Rant: Can we make this less expensive without sacrificing quality?

Kjames · Feb 28, 2023

I'm getting cost fatigue supporting 200 gallons in two separate systems. I am happy with the health and growth rate of almost all of my corals. In fact, I've had to remove some exceptionally large SPS colonies recently after 2 years of growth. Who has some ideas about spending less without sacrificing quality or endangering livestock?

Examples:
Salt: I use TM Pro Reef, which is 34% more than Red Sea Blue Bucket. Is there a 34% difference? My auto water change system consumes 3-5gal/day, depending on conditions. Should I switch?

Thieling Filter Fleece Rolls: $16.66 each. They last maybe 3 weeks. Is there an alternative?

I suppose I could feed less and save on both water changes and filter fleece rolls. I have removed a CO2 scrubber and added a kalk stirrer, which was a huge win in both reduced cost and elevated tank pH. I would love to hear how some of you keep a handle on costs. I'm not so concerned about the actual costs but the feeling of being overcharged is really bothering me.

Should I shut up and enjoy my tank?

Pistondog · Feb 28, 2023

Seems like salt is a big cost. Have you tried reducing the amount?
I like tm pro, but cant rationalize the cost difference., esp. Since turkey.
I switch between red sea blue, hw marine mix and aquaforest.

Pistondog · Feb 28, 2023

I do < 1% daily awc.

D3DPrintedThingz · Feb 28, 2023

Seems like a lot of water and salt to add each day, maybe kick the AWC down to 1-2gallon

ryanjohn1 · Feb 28, 2023

Kjames said:
I'm getting cost fatigue supporting 200 gallons in two separate systems. I am happy with the health and growth rate of almost all of my corals. In fact, I've had to remove some exceptionally large SPS colonies recently after 2 years of growth. Who has some ideas about spending less without sacrificing quality or endangering livestock?

Examples:
Salt: I use TM Pro Reef, which is 34% more than Red Sea Blue Bucket. Is there a 34% difference? My auto water change system consumes 3-5gal/day, depending on conditions. Should I switch?

Thieling Filter Fleece Rolls: $16.66 each. They last maybe 3 weeks. Is there an alternative?

I suppose I could feed less and save on both water changes and filter fleece rolls. I have removed a CO2 scrubber and added a kalk stirrer, which was a huge win in both reduced cost and elevated tank pH. I would love to hear how some of you keep a handle on costs. I'm not so concerned about the actual costs but the feeling of being overcharged is really bothering me.

Should I shut up and enjoy my tank?

Big tanks=big moneys.
could probably switch to Red Sea
Can you wash and re use the filter fleece like you can on socks?

Perthegallon · Feb 28, 2023

Red Sea also has the huge bulk packs you can buy for 200 especially on sale those are a great deal

Kjames · Feb 28, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
Big tanks=big moneys.
could probably switch to Red Sea
Can you wash and re use the filter fleece like you can on socks?

No go on reusing the filter fleece.

ryanjohn1 · Feb 28, 2023

Kjames said:
No go on reusing the filter fleece.

Lame

Trixter227 · Feb 28, 2023

Kjames said:
I'm getting cost fatigue supporting 200 gallons in two separate systems. I am happy with the health and growth rate of almost all of my corals. In fact, I've had to remove some exceptionally large SPS colonies recently after 2 years of growth. Who has some ideas about spending less without sacrificing quality or endangering livestock?

Examples:
Salt: I use TM Pro Reef, which is 34% more than Red Sea Blue Bucket. Is there a 34% difference? My auto water change system consumes 3-5gal/day, depending on conditions. Should I switch?

Thieling Filter Fleece Rolls: $16.66 each. They last maybe 3 weeks. Is there an alternative?

I suppose I could feed less and save on both water changes and filter fleece rolls. I have removed a CO2 scrubber and added a kalk stirrer, which was a huge win in both reduced cost and elevated tank pH. I would love to hear how some of you keep a handle on costs. I'm not so concerned about the actual costs but the feeling of being overcharged is really bothering me.

Should I shut up and enjoy my tank?

+1 on maybe swaping salt? Sloooowly ofcoruse. I use normal Instant ocean. If it's good enough for RHF its good enough for me lol! Mixes quick and clean. I dont get precipitation or any leftover in my mixing bucket.

mike550 · Feb 28, 2023

@Kjames I can’t speak for your tank, but I’m switching from TMPro to IO Sea Salt (not the reef version) in my 120G primarily because of cost, and I don’t think my corals are that special. I do 20% water changes every two weeks so we’ll see how the nutrient levels hold up.

