Divvy up the budget

[Jisko]

So I've been working on my 55g build and have come to a dilemma. I'm home for the summer so I've created a budget for myself to put towards the tank before I go back to college. However I'm not sure how I want to spend it. Here is my situation and a few ideas I've come up with. Let me know what ya'lls opinion is or what you would do

Current setup (the 55g once its moved)

67" long stand
-on the stand holds the 55g long display & 5g frag tank on the side
-20g sump with aquamaxx in sump skimmer & 300 watt heater
-Lighting is a cheap strip light that runs off a timer (320 watts)
-frag tank has a orbit marine
-in total display has 100lb of rock
-2x Jebao powerheads
-Tunze ATO
-Media reactor (Carbon)


Budget: $800

option 1:
I've thought about upgrading the equipment a bit

I was looking at getting a 18x18x8 or 16x16x8 frag AIO frag tank so I have more room for grow out during the year.

Pick up a Jebaeo dosing pump to start dosing down the road (this was more or less just buying it to plan ahead)

A second reactor for GFO because I have a algae problem which my guess will transfer over to the 55g once everything is moved over.

invest in a good QT setup for the basement to house either new fish or sick fish (atleast get everything needed in case something happens this includes medicine)

upgrade the sump to a trigger and setup a nice refugium to help combat nutrients that might get out of control while I'm away at college and someone else is watching the tank. (this also combats the over usage of GFO)

Hannah checker set

option 2:
Fish and Corals!!

I really want to add some new corals and fish to kind of fill in some of the dead space once the move has been made. I'm looking to add some frogspawns, hammers, acans, zoas, and maybe a scoly or trachy.

Fish wise I was looking to QT 5 chromis, shrimp goby pair, flame hawk, and a few cardinals over the next 4 or 5 months (They would be QT for 2 months then added in batches)

in total I'd be looking to add 20+ frags


So I'm gonna add @saltyfilmfolks just because he always seems to give some good information

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I hear he's full of skimate.

 

[Jisko]

I hear he's full of skimate.

better full then broken

 

[jenkinscrew2578]

What I would do...

I would definitely invest in the QT equipment priority one.

Then the Hanna ULR phosphate and alkalinity.

Then the doser, especially if you are going away.

Then forget the reactor and gfo and just use PhosphateRX as needed.

Then some fish and coral.

Then the extra stuff, if any money left over. [emoji16]

 

[jenkinscrew2578]

I hear he's full of skimate.

lol

 

[spiraling]

Get the fish and coral you want now. Yes make sure you QT them. Save the frag tank for later, you can use the current tank for growing out corals. Make it beautiful!

 

[Maddlesrain]

I'm the same with college and being away for extended periods, so I'd go with getting all your algae under control / exporting nutrients now. It'll cause less headache later

But I would also budget yourself so that you're able to snag a few choice frags to keep the spark of excitement alive! Even now when I'm in the midst of changing tanks I have a holding tank and allow myself to a new frag here and there.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok. Well. IMO

The stand is a good plan. Look at a 3o long or 30 tall. You have room. I have a 30 tall.
The stand your liking at is huge and that way you have room for a fuge or ceramic medi if you choose. Or need it. Feed smart and healthy you may not. Ever

You've drawn shcmatics look at tank sump dimensions. And how it'll fit

Look at alternative cheap containers for the ding fluid and mark them well. I.e. 2 liter bottles. Etc

Ditch the reactor and get the doser. You might need a reactor you do need a doser. Kinda.

Consider a less expensive but still reliable ato. A 2.5 gallon container should fit under the stand no problem maybe even a five gallon. I.e. Just put a new full jug under the stand. Easy for tank sitters.

Consider the frag tank a coral QT. Don't fall I love. You may need to nuke it one day. Nudis Spiders etc.
my 30g has no sump, it has the 14g biocube I was going to use as a sump but it's my coral qt. Stupid reponsablity!!

I don't run a full time fish qt. It takes me 20 min to set one up and I think of fish like puppies. I don't buy them a lot and expect to have them a long time and I take weeks to decide on one generally.

Keep ceramic bio balls in the tank sump and a hob Aqua clear in the ten or twenty gallon empty tank ready for emergency or new fish. Tank water , fresh salt water , hob. Done.

Scrub the rocks and a peroxide dip and no more algae on the transfer. Done that three times this year in the 30.

For the general parameters I use API and don't care what any one says. My tank is full of corals. Large ones. Red Sea for cal alk and mag.

