My Reef Tank Just Saved Me $500!

[tablesalt]

That's right, my reef tank (AKA money sink) just saved me $500. How you ask? When the roofer came over to our house to give us an estimate on our roof, he saw my fish tank. He just happens to have just traded some work for a 250 gallon tank he wants to set up as salt water. After some intense negotiations with 6 different roofing companies over price, I negotiated $500 off for "impartial aquarium advice" with the owner of this company to help him build out his tank.

I started by telling him he needed expectation management setting up his 250 gallon reef tank on a budget. You could totally do it in phases, but he won't have the tank he wants from day 1.

I think you could phase it in.

Phase 1: FOWLR
Phase 2: Reef lighting on one side and basic corals.
Phase 3: Reef lighting with corals on both sides.
Phase 4: Automation

We will see what he actually ends up doing.

 

[TheEngineer]

Well done!

 

[norfolkgarden]

Congratulations! Nice score.

I work out of town, reef on a budget, have no automation. Plenty of happy softies but I know my limits with my current set up.
Lol, no acro's in my future any time soon.

Would you start with automation first to get/keep perfect parameters before spending money on the good lighting ?

 

[tablesalt]

I'm not sure exactly what this guys budget is but his heart is already set on the tank he's got. If it was me, and I was going to have an awesome tank but pay for it over time, I'd start off slow. I don't know that you need a controller to keep everything perfect with 250 gallons of stability. I'd start off with basic filtration and tube lights, and do FOWLR first. I'd add an ATO for stability and probably a cheap INKBIRD controller (like 35$) for temperature control of a basic fan and a couple of heaters. After I cycled the tank I'd probably add a basic low tech fuge underneath. I'd then upgrade the lighting in a single section of the tank and start off with some easier to grow soft corals that can become invasive in a large tank. Something like Xenia, Green Star Polyps, mushrooms, maybe some leathers. After a while I'd upgrade the lights on the other side of the tank and maybe put in some "harder" softies or LPS. Probably some leathers or candy cane corals. At this point in time I might look into an actual controller before continuing to upgrade different sections of the tank. I don't know that you really need a fancy controller if you are not doing SPS or other really difficult fish... especially with efficient nutrient export like Chaeto and a tank that large. I think you could get away with once a week maintenance/water changes and daily feedings on a tank this size. My only caveat is with something this big, I'd definitely go with a battery backup powerhead.

This guy has had fresh before but this is a first saltwater tank. I think going this big is a bad idea but I don't want him to fail. The other idea behind going this way, aside from spreading out the cost over time, is to increase the complexity and difficulty of the tank over time as he gains skill. Starting FOWLR, switching to partial reef softies, then adding in an LPS section. I can't really help with SPS as that is beyond my current level of expertise (and budget).

 

[Mebbid]

Doing everything in such small steps is a logistical nightmare. Plumbing a tank that is running is no fun.

I would start off with the basics. Tank, fuge, temp controller, ato, and lighting that will scale.

Be sure to add good manifold to help expand the system down the road.

After that it's a simple matter to add a skimmer, more lights, reactors, controllers, etc.

 

[Super Fly]

If it was me, and I was going to have an awesome tank but pay for it over time, I'd start off slow. I don't know that you need a controller to keep everything perfect with 250 gallons of stability. I'd start off with basic filtration and tube lights, and do FOWLR first. I'd add an ATO for stability and probably a cheap INKBIRD controller (like 35$) for temperature control of a basic fan and a couple of heaters.

agreed, it would be best for him to learn how to manage a tank first prior to getting a controller, besides the high cost of a controller.

This guy has had fresh before but this is a first saltwater tank. I think going this big is a bad idea but I don't want him to fail.

I think going large was better move as it's more forgiving should owner get lazy with tank husbandry.

 

[ScooterV]

LOL, I need to keep that in mind!!! The manager for our termite and pest company comes along with his employee for every inspection or treatment, then knocks on the door asking to see the tank. He does plan to take the leap, but hasn't yet. He's always full of questions though