how to keep costs down
- Thread starter Jeremy837
- Start date
For electricity wise, make sure to get an led unit for lights. Of money isn't a problem to start then go with ecotech or AI lights.
For water movement look into dc pumps for both return and flow as they tend to use less electric.
Food wise, you can try to buy some staple pellets in bulk, and you can try to make your own frozen foods. Loook up recipes online and you will save money plus get a better product.
For water movement look into dc pumps for both return and flow as they tend to use less electric.
Food wise, you can try to buy some staple pellets in bulk, and you can try to make your own frozen foods. Loook up recipes online and you will save money plus get a better product.
I'm about to say something you may not want to hear:
If you're concerned about monthly expenses, this isn't the hobby for you.
Building a reef or FOWLR tank is not a budget proposition, either initially or monthly. Minimizing monthly expenses via LED's, good DC pumps is always possible, but initial costs can be very expensive.
You will need ro/di for evaporation, water changes.
Food? Well, you can't scrimp on food, either. Fish and corals need food. Some need lots. Maybe you can make your own?
Ultimately, if you're on a very tight budget, IMO this isn't the hobby for it.
If you're concerned about monthly expenses, this isn't the hobby for you.
Building a reef or FOWLR tank is not a budget proposition, either initially or monthly. Minimizing monthly expenses via LED's, good DC pumps is always possible, but initial costs can be very expensive.
You will need ro/di for evaporation, water changes.
Food? Well, you can't scrimp on food, either. Fish and corals need food. Some need lots. Maybe you can make your own?
Ultimately, if you're on a very tight budget, IMO this isn't the hobby for it.
I have a both simple and difficult suggestion: do everything 'by the book,' do not wing it, follow procedures in the sticky with the red arrow ^, have your water chemistry spot on before you attempt livestock, quarantine, and ask advice before buying equipment or chemicals or food. You can lose a tank and inhabitants to parasites, disease or bad chemistry, by haste and lack of research. If you can set up and keep everything alive the first time, you will find the hobby much more fun and a whole lot cheaper. Understand the limits of the tank size you start with, start with as large a tank as you can afford, up to 120 gallons, have a sump, and don't get 'rare' specimens. Stick to the hardy ones. Many corals are 'easy' and fairly inexpensive; and grow fast; look at the adult size on every fish you buy, and ask about tank size requirements, because some take more room than you'd expect and some grow up to a foot long. Many stay under 5". And <img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>.
TimeConsumer
Active member
Here is a post I put in another thread a few days ago on the same subject:
Aside from setup and utilities consider some maintenance costs. Here is a rough estimate what I spent in maintenance per year for my 75g.
1) RO Prefilters and DI Refills- $100/year
2) T5 Bulbs - $250/year
3) Salt - $130/year
4) Carbon/GFO - $100/year
(the following items I am less sure of the yearly costs and are rougher estimates)
5) Testing refills - $25/year
6) Food - $150/year
7) Calc/Alk/Mag - $50/year
As you can see there are a ton of costs involved besides electricity and food. And that didn't even cover the most expensive part: buying new corals. They are expensive! Find a way to trade with local reefers for frags. Especially if you have a skill you can trade.
Aside from setup and utilities consider some maintenance costs. Here is a rough estimate what I spent in maintenance per year for my 75g.
1) RO Prefilters and DI Refills- $100/year
2) T5 Bulbs - $250/year
3) Salt - $130/year
4) Carbon/GFO - $100/year
(the following items I am less sure of the yearly costs and are rougher estimates)
5) Testing refills - $25/year
6) Food - $150/year
7) Calc/Alk/Mag - $50/year
As you can see there are a ton of costs involved besides electricity and food. And that didn't even cover the most expensive part: buying new corals. They are expensive! Find a way to trade with local reefers for frags. Especially if you have a skill you can trade.
TimeConsumer
Active member
But that bug bite hurts so good. Until your wife sees the bill.
BrianKC
New member
So true! Actually my wife likes it because then I can't complain about her hobby expenses.
Yeah this is definitely better advice than I have.
There are ways to reduce the operating costs of a tank. LED lights help, though perhaps not as much as folks think; though in my case they eliminated the need for a chiller. DC pumps can also help, though useful lifetimes are as yet unclear, so you may lose operating savings to more frequent replacements. Don't go crazy with turnover; a pump that gives you 3-5x is fine. Buy a cheap salt like IO and mix your own 2-part. I've never bothered to make my own foods, though I do buy nori and masago roe in bulk from the local oriental food store.
acebigalowe
New member
I don't have my reef accounting degree, but reading helps. Usually free nowadays. Highly opinionated, case in point. Experience costs, but is a formidable teacher. True vendor loyalty could eventually have you save money...
