Where to save a few $$$

[Mariette]

ok guys. We all know how important the equipment we use is but I’ve gotta draw the line somewhere. I need the following equipment for my upgrade:

- return pump
- protein skimmer
- lights (will be softies and mushrooms)
- flow pumps (the pumps I have will be ok for now but i want to upgrade to a programable set with wave and pulse options)

Where would you try to save a few $?

 

[eggplantparrot]

Jebao for pumps for sure. my return is completely silent. I have 2 sw-2s for wave and they work great. all of they're pumps are stupid easy to take part too.

maybe no skimmer since it'll be a softy tank anyways?

for lights I have to recommend the MicMol smart led squares on Amazon. it grows sps in mid top tank and has built in timer and dimmer for each channel.

 

[LiveWire]

Jebao for pumps for sure.

+1 on the Jebao. I have used Jebao in the past and they are reliable and priced well.

 

[User1]

I'll go a different route. Are you handy at all or creative? Do you have any upgrades in the future? Have you owned tanks previously and if so looking back did you try and keep up with the Jones or have a high turnover of equipment rate? Lastly, do you take care of things or are you more of a lazy reefer (I am - just being honest) and work on Hawaiian time?

I'm being serious because some of these answers can help save you some money.

1. If creative or DIY capable - build your own lights. LED multi channel such as Nano-box or Blue Acro - and others - can provide more than enough PAR/Spectrum to keep any corals. Especially soft and LPS. Of course the creative part is the packaging and making it neat

2. If you upgrade, or even think you may, and be honest, then buy over sized or larger gallon supported equipment. Take a skimmer for example. I'm using the same skimmer I bought in 2000. At the time I bought a life reef skimmer and knew I may upgrade from my 100 gallon tank. Guess what, I did. Today I have a 210 gallon tank and that same skimmer is going strong. Saved 400-500 dollars right there by buying something with a future. Same with return pumps, power heads, and lights.

3. Keeping up with new technology or not having a play = buying the same product (skimmer, pump, light) over and over again. However, if you have a plan or goal in place (size, what you plan to keep, features you must have, those you don't) means you pay the premium one time and not repeatedly.

4. If you take care of equipment (cleaning, maintenance, etc) then they will last a lot longer. Similar to #2 above regular cleaning of pumps and lights and stands means you buy once and it will always be in working order and you buy what? One time

5. Buy frags from LFS or clubs. Do not buy chop shop or designer corals. Ebay is also a good source. Look at what you want to keep, calculate to price per frag, and then use that as your base. Do not include shipping costs but set a price per frag you are willing to pay and that is your baseline. Then as you shop online you compare and decide if it makes sense. 5 to 12 per frag is my ballpark so clearly I will never own a lot of the fancy named corals. Granted you will have to let the tank mature to show signs of growth but saving money is about planning.

Main area I can see to save is trying to plan what you want, buy things one time that may be able to carry forward if you upgrade and buy local or from swap. My tank has been up for a little over a year and it still looks like moon base 9 but it is what it is. Two in college, well, what can I say

Best of luck!

 

[Mariette]

Jebao for pumps for sure. my return is completely silent. I have 2 sw-2s for wave and they work great. all of they're pumps are stupid easy to take part too.

maybe no skimmer since it'll be a softy tank anyways?

for lights I have to recommend the MicMol smart led squares on Amazon. it grows sps in mid top tank and has built in timer and dimmer for each channel.

Jebao - excellent. That’s what I’ve been leaning towards. Thank you

Skimmer - maybe can put it on hold for now and save up for a good one in the future. Or buy a less expensive brand.

Lights - never heard of that one. Thx.

 

[Mariette]

+1 on the Jebao. I have used Jebao in the past and they are reliable and priced well.

Thx!

 

[Mariette]

I'll go a different route. Are you handy at all or creative? Do you have any upgrades in the future? Have you owned tanks previously and if so looking back did you try and keep up with the Jones or have a high turnover of equipment rate? Lastly, do you take care of things or are you more of a lazy reefer (I am - just being honest) and work on Hawaiian time?

I'm being serious because some of these answers can help save you some money.

1. If creative or DIY capable - build your own lights. LED multi channel such as Nano-box or Blue Acro - and others - can provide more than enough PAR/Spectrum to keep any corals. Especially soft and LPS. Of course the creative part is the packaging and making it neat

2. If you upgrade, or even think you may, and be honest, then buy over sized or larger gallon supported equipment. Take a skimmer for example. I'm using the same skimmer I bought in 2000. At the time I bought a life reef skimmer and knew I may upgrade from my 100 gallon tank. Guess what, I did. Today I have a 210 gallon tank and that same skimmer is going strong. Saved 400-500 dollars right there by buying something with a future. Same with return pumps, power heads, and lights.

