Recommended intro tank for a low budget.
- Thread starter Peli45
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Petco has sales where the tanks are half off...around $1-ish per gallon. Generally 10g-40g sizes.
So maybe $45 for a 40g then you can put SeaChem tidal filter (the best hob imo) on it for about $65 bucks. After that there are jeabo powerheads, smatfarm led, eheim heaters, etc.
Gtinnel
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It’s hard to recommend a tank without any input as to what type of tank you’re wanting, how much space available, etc, etc.
If wanting a nano tank and want to stay cheap then Innovative Marine has a 15g tank that you can order for $100 before shipping.
Or maybe I’m just suggesting it because I’ve been looking at it this morning.
If you are wanting a larger tank and want to stay cheap then I’d look at used aquariums or one from the big box pet store (although they usually aren’t drilled for a overflow which I would personally want).
If wanting a nano tank and want to stay cheap then Innovative Marine has a 15g tank that you can order for $100 before shipping.
Or maybe I’m just suggesting it because I’ve been looking at it this morning.
If you are wanting a larger tank and want to stay cheap then I’d look at used aquariums or one from the big box pet store (although they usually aren’t drilled for a overflow which I would personally want).
FishPureLuck
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Depends on what you mean by low budget. I picked up a new Nuvo SR 80 and everything that I needed including sand, rocks, coral and fish for right under $3k. I consider that a low budget build for all new. You could pick up a small used setup for under $500 if that's what you consider low budget.
Peli45
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If you are still here hopefully around 2k
Peli45
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Could you list some of the gear?
Jekyl
GSP is the devil and clowns are bad pets
Aqueon tank
No sump
HoB filter generic brand
Reef Octo skimmer (added later)
Black box lighting to start (massive upgrade to kessils later)
Eheim Heaters and ink bird controller
Start with aqua buddy rodi switched to BRS 5 stage
No sump
HoB filter generic brand
Reef Octo skimmer (added later)
Black box lighting to start (massive upgrade to kessils later)
Eheim Heaters and ink bird controller
Start with aqua buddy rodi switched to BRS 5 stage
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
What size tank are you wanting?
trevorhiller
Reefing Nurse
I will share some feedback on some stuff that isn't worth skimping out on in my opinion. These are things I went cheap on to save money in the beginning and then later upgraded (aka spent more money than necessary)
RODI System: Bulk Reef Supply 4 Stage Value Plus RODI - You'll get a pressure gauge and TDS meter built in $270 You can easily add components down the road as you want to speed up production, but it'll give you good water to start unless you know your tap water is really good.
Tank: I would think long and hard about the tank size, many people upgrade quickly and this will be a place to save money by NOT upgrading. What are you wanting to keep? How much space do you have? Give this lots of thought.
Refractometer: I would buy either Tropic Marin floating hydrometer ($40) or VeeGee Seawater Refractometer (~$80)
Heater: Eheim Jager Heaters, preferably two smaller instead of one $50-70 should get you two depending on size.
Hanna Alkalinity Tester: $65
Test Kits: Calcium, Mag, Nitrate, Phosphate - pick brands that have good reviews (salifert, red sea, nyos, etc.)
Heater Controller: Inkbird for budget solution $50, AquaLogic if you want to be really safe $200. If you like to gamble you can wait until later, your heater is PROBABLY safe for the first year.
Light: You'll get lots of feedback on this and it depends on what you want to grow.
Rock: Buy SOME quantity of live rock, then marco rock can be used to fill up the rest for less money. The live rock will get you tank going faster in a hurry. This will be expensive for rock, but it'll make your first year so much easier IMO.
API Test Kits: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
BioMedia: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
Sand: Is cheap, get whatever you want
Thermometer: Amazon has little cheap black oval aquarium thermometers for $5-7, buy a two pack. One for your tank and one for your mixing station
Water Mixing Barrels: Brute Trash Can ($45) or 5 Gallon buckets ($7) - depends on space and tank size
Algae Scraper: You can buy later, use a credit card for now
Lid: I always recommend a tank lid, it's a lot of work getting healthy fish. Don't let them jump to their deaths
Clean Up Crew: I would budget $100 to start
Pump: Sicce makes really good pumps that are quite affordable. Of course you can save money with Jebao/Jecod pumps that should get you through a year or two.
Bottled Supplements: This is an easy place to save money. You don't need them to start a tank if you buy some live rock.
Copepods: Good to add to a new tank, but if you buy live rock you'll get some free.
Reactors: You don't NEED
Protein Skimmer: If I was on a tight budget, I would hold off on this for the first few months while you research them. You want some build up of organics for the first few months anyway to get the tank going.
Salt Mix: Instant ocean is cheap and can be had from Petco on sale and works just fine.
If you like toys/electronics/gadgets, I would suggest having a sump. I am that person and I went with an All in One tank and was disappointed with it because I had no room to play. This caused me to buy a new tank with a sump within 6 months.
