What can you "skimp" on in the hobby? Is there such a thing?

[revhtree]

The word "skimp" really doesn't belong in this hobby but are there some things like equipment and dry goods that you don't have to have the BEST of the best of? But would not buying "the best" be considered skimping? Not everyone has the largest budget so let's talk about it!

If you had to "skimp" or spend less on equipment or dry goods what would it be and why?

 

[DC Reefer]

I "skimp" on dosing containers. I get the $3 BRS containers. Had some going for 8+ years and have not had one fail yet

 

[PokeFish]

If you had to "skimp" or spend less on equipment or dry goods what would it be and why?
for me, its PROTEIN SKIMMERS. I really don't need one, and I bought a 12 dollar diy one and it stripped my tank of all its nutrients

 

[Jon Fishman]

Water changes and testing. No dosing makes no big swings. Keep it simple

Edit: Oh. dry goods. Chinese BB lights were just as good as my Radions if I’m being honest

 

[Zach B]

No

 

[vetteguy53081]

I skimp on water testing as I allow fish and corals to tell me when something is wrong

you can skimp on controllers using smart timers and smart power strips

you can skimp on frozen foods by making your own

you can skimp on aptasia X by using kalkwasser powder mixed into a thin paste

You can skimp on Dino X by using peroxide

 

[Wolf89]

I bought a 12 dollar diy one and it

Please elaborate on this!! Any links?

 

[stanleo]

I think you can. I setup a 20 gallon frag tank with a heater, powerhead and a HOB filter I had laying around for next to nothing. I think there are options for every budget. And for dosing containers I use old carbon containers. Works great.

 

[PokeFish]

Please elaborate on this!! Any links?

hehe pls no judgment

 

[PicassoClown04]

It’s a yes from me! It’s not really skimping, but I’ve never paid more than $500 for a fully set up tank (minus lights). Craigslist is a reefer’s best friend! You can also buy smaller frags for cheaper then grow them out yourself but I wouldn’t really call that skimping either, more like electing to have patience. The major thing for me is water testing, I don’t really test my water I just look at how everything’s doing and base it off that, I save a lot of reagents!

 

[Renescence]

Shopping at at some online stores. Why would I buy a polyp of Illuminati zoas for $99 on WWC when I could buy 7-9 polyps of the same thing, for the same price from you fine people on reef2reef???

 

[andrewkw]

Glass tanks instead of acrylic sumps.
Buckets instead of ATO reservoirs.
Jeabo powerheads that are regular replaced are still cheaper than higher end.
Filter socks instead of filter rollers - one day I will change to them but still washing the same socks for years and years.
QT,FRAG and any non display use tanks = used if possible. I don't suggest skimping on your actual display but for every other reason sure.

Using cheaper lighting as fill in light. Yes you can grow corals with just black boxes, but maybe you want to use kessils but don't want 5. I have 3 over my tank and 2 black boxes in between.

 

[fishlover1478]

hehe pls no judgment

i cant see the picture

 

[PokeFish]

i cant see the picture

press the buy now bar at the bottom

 

[Stang67]

I think "skimping" is part of the fun of the hobby. Trying to figure out a way to do something as good if not better for half the price sounds like my kind of game. I know some would rather just not waste their time but I think it helps me understand things in the hobby better if I can reverse engineer or come up with a cheaper alternative. just my 2c.

 

[Hermie]

Skimp on corals and just have a tank full of GSP and mushrooms/zoas

 

[fishlover1478]

press the buy now bar at the bottom

i think amazon links just don't work for me had the same issue on the prime day sale thread

 

[Super Fly]

i think amazon links just don't work for me had the same issue on the prime day sale thread

same here, for some reason Amazon links have been blocked/not showing up on R2R these days...

 

[southerntnreefer]

I try to buy used quality if im trying to save, but ive used plenty of food safe plastic from walmart for different things. DIY filter cups, strainers for catching fish, dosing containers etc.

 

[MinnReef]

If you had to "skimp" or spend less on equipment or dry goods what would it be and why?
for me, its PROTEIN SKIMMERS. I really don't need one, and I bought a 12 dollar diy one and it stripped my tank of all its nutrients

THIS RIGHT HERE, I try to tell sooooo many people that protein skimmers are kinda dated and only needed for super overstocked tanks or tanks that you feed a TON. Anything below a 40 gallon also really won't need one as like PokeFish said it can strip a tank of nutrients