3. Keeping up with new technology or not having a play = buying the same product (skimmer, pump, light) over and over again. However, if you have a plan or goal in place (size, what you plan to keep, features you must have, those you don't) means you pay the premium one time and not repeatedly.

4. If you take care of equipment (cleaning, maintenance, etc) then they will last a lot longer. Similar to #2 above regular cleaning of pumps and lights and stands means you buy once and it will always be in working order and you buy what? One time

5. Buy frags from LFS or clubs. Do not buy chop shop or designer corals. Ebay is also a good source. Look at what you want to keep, calculate to price per frag, and then use that as your base. Do not include shipping costs but set a price per frag you are willing to pay and that is your baseline. Then as you shop online you compare and decide if it makes sense. 5 to 12 per frag is my ballpark so clearly I will never own a lot of the fancy named corals. Granted you will have to let the tank mature to show signs of growth but saving money is about planning.

Main area I can see to save is trying to plan what you want, buy things one time that may be able to carry forward if you upgrade and buy local or from swap. My tank has been up for a little over a year and it still looks like moon base 9 but it is what it is. Two in college, well, what can I say

Best of luck!

Oohhh waita think outside the box.

1 - creative and DIY capable? Sorta. Gonna plump my own display refugium but not willing to play w lights

2 - future upgrade is u likely. But can’t rule it out. You raise very good points

3 - very true. I’ve got a good plan on what I wanna keep but that doesn’t mean it won’t change lol

4 - not the best at maintaining a cleaning schedule. Maybe it’s time for a change.

5 - coral frags - I’m sure I’m gonna mess that one up lol. I’m pretty impulsive on that stuff so I’m trying to be good w the budget on equipment

I like the way you think. I’ve got all the patience in the world and can wait for corals to grow out. Thx

Thank you for such a detailed and helpful reply.

Ps - congratulations on the 2 in college

 

[eggplantparrot]

Lights - never heard of that one. Thx.

check my build out, all the growth you see including the SPS is from that light and feeding

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

ok guys. We all know how important the equipment we use is but I’ve gotta draw the line somewhere. I need the following equipment for my upgrade:

- return pump
- protein skimmer
- lights (will be softies and mushrooms)
- flow pumps (the pumps I have will be ok for now but i want to upgrade to a programable set with wave and pulse options)

Where would you try to save a few $?

What's the budget, tank size/design hex, breeder, etc...

 

[Mariette]

What's the budget, tank size/design hex, breeder, etc...

$1,000 left in the budget. which isn’t gonna happen. So as little over budget as possible lol. There was a mixup when I ordered the tank/stand/sump and I was given the price for the smaller model plus was told it included a return pump. Which of course it didn’t. So budget was made based on that info and capped at $5,000. Ended up spending Almost $4,000 on the tank/stand/sump (which is over $1,000 more than I was quoted for the wrong size).

Anyway, tank is 5 feet by 24 inches by 22 inches. 110g.

 

[Mariette]

check my build out, all the growth you see including the SPS is from that light and feeding

Found it. Ooooohhhhh very nice not a cube you have there. Love the scape and coral placement. Well done!

 

[eggplantparrot]

Found it. Ooooohhhhh very nice not a cube you have there. Love the scape and coral placement. Well done!

thank you. I was not about to drop a butt load of cash on a low $ Chinese tank just trying out reefing so I gave this one a try. works great and it even looks good I think. easy mounting with included mount that looks very sleek too.

 

[Mariette]

thank you. I was not about to drop a butt load of cash on a low $ Chinese tank just trying out reefing so I gave this one a try. works great and it even looks good I think. easy mounting with included mount that looks very sleek too.

My only concern is if the 96W over a 60in long tank that’s 24inches deep would be sufficient. Why are PAR meters so expensive? Yeesh. I’m getting overwhelmed

 

[harthag12]

The Seneye is a cheaper par meter that can do a few things, BRS rents Apogee meters for 50$ I believe If you want to map out your Par once you set it up. As far as lights Mars Aqua & Vipar Spectra are a few that are used. Or if you want to jump up a bit Reefbreeder Photon V2 might be the way, you could probably get the light, 2 jebao pumps & return for close to $1000.00 Softies & Mushrooms you could go skimerless for a bit, use the space for a refugium instead with a Home depot light or cheap Amazon grow light.