I hope that helps some. I'm sure I am missing some things, but I just started my third tank a year ago and have made lots of equipment mistakes.
RODI System: Bulk Reef Supply 4 Stage Value Plus RODI - You'll get a pressure gauge and TDS meter built in $270 You can easily add components down the road as you want to speed up production, but it'll give you good water to start unless you know your tap water is really good.
Tank: I would think long and hard about the tank size, many people upgrade quickly and this will be a place to save money by NOT upgrading. What are you wanting to keep? How much space do you have? Give this lots of thought.
Refractometer: I would buy either Tropic Marin floating hydrometer ($40) or VeeGee Seawater Refractometer (~$80)
Heater: Eheim Jager Heaters, preferably two smaller instead of one $50-70 should get you two depending on size.
Hanna Alkalinity Tester: $65
Test Kits: Calcium, Mag, Nitrate, Phosphate - pick brands that have good reviews (salifert, red sea, nyos, etc.)
Heater Controller: Inkbird for budget solution $50, AquaLogic if you want to be really safe $200. If you like to gamble you can wait until later, your heater is PROBABLY safe for the first year.
Light: You'll get lots of feedback on this and it depends on what you want to grow.
Rock: Buy SOME quantity of live rock, then marco rock can be used to fill up the rest for less money. The live rock will get you tank going faster in a hurry. This will be expensive for rock, but it'll make your first year so much easier IMO.
API Test Kits: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
BioMedia: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY
Sand: Is cheap, get whatever you want
Thermometer: Amazon has little cheap black oval aquarium thermometers for $5-7, buy a two pack. One for your tank and one for your mixing station
Water Mixing Barrels: Brute Trash Can ($45) or 5 Gallon buckets ($7) - depends on space and tank size
Algae Scraper: You can buy later, use a credit card for now
Lid: I always recommend a tank lid, it's a lot of work getting healthy fish. Don't let them jump to their deaths
Clean Up Crew: I would budget $100 to start
Pump: Sicce makes really good pumps that are quite affordable. Of course you can save money with Jebao/Jecod pumps that should get you through a year or two.
Bottled Supplements: This is an easy place to save money. You don't need them to start a tank if you buy some live rock.
Copepods: Good to add to a new tank, but if you buy live rock you'll get some free.
Reactors: You don't NEED
Protein Skimmer: If I was on a tight budget, I would hold off on this for the first few months while you research them. You want some build up of organics for the first few months anyway to get the tank going.
Salt Mix: Instant ocean is cheap and can be had from Petco on sale and works just fine.
If you like toys/electronics/gadgets, I would suggest having a sump. I am that person and I went with an All in One tank and was disappointed with it because I had no room to play. This caused me to buy a new tank with a sump within 6 months.
I hope that helps some. I'm sure I am missing some things, but I just started my third tank a year ago and have made lots of equipment mistakes.
death-by-reef
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what about a fluval Evo 13.5 great tank!
emmysnewtank
Active Member
Innovative Marine 15g cube. $100!
Everything you need to get started almost…and a really high quality tank. That price includes the pump and filter sock too.
I started w an evo13 but by the time you upgrade everything it’s more expensive. And you kind of need to upgrade everything.
get a nicrew 30w reef light on Amazon and a cheap jebao power head. Good to go!
Everything you need to get started almost…and a really high quality tank. That price includes the pump and filter sock too.
I started w an evo13 but by the time you upgrade everything it’s more expensive. And you kind of need to upgrade everything.
get a nicrew 30w reef light on Amazon and a cheap jebao power head. Good to go!
GHOSTLY
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Fluval evo. Comes with everything you need and you can buy one used 120. Rock would probably be 20 to 60$ more which puts you at 180 and live sand which is probably 20 so let's say 200ish and then a heater which you can get for 20.
13g tank
Light
Pump
Medias
Heater
Rocks (10lb dry 8lb live)
Sand
13g tank
Light
Pump
Medias
Heater
Rocks (10lb dry 8lb live)
Sand
Peli45
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What fish can actually fit in a 13 gallon that will not outgrow it?
emmysnewtank
Active Member
Dude...dont get an evo. The IM15 is a crazy deal right now...and speaking as someone who started with an evo, the IM15 is so much better quality. You will have to buy all new components to run an evo properly anyways...no one runs that thing stock. By the time I invested in all the evo upgrades it was like $500 into the tank.
Lots of fish to answer your question tho. Clowns, Gobies, fire fish, cardinals... Once you get started reefing though, you will realize the fish are literally the LEAST interesting things in the tank. Our hermit crabs are frankly more fun to watch...and our cleaner shrimp probably has the best personality. Frankly, we have a clown and im ready to flush her shes such a *****.
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Not many choices there.
2 K isn't that low of a budget. What size or dimensions are you wanting? Or what livestock are you wanting to keep?
GHOSTLY
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+1 also a really good choice. I really wanted the IM 15g cube but my store didn't stock it so I settled
