How do you save money in this hobby?

[427HISS]

I ask my local fish stores (mainly two) for group buys. A lot of reef salt.
Live reef rock.
Another one is for calcium chloride in 50lb bags from a local pharmaceutical company.

 

[ptrusk]

Take up bowling.

 

[cloud9aquariums]

Just keep things simple! The more random equipment and additives you introduce the more money you'll spend trying to correct non existent problems.

 

[flashsmith]

Recently replaced my chaeto with sea lettuce in my refugium. Cleaning my system and feeding my fish with the sea lettuce.. Seems to be working out. Simplifying everything I can which means getting away from anything that has sensitive electronics. Speaking from experience I'm running high end gear and middle of the road gear. I've always had better reliability and longevity out of other products than the "big" 2...

 

[damsels are not mean]

flake food, lid to reduce RODI consumption, low amount of SPS corals to reduce/eliminate dosing needs. Limit the amount of equipment to run the tank (all i got is flow pumps and lights. No heater, no filtration, etc. as that is all media that needs bought or maintained. I don't regularly test anything but alk because I just do water changes every few weeks ish when it drops.

 

[Mrsirtang]

Don’t support the high prices of coral sales. I remember way back when you bought a coral, you would get several on a piece of actual reef rock anywhere from $15 - $50. Then they started fragging corals, but you will still got a decent sized frag. Now its seems, a lot of sellers are going to frag-lets (an inch or less) and charging double to triple the price.

 

[i cant think]

Don’t support the high prices of coral sales. I remember way back when you bought a coral, you would get several on a piece of actual reef rock anywhere from $15 - $50. Then they started fragging corals, but you will still got a decent sized frag. Now its seems, a lot of sellers are going to frag-lets (an inch or less) and charging double to triple the price.

It really is that way, and the only thing that’s special is the name. The actual piece tends to just be a heavily brightened colour morph of a different piece is what I find. This is why I don’t buy by the names unless I truly love that specific piece (Such as Pink Lemonade or PC rainbow).
In the background of this photo, that’s a frag I got of just a coral I enjoy, not even named (I did discover it’s a Pearlberry a few weeks ago but even then, I don’t really mind). Coral sellers that are in it for the money would most likely sell that piece for about 5x the price I bought it at and under a ridiculous name

But I guess that’s the game we play now… a named piece for 10x the money it used to be.

I believe I brought that frag for around 45 USD, I’ve seen them going for that size at around 75 USD. And actually, in my tank it’s slightly smaller that I brought it as it did decide to snap when trying to glue it onto the rock and the based out part decided to also break a bit off.

 

[dstockwell]

I am lucky enough to know a coral farmer, and he also does tear downs can get great deals

 

[92Miata]

Ignore marketing. Dont spend $90 a bucket on salt that is worse than the $35 a bucket stuff. Don't spend $500 on commodity brushless dc motored pumps. Don't spend ridiculous amounts on bulk chemicals relabeled as "pharma grade" (nonsense). Don't buy frags from people if the background is black, or ridiculous purple/blue.

 

[PeterEde]

wash fleece rollers
dumping Hanna checkers for less expensive kits (salifert/NYOS)

 

[WVNed]

Get the nice plastic fish and corals

Oh, a serious answer.
For me it was learning to buy what I wanted the first time and Not paying for the seven steps up until I got it anyway.

 

[PeterEde]

wash fleece rollers
dumping Hanna checkers for less expensive kits (salifert/NYOS)

Changed roller yesterday. on it's 2nd time around. Almost a month per roll

 

[14 foot reef]

IO purple box, DIY 2 part.

This has to be the best answer in this thread, I have been using Instant Ocean for 44 years.
I buy it from Chewy, 8 - 50 gallon bags for $11.00 per bag and free freight. I have it on auto ship and it comes to my door 8 bags at a time. With an 850 gallon reef on a weekly10% auto water change, there is no way I would ever buy those expensive salts, especially when we all are already dosing to our reefs.
Bravo Instant Ocean for producing a salt that has mixed the same for me for 44 Years !!!!!!!
Video added just for viewing pleasure

 

[vetteguy53081]

Buy local and save on shipping not to mention the rediculous prices vendors are charging

Join a local club and buy cheaper from local members and even make trades

 

[PeterEde]

Buy local and save on shipping not to mention the rediculous prices vendors are charging

Join a local club and buy cheaper from local members and even make trades

I'm afraid to join any club or make many friends in the hobby. That just leads to tank envy and spending lots more money

 

[pulpfiction]

Stalking all the pet stores online for salt sales when I get a bit low. Subscription for carbon. Buy a sheet of filter floss I cut up. It lasts forever. Dollar tree for containers, turkey basters, and such.

 

[Lavey29]

I save money by sneaking my coral purchases in during the dead of night when my wife is sleeping because if she finds out how much money I'm spending on corals then she will immediately retaliate with massive binge shopping on her own for junk we do not need at all so my wallet would be taking a double hit. I'm really doing the entire family a favor by being coral covert here.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm afraid to join any club or make many friends in the hobby. That just leads to tank envy and spending lots more money

 

[JustJoan]

I am growing my own phytoplankton, copepods and rotifers. They are crazy expensive if you use them weekly.

 

[KK's Reef]

Save money? What's that.

I stick to a small tank and buy coral from live sale after sales and coral shows (negotiating is an art).