SilvaReefer
New member
I think the best money saving advice one can give to a new reefer is not to skimp on initial setup. If you try to skimp you will end up replacing things further down the track either because it is rubbish and broke or it is rubbish and doesn't do the job effectively.
Buy quality, buy once. The poor man pays twice.
Buy quality, buy once. The poor man pays twice.
BrianKC
New member
cloak
New member
Just keep it simple... This hobby can definitely be overwhelming at first. Buy this, buy that etc.. The more experience you gather you'll start to realize that you don't really need this or that to accomplish the same results.. It's kind of like chess.. Why win in 10 moves when it can be done in 5... GL.
TimeConsumer
Active member
^Yup. The most expensive equipment isn't a replacement for proper husbandry.
biecacka
Active member
Don't skimp on first time around. Research and research. Try to buy used when and where you can, it will help. In some cases it's dirt cheap for a reason!!!
Yes LEDs can save you money on the long haul, but the upfront cost is substantial if you go radion, orphek or such depends on tank size and what you and to keep. I switched to LEDs and looked at the radion because they work but it was a minimum of 2400$ to start my set up. I did rapidled kit with same diode set up as radion for 650$. At 2400$ it would take a lot of metal halides or T5 replacement bulbs to equal the cost of radions. I bought my MP40's used and actually traded used tunzes for them. It can be done. I had a local friend build my tank, calcium reactor, media reactor and my last skimmer. Nuxx and I just were talking about how we saved X amount of $$$ being patient on our systems. It's worth it.
But as mentioned above, the proper husbandry will save you the most money over the long haul. Not buying the same fish or corals 2-3-4.....times if you don't know what you're doing can get expensive quick. But since it might "only" be $25-35$ here and there it doesn't seem that expensive. But it is.
Be patient and have fun!!!!!
Welcome to RC.
Oh, and read every sticky Sk8r posts. I secretly stalk those posts for knowledge.
COREY
Yes LEDs can save you money on the long haul, but the upfront cost is substantial if you go radion, orphek or such depends on tank size and what you and to keep. I switched to LEDs and looked at the radion because they work but it was a minimum of 2400$ to start my set up. I did rapidled kit with same diode set up as radion for 650$. At 2400$ it would take a lot of metal halides or T5 replacement bulbs to equal the cost of radions. I bought my MP40's used and actually traded used tunzes for them. It can be done. I had a local friend build my tank, calcium reactor, media reactor and my last skimmer. Nuxx and I just were talking about how we saved X amount of $$$ being patient on our systems. It's worth it.
But as mentioned above, the proper husbandry will save you the most money over the long haul. Not buying the same fish or corals 2-3-4.....times if you don't know what you're doing can get expensive quick. But since it might "only" be $25-35$ here and there it doesn't seem that expensive. But it is.
Be patient and have fun!!!!!
Welcome to RC.
Oh, and read every sticky Sk8r posts. I secretly stalk those posts for knowledge.
COREY
ardsman
New member
Time to forget budgets my friend! This hobby will get a hook on you, I am lucky, my better half is a girl of simple pleasures, she loves to go to the casino of an evening. So when the reef fairies leave a pile of expensive equipment (FedEx) I just ask what she spent at the casino and what she has to show for it. Got a real nice refund coming this week so new toys may be on the horizon. By the way aquariums and the creatures who reside there do seem to eat money, billfold and all and love, just love plastic.
Used is good.
Not buying the latest and greatest is probably best, plenty of tried and true products out there.
Don't be afraid to go with T5 as your lighting source, it can grow anything and it will be years before you break even on electricity and bulb cost. I bet most reefers buy new LED fixtures or supplement with T5's before that break even point comes anyway.
You don't need the fanciest brand equipment, but you can get some great used deals on some solid equipment.
You don't list your location, I have several tanks I am moving for an upgrade to a 315 gallon reef. I am sure there are other out there with used stuff for sale. I paid about 15% of what my tank stand and canopy would cost me new to buy. Go price out a name brand 315 gallon tank, stand and canopy, not glass cages, but a nice custom builder like planet aquarium, mine is built in the style of the now former Deep Sea Aquatics but we can't find the makers tag.
Not buying the latest and greatest is probably best, plenty of tried and true products out there.
Don't be afraid to go with T5 as your lighting source, it can grow anything and it will be years before you break even on electricity and bulb cost. I bet most reefers buy new LED fixtures or supplement with T5's before that break even point comes anyway.
You don't need the fanciest brand equipment, but you can get some great used deals on some solid equipment.
You don't list your location, I have several tanks I am moving for an upgrade to a 315 gallon reef. I am sure there are other out there with used stuff for sale. I paid about 15% of what my tank stand and canopy would cost me new to buy. Go price out a name brand 315 gallon tank, stand and canopy, not glass cages, but a nice custom builder like planet aquarium, mine is built in the style of the now former Deep Sea Aquatics but we can't find the makers tag.
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