Greetings George,
-=[ Quoting George Marett to Steve Fuller ]=-
:G:   I would like a reef tank I keep looking at my fresh water tank for 10
:G:   years with the notion toconvert but due to the lack of funding,time
:G:   amd knowhow havent done it yet.
:G:   Everytime I come back from a dive trip have the desire to do so.
I did freshwater for 20 years before getting into saltwater and trust me, I 
wish I'd done it a long time ago.. Being a diver myself (for the past 6 
years) I can appreciate your desires after a dive :-)
It's not that much more work than for a freshwater tank (once it's setup and 
cycled)..  A minimum setup would be a 55 gal. and for a reef tank you'd need 
at least 30# of quality Fiji liverock and 30# of livesand over 20# of crushed 
coral, an AquaClear 300 and a sump (trickle filter) which you could make)), a 
150 watt heater and thermometer, a hydrometer, and a 50 gal salt mix, a 
couple of Hagen 201 or 301 powerheads will provide good water movenemt..
Get PH, Ammonia, Nitrate and Calcium test kits and you're ready :)
The lighting for a reef tank is a bit more but can be done for $100 by using 
a couple of 4' shop lights with 2 50/50 bulbs in one and 2 Actinic Blue bulbs 
in the other..
With this setup you could add some reef fishes immediately and start adding 
Leather and Stony Corals (not Hard Corals that require more light) in a week.
... Tom Phillips
Internet: T.Phillips@phil.node99.com
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