Reef tank on a budget.. This is an interesting thread @revhtree.
In keeping with the theme of "Best starter setup for a Newbie", here are a few suggestions.
There are places to economize and places to splurge. Going with the least expensive equipment on every single item, in my opinion, is a path to frustration and dissatisfaction.
TANK:
Personally, I feel a minimum 55g tank size for a newbie. Its large enough to avoid the rapid fluxuations that a smaller bio-cube or nano tank can have, yet small enough to set up on a "budget".
Filtration:
This is a place I would not skimp. I feel that the filtration system is the "heart" of the tank. You don't "need" a sump. A good canister filter will do the job. Again, this is not a place to skimp. Get the BEST canister filter available.
I personally use a hybrid canister sump setup. I have an old Rena XP300 and a new Fluval FX6 on my 55g. I also added a "sump" a few weeks ago in the form of a HoB overflow box that I plumbed into a 10g DIY sump that houses my oversized skimmer. The Rena is discontinued so it is off the list as far as this topic goes, but I got the FX6 for $199 on sale.
The 10G tank for $10 with free delivery Sump baffles for $30, tube of silicone and various plumbing parts $25 and return pump for $15
Note: this "sump" is NOT enough to filter a 55g on its own. I am describing my personal tank. The "sump" I have is really just a place to put a really good skimmer.
Skimmer;
Do you "need" a skimmer? Not at all. Ther are plenty of representative tanks here on this forum to attest to that fact.
If you WANT a skimmer, a HoB can do the job. I would suggest going with a unit larger than the minimum rate for your tank size. For example, if you have a 55g tank, I would suggest one with a 75g minimum rating.
I started my 55g build with a Seaclone 100 (rated for tanks "up to 100g") and it did the job I suppose. It skimmed the water and helped keep things in line. That said, it was LOUD!!!!! Invasively loud. In my opinion, after using it for almost 8 months, didn't really do the job as well as its rating would lead you to believe.
So if you want a skimmer, don't mind some noise, then a Seaclone 100 will suffice, but I would recommend a newbie explore better options. Seaclone 100 $110
Flow:
Now here is a place you can save a bit. A few well placed powerheads will provide all the flow you need. No reason to buy top of the line here.
Stand:
So, we have a tank, filter, skimmer, maybe a sump, and decent flow. Do we put this on the floor? Of course not!! We need a stand!!!!
Weather you DIY or buy manufactured, you need a stand for your tank. Cost on this can be from under a hundred bucks to the thousands. Lets play budget friendly and say $100 for stand (DIY, lumber, hardware, finish, ect ect.)
-------------------------------------------
So that covers all of the basics to set up what I consider a "budget" reef tank.
WAIT!! You say I forgot lights??!!
HAHA no my friends, I didn't forget lights at all.
Lighting:
Now, here is a money sink if I have ever seen one!!
"OK R2R, I just got myself a beautiful brand new tank, a new canister filter, a new stand, and a skimmer. How do I provide the right lights for the reef I envision?"
Envision... This is a key word here. The lights you choose depends entirely on that tank you see in your mind. Do you see that beautiful display your LFS has as you first walk through the door? Is THAT what you want in your home? Where are you willing to scale back in order to save budget?
"Budget" in my mind means "Limitations". "I can't have this because..."
Now, there are countless "Black box" lights that many have used and there are many users who say they work just fine. They very well may be just fine, for what that person needs for lights. Some corals, for whatever reason, just do not do well under many black box lights. Some flourish, some die.
I have tried a few black boxes myself. The Wills 135 LEDs did well, but I did not see the growth I anticipated, even from the "weeds" like GSP and Xenia.
I personally believe that lighting, like filtration, the best "budget" buy, is to go top of the line from the start.
I personally run 2 Kessil a360x tuna blue over my 55, supplemented with one Wills 135 marine (I had 2 of these on this tank before and left one because I have a glass panel brace in the center of the tank).
Summary: based on 55g tank.
Tank (non drilled basic big box store $1/g sale price) $55
Canister filter= $199-299 OR
Sump (between 40- 100 ish?) depends on size and complexity.
Skimmer= ? is it "needed?
Flow= $40-60
Stand= $100- ?
