khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
Well, I couldn't find anyone to play along in a build off of ghetto tanks, but I have to many hair brained ideas to try and all the great ones in the ghetto rig thread to just let this sit.
So lets start the ghetto master 5000 reef tank build. Brought to you by the how not to build corporation...
So here's the goals/rules for this tank.
The purpose of this tank is to see exactly how inexpencively one can set up a reef tank and have something that doesn't cost to much to entertain me.
the MAX Budget is $200 including everything right down to build materials like silicone and glue. Everything else must be found, scavenged or built unless it comes out of the "budget"
Anything around my house specifically for a fish tank (which is about enough to open a fish store) is only "legal" if it is in a condition that most reefers would give it away or trash it. Otherwise I have to give it a "fair market" value. I may have to "charge" myself on some of the plumbing as well as I have buckets of it, and it is a cost of reefing set ups.
Maximum watts goal for this tank is 200W Once I get this thing running, I want to play with a 100% solor powered reef, and that would make it a lot easier...
Only livestock allowed out of my other tanks is stuff that I, would normally throw or give away. Things like Cheato is legal because I toss a bunch every month anyway. I think most people give it away if they know anyone that needs it. I'm also going to include Xinia, kenya trees and things like green and brown polyps as I think they are in the same catagory It might be a while till I'm sure everything is safe before I put a fish in there...
So lets start this out with a couple pics..
The tank... 36" tru vu 50 gallon tank w/ internal filter - found on the side of the road w/ a free sign. I've cleaned up the outside of the tank with a mr clean magic erasor and a palm sander... still working on the inside... Just gonna live with some of the scratches..
The "sump" not as "ghetto" as a plastic tub, but its a convienient size, and needs a mess of work. Also been unable to give it away and I'm tired of tripping over it. Not currently water tight either...
My intention is to build a skimmer that will also function as the return. Most likely a 5 gallon water bottle, and some PVC
I also want a fuge... possibly over or around the tank to use the same lights as the tank to save costs. I'm leaning toward and a fixture that swivels so I just move it over to the other side for day/night lighting. I may try and "automate" that if I can figure it out cheaply enough
Not sure entirely what I'm going to do for landscaping.. but I suspect most of it will come out of my yard. Sand will be regular sandbox sand, if I use it.
Any and all suggestions welcomed. Motivation encouraged so I don't get distracted on another project....
And current cost so far $1.50 for 1 of the 2 Mr clean magic erasors that I used to polish the outside of the tank...(All I had and ran out)
Coming soon... making the tank over the sump, making it so I can see in the tank, and maybe thinking about light and what to see in the tank.
So lets start the ghetto master 5000 reef tank build. Brought to you by the how not to build corporation...
So here's the goals/rules for this tank.
The purpose of this tank is to see exactly how inexpencively one can set up a reef tank and have something that doesn't cost to much to entertain me.
the MAX Budget is $200 including everything right down to build materials like silicone and glue. Everything else must be found, scavenged or built unless it comes out of the "budget"
Anything around my house specifically for a fish tank (which is about enough to open a fish store) is only "legal" if it is in a condition that most reefers would give it away or trash it. Otherwise I have to give it a "fair market" value. I may have to "charge" myself on some of the plumbing as well as I have buckets of it, and it is a cost of reefing set ups.
Maximum watts goal for this tank is 200W Once I get this thing running, I want to play with a 100% solor powered reef, and that would make it a lot easier...
Only livestock allowed out of my other tanks is stuff that I, would normally throw or give away. Things like Cheato is legal because I toss a bunch every month anyway. I think most people give it away if they know anyone that needs it. I'm also going to include Xinia, kenya trees and things like green and brown polyps as I think they are in the same catagory It might be a while till I'm sure everything is safe before I put a fish in there...
So lets start this out with a couple pics..
The tank... 36" tru vu 50 gallon tank w/ internal filter - found on the side of the road w/ a free sign. I've cleaned up the outside of the tank with a mr clean magic erasor and a palm sander... still working on the inside... Just gonna live with some of the scratches..
The "sump" not as "ghetto" as a plastic tub, but its a convienient size, and needs a mess of work. Also been unable to give it away and I'm tired of tripping over it. Not currently water tight either...
My intention is to build a skimmer that will also function as the return. Most likely a 5 gallon water bottle, and some PVC
I also want a fuge... possibly over or around the tank to use the same lights as the tank to save costs. I'm leaning toward and a fixture that swivels so I just move it over to the other side for day/night lighting. I may try and "automate" that if I can figure it out cheaply enough
Not sure entirely what I'm going to do for landscaping.. but I suspect most of it will come out of my yard. Sand will be regular sandbox sand, if I use it.
Any and all suggestions welcomed. Motivation encouraged so I don't get distracted on another project....
And current cost so far $1.50 for 1 of the 2 Mr clean magic erasors that I used to polish the outside of the tank...(All I had and ran out)
Coming soon... making the tank over the sump, making it so I can see in the tank, and maybe thinking about light and what to see in the tank.
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