Tanks built on a budget.

[tyler1503]

I've been involved in a few price related discussions lately. I've been saying sometimes this hobby can be way overpriced.
So I think it's time to show some love to all the low budget setups!
Not all of us are able or willing to spend several thousand dollars on our tanks, but I know our low cost tanks can be just as beautiful as those with a lot of money put into them. Price shouldn't translate to beauty!
So here's a thread dedicated to the tanks that don't have $2000 lights, $1000 skimmers, $1000 controllers and $1000 frags.

So post your low budget tanks photos here! You get bonus points for detailing what you spent on your gear and livestock (don't worry, if you'd rather not discuss prices as I know some people don't like to, you don't have to )

Thanks to @Katrina71 for inspiring this thread



Here's my 8gal cube.
Tank - 8gal Aquaone cube - $60.
Flow pump - Aquaone Moray 480 - $30.
Heater - Aquaone 50w - $30.
Light - Aqua Ray. I can't remember the model name - $50.

 

[Brew12]

My Craigslist system. It even has an Apex controller and 2 MP40's. Not the nicest system, has some scratches on the glass, and I need to up my coral game (working on it). All told, under $2k.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I bought my tank new, and I splurge a little on my fish, but most of the equipment is used. Corals are mostly sourced from local hobbyists.

I think the total amount invested so far (not counting livestock) is right around 2k. I have two radions, two MP40s and an MP10, and an apex controller. Skimmer is a SRO 2000int. The most expensive piece of equipment was probably the UV sterilizer, since I couldn't find that used.

The next thing I need to find used is a dosing pump...

 

[Fishfinder]

I built my tank on a budget.

Tank is 210gal with total of 250gal.

Tank
Sump
Return pump (mag drive 2400)
Lights (black box LED)
Rock
ATO
Various smaller pumps and many supplies, nets, scrapers, trash cans, GFO, carbon, additives
=$600 on craigslist
Skimmer SRO 2000= $300
New carbon & GFO reactor= $100
New RODI= $150
New sand= $200
New rossmont powerheads= $250

Total system cost = $1600

Any questions please ask

 

[happyhourhero]

Built stand, canopy and skin = $250
Skimmer = $220
Lights (2 16" SB Reef) = $280 total
Jebao RW-8 x2 = $150 total
Algae Scrubber DIY= $40 including light
Heater, sump, power head for algae scrubber and most rock came with a craiglist tank takeover =$200
RODI is RO Buddie = $75
Total = $1215

 

[JaimeAdams]

Tagging along until I can afford a battery for my camera, then I will play your game

 

[Katrina71]

 

[Katrina71]

Tank/ stand 100.00, light timer 45.00, circulator 15.00. Excedrin...value sized.

 

[Fishfinder]

Now that's cheap!

 

[needbiggertanks]

20 for the tank (petco sale)
10 for the heater (petco sale)
15 for the iron stand (walmart)
45 for HOB skimmer (BRS)
2 for Thermometer (walmart)
15 for the light (t5 craigslist)
0 for the rock (tutored someone)
10 for the sand (amazon)
8 for 2 powerheads (amazon)
40 for HOB overflow
10 for 10g sump,
40 for carbon reactor,
100 for DC pump,
15 for pvc plumbing etc...
50 for livestock
50-75 for corals

 

[tyler1503]

Awesome tanks guys!! There's something so satisfying about seeing a tank come together with minimal expenses.

What do you think was/is the most challenging part of your low budget adventure?
For me it was finding a light. I've always had a nano set up since day one, but I've always used PC fluorescent lighting. I'd been scouring eBay and amazon for years looking for a real nano LED. The hobby is nowhere near as popular in Australia so finding any light for a nano is challenging at times. All I could find was cheap Chinese ones that were 2:1 white:blue or worse. Then I stumbled across my current light and was stoked!!

 

[Fishfinder]

The most challenging part was that this is my first tank of any kind. The biggest decision was lights and filtration

 

[needbiggertanks]

I agree with lights being the hardest part. I got lucky getting my T5... the guy i got it from was cleaning out his storage when i elwas there.

