What if I get laid-off

[oscar.millan]

Cody,

I agree, I would probably do the gradual approach as well. Having never been jobless, knock on wood, I can only imagine how rough it can be.

My thought is, food on the table, roof over my head, clothes to wear. I understand what you're saying, I do, but when you have to provide for your family I think the choice is clear.

That beings said, perhaps we can change the title from "what if I get laid off" to "most cost effective way to maintain a healthy reef." That way my survival instincts don't kick so quickly.

 

[oscar.millan]

This might help as well:

DIY Supplements
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/index.php

 

[mistaflicksta]

I use Arm and Hammer baking soda, Prestone driveway heat, and epsom salts.
$20 will last the year on my 120. Cant get much more economical than that.:thumbsup:

How do you mix this? what are the ratios per gallon one must use for this solution?

 

[jefathome]

Job or not, I'd make my own 2 part and mag if I had a bigger tank. I use fairly little Ca and Mg so I just use store-bought for now, but I use baking soda for my alk. I spent something like $5 on a big bag (look in the pool section at walmart in the summer, look around everywhere other seasons) of baking soda and haven't put much of a dent in it. I'll probably try to track down some driveway heat if I can find it in Florida in this winter. For some reason, I see it being scarce down here though, haha.

Oscar, first step would be cutting back on tank costs, next would be selling frags and keeping a few with fish. My last steps would be a total break down and storage followed by a sell off if it got too bad. I have too much sunk into it to sell it all off unless I REALLY need to.

I'm in SoCal and have the same issue finding ice melting products. Went online and Ace Hardware sells it AND they will ship it to a local store for FREE.

 

[jefathome]

How do you mix this? what are the ratios per gallon one must use for this solution?

Read this:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php
:beer:

 

[d0ughb0y]

if you have a good financial plan, you should have at least one years worth of money saved up in the bank to cover all your expenses (the longer the better, I know people who are out of a job for two years already). So if you still plan to run your tank while you are out of a job, you need to save up for that as well, otherwise, everything not covered in the plan has to go.

 

[keith sprague]

buy a bag of mag flakes for you mag that will last a lifetime for $15,then get a bag of dow flakes for calcium about same in price,and a box of arm & hammer baking soda for alk, use randys recipie and those products last a lifetime for maybe $40-$50

 

[cwegescheide]

i use the BRS calcium (5gallon bucket of the stuff) and baking soda. I prefer it actually. Good stuff and its cheap...

 

[keith sprague]

i use the BRS calcium (5gallon bucket of the stuff) and baking soda. I prefer it actually. Good stuff and its cheap...

i use all BRS also but if you are on a budget and lookin for longevity randys recipies are ok to use.ive used them with no ill effects

 

[cnaegler]

You can also buy calcium chloride at a farm supply store. I bought a 50 lb. bag for $8.00 I've got enough calcium for years! Works great and you can't get much cheaper than that! Now if i could just find a really large box of baking soda....

 

[divewsharks]

i use all BRS also but if you are on a budget and lookin for longevity randys recipies are ok to use.ive used them with no ill effects

what ill effects would you expect? if you are dosing with BRS stuff you are doing the same thing.

 

[MammothReefer]

If you get laid off you sell your tank and focus on the priorities in life. Finding another job, paying rent, making sure you don't get into debt ect ect. In the end if you're short on funds something is going to get neglected and hobbies typically go first, you may want to try to keep it going but sooner or later it will get neglected and you'll be kicking yourself that you didn't sell it before it all died. If anything keep your equipment but sell off your livestock and unplug. Having large monthly expenses without a means of income will dwindle your savings fast. What happens if a piece of a equipment brakes and you can't afford to replace it?

 

[keith sprague]

what ill effects would you expect? if you are dosing with BRS stuff you are doing the same thing.

people tend to think if you use industrial grade product its risky. where as BRS is concidered to be more pharmecutical top of the line and more expensive.im saying ive used both and without any problems from dow flake,mag flake,or arm &hammer. so if your worried about a "bottom of the line product" IME i had no problems. and if i cant afford BRS ill use it again in a heart beat to save some $$$$

 

[sminker]

I use Arm and Hammer baking soda, Prestone driveway heat, and epsom salts.
$20 will last the year on my 120. Cant get much more economical than that.:thumbsup:

+ whatever number we are on.

Got a heck of a deal at Home Depot at the end of winter. got a 50lb bag of prestone driveway heat. (will last a decade or longer on my 180) for $15.

Epsom salts, one box $2

Baking soda $2

all that = dirt cheap supplements

 

[noobtothereef]

just stock a years worth of salt and supplements in case an event like that were to happen, thats what i do

 

[noobtothereef]

If you get laid off you sell your tank and focus on the priorities in life. Finding another job, paying rent, making sure you don't get into debt ect ect. In the end if you're short on funds something is going to get neglected and hobbies typically go first, you may want to try to keep it going but sooner or later it will get neglected and you'll be kicking yourself that you didn't sell it before it all died. If anything keep your equipment but sell off your livestock and unplug. Having large monthly expenses without a means of income will dwindle your savings fast. What happens if a piece of a equipment brakes and you can't afford to replace it?

selling wouldnt be the answer, you can get crap for aquarium stuff when you need cash fast.........