Cost of Setting up a 2 x 2 x 1.5ft tank

[spyglass]

Hi Bros,

Would like some pointers on the following in terms of costs, equipment brands, tank and cabinet maker

Am considering setting up the following:

1. Tank: 2 x 2 x 1.5ft

2. Cabinet

3. Sump tank

4. Return pump

5. Skimmer

6. LED lights

7. Wavemakers

Will be keeping LPS, anemone and fishes, would like to avoid a chiller, though i know a chiller is ideal.

Questions:

1. Possible to set up within $1.5k ? Surely will not be high-end equipment, just decent good enough brands and models will do.

2. What brands for the above equipment (return pump, skimmer, LED lights, wavemakers) would you recommend with the above budget ?

3. Is it possible to achieve the kind of swaying of corals, anemones in the above tank size ? What wavemakers to use ? I read about the MP10 but with the budget

above, would maybe two or three cheaper wavemakers do the same ? Electricity consumption higher ?

4. What brand LED lights and what wattage for above tank dimension ?

Thanks guys

[starfish123]

i am no expert, but i will try to answer your questions.

1)it is possible, but you might have to get some things 2nd hand from pasar malam.

2)for lights, can go for lumenaqua or the new LED lights from madpetz(forgot what it is called)skimmer can go for BM, reef octopus or skimz.

3)i do not really know about any of this, but i think that with a few small wavemakers also can.but if i am not wrong MP10 can adjust it to mimick nature.

4)for wattage, not really sure but i think 2-3 watts will be ok.

[Solo77]

Welcome to this hobby. For your budget, it is possible. If you want brand new setup, go to LFSes to ask for package price with detailed breakdown of items. Then do comparison. If you have an ideal of what equipment and brand you want, you can also try to ask the LFSes to see whether possible. Otherwise, you will need to source in the marketplace. Based on your livestock list, you might need to cater chiller.

For your tank and cabinet, it will cost you almost a grand, plus/minus. That left around $500 which you need to think of sand, liverock, etc. All these cost you a sum of money. The balance amount will have no issue for taiwan branded equipment. For the wavy effort mentioned, you need a wavebox which is somehow different from wavemaker. Nevertheless, some wavemakers are about to do the trick with proper placement and quantity. For your tank size, MP10 maybe underpowered and the next model MP40 will be overkill. You might need to source for MP20 but they have stopped the model. Hope this help in your decision making process and all the best.

[spyglass]

Thanks guys ! Was quoted about 2k by one shop with all the items i asked for. Considering it now, one good thing is that i can look for them if there

are any problems since they supplied everything. Thanks for the input !

[Magnet]

U can try RSM it's a built in all in one tank.

[comycus]

do take into account all the misc items you may need to spend on. Live rocks, electrical sockets, egg crate, cleaning magnet, siphon, flexible hosing pipes, airline tubes, betta box, epoxy/glue, egg crate, test kits, fish food, additives, sand, saltwater etc.

not to mention after all these investment, your tank still doesn't have any corals/fishes!

many of these items are cheap, may be diy-ed or re-use from common household items. but still will add up to your overall cost.

I would ask for a detailed breakdown for the cost of individual items instead of a 'package' deal. That way, you know how much you are paying for each item. Since you are on a limited budget, you might want to scout around the local lfs/pasar malam section in src to find good deals.