 

[onicklas]

I have a 90 gallon reef ready tank, 65 gal sump refugium a 1250 gph return pump, skimmer for 250 gallon and 2 powerheads . Aprox 70 lbs live rock, 4 inches of live sand, a really nice led light with timer and settings i can change and a remote. I have to add baffles to the sump and plumb the overflow. It all came with a custom stand also! I also got a 50 gal with store bought stand, a 120 gal and a 40 gal. All for $300 on craigslist. Right now the rocks and stand are in the display with the power heads and a hob skimmer to keep water moving. I will post pics when scaped.

 

[tyler1503]

I have a 90 gallon reef ready tank, 65 gal sump refugium a 1250 gph return pump, skimmer for 250 gallon and 2 powerheads . Aprox 70 lbs live rock, 4 inches of live sand, a really nice led light with timer and settings i can change and a remote. I have to add baffles to the sump and plumb the overflow. It all came with a custom stand also! I also got a 50 gal with store bought stand, a 120 gal and a 40 gal. All for $300 on craigslist. Right now the rocks and stand are in the display with the power heads and a hob skimmer to keep water moving. I will post pics when scaped.

What a great deal. I think you win!! [emoji108][emoji108]

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Where are you in Australia? Reef builders on YouTube just got done with a tour of there and posted quite a few vids of LFSs over there. I also realize we're talking about an entire continent so the chance of it applying is small, but worth a shot. I know he mentioned a few good lighting options he spotted in stores over there.

I agree that lights are tricky but I've had some awesome results with a galaxyhydro black box that I got for $110 off Amazon. I also just switched to an odyssea T5 fixture that's pretty sweet. It was $70 and has timers built in. Had to replace the bulbs with ATI but that's still only $150 for a new and fully programmable fixture.

When I got into this hobby I mostly just hunted around for cheap tank setups on YouTube. Mass Aquariums has 2 low-tech ones that are cheap and awesome. There are quite a few helpful builds on YouTube. I ended up falling in love with IM tanks so I got that for my first one but oh well.

 

[tyler1503]

Where are you in Australia? Reef builders on YouTube just got done with a tour of there and posted quite a few vids of LFSs over there. I also realize we're talking about an entire continent so the chance of it applying is small, but worth a shot. I know he mentioned a few good lighting options he spotted in stores over there.

I agree that lights are tricky but I've had some awesome results with a galaxyhydro black box that I got for $110 off Amazon. I also just switched to an odyssea T5 fixture that's pretty sweet. It was $70 and has timers built in. Had to replace the bulbs with ATI but that's still only $150 for a new and fully programmable fixture.

When I got into this hobby I mostly just hunted around for cheap tank setups on YouTube. Mass Aquariums has 2 low-tech ones that are cheap and awesome. There are quite a few helpful builds on YouTube. I ended up falling in love with IM tanks so I got that for my first one but oh well.

I'm in southern NSW. Faaaar away from any LFS. Most of the videos I saw from reefbuilders were in QLD which is at least 2 day drive for me :/



Keep the posts coming guys! I loving these budget builds [emoji12]

 

[needbiggertanks]

I have a 90 gallon reef ready tank, 65 gal sump refugium a 1250 gph return pump, skimmer for 250 gallon and 2 powerheads . Aprox 70 lbs live rock, 4 inches of live sand, a really nice led light with timer and settings i can change and a remote. I have to add baffles to the sump and plumb the overflow. It all came with a custom stand also! I also got a 50 gal with store bought stand, a 120 gal and a 40 gal. All for $300 on craigslist. Right now the rocks and stand are in the display with the power heads and a hob skimmer to keep water moving. I will post pics when scaped.

Seiously good deal. Geez

 

[Peeptoad]

I put in the baffles of my own sump -$10 for tank $25 for baffles, did my own pvc overflow (DIY king is great!) ~$20 for my current reeftank (still cycling). I also made my own stand for my 40g freshwater tank when I saw the price of the stand I wanted was $500.... (that was a few years ago!) Pictures posted of the stand. I will post pictures of the DIY overflow/sump when I get home. Both work great! I am looking for where to get some nice cheap starter coral near the Philadelphia area.

 

[Adam113]

My second tank, a little NUVO10 was built pretty cheaply. Tank was $99, par38 sbreeflight was $60, heater $30, media rack $20. I did add an ATO that was $79, but that's the entire build minus rock, sand, water, and livestock.