Buy or DIY! Which do you prefer?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

You would be amazed at what can come from a little patience and creativity. Even in reefing! From filter socks and skimmers to plumbing and electrical work, and even whole tanks with stands, there are a lot of opportunities to DIY in reefing. Unless your handy-man illiterate, like myself.

Buy or DIY! Which do you prefer? Share your DIY projects in the comments!

 

[DIYreefer]

I prefer DIY, for obvious reasons. Haha.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Honestly, it depends. I like the idea of being able to DIY something. It can be cheaper, and I just like building stuff. On the other hand, I am not the best craftsman, so buying is usually the route I take.

 

[design.maddie]

I have always been someone that enjoys the engineering aspect of this hobby. I have also had setups that were turnkey. Both had perks and both had downsides. The turnkey setups were impossible to upgrade easily, parts had to come from the same manufacture. There is no downside to having a system up and running with nothing more than a bit of cash and minimal brain power though.

My current build is a closer to the DIY. There are some 3D printer parts being used; various manufactures are included for equipment. I also feel I am saving a ton of cash by pulling in all the parts as I see them come on sale. My two biggest hurdles with the DIY this go around has been "Paint vs. Vinyl for the back" and plumbing parts.

 

[exnisstech]

I mix it up and do a bit of both.

 

[Premium]

I'd agree I do a bit of both. Enjoy building stuff tho. Set up this IM 100 about a year ago included was a shelf which was super valuable for extra storage however made it dam near impossible to empty the skimmer cup. Just putting the finishing touches on the DIY shelf (still have to paint it)

 

[shakacuz]

prefer DIY, but depends on equipment needed or what i need to make.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'd agree I do a bit of both. Enjoy building stuff tho. Set up this IM 100 about a year ago included was a shelf which was super valuable for extra storage however made it dam near impossible to empty the skimmer cup. Just putting the finishing touches on the DIY shelf (still have to paint it)

That DIY shelf looks great!

 

[edsbeaker]

I voted prefer to buy, but only because my DIY skills are sub par. . If I could I might do more DIY.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Depends on what it is. Tank, equipment, sump ect... i'd prefer something ready to go. Stands or cabinets for equipment i go DIY.
I built my 75 stand in my garage, turned out pretty good.

And the final result

 

[Polymate3D]

100% DIY here

I find off the shelf options are just not flexible enough to my ambitions, or way to expensive.

Like my 1.7L Pico Reef concept:

3D Printed Base, top, pump, and custom circuit board and code to run it all. You can follow the build so far here:
IKEA 1.7L Jar Pico Reef

It is all part of a project to make a cost effective solution for pico reefs. Everything designed for the 1<10L size.

- Paul

 

[Premium]

Depends on what it is. Tank, equipment, sump ect... i'd prefer something ready to go. Stands or cabinets for equipment i go DIY.
I built my 75 stand in my garage, turned out pretty good.

And the final result

Love wood working beautiful job

 

[Soren]

I definitely prefer to DIY whenever I think I can reasonably well. This is part of what got me interested in the hobby to begin with!

Of course, this may be due in part to being a professional engineer with some experience in structures, wood working, metal working/welding, some electrical/electronics, a bit of chemistry, and a bit of plumbing as well as having a deep interest in biology and ecosystems.

To avoid an overload of projects, I also buy some things rather than DIY, though I always have dreams and plans for each aspect to be a complete DIY project or at least modified to suit my needs.

 

[Reefer Matt]

My time is very valuable to me, so it depends. I make my own basic tank stands for frag tanks, and design and 3d print a few things, but I buy the rest. Sometimes it’s easier to work overtime at work to pay for things rather than tinker around and make them.

 

[SnowyFox]

My only issue with DIY is the amount of time involved. I started on this new aquarium stand about a year ago, and it’s still not finished. Had to take most of the summer off due to the heat in my garage. Spent the last few weekends on it, and it’s finally starting to look like an aquarium now. Still have a bit of plumbing left to finish up, along with figuring out what I’m going to do with all of the electrical stuff, with where to mount everything and the cable management, oh and the aluminum extrusion to hang the lights from… someday I’ll be able to put water in this thing…

 

[PharmrJohn]

I chose other. I USED to DYI just about everything I could. But at 60? I don't have that drive anymore. And I'm better off financially compared to even 15 years ago. So I just buy things now. That being said, there are a few things that my up coming tank will need that one cannot buy. So I'll polish off my old skill set and build a few things myself.

 

[timmyrules]

As I am kinda in between jobs, I would rather diy. Buuuuuut, I am NOT crafty. So I usually spend hours trying to make something, and it is always complete garbage.

 

[tbrown]

I've done both DIY and buy...

I built one of the Tenecor Pico tanks recently. I've built several aquarium stands with my father-in-law. I've made plenty of Aragocrete rocks and racks. I've made egg crate racks and stands. I've printed filter socks replacement baskets for filter floss/PolyFil. I've printed tubing holders and controller hangers and feeding cups and even an Anemone cup. I've printed lid clips for my tank lid.

Etc. etc. etc.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Depends on what it is. Tank, equipment, sump ect... i'd prefer something ready to go. Stands or cabinets for equipment i go DIY.
I built my 75 stand in my garage, turned out pretty good.

And the final result

That stand looks great!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

100% DIY here

I find off the shelf options are just not flexible enough to my ambitions, or way to expensive.

Like my 1.7L Pico Reef concept:

3D Printed Base, top, pump, and custom circuit board and code to run it all. You can follow the build so far here:
IKEA 1.7L Jar Pico Reef

It is all part of a project to make a cost effective solution for pico reefs. Everything designed for the 1<10L size.

- Paul

That is a really cool pico design!