Does anyone have any budget tank setups they are looking to share. Looking for some ideas and plans for my garage. So if you have a successful tank that you think should be shown please share a picture/s and a little description of the equipment and set up you have going. Just something to do on this Tuesday afternoon
Let’s see some budget tanks
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Reefing_addiction
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Wait there is such thing as a budget tank?!?!
I blew my budget and then some and I only have a 16g aio
I blew my budget and then some and I only have a 16g aio
Rudzbrewski
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I started with a budget 10 gallon build that could be easy scaled to a 20-40 gallon build. All of the details and equipment list are in my build thread.
What size were you thinking?
What size were you thinking?
Lazerith
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Look up quarantine tanks. That’s the cheapest you can get with saltwater. I’ve seen people do fish only tanks with hang on filter, circulation pumps, and weekly water changes. It can be done, but I always worried about the health of fish in that situation, just because it’s enough to keep it alive, doesn’t mean it’s living comfortably.
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I'm curious on what size you are considering as well? The bigger the tank the more costly it will be. I spent roughly $600 setting up my budget 20 gallon and cut as many corners as I possibly could to keep things low cost.
Of course I bought all of my things brand new. Buying used could potentially save you a lot of money.
Of course I bought all of my things brand new. Buying used could potentially save you a lot of money.
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SMSREEF
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What are you looking to keep?
I’ve spent about $130 total on my 10 gallon macro/invert tank.
$50 Tank came with lid with led, HOB filter, heater
Added
$15 power head
$15 waterproof LED
$15 surface skimmer to add to the HOB filter
$20 for 2 Kasa wifi plugs to control lights and pumps.
$15 backup air pump for when power goes out.
I’ve spent about $130 total on my 10 gallon macro/invert tank.
$50 Tank came with lid with led, HOB filter, heater
Added
$15 power head
$15 waterproof LED
$15 surface skimmer to add to the HOB filter
$20 for 2 Kasa wifi plugs to control lights and pumps.
$15 backup air pump for when power goes out.
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Hugh Mann
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Pardon the algae.
I'm going to classify this as a budget build, as everything is about as cheap as I could possibly buy it.
$100 55 gallon tank, used.
$40 DIY stand and light rack.
$150 used mars aqua 165w lights.
$40 Marineland heater 300w
$30 inkbird temperature controller
$150 80lbs dry rock
$50 40lbs crushed coral
$40 4lbs live rock
$20 powerhead
$50 used aquaclear 110
$50 used reef octopus 1000 skimmer
I'm going to classify this as a budget build, as everything is about as cheap as I could possibly buy it.
$100 55 gallon tank, used.
$40 DIY stand and light rack.
$150 used mars aqua 165w lights.
$40 Marineland heater 300w
$30 inkbird temperature controller
$150 80lbs dry rock
$50 40lbs crushed coral
$40 4lbs live rock
$20 powerhead
$50 used aquaclear 110
$50 used reef octopus 1000 skimmer
There is one in my signature.
Daddy-o
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Paul B
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I have always felt that many people spend way to much on this stuff.
I have a 125 gallon tank. I had to pay for that. I also have a DIY skimmer that is maybe 30 years old and it cost me less than $20.00 to build. I also built many of my rocks for almost free out of cement. My algae scrubber is a DIY and practically free. I have no sump, controllers, dosers, quarantine or hospital tank, medications and very few test kits.
I run a reverse undergravel filter with dolomite that you may be able to get today in a museum or mausoleum
I built the stand out of redwood which was maybe $100.00
My fish live until they die of old age so they are cheap as are corals.
I did have to buy heaters and powerheads but they are very old so kind of cheap.
Where I live now I can collect NSW so that, for me is free.
I have a 125 gallon tank. I had to pay for that. I also have a DIY skimmer that is maybe 30 years old and it cost me less than $20.00 to build. I also built many of my rocks for almost free out of cement. My algae scrubber is a DIY and practically free. I have no sump, controllers, dosers, quarantine or hospital tank, medications and very few test kits.
I run a reverse undergravel filter with dolomite that you may be able to get today in a museum or mausoleum
I built the stand out of redwood which was maybe $100.00
My fish live until they die of old age so they are cheap as are corals.
I did have to buy heaters and powerheads but they are very old so kind of cheap.
Where I live now I can collect NSW so that, for me is free.
Tanks looks great, I’ve been thinking about doing one of these as well.What are you looking to keep?
I’ve spent about $130 total on my 10 gallon macro/invert tank.
$50 Tank came with lid with led, HOB filter, heater
Added
$15 power head
$15 waterproof LED
$15 surface skimmer to add to the HOB filter
$20 for 2 Kasa wifi plugs to control lights and pumps.
$15 backup air pump for when power goes out.
So my thoughts on this post was for more of a fun thread. Anything you may seem that’s a budget build is a budget, everyone has a different one. so with more ideas out there and different prices might give me or someone else an idea they can setup. All I see are these beautiful control boards, sumps, all out equipment and all that. And sometimes they are only that and not the tank or what’s in it. So I figured if you have a tank with or without any of this and it looks great and you love coming home to it lets share it