Lights ??????
In keeping with the theme of "Best starter setup for a Newbie", here are a few suggestions.
There are places to economize and places to splurge. Going with the least expensive equipment on every single item, in my opinion, is a path to frustration and dissatisfaction.
TANK:
Personally, I feel a minimum 55g tank size for a newbie. Its large enough to avoid the rapid fluxuations that a smaller bio-cube or nano tank can have, yet small enough to set up on a "budget".
Filtration:
This is a place I would not skimp. I feel that the filtration system is the "heart" of the tank. You don't "need" a sump. A good canister filter will do the job. Again, this is not a place to skimp. Get the BEST canister filter available.
I personally use a hybrid canister sump setup. I have an old Rena XP300 and a new Fluval FX6 on my 55g. I also added a "sump" a few weeks ago in the form of a HoB overflow box that I plumbed into a 10g DIY sump that houses my oversized skimmer. The Rena is discontinued so it is off the list as far as this topic goes, but I got the FX6 for $199 on sale.
The 10G tank for $10 with free delivery Sump baffles for $30, tube of silicone and various plumbing parts $25 and return pump for $15
Note: this "sump" is NOT enough to filter a 55g on its own. I am describing my personal tank. The "sump" I have is really just a place to put a really good skimmer.
Skimmer;
Do you "need" a skimmer? Not at all. Ther are plenty of representative tanks here on this forum to attest to that fact.
If you WANT a skimmer, a HoB can do the job. I would suggest going with a unit larger than the minimum rate for your tank size. For example, if you have a 55g tank, I would suggest one with a 75g minimum rating.
I started my 55g build with a Seaclone 100 (rated for tanks "up to 100g") and it did the job I suppose. It skimmed the water and helped keep things in line. That said, it was LOUD!!!!! Invasively loud. In my opinion, after using it for almost 8 months, didn't really do the job as well as its rating would lead you to believe.
So if you want a skimmer, don't mind some noise, then a Seaclone 100 will suffice, but I would recommend a newbie explore better options. Seaclone 100 $110
Flow:
Now here is a place you can save a bit. A few well placed powerheads will provide all the flow you need. No reason to buy top of the line here.
Stand:
So, we have a tank, filter, skimmer, maybe a sump, and decent flow. Do we put this on the floor? Of course not!! We need a stand!!!!
Weather you DIY or buy manufactured, you need a stand for your tank. Cost on this can be from under a hundred bucks to the thousands. Lets play budget friendly and say $100 for stand (DIY, lumber, hardware, finish, ect ect.)
-------------------------------------------
So that covers all of the basics to set up what I consider a "budget" reef tank.
WAIT!! You say I forgot lights??!!
HAHA no my friends, I didn't forget lights at all.
Lighting:
Now, here is a money sink if I have ever seen one!!
"OK R2R, I just got myself a beautiful brand new tank, a new canister filter, a new stand, and a skimmer. How do I provide the right lights for the reef I envision?"
Envision... This is a key word here. The lights you choose depends entirely on that tank you see in your mind. Do you see that beautiful display your LFS has as you first walk through the door? Is THAT what you want in your home? Where are you willing to scale back in order to save budget?
"Budget" in my mind means "Limitations". "I can't have this because..."
Now, there are countless "Black box" lights that many have used and there are many users who say they work just fine. They very well may be just fine, for what that person needs for lights. Some corals, for whatever reason, just do not do well under many black box lights. Some flourish, some die.
I have tried a few black boxes myself. The Wills 135 LEDs did well, but I did not see the growth I anticipated, even from the "weeds" like GSP and Xenia.
I personally believe that lighting, like filtration, the best "budget" buy, is to go top of the line from the start.
I personally run 2 Kessil a360x tuna blue over my 55, supplemented with one Wills 135 marine (I had 2 of these on this tank before and left one because I have a glass panel brace in the center of the tank).
Summary: based on 55g tank.
Tank (non drilled basic big box store $1/g sale price) $55
Canister filter= $199-299 OR
Sump (between 40- 100 ish?) depends on size and complexity.
Skimmer= ? is it "needed?
Flow= $40-60
Stand= $100- ?
Lights ??????
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