Dave Millman wrote in message ...
Keng wrote:

I just moved to SF and I am going to set up my tank again as soon as
it gets here. I have a 72 gal bow front tank, coralife compact 55w X 4
tubes 6,700K (I think), 2 ebo heaters, 404 fluval, surface skimmer etc
etc...

I would like some of your opinions on the following:-

1. I was thinking of setting up a salt water tank but have no
experience...what do you guys think? Is it going to be more effort in
maintenance and setting up?

Um, this is a freshwater plants news group. Perhaps you wanted
rec.aquaria.marine.misc?

If you are also interested in setting up a plant tank in San Francisco,
then by all means contact the San Francisco Bay Area Plant Society:

http://www.sfbaaps.com


2. Where is a good place to go in SF. I live right in the Financial
District.

For Marine, you are asking the wrong folks. For planted tanks, go to this
place, you'll think you died and went to heaven:

Ocean Aquarium
120 Cedar Street
San Francisco 94109
415-771-3206

For Marine shops, there a few smaller shops around the bay area,
Nippon is a larger place. Other plant shops are Albany Aquarium, There
are several reef places in the East and South Bay also.

The plant group has meetings quite often lately, trhere may another
this April.

Since Dave Millman is a member, you should also check out several of
the local aquarium clubs, they will hook you up with your interest.

SVAS meets in the South Bay see post here on that, SFAS meets in GGP
the First Fri of each mon at 8pm, PCCA is a cichid group, there's also
a marinme club and SFAS also has a Reef study and a Plant study
group(which is somewhat like the sfbaaps folks which tend to be in
both groups).

You'll get more out of the hobby going to a few of these and they have
auctions where you can get cool stuff for cheap.
They are going to have a mega auction coming up I think.

You do not have to be a member to attend most of these meetings or buy
thing, but to sell and after a few times you should join if you like
the folks etc.

Marine, planted, fish only or reef, or FW plant tanks are about equal
in terms of cost, effort and learning with reef and planted marine
being tougher/cost more but not something someone that is serious
about cannot do.

I keep both Marine and FW planted tanks.

Regards,
Tom Barr