I was able to buy a 160G salt mix for around $38 (local sale) so that’s about $0.23/gal vs TM Pro Reef (160G for $87) at $0.54. Plus with so many people carrying IO someone will always have it on sale.

Trixter227 · Feb 28, 2023

IO 160G salt mix $24 repet delivered from petco?petsmart?

taricha · Feb 28, 2023

Kjames said:
I'm not so concerned about the actual costs but the feeling of being overcharged is really bothering me.

Then you might enjoy doing any additives by DIY.
Randy has done DIY threads on essentially any needed elements for a reef tank.
And you can feel like you're sticking it to the man, sourcing your own chemicals - or whatever. Whatever lets you enjoy the hobby more.

STLCorals · Feb 28, 2023

I personally have never noticed a difference in my corals based off the salt mix I use. I have tried most of them and keep trying the new ones, but am now at the point I buy whatever is cheapest(which is usually specials on IO from Petco or Chewy). Usually can get it there cheaper than I can buy salt through my wholesalers. However I very rarely do water changes because the cost of dosing in my situation is much less than the cost of water changes. Obviously this only works if you do not need frequent water changes as part of controlling nutrients.

The fleece roller obviously you can save a lot of money using socks instead and cleaning them and reusing, but the extra cost is convenience.

Kjames · Mar 1, 2023

mike550 said:
@Kjames I can’t speak for your tank, but I’m switching from TMPro to IO Sea Salt (not the reef version) in my 120G primarily because of cost, and I don’t think my corals are that special. I do 20% water changes every two weeks so we’ll see how the nutrient levels hold up.

I was able to buy a 160G salt mix for around $38 (local sale) so that’s about $0.23/gal vs TM Pro Reef (160G for $87) at $0.54. Plus with so many people carrying IO someone will always have it on sale.

That's a smoking hot deal!

Kjames · Mar 1, 2023

taricha said:
Then you might enjoy doing any additives by DIY.
Randy has done DIY threads on essentially any needed elements for a reef tank.
And you can feel like you're sticking it to the man, sourcing your own chemicals - or whatever. Whatever lets you enjoy the hobby more.

That's good advice to figure out specifically what you enjoy about the hobby. And crafting DIY additives sounds intriguing. Thanks!

mike550 · Mar 1, 2023

Kjames said:
That's a smoking hot deal!

Yep! With places like Petco, Petsmart, Amazon, and local LFS all offering Instant Ocean pricing seems so much easier. I watched a guy load a pallet cart with about 8 buckets. Very impressive

Kjames · Mar 1, 2023

STLCorals said:
I personally have never noticed a difference in my corals based off the salt mix I use. I have tried most of them and keep trying the new ones, but am now at the point I buy whatever is cheapest(which is usually specials on IO from Petco or Chewy). Usually can get it there cheaper than I can buy salt through my wholesalers. However I very rarely do water changes because the cost of dosing in my situation is much less than the cost of water changes. Obviously this only works if you do not need frequent water changes as part of controlling nutrients.

The fleece roller obviously you can save a lot of money using socks instead and cleaning them and reusing, but the extra cost is convenience.

You're right on the convenience - rolls would have to get a lot more expensive for me to embrace filter socks.

whybenormal · Mar 1, 2023

Just curious, as I've never used the fleece rollers, and sometimes use the socks (often nothing at all) why can't the fleece roll be washed? I was thinking it could be put in a net bag and washed...

whybenormal · Mar 1, 2023

One thing I did to make it less expensive was to make my own food. I prefer shredding some frozen scallops, or shrimp, and feeding the fish, or making a batch of the green goopy food (similar to BRS reef chili recipe) and everyone is doing well with that

bakbay · Mar 1, 2023

Outside of capital expense, I would also look into operating expense (labor & time) involved. What worked for me to reduce cost:
1. Salt: no water changes. Outside of the initial purchase to salt the 150g tank, I just keep a little extra salt for supplementation or emergency. Yes, understand that I'm the minority here. I've not been practicing WCs for more than a decade for all my tanks.
2. Filter fleece: disposable Fairfield Poly-fil, bought 20lb bag for $53 that would last me years!
3. pH boost: recirculating CO2 scrubber, bought media in bulk: Jorvet soda lime - 5g. Kalk is too messy and unpredictable trying to balance with CaRx.