Just a reminder: Budget saltwater tanks don't exist

[VintageReefer]

40 breeder - 40$ on sale
Sand 40lbs - 50$
Live rocks - start with 10lbs add more later - 75$
Stand - optional - 80$
Salt 200g - 70$
LED lighting - 2x viparspectra - $280
Ext skimmer - 100-150$
Test kits - 150$
Heater 200w - 50$

That’s about all you need to get started with a nice setup, under 800$. Good size and footprint. Will allow several fish and a nice aquascape. And all my pricing was for name brand gear when proven history. The lighting is generic but nobody will question viparspectra capabilities. They can grow anything.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I set up my 90g about 6 years ago for under $1000. In today's money though that's like $5500. No used equipment either.

all fairness, prices 6 years ago were much less than now.

 

[littlefoxx]

Oh yes budget set ups do exist… go used and you can score a great deal on setups. I got a deal on a 300 planet aquarium with so many bells and whistles with not even a fraction of the cost!

 

[VintageReefer]

I probably went overkill on lighting. I could do better and knock some off that 800$ estimate.

Plus you don’t even need lighting in the first month or two, can space that out for later in round 2 of purchases

 

[WetPringleChip]

Aquatop aio’s are cheap and amazon has cheap box lights with adjustable arms, cheap heather, etc. It’d still cost a couple hundred though. I think If i really shopped i could do it for 200 all brand new equipment, rock, sand, aio tank(pump included) lights, wave maker, heater, poly fill… possibly other goodies like tools, testing kits, etc. stocking is up to the person.. fb market place, live sales, deal watching, lfs, trimming donations.. (as if those reefers exist anymore). Thing is though, what’s considered expensive? Everybody has a different budget based on their situation…

 

[VintageReefer]

Aquatop aio’s are cheap and amazon has cheap box lights with adjustable arms, cheap heather, etc. It’d still cost a couple hundred though. I think If i really shopped i could do it for 200 all brand new equipment, rock, sand, aio tank(pump included) lights, wave maker, heater, poly fill… possibly other goodies like tools, testing kits, etc. stocking is up to the person.. fb market place, live sales, deal watching, lfs, trimming donations.. (as if those reefers exist anymore). Thing is though, what’s considered expensive? Everybody has a different budget based on their situation…

Agree. The statement “can’t be done on a budget” is not really valid without more detail. Everyone has a budget. Polo reef has a budget. Might be millions but it’s a budget. My budget could be 1000 or 10,000

If people give me a realistic budget of 500+ I can get them a system built

People do the same thing with audio systems, car and home. Give me a budget and I’ll build something great

 

[F4TALREEFER]

I find this a little off putting and gatekeeping mentality and not what a hobby should be about.

We should be pushing there is a "budget" entry to the hobby to get more people interested in it.

By that logic because I drive a 1994 Miata and a 1987 Suzuki samurai with less than 100k miles on the chassis maintained by these two hands make. Cost less than 10k to buy at the time, makes me less of a car guy than the tool who has a 100k z01 in the garage that doesn't turn a wrench? Partake in track days, shows or the community, and he considers my cars are "less nice".
Never would I tell the youngin with the $1500 Subaru that puts in the effort to keep it running and looking as best as possible he's not a car guy or has a solid start to a nice ride.

Same for motorcycles, same for computers, welders, 3d printers, wood working, ECT ECT

All hobbies have a cost, some a higher entry point then others, and all can be taken to an over the top extreme.

To tell someone there's no "budget" entry and your stuff isnt nice because it's cheap is gate keepers mentality.

Everyone has budget, and has to be reasonable with themselves. Can you have a reef for $100 no. But if you save $100 no for 12-18 months and follow the following.
-used aio $150-$200 probably has some equipment you can use but we'll assume not.
20lb rock used - $50-75
Sand-$25
Light- go new and decent $150-$200
Heater with ink bird-$75
2 jebao wave makers-$60
Single head kameor doser-$100
Container-$5-10$(or recycled)
Good Ato-$100-$200
Ro/Di $200
2 20-32 gal trash cans- $60
2 5gal buckets-$10
Bucket of salt -$80
All for reef -$40

$1285 on the high side in equipment to have you cycling and ready for 6 months or more of maintenance/dosing on a 20 gallon aio.
Can go manual top of or gravity. Go manual dosing. Buy water from store to get started.

