Got LOTS of salt questions...

[TTTT]

I'm in 8th grade, and have been keeping freshwater for years. The highschool I'm going to next year has a club where they take HUGE saltwater tanks and add sand filters coral inverts and of course fish and I told my mom about this, and she decided she would buy me a small saltwater tank. So now I'm gonna a new tank! But she wants me to pick out a bowfront (I think that's what it's called), one of the ones that has the filter and everything in the top. (She's displaying it in the main room so she want it to look "nice" ) So, I was wondering, how much will one of those run her, and how much will everything in total cost? Also what size should I consider (I was looking at about 30 Gallons, but is that a good size for saltwater begginers) Any links to websites where I can look at tanks similiar to the ones I described would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a ton

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

The bigger the better.
The cost. It never ends. The initial setup, depending on size will land you anywhere from... $600-$1500+

Bow fronts are tanks that have, well. A bowed front. The tank you are talking about are tanks with overflow boxes. I prefer these because it gives you a safe and reliable route to the sump.

Please Please Please don't rush this. I spent all summer researching before I set up my first. Take your time. It takes time to make a masterpiece.

What i suggest for you is get some books, read them. Go online, find articles, read them. post questions you have on here. Find out anything you possibly can.

http://www.peteducation.com/index.cfm?c=16
I started here.

Do your research. Make sure you know everything about what you are adding to your tank.


Sounds like a fun club. Just remember to take your time, do your research, and don't rush things.

Good Luck!

 

[mr.reef24]

well said ^

mr.reef24

 

[poly-nomial]

Just research all you possibly can, a 20-30g is ok for a beginner, but don't expect to keep any monster fish. It takes a really long time to get a masterpiece, it's expensive, it takes money and lots of time to find quality livestock, you have to check the water parameters daily, weekly water changes, you have to buy marine salt every month or so, if i were you, i would stick with freshwater.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

You test every day? That's a bit ridiculous. I don't even test weekly. I test twice a month at best, or whenever I notice anything. I don't even change the water weekly. I add a gallon or so every time it evaporates, then I do water changes every once and awhile. I'm real lenient with my tank, nothing has gone wrong yet. My big 3 parameters have been all zero since the end of the cycle a year ago.

The biggest thing is you have to have a good eye, and watch the tank every day so you will be able to tell when something does go wrong, or when something Is not right/out of the ordinary.

I say go for it dude. If you have the money and are willing to do the research, go for it. If you don't feel like reading, stay away from it. Theirs a lot more research you need to do than their is in basic freshwater. But it's not all that hard once you learn.