low budget start up for a first time reefer

[WilbyBakedReef]

Hello everyone,
This my 40g breeder tank with mostly all low budget equipment and the rocks and tank itself being passed down from closes family and friends that got me into the hobby. All rocks passed down from close reefers, the tank itself was used by my cousin for a hamster. I have a Protein skimmer passed down from my roommate with overflow box. Most of the purchased equipment(wave maker,heater,refugium light, DCP 5000 water return) is from Amazon under mostly under $100(total start up price:x2 $15 wavemakers, $20 r/b indoor grow light,heater $30, return line $80. My Sump is a 10g (three chamber)purchased from OfferUp $50. Two AI prime lights for $150, that is basically all my equipment for $360. I’d like to show my reef tank to the community and get feedback. this is 9 months into my saltwater journey.

Livestock:
1 engineer goby
1 watchmen goby
1 banded eel
1 PJ cardinal
1 peppermint shrimp

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Welcome and enjoy they hobby friend.

 

[Azedenkae]

Heyo.

Mg, Calc, (and Alk?) can be increased imo. But if your corals seem to be doing fine (especially if they are growing), I would be hesitant and maybe just keep everything as is instead.

 

[Ghost25]

Looks good, you can definitely increase the light intensity significantly. AI Primes are good lights overall but not very powerful.

 

[WilbyBakedReef]

Heyo.

Mg, Calc, (and Alk?) can be increased imo. But if your corals seem to be doing fine (especially if they are growing), I would be hesitant and maybe just keep everything as is instead.

I am working on dosing. Thank you for the positive feedback

 

[Kynzo]

With the corals you have and since they're still all pretty small I don't know if you'd necessarily need to dose. Rather, you just perform regular water changes to replenish these nutrients. Unless you're testing between water changes and are seeing big swings. Otherwise it looks good

 

[WilbyBakedReef]

With the corals you have and since they're still all pretty small I don't know if you'd necessarily need to dose. Rather, you just perform regular water changes to replenish these nutrients. Unless you're testing between water changes and are seeing big swings. Otherwise it looks good

I test every two weeks.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Alks dropping. More frequent small wcs or dose the alk yo. Up ur mag too.
Intresting how your lights are. Most place on the back wall. Lol.
Lookin good.
D

 

[Kynzo]

I test every two weeks.

What kind of test is that? Seems convenient

 

[WilbyBakedReef]

What kind of test is that? Seems convenient

I pay $7 at LFS for a aqua spin water test.

 

[WilbyBakedReef]

Alks dropping. More frequent small wcs or dose the alk yo. Up ur mag too.
Intresting how your lights are. Most place on the back wall. Lol.
Lookin good.
D

Thank you.

 

[WilbyBakedReef]

Alks dropping. More frequent small wcs or dose the alk yo. Up ur mag too.
Intresting how your lights are. Most place on the back wall. Lol.
Lookin good.
D

Good or bad placement? I painted the back of my glass black and tried to conceal most of my equipment with it(heater,pumps,overflow) I think it looks nice. Because I did notice no one hangs it on the sides. All mostly HOB as mentioned.