ART:Affordable Reef Tank - Walmart Reefing

[Soylent Wrasse]

So some of you know I live in Northern Minnesota, and the nearest LFS for me is over two hours away, and in the next state over. So I was going through some threads and since I'm in a nano craze right now (I have nine right now, I need help), I really, really wanted to see if I could put together an affordable reef tank that would be similar to one of the many nano in a box systems that are out there. So long story short, the Walmart Reef tank is born.

Picked up the tank, filter, heater for $70. I'll need the lights, rock and substrate, and finally the salt. My goal is to be as close to 150$ as I can (before livestock), and then keep the tank up for a year, documenting everything as I go.

Why Walmart? It is the nearest place to me that has 10 gallon tanks (Petsmart is over an hour away), and they are the most affordable (same tank at Petsmart is double in price). It is 25 minutes away from me, so that is the my "lfs" if you will.

Anyway, since I've been reefkeeping since 1991, I figure this is great back to basics approach that might help some of the folks who are just getting started. And since we are in the age of youtube - here is part one:

Ordering lights and rock / substrate tonight, and once that comes in, it's start the cycle time! Looking for suggestions on fish / corals too btw!

 

[DDenny]

Definitely following along this could get interesting I am sure you can make it work call it the throwback tank.

 

[brandon429]

do a skip cycle and use transplanted live rock from the pet store

zero wait, lowest chance of dinos, best look, least algae potential. good in every way compared to dry rock starts and waited cycles.

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

do a skip cycle and use transplanted live rock from the pet store

zero wait, lowest chance of dinos, best look, least algae potential. good in every way compared to dry rock starts and waited cycles.

I've got plenty of other tanks I could just swap rock over. I want to treat this as a stand alone, although I might take a cup of sand from my main tank to help seed.

 

[fish farmer]

Are you going to try and squeeze water purification into the cost?

Could you make that up with just DI? I remember setting my first reef with just DI Tap Water Purifier.

 

[CMMorgan]

I want to treat this as a stand alone,

I admire the dedication! Best of luck to you!!

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

Are you going to try and squeeze water purification into the cost?

Could you make that up with just DI? I remember setting my first reef with just DI Tap Water Purifier.

That's going to be a little tricky - I've already got the RO/DI system, but to be faithful, maybe I should. I need to think about that.

 

[CoralScape123]

I'm in the same boat as you (minus the 9 nano tanks lol) Did you know you can specials order stuff on walmart and then pick it up in person or get it delivered like w/ Amazon? In fact... why are you not using Amazon?

aquarium light

www.walmart.com

I really liked this guy's video on budget nano tanks. I got the light he recommended, the Aquaknight V1

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

I'm in the same boat as you (minus the 9 nano tanks lol) Did you know you can specials order stuff on walmart and then pick it up in person or get it delivered like w/ Amazon? In fact... why are you not using Amazon?

aquarium light

www.walmart.com

I love Amazon! I use it all the time - too much lol. It was easier to just grab the tank/filter/heater when I was there at Walmart. Price wise the tank was cheaper than Amazon, and the heater / filter was pretty close. I might have been able to save $4 or so on the filter, but it would have been a little smaller, so it all works out. The light will probably come from Amazon actually - I have one now that I'd use, then I'd need to order another one lol! I have this on an UNS 7 gallon: PopBloom 16 30W LED Reef Light It's a really nice light for small tanks - four channels, and each channel is controllable, and has built in dusk/dawn and other settings. I think that might be the light I go for on this tank, but I always like trying new lights out. I've yet to find a stinker, as long as I do some homework on the light.

 

[Jekyl]

You can build a reef for cheap. I got my 90 gallon done for under $1000

 

[CoralScape123]

I love Amazon! I use it all the time - too much lol. It was easier to just grab the tank/filter/heater when I was there at Walmart. Price wise the tank was cheaper than Amazon, and the heater / filter was pretty close. I might have been able to save $4 or so on the filter, but it would have been a little smaller, so it all works out. The light will probably come from Amazon actually - I have one now that I'd use, then I'd need to order another one lol! I have this on an UNS 7 gallon: PopBloom 16 30W LED Reef Light It's a really nice light for small tanks - four channels, and each channel is controllable, and has built in dusk/dawn and other settings. I think that might be the light I go for on this tank, but I always like trying new lights out. I've yet to find a stinker, as long as I do some homework on the light.

Woah! It's got 4 channels and a remote for $60? I would've def considered this if I knew about it. what can you grow with it? (would love to see a pic

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

Woah! It's got 4 channels and a remote for $60? I would've def considered this if I knew about it. what can you grow with it? (would love to see a pic

I'll take a quick video tonight of the light. I've been impressed with it. 30W, so decent power, I wouldn't think it would go for anything over 12-14" in tank height tho.

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

I'm in the same boat as you (minus the 9 nano tanks lol) Did you know you can specials order stuff on walmart and then pick it up in person or get it delivered like w/ Amazon? In fact... why are you not using Amazon?

aquarium light

www.walmart.com

I really liked this guy's video on budget nano tanks. I got the light he recommended, the Aquaknight V1

I have the light on one my EVO tanks for the nano light battle royale. The HiPARGERO is a great little light. I was growing SPS in a 6G with that light!

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

You can build a reef for cheap. I got my 90 gallon done for under $1000

That's about 850 more than I want to spend on this

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

Woah! It's got 4 channels and a remote for $60? I would've def considered this if I knew about it. what can you grow with it? (would love to see a pic

Quick 2 min video of it. Not super in depth, but enough to see the channels / remote!

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

Just ordered the light, it is the PopBloom 16 30W LED Reef Light I posted above. I have one on the UNS 7G, for $60, it fits in with the affordability of the tank. Debating about a stand for this tank, I might go Walmart all the way and get the wrought Iron stand they sell there. We'll see. Not sure I want to spend an extra $40 to the budget.

This brings the total cost to $40 for the filter (which I'm not super fond of how they made it, I'll have to hide the pump behind some rock, it's a bit on the ugly side), $15 for the tank, $15 for the heater, and $60 for the light. Grand total of 130.00. Placed an order yesterday for the rock and salt from Bulk Reef, that is another $45, so I'm in it for 175.00. I splurged a whole $1more , and got red sea coral salt, rather than the basic red sea.

I've got a little left over crushed coral, and I can pull a cup or three of substrate from my main tank. I figure I'll still need some more sand, so that is probably going to be the last of it, I'd figure about 190 will be the total.

Compare this to the Fluval EVO 13.5 (159.99), would still need heater ($15) and sand and rock and salt ($60), that puts me at 235$. Anything else AIO style is more, Waterbox 10's start at 179, without light / wave maker (they do have a small pump, but lets be honest, you're not growing anything without more flow) / sand / salt / rock (Roughly 300-315) and it just goes up from their.

Suggestions for coral / fish / inverts for this tank?

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

Picked up the wrought iron stand that they sell at Wally world - I'm actually impressed, it's pretty nice for 40$!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Picked up the wrought iron stand that they sell at Wally world - I'm actually impressed, it's pretty nice for 40$!

Wally World haha I thought that was only in movies

 

[Soylent Wrasse]

So I've got the rock in from Bulk Reef Supply, the substrate was leftovers (about four pounds of crushed coral) I had in a bag from another tank. Picked up a PopBloom light for the tank. Still empty. Probably will get it filled this weekend, and then let it slow boat cycle with a cup of sand from the main tank.

Modified the HOB to hold the heater, so the biggest worry is just making the aquascape hide the huge filter intake. Can't decide what to put in there, maybe a zoa garden? I don't think I've seen a paly garden, so that might be fun too.