Budget 30/40 gallon tank?

[TonyHanke]

Hello everyone, I posted here a while ago, asking for advice with a first reef tank (no, I DO NOT expect you to remember me.) I wanted to try fluval fx filter then, but everyone recommended me things lika fluval flex or biocube (not available in my country, Poland). Now, I'm thinking if there's a way to do a normal construction, with sump, refugium, etc. but on a budget. I might be able to order some things like IceCap k1-100 from USA, via my family, if it's worth it. I'm thinkking about 30-50 gallon display tank and a 30 gallon sump. What would you say?

 

[Subsea]

If you are doing a budget tank, then leave the sump out of the conversation. It’s not necessary. As I suggested in your earlier thread, fancy equipment does not make a marine ecosystem. Get John Turlock’s book “Natural Reef Aquariums” for $12, then decide what you will build.

In 1970, I entered the Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston. Tx and graduated as a Marine Engineer in 1974. During that time, I set up a Galveston Bay theme tank with stuff collected on Galveston jetties. I operated marine ecosystems for 55 years and have discarded much useless equipment.

Know this: Less Technology and more biology guides my path. Enjoy the passion.

 

[TonyHanke]

Thank you. I started to read Deelbeck&Sprung. I thought of using a sump because I wanted a refugium. I'll try to find Turlock.

 

[Australian_Reef]

Yeah you don’t ‘need’ a sump but it’s a nice to have… More to the point is what do you want to keep in that tank? That’s really will define your budget and set up. A lot of quality manufacturers local to you aquaforest is a polish company, and also in the rest of Europe. You should find everything you need there. For budget nothing beats second hand.

 

[Subsea]

Thank you. I started to read Deelbeck&Sprung. I thought of using a sump because I wanted a refugium. I'll try to find Turlock.

OK. On my 120G tank, the refugium is a 40G breeder with a Mag 7 return pump. Live rock with no lights allows cryptic sponges and micro fauna & fana to set up multiple nutrient pathways to recycle nutrients.

PS: Incidently, I lived in West Germany 1966-1970 as a US Air Force mechanic. It was an adventure then. Enjoy yours now.

 

[Subsea]

Thank you. I started to read Deelbeck&Sprung. I thought of using a sump because I wanted a refugium. I'll try to find Turlock.

You can’t go wrong with Reef Aquarium series by Delbric & Sprung. I meant Julian Sprung at my first reef aquarium conference in Dallas, Tx. It was the second day of the conference and as an early riser for breakfast, I noticed Julian Sprung at a table by himself. When no one joined him after 10 minutes, I introduced myself and soaked up his wisdom like a groupie.

Amazon product

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Once you start talking about sumps and icecap equipment, its no longer a low budget tank. Here is a true low budget tank - rocks, a heater, and a powerhead are all thats needed to keep fish alive. I've had this fish since August. After the Holidays I will buy a low budget light and start adding some low budget corals.

 

[SandNRocks]

Id recommend a used AIO if youre looking to cut costs. A “cheap” tank can be done pretty easily if you have a minimalistic setup without a lot of moving parts. Each thing you add, like a skimmer for instance, costs not only money but time to maintain it. Anyways ill share a few of my “cheap” tanks, and what i bought, and how it all worked out

Heres my old nuvo 40 “budget tank”
Tank stand and return pump bought used for $300
Cheap amazon heaters and inkbird $80
2 viparspectra lights $280( youd only need one unless you want tons of sps)
2 Powerheads $100
Ato $20 using float valve and cheap container
No skimmer,refugium, media etc
Still $780

A nano is significantly cheaper. Heres a 5.5 gallon nano with a $10 heater, $20 light, and a $10 airpump. Whole system including all corals was about $100

And in the middle my old fluval 13.5 (before the 40)
Used fluval and pump $50
Heater and inkbird $60
Glass lid $10
Water bottle ato $15
Powerhead $50
1 viparspectra light $140
Total ~$335
All of the equipment bought for the 13.5 was bought with me already planning to upgrade. I bought a bigger heater, powerhead, and light than what i needed knowing i was gonna upgrade therefore saving me even more in the long run. Cost to upgrade to the 40 was the tank cost plus a light and another powerhead.

My new tank 75g with sump
Free tank, built my own stand out of wood i had laying around.
$100 used sump
1 extra viparspectra light $140
1 extra powerhead. $75
Return pump $80
Again, no skimmer, refugium, uv, etc
Total cost to upgrade like $400

 

[Australian_Reef]

I’ve kept fish, quite sensitive ones, in a 120l aqua one tank, with trickle filter, heater and light that came with the tank. Just added an air driven foam filter. How budget is budget and what’s the aim is the key.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Here’s a 40g breeder. The whole thing ran off 6 outlets.

It wasn’t fancy but it worked well for a FOWLR.

1) Light on a mechanical timer
2) Heater
3) ATO
4) Powerhead (Tunze)
5) Powerhead (Tunze)
6) Skimmer (Tunze 9001 IIRC)

Just something to consider.

 

[Australian_Reef]

Here’s a 40g breeder. The whole thing ran off 6 outlets.

It wasn’t fancy but it worked well for a FOWLR.

1) Light on a mechanical timer
2) Heater
3) ATO
4) Powerhead (Tunze)
5) Powerhead (Tunze)
6) Skimmer (Tunze 9001 IIRC)

Just something to consider.

6? I’d have dreamed of 6 when I was A lad. Our whole house had 2. And 1 on sundays. If we were lucky.