It's good to think about the stocking list now. Keep in mind it'll change. Don't forget to add jobs to the fish to keep the tank clean. Or bugbpickers like scooters algae eaters bla bla bla get stuff ya like.

Keep an eye out for a deal on the lights. Cheap strip sounds fine but you'll be bummin later.
48 in is actually hard to light. IMO look for a 48. Reefbreeders etc.
I went with three 12in Ai sol's cuz it was a smoking deal and it's WAY to much power but I love love love too much covereage. T5 style.

What did I miss?

 

[Jisko]

Ok. Well. IMO

The stand is a good plan. Look at a 3o long or 30 tall. You have room. I have a 30 tall.
The stand your liking at is huge and that way you have room for a fuge or ceramic medi if you choose. Or need it. Feed smart and healthy you may not. Ever

You've drawn shcmatics look at tank sump dimensions. And how it'll fit

Look at alternative cheap containers for the ding fluid and mark them well. I.e. 2 liter bottles. Etc

Ditch the reactor and get the doser. You might need a reactor you do need a doser. Kinda.

Consider a less expensive but still reliable ato. A 2.5 gallon container should fit under the stand no problem maybe even a five gallon. I.e. Just put a new full jug under the stand. Easy for tank sitters.

Consider the frag tank a coral QT. Don't fall I love. You may need to nuke it one day. Nudis Spiders etc.
my 30g has no sump, it has the 14g biocube I was going to use as a sump but it's my coral qt. Stupid reponsablity!!

I don't run a full time fish qt. It takes me 20 min to set one up and I think of fish like puppies. I don't buy them a lot and expect to have them a long time and I take weeks to decide on one generally.

Keep ceramic bio balls in the tank sump and a hob Aqua clear in the ten or twenty gallon empty tank ready for emergency or new fish. Tank water , fresh salt water , hob. Done.

Scrub the rocks and a peroxide dip and no more algae on the transfer. Done that three times this year in the 30.

For the general parameters I use API and don't care what any one says. My tank is full of corals. Large ones. Red Sea for cal alk and mag.

It's good to think about the stocking list now. Keep in mind it'll change. Don't forget to add jobs to the fish to keep the tank clean. Or bugbpickers like scooters algae eaters bla bla bla get stuff ya like.

Keep an eye out for a deal on the lights. Cheap strip sounds fine but you'll be bummin later.
48 in is actually hard to light. IMO look for a 48. Reefbreeders etc.
I went with three 12in Ai sol's cuz it was a smoking deal and it's WAY to much power but I love love love too much covereage. T5 style.

What did I miss?

I decided to swap over the 20g long I'm currently using on the 29g this way I have room to house a 5g bucket for the ATO. Also makes it easier for my father to remember, just fill the ATO bucket on tank cleaning day.

I've thought about dosing but I'm not sure on what all I should dose. I know I could prolly dose two part and I've been looking at red sea or aquaforest but I'm not really sure on what to go with

I currently have a 29g and a 20g that will be used as fish QT very soon as I'm going to be putting in an order to get the fish QT and put into the tank before college starts back up.

the frag tank I'm using now is actually my QT tank for corals


a little side note... I had planned on doing a large WWC order before I head back to college if I decide to not use the budget on equipment. I'm not to worried about QTing corals from WWC as I simply dip them and change the plugs.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I decided to swap over the 20g long I'm currently using on the 29g this way I have room to house a 5g bucket for the ATO. Also makes it easier for my father to remember, just fill the ATO bucket on tank cleaning day.

I've thought about dosing but I'm not sure on what all I should dose. I know I could prolly dose two part and I've been looking at red sea or aquaforest but I'm not really sure on what to go with

I currently have a 29g and a 20g that will be used as fish QT very soon as I'm going to be putting in an order to get the fish QT and put into the tank before college starts back up.

the frag tank I'm using now is actually my QT tank for corals


a little side note... I had planned on doing a large WWC order before I head back to college if I decide to not use the budget on equipment. I'm not to worried about QTing corals from WWC as I simply dip them and change the plugs.

Well done sir. !!


I'll counter , I wish a bigger sump for you. But glad you have a plan.

Kalk is cheap but increases evaporation and you have to use more of it than two part.
ESV I belive is more potent than jealousy but less potent than tropic marine. So you use less tropic Marin.
Play with the calculators to calculate a dose based on an alk of 8. And assumed low of 7.
Then change the product and look at the mil needed. You can look at Af and RS there too I belive.

With Any savings, I hope you look at an SBReeflight a built in timer or ramp on an led is just easy maint free.