No Harm In Dreaming Is There?

[youngfisher]

Ok, so I am still currently cycling my two tropical tanks. Cichlid tank and Dwarf Puffer tank.

I was thinking in 6-12months of starting to collect marine equipment, to end up with a full marine set up.

I would only want a nano.

How much do you think it would cost me for around a 40-60l marine set up considering I would get all the items 2nd hand (hopefully) so the cheapest and dearest price? I wouldnt want anything OTT just some live rock, couple of corals, and 1-2 fish, a clown and tang or somthing.

Im just wondering because if its really dear I might start collecting sooner - Then over time it doesnt seem that you've spent a bomb because you've payed all in bits.

 

[TigerIssey]

First advice I would give you is that a Tang needs 75 gallon at least. With this information in mind, do you still want a tank that is 40-60l. You will not get more than a couple of very small fish in there or a shrimp / goby pair and maintain the tank sufficiently. Topping off in a smaller tank is also a nightmare, you are constantly topping off to maintain stable salinty and parameters. A 30 gallon is a much more sustainable size IMO.

If after you have looked at what fish you want, you still want a small nano, good luck.

 

[ben1987]

smaller tanks may be a bit cheaper but not by much. More hastle and work. At the end of the day time is money. Theres more room for error in a bigger water volume too so less at risk in away. I started off with two 3 foot tanks i got from a mate. used one as a sump. Total i had 180-190L and that was a brilliant starter set up.

I reckon you could set one up for £250-300 before livestock if you spent time shopping around. I got a some real bargains. My first skimmer for £3.10 off ebay.

 

[youngfisher]

Would a say 2 and half foot still be classed as a nano?

 

[bagu]

well bigger is always better in the marine world, in a "nano" a small shange can effect the whole tank drastically, in a larger tank there is a slightly larger margin for error.

thats around 60cm, so it could be, im not 100% sure on if it is classed as a nano, i think it works on liters; but dont take my word on that

but if you want to save a bit, get stuff from broken down tanks etc

 

[TigerIssey]

Would a say 2 and half foot still be classed as a nano?

Yes this is still a nano, I started with this sized tank, lengthwise it is a good size, I had 2 percula clowns a YWG and a Filamented Flasher wrasse in there. I found a HOB refugium a great help in stabilising the tank in general and it gives somewhere to top off and add water back to after a water change, if you do it into the main tank the corals can sulk with you. Mine was the 30"x12"x15" where 15" was the height. It is a better size than 40-60 litres to begin with but as Bagu says, the bigger the better as there is more room for beginner errors (believe me everyone will make at least 1).
Having said that even this increase from your original idea gives you a hell of a lot more stability for water parameters.

Do you have any preferences for fish that you really want at all??

 

[seffieuk]

I wouldn't get anything less than 125 litres for a first nano and by the way, anything between 10 (<10 Pico) and 30 gallons is a nano

There are some relly good bargains around and it is fun chasing them down - enjoy and use the time wisely, read loads, get a note book and write loads as well

Seffie x