Just a reminder: Budget saltwater tanks don't exist

[William Chiavetta]

Yup. I suggest resealing if necessary, and filling up with tap water to leak test before using a tank. I have a 135 gallon I bought used, and it’s been in service now for 5 1/2 years. And for what it’s worth, new tanks can leak too.

I really like this way of thinking. Thank you for sharing this viewpoint that I haven't thought of yet

 

[Ef4life]

No one has the same budget so it’s really impossible to go by that.

Aio tanks like the biocubes with the built in lights are extremely budget friendly, but they also have downsides

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Well, what does "budget" mean? Yes, you probably can't get a nano tank under $300, but "budget" could mean very different price ranges dependent on the person. IMO, people going to put animals under their care, should not be "on a budget." Yes, you could do it cheaper then the normal tank, but anyone caring for animals IMO has to be willing to provide the proper care, which in most cases means buying things that are more expensive. I mean, just go on social media and search up fish tanks, and alot of what will show up is freshwater fish crammed into a one or two gallon tank, filled with plastic. Unfortuantly, sometimes I also see that with the saltwater fish. So yes, I agree with your point. People should not have a budget to where they can't properly care for the fish. But, it can vary greatly from person to person.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I really like this way of thinking. Thank you for sharing this viewpoint that I haven't thought of yet

You’re welcome. My #1 tip for saving money in reefing is to make a lot of friends. Well, I mean actually make friends, the saving money part is just a side perk. Don’t do it just to get stuff. Lol!

 

[BubbleBuddy]

I see people too often asking "I need help setting up a budget fish tank" but the best you can do is try to get sales or used things. the amount of money you spend reflects the quality of the tank. If you have a different opinion I'm open to hearing different viewpoints.

Definitely possible. I started with a 40 gallon breeder purchased during Petco’s $1-a-gallon sale, HOB filter and lights, wave pump, and heater from Amazon for close to $300. Later converted to a QT. It wasn’t the best setup but it got me started.

 

[William Chiavetta]

Well, what does "budget" mean? Yes, you probably can't get a nano tank under $300, but "budget" could mean very different price ranges dependent on the person. IMO, people going to put animals under their care, should not be "on a budget." Yes, you could do it cheaper then the normal tank, but anyone caring for animals IMO has to be willing to provide the proper care, which in most cases means buying things that are more expensive. I mean, just go on social media and search up fish tanks, and alot of what will show up is freshwater fish crammed into a one or two gallon tank, filled with plastic. Unfortuantly, sometimes I also see that with the saltwater fish. So yes, I agree with your point. People should not have a budget to where they can't properly care for the fish. But, it can vary greatly from person to person.

I mainly tried to get the point you are exaggerating across. Sorry it wasn't more clear

 

[William Chiavetta]

Definitely possible. I started with a 40 gallon breeder purchased during Petco’s $1-a-gallon sale, HOB filter and lights, wave pump, and heater from Amazon for close to $300. Later converted to a QT. It wasn’t the best setup but it got me started.

A lot more work than average though

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I see people too often asking "I need help setting up a budget fish tank" but the best you can do is try to get sales or used things. the amount of money you spend reflects the quality of the tank. If you have a different opinion I'm open to hearing different viewpoints.

Sure they do. Everyone has a budget.

 

[William Chiavetta]

You’re welcome. My #1 tip for saving money in reefing is to make a lot of friends. Well, I mean actually make friends, the saving money part is just a side perk. Don’t do it just to get stuff. Lol!

HAHA! you're so right!

 

[William Chiavetta]

Sure they do. Everyone has a budget.

nah I have unlimited money

 

[William Chiavetta]

No one has the same budget so it’s really impossible to go by that.

Aio tanks like the biocubes with the built in lights are extremely budget friendly, but they also have downsides

different viewpoint. I like it

 

[Sump Crab]

You can have a nice reef tank for less than 500 imo.

 

[Ef4life]

You can have a nice reef tank for less than 500 imo.

What do you consider nice? What are you including in the $500 price

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Marketplace has been the source for almost all my Apex stuff and Hannah testers. All at least half $ of new. That counts as budget reefing for me.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

2 gallon cylinder glass container with lid. Drill 2 holes. One for air pump and one for gas blow out. 13 dollars

Robot or human?

Par 38 bulb tuna blue. 50 dollars
Amazon product

Stand for bulb 40 dollars
Amazon product

Air pump 5 dollars

https://www.chewy.com/tetra-whisper-non-ul-air-pump/dp/133138?utm_id=401602796&msclkid=43525dd6f26911daeb293b979dccf708

Air restriction control and air stone will say 10 dollars.

Live rock should be less than 15 and sand if you want

Live sand 21

https://www.chewy.com/natures-ocean-bio-activ-live/dp/162522?gad_source=1

Total 154. Lfs water premade local is 2 a gallon. Then you can add the lower end frags from 5 to 20 over time. A couple small inverts/cuc.

This price can go up and down. Even below 100 for equipment. But still not cheap for some.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Depends on what you're aiming to achieve. A 5 gallon Pico macroalgae tank with an aeration stone and xenia is still a reef tank, and so is a 20,000g reef display in Long Island, NY. One's more spectacular than the other, sure, but the other one does not require a full time team of people to run. It's whatever you're trying to specifically get out of the hobby.

That said, modern equipment is fairly pricy new. Sales are always a good bet. But : does everyone have 8-1400 dollars lying around for the latest doser? Or can they get similar results with a Wyze plug, peristaltic pump and a phone?

 

[tritonpower]

I built a low cost tank in my garage (emergency after tank leak). 40 gallon breeder from petco. Sump is a rubbermaid tote from Lowes. Stand is a board and some bricks. Decent PS is reef octopus for $200. Vivosun or jabeao return pump is $30-$50. Jebao sow4 or 8 wave maker for $50. Overflow box $150 (if you don't want to drill). Return nozzle $15. $80-$100 for ink bird heater controller plus heater. $80 for dosing pump. With white PVC plumbing and cheap tubes would be a little under $1,000. Not the prettiest setup but it works.

 

[PotatoPig]

That said, modern equipment is fairly pricy new. Sales are always a good bet. But : does everyone have 8-1400 dollars lying around for the latest doser? Or can they get similar results with a Wyze plug, peristaltic pump and a phone

My rather economical doser is powered by the space-time bending properties of mass!*

*not quite fully automated, some manual input required

 

[Jimbo327]

I think you can have a reef tank on a budget. First step is wait for a fire sale on someone wanting to get out of hobby, and buy their tank at a discount. This is total luck and you need to have patience. Stick with LPS and softies. And there are plenty of corals in the $5-$10 sections in the LFS. Join your local reef club, and help out & you will get a lot of freebies. And let those grow out, and then trade corals with other reefers nearby. A couple smart electric plugs, and you can control the basics. Manual water change consistently with IO salt, and you are good.

You start paying way more for convenience and automation and time, and getting the clean look. And stick with a smaller tank like a 20-40 gallon tank. Big tank does mean big $.

 

[KrisReef]

I see people too often asking "I need help setting up a budget fish tank" but the best you can do is try to get sales or used things. the amount of money you spend reflects the quality of the tank. If you have a different opinion I'm open to hearing different viewpoints.

The only way to get a great deal might be to have a sugar daddy or a government contract so you don’t spend your own money?

Otherwise, buying used can significantly reduce the startup costs but the cost of keeping a tank running is still high ime.