Starting up my very first marine tank

[nonstophoops]

My 2 cents - 250 for that 40 gal. set up - no way. I've bought whole set ups of tanks 6x larger for the same price on craigslist. Recently I've seen locally 350 gal. set up for $400, 125 gal w/ LR $250, 125 gal $100 these are whole set ups HO lighting, sumps, skimmers, whole kit and kabooldes. Hold out for a better deal.

Holy crap man, I wish those deals came by around me. I would own a 350 gallon tank then

 

[Liz Sagara]

Yeah prices like that are fictional around here....

 

[Heathd]

Solution? I dont' think I'm going to find a better price than that for all the sand and LR I need.

http://www.petco.com/product/112009...aspx?CoreCat=LN_FishSupplies_GravelSubstrates

10lb bags are 7.19 each. Its what I am using in my current tank build, and it is the perfect grain mix (in my opinion). The biggest draw back is that you need to really wash it. Its dirty. If you act now, shipping would be 4.99, but you also get nailed with sales tax. That puts you at a grand total of $36.22.

Marco sells 40 lbs of his sand for 30 bucks shipped.

What I listed is going to be the cheapest alternative solution for aragonite substrate, but like I said, you got some washing to do.

 

[Otherone]

I used the same stuff as above but @ $18.99 for 20lbs bought 4 bags plus 4 bags sterile sea sand. Used sand 1st than the agronite on top, lined the agronite with cardboard then filled with water. It was cloudy for a few daze but how much was agronite and how much was the all but 90 lbs of salt, couldn't tell ya. After 3 weeks there was pink coraline growing in the sand.

I went to go copy past that 350 gal. but owner removed the ad, must've went like wild fire. In the ad it said tank weight was 800lbs empty bring 4 really strong guys and a truck. Also the tank was 36" wide - in my house I'd have to remove the entire door and jam just to get it in. These deals aren't every day but usually once a month or so. I bought my 150 XH whole set up $300 on craigslist.

 

[Liz Sagara]

WHat do you guys thing about getting that sand... since it comes with the thing anyway and then getting 50 lbs pool filter sand to put on top of it?

 

[Heathd]

WHat do you guys thing about getting that sand... since it comes with the thing anyway and then getting 50 lbs pool filter sand to put on top of it?

Pool filter sand is a no-no

 

[Liz Sagara]

ah okay why? I use it in some of my other tanks should I not be using it?

 

[Heathd]

ah okay why? I use it in some of my other tanks should I not be using it?

I used PFS in freshwater all the time, but in saltwater it compacts and causes issues with silicates and phosphates.

 

[Liz Sagara]

ah... what about brackish? I have it in my fiddler and my puffer tank.

 

[Heathd]

Im not sure, i have never kept a brackish tank.