how to spend $400 on reef setup

[YoungREEFA]

I have accumulated 400 bucks for the hobby (hard for youngsters) and now could use some advice.
Got the tank-65 gallon-$280
Will be getting skimmer-not my money though
Also i should add i will be buying a d120 led fixture for 180, so im down to 200 roughly
Have ato
Will buy gfo reactor and media,$60 gone
140 left...

 

[walkerbrody]

I would skip the led and diy your own 175w or 250w mh. Magnetic parking lot ballast, ebay bulbs you could have a great light for under $75. You could buy a used tank for much less than $280 but it looks like that part is done. I would get the tank drilled (if not already), diy a 20g long into a sump with a fuge in the center. get a used mag5-7 for a return pump. I'd look for a used reef octopus nw110 skimmer ($60-$100). Ive never used a gfo reactor, but have had good success without one. If you do not have a rodi waterfilter, topoff water will get expensive. if you use tapwater you will end up with one big mess. It is possible to build a 65g reef tank on a $400 budget, but you may have to pass on unnessessary items like led lights and gfo reactors. Just my opinion for what its worth lol. good luck

 

[jmowbray]

Are the items you have listed above the only things you have so far? Is this a FOWLR or a reef tank? Maybe some new more accurate test kits other than API brand.

 

[JaYbIrD1969]

dosers

 

[gtafragger]

It will add up eventually. I'd recommend doing it well the first time if you can get the cash, but I too am a young reefer and I have spend probably over $2000 on everything on my 40 breeder and I did very diy myself. diy stand, diy overflow, used t5 lighting, sale on about everything equipment related. I wanted it to be really failproof and successful though. I wouldnt buy a reactor or the led's yet. Buy a cheap metal halide or t5 on kijiji/craigslist. Just this week someone posted a perfect coralife aqua light pro 36" with 2 sets of bulbs for $150 and could probs get it for $100. That is a much better deal. Just some tips

 

[2hands]

I was in your position 20 years ago. I made or purchased all my own equipment and my parents paid for electricity. My equipment was functional but not energy efficient. But at the time i did not care. If you are in the same situation go with Metal halides and not LEDs. MH are the best lights but consume a lot of power and generate heat. Don't buy a reactor make one or buy it used. Check out the ghetto rig thread it's the best for some one starting out with a limited budget.

 

[kermitbanks]

Is this a FOWLR or a reef tank?

 

[skidoctor]

RODI and test kits. Everything else- lights, skimmer, reactors,ato- can be modded, bought used or DIY'd relatively inexpensively. Search the DIY forums, craig's list, etc. and you can get some great ideas, but like walkerbrody said- if you use tap water, you will be chasing bad things in your tank forever.

 

[Breadman03]

My buddy tosses a media bag of GFO into his skimmer body instead of a standalone reactor.

Saves a few bucks right there.

But, in response to your thread title...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/DiversDen/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=174364

...not that it would fit in your tank.

 

[YoungREEFA]

I will have the octopus nw 150 as a skimmer, im not the only one spending money here, i will be buying brand new stuff as this is the money that I have .
So have skimmer, tank, ato
will diy stand
29 gallon diy sump, only 50 bucks put togather, wont use my money
two little fishies phosphate reactor- 29.99 and 20 bucks of gfo, so 50 and i have a spare maxi jet for it
Im pretty set on the leds after months of research, they will be perfect.
Will use kalkwasser in ato for parameters
Have all the live rock and sand and water to transfer from my 65 gallon
So no cycle
-now maybe the hannah phosphate cheacker? but if you see algae why not let your tank tell you?
-WIll probably need a new more powerful power head, thinking the mp10 used for around 200
return pump is mag 7 or either sicce

 

[williewilliams]

As other posters before me stated go to craigslist. You may have to drive a bit to get the things you want at a great price but thats what I did. For example I picked up 2 MP40's for $300. I did have to drive 2 hours to get them though. But many people get into this hobby and can't hack it.

 

[Bpb]

I agree in the tank telling you if you have phosphates by algae presence. Two things though. Algae is harder to get rid of than prevent. So once it shows up, gfo may not kill it. Phosphate checkers are a good way to monitor small phosphate increases to alert you to change media, before algae takes hold. That being said. I don't use one. I just change media on a schedule.

I didn't see any of the following mentioned so maybe you have it maybe you don't, but this is stuff you can EASILY drop 400 on...

RODI and necessary filters and resin
Refractometer
Test kits for alk, ca, and mg (not API)
Ph checker (helpful since you plan to use kalk)
Wave maker
Controller
Larger portions of gfo and kalk
Large containers for water mixing and storage
Bulk supply of salt mix


The list can be endless and everything individually is under 400 so you can get at least one of the above. In my experience...money is best spent on bulk items rather than new gadgets. I like having a year or more in dry salt mix, ROdi filters, gfo and carbon, and t5 bulbs (n/a for you, but you get the idea). Then you can really let your maintenance and parameters dictate what fancy gadgets you need/want

 

[CRJ]

refract for sure, test kits, salt, circ pumps... the list goes on.

400 is about what i spend every time i go to the LFS, heck last time i walked out ordering a $900 shallow rimless tank lol.

keep it simple if your on a budget.

 

[YoungREEFA]

400 is not my budget, its cash i have now. I have well that to spend over the months! looking to spend well over a thousand on it. i was thinking a reefkeeper light for 115 , ande have a refractometer, i have a reef im swapping

 

[Mussin]

buy everything used.. I did and spent very little to get my 90 up and running. My sump just houses a skimmer (swc cone) two heaters and a mag 9.5 pump. No need for anything fancy especially for a tight budget. I have a bag of carbon in there no reactor no top off, no doesers. KISS is my motto.


Jeremy

 

[Bpb]

I love the kiss philosophy too. For most things in life. I HAD to get an ato. Kind of emergency status. Wife and I had to leave for several days this month and it was literally the first time that NOBODY I knew would be in town to top off for me and my pump would run dry in 48 hrs. Had to pony up and get an ato going. Life has actually been much nicer since. I still inspect it daily to make sure the reservoir has plenty of water, and the switches and clean and unobstructed. It really is a convenient purchase. Makes life alot less stressful knowing I can leave my tank for up to 5 days and not worry.