I spent well over a year building out and thinking about how to build out my 340 gallon reef. From equipment (some I currently had from previous tanks, and building out the plumbing and sump, sump was an old 75 gallon I had used as a sump on smaller tanks).
So, it required some thought, some effort, but I reused some equipment and bought new equipment. 3 years into my 340 gallon, I've finally come close to my final equipment purchases for the tank. There's somethings I want to redo, but, I'd first like a nano tank for my office to serve as a back drop for my virtual calls.
I don't want to put thought into it, but, I don't want to spend a small fortune on it.. urg. Seems an oxymoron. $1400 for a red sea with sump (no lights) or around 1500-1700 for an Innovative Marine 40 gallon AIO with light and pump. I guess I was being cheap in hoping to spend $800 or less. I like the rimless, I know I could convert a 40 gallon breeder. But, not sure I like the look. At the same time, such a price difference between $40 and $1400-1700. Why are these setups so expensive? Ugg. Are there alternate suggestions that are somewhat cheaper, but don't require a ton of work to build / setup that I'm missing?
I might just be being cheap. I remember one of my first salt water setups was a 55 - 75 gallon setup with lights, sump, plumbing, pumps, etc. for $450. Granted that was used and 15+ years ago...
So, it required some thought, some effort, but I reused some equipment and bought new equipment. 3 years into my 340 gallon, I've finally come close to my final equipment purchases for the tank. There's somethings I want to redo, but, I'd first like a nano tank for my office to serve as a back drop for my virtual calls.
I don't want to put thought into it, but, I don't want to spend a small fortune on it.. urg. Seems an oxymoron. $1400 for a red sea with sump (no lights) or around 1500-1700 for an Innovative Marine 40 gallon AIO with light and pump. I guess I was being cheap in hoping to spend $800 or less. I like the rimless, I know I could convert a 40 gallon breeder. But, not sure I like the look. At the same time, such a price difference between $40 and $1400-1700. Why are these setups so expensive? Ugg. Are there alternate suggestions that are somewhat cheaper, but don't require a ton of work to build / setup that I'm missing?
I might just be being cheap. I remember one of my first salt water setups was a 55 - 75 gallon setup with lights, sump, plumbing, pumps, etc. for $450. Granted that was used and 15+ years ago...