Okay, I know that the conversion rate for U.S.D. wasn't included in your post,
but I think you are getting "hosed".

If you've never had a sal****er tank, please read this first:
http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm

Now, about the stuff you will need, I'll list them and you can see some prices
that I'd expect to pay, typically online rather than the LFS. Also, I will
mention some of the items you do not want or need.

90g Tank (glass & reef ready) - $200 to $350
Stand and Canopy - could cost little or a lot depending on what you want in your
home. $150 to $600?
100gpd 5-stage RO/DI unit - $150
Ebo Jager 200w heater - $25 to $40
pH Pinpoint Monitor - $90
Refractometer (for salinity readings) - $50 to $70
Calcium Reactor - $250 to $400 plus:
CO2 tank - $75
Regulator & Auto shut off solenoid - $125 (reef fanatic.com)
200g Kent Sea Salt - $50 to $70
Aragonite Substrate 300 lbs worth - don't know... Southdown Playsand is your
cheapest option, if you can get it.
125 lbs of Live Rock - if ordered online, probably $450 or so.
Test kits (Salifert) - $100
MH Lighting - $450 to $500 for dual 250w Ushio 10,000K bulbs and ballasts, and
reflectors.
Actinic VHO supplementation - $200 with IceCap 430 ballast and 2 URI VHO 110w
bulbs.
Sump $200 or so.
Aqua C EV-120 (or 180) Protein Skimmer - $350 to $400
Mag 9.5 return pump - $60 to $80
Grounding Probe - $20 - $25
Total not including sand - less than $4000, with all new items. My math was
with the high side of all the numbers listed above.

NO BIOBALLS - they create nitrates!
NO RIO POWERHEADS - they can fail (especially the 2100 and 2500 models) and
short out, frying a tank!

If you can find some of these items used, you'll save a lot. Some people sell
entire setups for half of retail, because they are moving or getting out of the
hobby.

Marc


Tom Burns wrote:

So here I am in Southern Ontario, trying to set up a reef aquarium as a
total newbie. I go into a store that is huge and seems to have tons and
tons of great stuff.

I talk to a guy who, in the end, is going to fax me a quote for all the
stuff we discussed. The info he gave me seemed good (like how over the
long haul a calcium reactor will give me better results and cost less
than going about it differently), etc. etc. Then, he never faxes me the
quote. I call a week later, promisses to send it next day. Nothing. A
week later same thing- call-nothing. So I go into the store this past
Sunday and he's not there, but a couple a people who seem to give a ****
start scurrying around and find his paperwork. Just a pile of notes and
the "quote" which is nothing more than a cash register tape with the
stuff on it, as if he was ringing in a sale. BUT -- I don't see any
credits for stuff he said I would get a credit for because, for
instance, the canopy and lights on the tank I would not be getting
because there would be another lighting setup instead. PLUS-I haven't
got a clue what half the stuff is for. He was supposed to give me a
quote that detailed each major piece and what is was for I (if not
obvious like " 90 Gallon Aquarium" or "Aquarium Stand".

Below is a list from the tape they gave me to take. All comments or
insights into what the hell he's trying to sell me would be greatly
appreciated.

BTW-I guess I caused a stir when I was there last because first thing
Monday morning he calls me at home and says, "I hear you came in
yesterday - do you have some questions?" I said - thanks but I'm okay.

Heres the tale of the tape:

AG Modern cherry canopy
ag. flo. starip 48" black
ag glass top
ag 90 gal w/overflow
ag cherry stand
ag modern cherry overflow
$1499.00
CL HALIDE 48" 2 X 110 HOOD
$1249.99
SS MULTI REER #1L WITH LID
$349.00
BIOBALLS PER GALLON
10 X $9.99=$99.00
HI TECH
$150.00
BIO RED SEA BERLIN SKIMMER
$299.00
RIO 2500 HP WATER PUMP
$99.99
CL 48 ACTINIC 110WT VHO
2 FOR $89.98
RAINBOW 25 WATT OV1
$289.00
LG 3-MDQX-SC MAGPUMP 1000
$349.99
22250 KNOP CALCIUM REACTOR MDL C
$649.99
RIO 800 PUMP/POWERHEAD
$36.99
CO2 BOTTLE 5LBS
$149.99
AM SOLENOID VALVE
$129.00
AM CO2 REGULATOR
$179.99
PINPOINT PH MONITOR
$189.99
RED SEA WAVEMAKER PRO
$249.99
AQUACLEAR POWERHEAD #402
$116
PINPOINT SALINITY MONITOR
$279.99
IO VISITHERM HEATER 250 WATT
$39.99
RAINBOW BIG DIGITAL TEMP
$59.99
CL GROUND PROBE TITANIUM ESU
$39.99
ARGONITE REEF SAND, IO SEA SALT, CL DEEP SIX HYDROMETER, SEACHE PRIME AP
SAL****ER TEST KIT
$ 119.99/99.99/19.99/21.99/29.99

GRAND TOTAL $6848.10 PLUS TAXES FOR A TOTAL OF $7875.32

?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????

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