College tank....

[Martin H. Lawton]

Here next semester I will be graduating with my Associate Degree in networking technology .. YES! But my schooling will not stop there, I plan on attending a University. Because of this I will have to limit my work hours which really means I will not have the income I had before. I plan on trying my best to sustain the tank with a budget. but as of right now I do not know how much the budget will be. What I am asking is if i am forgetting to consider anything in the budget. What I have as of right now is Carbon, GFO, Salt, Fish food/coral food, Test kits, supplements, and an emergency fund.

Thanks for everyone help in advance

 

[baseballfanatic2]

Here next semester I will be graduating with my Associate Degree in networking technology .. YES! But my schooling will not stop there, I plan on attending a University. Because of this I will have to limit my work hours which really means I will not have the income I had before. I plan on trying my best to sustain the tank with a budget. but as of right now I do not know how much the budget will be. What I am asking is if i am forgetting to consider anything in the budget. What I have as of right now is Carbon, GFO, Salt, Fish food/coral food, Test kits, supplements, and an emergency fund.

Thanks for everyone help in advance

Once everything is bought, all you really need is like 10 bucks a month for water changes. With a water change once a week, you dont even need to run anything like carbon, purigen, etc..

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

I figured that but I would hate not having the funds if I when need them.

 

[cameronh]

I do a water change weekly and my tank is just happy! Granted it's only a 3 gallon but full of corals, just about every square inch there is a coral. I buy reef crystals 50 gallon mix for ten something dollars and two gallons of purified water (ro) and I'm all set. Corals are taking off and polyps popping up as well as my coralline.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

sell frags =) pay for the tanks maintenance.

 

[cameronh]

sell frags =) pay for the tanks maintenance.

+1

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

right now I'm using red sea .. but I'm planning trying to switching to Instant Ocean only because I work at walmart and get 10% off

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

sell frags =) pay for the tanks maintenance.

takes time! tank is about 3 months old as of right now .. i may have some acan lords here soon !!

 

[cameronh]

Red Sea is good but I'm more of a fan of instant ocean reef crystals. Since I started that EVERYTHING is doing great!

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

since the tank is still new I'm kind of scared the switch won't do well. its only a ~$30 difference between buckets.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

I figured that but I would hate not having the funds if I when need them.

Yu wont need the funds. Just set it up right in the beginning. I have never needed extra funds. It's not a dog and doesnt need vet bills. Yeah, you might have an algae break here and there, but nothing a little extra $10 - $20 bucks and some maintenance cant fix.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

right now I'm using red sea .. but I'm planning trying to switching to Instant Ocean only because I work at walmart and get 10% off

Buy your water already mixed. Might be cheaper for you that way. You still need to buy RO water, or an RODI unit to make your water. Not a good investment for small tanks like yours.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

since the tank is still new I'm kind of scared the switch won't do well. its only a ~$30 difference between buckets.

Reef Crystals is great.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

oh then walmart has everything you need .
Regular I/O buy in 200 gallon boxes , those are cheaper , about $40-50
Baked baking soda - Baked at 400 degrees for an hour $1.25 = alkalinity buffer
Mrs. Wagers pickling Lime =( Kalkwasser) = $1.50
Food Greade Epsom salt at the pharmacy = Magnesium (sulfate) = $4.50
White Distilled Vinegar = Carbon Dosing = $3.50
Calcium chloride ( BRS can't find at walmart sorry lol) $15-20 for a big jug.

Knowing how to properly dose your tank = Priceless

 

[baseballfanatic2]

oh then walmart has everything you need .
Regular I/O buy in 200 gallon boxes , those are cheaper , about $40-50
Baked baking soda - Baked at 400 degrees for an hour $1.25 = alkalinity buffer
Mrs. Wagers pickling Lime =( Kalkwasser) = $1.50
Food Greade Epsom salt at the pharmacy = Magnesium (sulfate) = $4.50
White Distilled Vinegar = Carbon Dosing = $3.50
Calcium chloride ( BRS can't find at walmart sorry lol) $15-20 for a big jug.

Knowing how to properly dose your tank = Priceless

I wouldn't mess with any of that stuff. I'd kill everything in my tank. lol I stick with weekly water changes. I don't know how to balance all that yet. Still need another 5 years and working at a LFS under my belt.

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

I wish you lived near me MacDaddy D!

not to sound stupid but what do you mean I/O?

 

[ReefMadScientist]

If I were in my college days and working to make ends meet, no way I would have a reef tank. A FOWLR yes.

 

[Martin H. Lawton]

If I were in my college days and working to make ends meet, no way I would have a reef tank. A FOWLR yes.

That's what it's probably going to turn into if I cannot keep the parameters to my liking.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Yoda, is kind of right. lol jk I/O is = instant ocean.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

That's what it's probably going to turn into if I cannot keep the parameters to my liking.

To be honest, enjoy your college days. Not sitting in your apartment using titration kits all night. Titration kits do not get you any lady friends...get what I mean.

I am 31 and just started my reef hobby when I was 27. I was out of college and now settling down. I still ride dirt bikes, go to the gym, hang out with my buddies and spend time with my wife and kids. But 10 years ago, no way would I want to spend my college days cleaning out a skimmer cup.

Stick with a really cool FOWLR tank and call it a day.