Can I ask, what do you do with the filter mat? Where do you place it?I use commercial, bulk/tech grade chemicals (sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate) and save about 80% off BRS bulk prices with NO ill effects despite their claims that "impurities" exist in non-pharmaceutical grade components. I get this stuff in 50 lb bags delivered to the house, then I repackage it in old salt barrels making it airtight. The chemical data sheets show that the impurities tend to be things like magnesium, which we're dosing anyway, calcium, etc, with hardly anything harmful. I run ICP periodically and there are no high levels of anything undesirable. I dose about 320 ml of 2-part a day which is super pricey otherwise. I use a filter mat, that I cut to size. It lasts about a week and costs about 50 cents apiece. While it sounds like a waste of money compared to socks, it's worth it when you factor in the fact that you aren't running electricity running a washer, and the PITA, not to mention the inevitable divorce isn't going to be cheap either. You don't need to have the latest lights, the faciest wavemakers or the most expensive skimmer to have a nice tank.
Where do you place the filter mat?I use commercial, bulk/tech grade chemicals (sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate) and save about 80% off BRS bulk prices with NO ill effects despite their claims that "impurities" exist in non-pharmaceutical grade components. I get this stuff in 50 lb bags delivered to the house, then I repackage it in old salt barrels making it airtight. The chemical data sheets show that the impurities tend to be things like magnesium, which we're dosing anyway, calcium, etc, with hardly anything harmful. I run ICP periodically and there are no high levels of anything undesirable. I dose about 320 ml of 2-part a day which is super pricey otherwise. I use a filter mat, that I cut to size. It lasts about a week and costs about 50 cents apiece. While it sounds like a waste of money compared to socks, it's worth it when you factor in the fact that you aren't running electricity running a washer, and the PITA, not to mention the inevitable divorce isn't going to be cheap either. You don't need to have the latest lights, the faciest wavemakers or the most expensive skimmer to have a nice tank.
She doesn’t need my money- she’s a physicianYou must go through girlfriends lol !!. 10 bucks , That’s funny !!!
Wait til you've done it a few decades, you get brain block on what you've spent. The cost have skyrocketed since the 'vid wave of reefers came in and are now leaving, but I can honestly say it's 5 digits in front of the decimal point for me. Slim chance it's a 2 but more than likely a 3/4 is the first digit. 10-15k of that is frankly since 2015 since I got back in it! Much as we are think we're saving, lol, it's all discretionary income. This hobby is a want not a need!
I haven't done any water changes with no skimmer no sump in my 29 since starting in February and I'd be fibbing if I said everything was thriving but I've since rehomed the euphyllia and the Sinularia to a different tank to see if I can get some growth spurts out of more flow on them. This photo is a few weeks old but hey. And to be honest I think it's better to do water changes, I'm just lazy and I can 100% tell you my corals get straight up stunted over my inability to commit to 1-2 20% water changes every month. Don't be me.
Meh I heavily disagree. If you want to genuinely save money, just pick a few corals that are easy enough to grow out, grow them out, and if you still don't like the look of your tank at that point then begin selling frags online to finance more coral.
