New reefer...DIY money saving ideas?

[sunjazz6]

I'm very new to the reefing community and have been looking for ways to keep the costs down. Youtube videos of diy projects have helped immensley as well as tips from other reefers.

How have you saved money with your reef tank?

 

[Super Fly]

I buy mostly used equipment, rarely brand new.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I'm very new to the reefing community and have been looking for ways to keep the costs down. Youtube videos of diy projects have helped immensley as well as tips from other reefers.

How have you saved money with your reef tank?

Stands are a great start to diy saving. They have a low learning curve and can follow numerous tested plans. Savings between $100-400 depending on tank size

Sumps are another, great opportunity to save large sums. A tank, some silicone, a cutting device, and acrylic just saved $150

Reactors are slightly more advanced but not terribly difficult to make. Just need the right plumbing, washers, and a water tight container with a drill able lid. Saving $15-100.

Anything electrical ime is a steep learning curve. Diy lights, skimmers, etc might end up spending money, tinkering for weeks, buying an off the shelf model.

IME anyway.

This diy filter on my pond saved me $100.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
One of the best ways I know of to save money is for the long haul purchases. Best example is a new reefer comes into the hobby, and right away they want a cheap 100-200 dollar lighting option with plans to buy better lighting down the road. My best suggestion is to save up and buy the good lighting right away. Say you're looking at a 400 light down the road, instead of spending just that 400 dollars on the one light, you now have two lights with potentially over 500 to 600 invested. Sure you can try to sell the old light, but you won't get out of it what you put into it.
Also check the forums and sites such as craigslist. Unfortunately there are always reefers getting out of the hobby and selling off their equipment.

 

[Mavric]

I have cut a few corners in this hobby because I have a son coming in September and I don't make that much money to begin with.

I am planning on making my own ATO with a $35 parts list from Amazon. Look it up on YouTube. Super easy.

There is a few recipes out there for dosing (i.e. putting baking soda into oven for an hour and using to dose alkalinity/boost pH), hydrogen peroxide to battle some types of algae, fluconazole to battle bryopsis, pickling lime to battle aiptasia, etc. These are all things I've learned by word of mouth by other experienced reefers as well as on here.

Also, join local reefing groups on Facebook. You can get lots of secondhand stuff super cheap through those as well as livestock and corals.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R

Besides the above, Ask R2R before you pull the trigger on a purchase. It is alway good to have feedback. As @Crabs Mcjones stated I have made the mistakes that he suggested about lighting and a few minor purchases in the past. I will say there are some great products out there that are like the high end equipment for 1/2 the price.

I built my stand, sump and a few other things.

 

[pugcrush]

Not really DIY, but get with the local reef club & make some good friends. There's alot of sharing of frags & pay it forward with mine. You can see other folks setups in person & see what makes them successful.

There's plenty of great info here on R2R to see what equipment is great. Always try to buy once!