budget build

First and foremost, I am completely aware I’m starting my first SW/Reef tank with something that is a bit beyond a beginner level. Constant parameter checks will be needed. However, research and science is what I do best and I have read and researched nano/pico reef aquariums since 2006 and...

Hey guys, so after a year in this hobby and many more in freshwater, I’ve decided to upgrade my 60 gallon cube to a 125 gallon tank. The tank measures 120l x50w x 80h, so it’s a bit unique that way. I am going doing my masters, so I do everything DIY with second hand equipment from a WhatsApp...

Hello reefers, I've decided to do a little build thread of my Waterbox Peninsula 25 tank which I started in December 2024. I have always kept freshwater fish and never looked at Marine due to the high costs but after doing some research I realised it shouldn't be too expensive compared to my...

So far I’ve been buying tu puce buy puce trying to keep the budget low and I know I’m going to get some hate for this but it’s okay I’m trying something . So far this is the build cost I’ll list everything and where I got it Fish tank cost and what I’ve bought Marineland 10 g rimmed - 10$-...

Hey everybody, I’ve been keeping freshwater all of my life, always wanting to have a saltwater tank and now I’m finally able to. I want to stay on a budget but still buy something that is good quality. I’d say my limit is around $300 since I want to get something nice but also keep the price...

I have always wanted to get into saltwater tanks had a bunch of freshwater from imported flowerhorns to a big Rubbermaid with motoro stingray and catfish but never took the dive but October 2023 I took the dive after being out of keeping fish for 4 ish years after tub crashed from dead fish...

Upgrading my parents from a Biocube 32 to a Larger set up. Gear: 75 gal aqueon Eshopps HOB overflow Orlushy DC return pump 2 - Sicce Xtreams 3500 No name 20-L sump baffle kit 2 Viperspectra's Friends in the collection: Skunk scrimp Yellow polyp Dragons Breath 2 clowns Sailfin tang(wish the...

Latest FTS 05/31/2026: Hello, new to the reefing scene and excited to get started! I've been a freshwater planted tank aquarist but have always been drawn. to the allure of saltwater. For my first tank, I wanted it to be a budget build nano tank, as I rent, and I wanted the move to be...

Hello all, my 93 gallon cube tank is up and running flawlessly so far (knock on wood). We are about 5 weeks cycled. Currently is home to 2 designer clowns (they cycled the tank), small blue eye kole tang, a conch, and 2 firefish (who I see maybe twice a day. Parameters are finally down to...

Cost without skimmer: $122.50 (skimmer can substituted with a regular pump) Using this on a 20 gal high with 2 clownfish, 2 fire shrimp This thing absolutely destroys nitrates. I am new to the hobby (2 months) and didn't want to pay for a HOB refugium, since they would be much smaller than...

I started a budget college friendly reef tank on December 30th 2022. My goals for this nano reef tank were to be simple and easy to care for yet still get the great results I wanted. My main issues is i’m a college student who works so i don’t have all the time throughout the week to keep a...

Hello everyone! I have decided to dip my hands into the saltwater side of the hobby, with a twist! Something that has always kept me from saltwater tanks was a combination of the cost, the difficulty, and especially the traditional blue lights. Recently however, I discovered macroalgae tanks! I...

After 5+ years of planning, the time has finally come for me to start setting up my dream 150g. After negotiating a decent raise at work and taking advantage of some good Black Friday deals, two of the most expensive parts of the setup have been purchased. As much as I would love to be able to...

Hey, fellow Reefers! In early January I decided to get my JBJ RL-45 tank back up and running. I had to shut down due to a cross-country move in 2018, and am just now getting back to it! The first thing was to inspect the tank for any cracks or damage incurred during the original cross-country...

I am fortunate enough to have been given a 180g tank. It was a fresh and is older but I haven't ever focused on having top notch equipment. Free its for me! The game plan is to take my current set up which is a 40g breeder, 60g frag tank, 10g satellite tank, and a 2 long sump and put it into the...

Namaste y'all, Sammy here from Eastern india. I am having another foray into reefing after a long while. I was 16 when I started my first setup, I am 27 now. I had a 3 feet, 70 gal setup with mostly Lps, a huge sebae anemone, few tridacna clams, tubastrea and nps gorgs, and few acros too, with...

Hey Guys! This is my first tank! And money is tight, so I have been using DIY and cheap stuff, or stuff I had laying around. It's a 200 liter display tank with a 54 liter sump. Tech: Populargrow 165W Reef LED Eheim CompactON 1000 return pump Fluval CP4 Circulation pump DIY Overflow 20 kg mix...

Hello! Thanks for checking out my build! My Nuvo 10g Mixed reef has been set up and running for about a month and one week, This tank was upgraded from a Fluval Evo 5 that had been running for a year. Im still new to the reefing community but would love to share my experiences and those to come...

Hello I’ve introduced myself before and posted by build but I’m finally in the right forum. Before 2010 aquariums were my life. I spent every penny I had to keep my reef, planted, and African cichlids tanks thriving. Then I got a job and spent the next 10 years on the road and shut my tanks...

My first foray EVER into reefing! I used to have a 55gal freshwater aquarium growing up, got out of the hobby for about a decade, but finally jumping back in now that I have a house and a small corner of my basement that is just perfect for a tank. Breakdown of the build below: - AquaClear 50...

Chronicling the hopeful maintaining and not declining of my 40 breeder, now that i've got a newborn baby as well as a two year old. As of right now, tank is doing okay, although SPS is not really doing well. Alkalinity is 6.7 and salinity is 1.026. Did a 15% water change just a few days ago...

Howdy this is an aquarium for someone with neither a lot of experience, nor a lot of money. It can be scary getting caught in the confusion of thousands of products and options when starting your first tank. Well, this is your thread friend. Equipment: Tetra 50 Watt Heater Marineland Bio Wheel...

I was originally planning to buy an aqua Japan 150. I was informed by the vendor after waiting for two weeks that the tank was no longer available and would be 6 to eight weeks away. Next I put an order in for a proclear ProStar 150. A week later, the tank shows up at the shop. When the...

I finally did it, just returned home from placing my order for a new Planet Aquariums reef ready 60 gallon cube!! Update 5-17-20 Its here!!

Hello there fellow reefers. My name is Cesar and I’m from CA. Long story short, I had a 60 gallon tank years ago that ended up crashing and taking all the livestock with it, after that happened I kinda left the hobby. But couple months ago I started getting random adverts on my IG and FB about...