Your 10 gallon dream tank (on a budget)

[jredner]

So here's the question:
You have $500 to spend on setting up a 10 gallon tank. This includes tank, lighting, filtration (live rock/sand, protein skimmer, powerhead, etc.), fish, corals, inverts and anything else you can think of. The idea is that you are starting from scratch.

List your supplies and an approximate price.

 

[magic]

No one? This sounds interesting.

 

[pokguy2003]

$500 to buy equitment? first, the sound would be noise, if u don't get a good filter, the 500 is only can use for a short time(fish and coal will keep dying) Good luck...

 

[jredner]

I would think that you could put together something for $500. I'm know that this won't be mind blowing but here's my idea:

10 gallon tank: $10 (petsmart)
20 lb live sand: $40 (www.tampabaysaltwater.com)
10 lb live rock: $50 (www.tampabaysaltwater.com)
AquaC Nano Remora
Protein Skimmer: $130 (www.bluewatercorals.com)
Current USA 18" Nova
Extreme 2x20 watt
T5 HO 10K/460nm & bulbs $120 (www.marinedepot.com)
AquaClear Powerhead 20 $25 (www.marinedepot.com)
Havem Tronic Heater
(7 inch, 50 watt) $16 (www.marinedepot.com) Setup Total: $391

I've still got $109 to spend on some fish, corals or inverts... ideas?

*I don't have a saltwater tank or really know if this setup will work. If anybody sees anything that they would change or wouldn't work, or knows of a less expensive route, let me know.
*I'm not setting up a saltwater tank but my brother wants to and I wanted to find out what he could do on a limited budget.

 

[jmitchell]

Well, the powerhead doesnt have to be any more than 15 bucks. Id go with:

20" Sunpod for Lighting $230
Visi-Therm Stealth 100w Heater $20
Aquaclear 70 Filter $40
Rio Powerhead: ~$15
10# Live Sand $20
20# Live Rock $120
1 bag of Chemipure $5
Box of Tropic Marin Pro reef Salt (makes 50g I believe): $25
Tank $8

Total: $485

Then...

You could get your water tested at your LFS!

If you wanna cut down on price, look on craigslist and people sell live rock all the time from broken down tanks, you can usually get it for around $2/lb.

-LJ