I really have to admire you guys for keeping SW aquariums. I dip my head in here once and awhile to get the feel of it, and even the thought of getting a nano 10 gallon reef or smaller aquarium or something (With everything integrated) scares me.

I've spent a lot of time dabbling in freshwater but the price and all the stuff that goes into SW is kinda intimidating.

Maybe its just an other side of the fence deal but damn.

I was thinking possibly soon if the economy doesn't collapse of getting a nano setup with a few inverts and possibly a goby or something. Money would drastically limit me from getting anything crazier than 10 gallons. Would this be a good way to get a feel of saltwater or should I just scratch the idea. I'm looking at marinedepot.com and they want like $30 for 'small' sun corals, zoanthids and mushrooms which look like the only thing I'd really be able to house in anything less than 10gal..

You could get a allglass 10 gallon for $20.00 or less. There's a skimmer made By Fission it's for up to 30 gallon for $40.00. Probably less than $60.00 for live rock. Sand is cheap, lightfixture less than $100.00. So you're probably looking at $150.00 - $200.00 dollars to set up a 10 gallon nano.
.

There's an LFS I visit once in a very great while and they have a lot of nano tanks around their petshop. One looks like its between 5-10 gallons and has everything integrated. I'm not impressed at all with the only FW tank I have (marineland) that came with everything integrated, but the LFS owner has an awesome little reef in one of his nano tanks in particular. I keep meaning to ask the owner about it but I never get around to it.

It looks like its got a refugium, skimmer, filtration, heater and good lighting built in, this is sort of what I'm looking for with only the additional costs of sand, live rock, and livestock.

I can't find anything on the internet that even resembles the one that really caught my eye.

Maybe I'll go out there next week and see if I can find out what brand it is. I'm sure whatever it is he'll have to special order it. It doesn't look like any of the nanos I've found on drsfoster&smith or anywhere else google brought me..

What are your thoughts on livestock though? Are the corals I mentioned ok for a tank <10gals? marinedepot did clarify that the sun coral would need to be ''manually'' fed or something...
Their description of what would fit in 1-20gals was kind've a broad number.

Thanks for the replies. =D

when i started out i had a 20 gallon long tank {still do} its 12x12x30 - - i have a prizm HOB skimmer {might sell} and a big aquaclear 110 HOB filter {might sell} and thats what i stated with..................i got a stand from walmart {29 gallon tank has the same foot print as the 20 long} for 60 bucks, and then upgraded to a current PC light set up with moon light led, actinic and 10K whites, for like 150 bucks.............live sand and live rocks along the way and bam...........theres my tank

i have since upgraded the filter to a rapids pro wet dry and built a DIY hood for the light fixture

i think the long tank would be perfect to start with and has plenty of room for growth into corals and such..........after i get into my big tank the 20 long will become a nano coral tank ....Mr DickHeaders has given me "nano fever" - - - but seriously 200-300 bucks will get you a very stable set up, salt test kits and off you go


WARNING !!! with in 3-6 months you'll be ready to sell a kidney to feed this habit though


LOL


Boss

this is the hood i built

heres another old one but with the new stand.......

point being, you can see where i started and where i went .............you don't have to buy a 1500 dollar set up to get started


Boss

no.......... theres 3 power strips hanging on the sides inside the stand.............i don't like to be shocked ................lol

i cleaned the tank and filter tonight, scrubed some algae off a piece of live rock and put a small wood airstone in the back for a little O2 gen and it looks cool as hell