A used tank and stand can be had for cheap if you keep an eye out and be patient. But it tends to turn into a money pit after, especially if you go with something bigger than a 40g.
Getting tired of going out and buying your water? Buy RODI system.
Now you need to store the water. Buy bins.
How are you going to mix the salt? Buy powerhead, buy heater.
How do you get it out of the storage containers or into tank? Buy pump, buy hoses
Don't want new fish/corals bringing in bad stuff? Buy tank for QT, buy heater, buy powerhead
You want to treat fish or dip corals? Buy medicine, then buy test kit to make sure you have proper levels of medication
You want a reef tank or keep other corals besides softies? Buy Ca, Alk, Mg test kits
Starting to get algae? Buy PO4 and NO3 test kits. Buy chems to treat or buy equipment. Buy media to use in new equipment
Running out of room to store everything you've bought? Buy cabinet/storage system
The above describes exactly what I went through. LOL
Lol while I agree with this.. as most people end up going this route... I had so little money when I started this hobby I did not buy the ammonia/nitrite kits to cycle, I only bought the cheap API Nitrate kit. So how did I know my tank cycled? Well I just gave it a good 6 weeks and waited for the uglies to show up and tested Nitrate. I went visually instead of testing and took it very slow.
Some people don't test for PO4 even when they have algae. I mean you get GHA and then your PO4 reads low since the GHA is using it anyways.
I use the same powerhead to mix the salt as pump it into the tank, I don't use a heater, the powerhead heats it up pretty quick anyways, and I don't store water, just mix in 5g bucket and use the same day.
I now have a lot more crap (most bought used) but nice light and so on but I certainly didn't start that way 10 years ago. I have some vortechs I got used but they are from 2012 but hey, they keep working! I am still budget minded although my budget is bigger now.
My friend just got into the hobby with like NO budget. He bought a 29g for 25 dollars, a jebao, a aquaclear, and a used refractometer and a 8 dollar sun sun pump to mix salt. He uses a scoop to pour it into the tank by hand. I gave him the live rock but most people can find some on a local reef forum. He has no money for reef lights atm so hes just letting it run FOWLR. He doesn't have money for a QT tank so he bought all his fish from Live Aquaria, ORA fish only to have the best bet to avoid disease since they are shipped from ORA. He got two $15 clowns, a captive bred yellow watchman goby from ORA, a pistol shrimp, cleaner shrimp, and added a peppermint to hit free shipping.
He got a CUC from reef cleaners prior to the fish.
Adding all that at once usually isn't advised but he needed to hit the $99 shipping. The rock was live and he let it cycle/cure in his tank a good long while and all the fish were babies... it turned out totally fine. He will tackle some easy corals when he has a light to do so but for now the tank is maturing.
I guess the truth is... if you have a budget, you just need to be realistic about your plans but there is still a lot in this hobby a person can enjoy on a budget. Plus it is a great learning experience.
If you want SPS but have no budget, then I would just go with a 2g jar. Then you can just do 100% water changes and put a 30 dollar light over it and call it done.
If you want fish, than a 20g with softies and some LPS is better for a budget.
If you want full blown 30g SPS system, you need to at least have money for test kits/supplements and a chinese black box. Honestly though, its going to be the SPS frags that drive you into the poor house though more than the system set up.. ha!
