Cheap but successful systems

[SeymourDuncan]

I'm looking for people who have setup their tanks as cheap as humanly possible, but still have great success.
This includes DIY and excludes systems that WOULD be expensive had you paid for your equipment new and biocubes.

Please post a picture of your tank and any remarkable parts related to the low cost success and a list of the equipment and cost of your system.

Thanks!

 

[mainereefer]

my sh tank I have around $100 in it

lifhting 2x36w pc diy kit $7 from local reefer
20 lb lr, 40 lb sand $50 from lfs
tank- 28g tall free from lfs
filter- sump w/bio-balls free from lfs
rio 1700 return pump $40 from lfs
5w uv $15 from lfs
6 erectus sh free from local reefer
algae + corals free from local reefers


https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/nano-90-build-off-competition/121341-mainereefer-28g-nano.html

 

[SeymourDuncan]

See, we don't need lawyer income to have a nice reef. Keep em coming guys and gals!

 

[glb]

I have a 12g nano with live rock and gsp's, zoas, acans and Florida ricordea. I bought small colonies which will grow out. I self dose mg and alk when needed. Calcium stays stable with weekly water changes. I manually topoff with freshwater and don't have a skimmer. So far it's working for me!

 

[redtop03]

I built my plywood tank and stand, purchased a lot of my equipment used and saved a bundle, and my sister bought all the live rock and sand, and I still have a small fortune invested in mine LOL

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Awesome! Show some pictures!

 

[eliramos]

pics or it didnt happen

 

[redtop03]

here's the latest pic of my tank, it's 8 feet long, 3 feet front to rear, and 27 inches tall, water level is at 24 inches....this cost me just less than $1000 for the tank and stand, had I purchased a new all glass tank this size, it could have easily cost 2 to 3 times that and even more if it had been acrylic....

for a extra large tank, it's hard to beat the cost of a plywood tank, there is a lot of work in it though.....

my skimmer is a ReeFlo Orca 250, these cost around $1200 new, http://www.barrierreefaquariums.com/productcart/pc/ReeFlo-Orca-250-Skimmer-173p463.htm I picked mine up used about 6 months old for $300...this thing is a beast, the output plumbing had been altered for whatever reason, but that wasn't hard to fix though...it's only down side is that it consumes a lot of power to run with the needle wheel impeller moded Dart recirculating pump and an Eheim 1262 feed pump....

without the air line muffler, it sounds like a shop vac sucking in air LOL

I also built my sump with left over material from my tank build so it actually didn't cost me anything

as you can see in my FTS, I'm in the process of changing my halides to LEDs, the heat and power consumption from the halides were terrible, the LEDs are the DM132e from Reef Radiance, they didn't cost an arm and leg like some LEDs either, so I saved a bunch there too, and my coral are doing fine under 'em

 

[eliramos]

here's the latest pic of my tank, it's 8 feet long, 3 feet front to rear, and 27 inches tall, water level is at 24 inches....this cost me just less than $1000 for the tank and stand, had I purchased a new all glass tank this size, it could have easily cost 2 to 3 times that and even more if it had been acrylic....

for a extra large tank, it's hard to beat the cost of a plywood tank, there is a lot of work in it though.....

my skimmer is a ReeFlo Orca 250, these cost around $1200 new, I picked mine up used about 6 months old for $300...this thing is a beast, the output plumbing had been altered for whatever reason, but that wasn't hard to fix though...it's only down side is that it consumes a lot of power to run with the needle wheel impeller moded Dart recirculating pump and an Eheim 1262 feed pump....

without the air line muffler, it sounds like a shop vac sucking in air LOL

I also built my sump with left over material from my tank build so it actually didn't cost me anything

as you can see in my FTS, I'm in the process of changing my halides to LEDs, the heat and power consumption from the halides were terrible, the LEDs are the DM132e from Reef Radiance, they didn't cost an arm and leg like some LEDs either, so I saved a bunch there too, and my coral are doing fine under 'em

now we are talking!

 

[Liquid360]

LOVE to see threads like this... in a hobby where it seems everybody is capable of tossing around serious coin I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with a passion for reefing and who's on a budget!!

 

[kchristensen8064]

Got it all for free from an angry wife going through a divorce! 65gal w/20gal refugium, aqua c skimmer 150w halide, everything but live stock.
Before

After

Refugium

 

[Liquid360]

On some of these thread it seems as though they should be entitled "Who's got the most cash"... yeah yeah I know. I'm broke and bitter. I get that.

 

[glb]

I can't post pics right now! I have Rev looking into it for me.

 

[ohio reefer]

My main system is the happiest of all my tanks. Got the 180$ 55 gallon full kit when I got into the hobby, kept the filter, and heater. Switched the lights for a 4 bulb T5 current nova for 220$ from dr foster smith, no sump, no skimmer, just two filters, power head, heater and lights. Cheaper than my biocube upgrades.

Best growth out of all my tanks. All coral has at least grown 4x their original size.

 

[Liquid360]

Hey Ohio I tried sending u a message alas said you can't receive messages... just FYI

 

[ohio reefer]

Hey Ohio I tried sending u a message alas said you can't receive messages... just FYI

Thanks ill empty my box

 

[redtop03]

I can't post pics right now! I have Rev looking into it for me.

have you tried to upload your pics to photo bucket and post the links to here ?

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I want to see someone who has a tarp in a box living room display haha! Looking frugal yet classy! Keep em coming! Don't be afraid to show your cheapness, its the only way to prove to the unenthusiast that they can do it too.

 

[glb]

have you tried to upload your pics to photo bucket and post the links to here ?

I'll try that. It's weird. I was always able to upload directly from my iPhone. Thanks!

 

[redtop03]

I want to see someone who has a tarp in a box living room display haha! Looking frugal yet classy! Keep em coming! Don't be afraid to show your cheapness, its the only way to prove to the unenthusiast that they can do it too.

LOL mattshack had a pond liner in a wooden box for his sump,but he had a 1000 gallon plywood tank too, his pics are gone or I would have posted the sump pic here