bottom and were just gonna pitch it, got 2 koralia's for $30 off another switching to fresh....so deals can be found

 

[BTB0923]

When I transitioned my 55 from freshwater to saltwater reef I kept a tally of all the equipment and supplies I bought for the first few months. I got a lot of good deals on craigslist, but you might find it gives you a better idea of the cost involved. I posted the list in my thread here...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3600358#post3600358

 

[FLESHY]

If you are doing a fish only...the only things you really need is a skimmer, powerheads, salt and a hydrometer. I would replace your substrate and that would probably be the most expensive thing. LR if you want to and I would recommend it.

Skimmer $200
Powerheads $200
Salt $60
Hydrometer $10
Sand $120
LR...really depends...how much you want quality ect. $300

 

[SpJc11]

salt would prob cost you about $120 and live rock ushaly $1.99 per pound, live sand 20LB in my LFS is $40, Skimmer IMO $50-100, coral from $10-$100

liverock is almost NEVER 1.99 if you buy it from a lfs its going to be between 5.99- 15.99 depending on size shape ect. you are going to need atleast 1-2 pounds of rock per gallon

there are ways to save money first is DONT buy live sand. with time and old sand would become "live"
if you have filters, powerheads ect that will save alot of money.
for a reef the lights themselves are around 200.00

all I can say is good luck

 

[FLESHY]

+1 for live sand being a rip. I dont get why anyone would buy that. Its dead, dirty, and I feel its a very inferior sand.

That being said, deals can be found on LR...I was selling LR earlier this summer for $1 a Lb coral encrusted. You just have to search for deals. You arent going to find that at an LFS probably, but for a FOWLR he could buy lace rock or whatever and be totally fine. You also dont NEED any amount of LR, but I attribute my h20 quality to having lots of the high quality stuff.