Live stock
Clean up crew $50-75
Fish $50-$100
Coral 10 frags @ $20-$50

$675 on the high end.

So tanks running stocked for under 2k and will cost $20-$50 bucks a month in maintenance and potentially run for 5-10 years allowing me to enjoy something that brings me joy everyday.

Can do in waves, by month 6 of saving rock is cycling, by month 10 rock in tank, month 12 clean up crew, month 14 fish, and month 16-18 coral.
And this sets you up to grow in the hobby as you grow financial means.


Can potentially be done for $500-750 if you take some more saving steps,trade, delay making your own water, go kalk, and stick to coral/fish sale for stocking. Where there's a will there's a way


Cheap soft coral, mushrooms, basic sps (think bird next, moni, cyphastrea),

Not meant to be a rant or come off anyway. More people we get into the hobby the better. And cost is often associated as being a driving factor in why people steer away.


Just late night ramble

 

[AydenLincoln]

The amount of money you spend does not reflect the quality especially if it’s a Red Sea tank! A budget is different for everyone though and there are ways to do it cheaper. But I do agree that for most people who love the hobby a budget is often broken because if you love the hobby enough you will be willing to spend way more than you thought and I don’t think people realize just how expensive the hobby is until they’ve been in it for a bit.

 

[apb03]

Reefing on a budget is only possible if you already know exactly what you are doing.

If you have to ask how to reef on a small budget then the answer is probably no.

 

[apb03]

I find this a little off putting and gatekeeping mentality and not what a hobby should be about.

We should be pushing there is a "budget" entry to the hobby to get more people interested in it.

By that logic because I drive a 1994 Miata and a 1987 Suzuki samurai with less than 100k miles on the chassis maintained by these two hands make. Cost less than 10k to buy at the time, makes me less of a car guy than the tool who has a 100k z01 in the garage that doesn't turn a wrench? Partake in track days, shows or the community, and he considers my cars are "less nice".
Never would I tell the youngin with the $1500 Subaru that puts in the effort to keep it running and looking as best as possible he's not a car guy or has a solid start to a nice ride.

Same for motorcycles, same for computers, welders, 3d printers, wood working, ECT ECT

All hobbies have a cost, some a higher entry point then others, and all can be taken to an over the top extreme.

To tell someone there's no "budget" entry and your stuff isnt nice because it's cheap is gate keepers mentality.

Everyone has budget, and has to be reasonable with themselves. Can you have a reef for $100 no. But if you save $100 no for 12-18 months and follow the following.
-used aio $150-$200 probably has some equipment you can use but we'll assume not.
20lb rock used - $50-75
Sand-$25
Light- go new and decent $150-$200
Heater with ink bird-$75
2 jebao wave makers-$60
Single head kameor doser-$100
Container-$5-10$(or recycled)
Good Ato-$100-$200
Ro/Di $200
2 20-32 gal trash cans- $60
2 5gal buckets-$10
Bucket of salt -$80
All for reef -$40

$1285 on the high side in equipment to have you cycling and ready for 6 months or more of maintenance/dosing on a 20 gallon aio.
Can go manual top of or gravity. Go manual dosing. Buy water from store to get started.

Live stock
Clean up crew $50-75
Fish $50-$100
Coral 10 frags @ $20-$50

$675 on the high end.

So tanks running stocked for under 2k and will cost $20-$50 bucks a month in maintenance and potentially run for 5-10 years allowing me to enjoy something that brings me joy everyday.

Can do in waves, by month 6 of saving rock is cycling, by month 10 rock in tank, month 12 clean up crew, month 14 fish, and month 16-18 coral.
And this sets you up to grow in the hobby as you grow financial means.


Can potentially be done for $500-750 if you take some more saving steps,trade, delay making your own water, go kalk, and stick to coral/fish sale for stocking. Where there's a will there's a way


Cheap soft coral, mushrooms, basic sps (think bird next, moni, cyphastrea),

Not meant to be a rant or come off anyway. More people we get into the hobby the better. And cost is often associated as being a driving factor in why people steer away.


Just late night ramble

Your entire scenario is only viable as a build for a experienced reefer. A newbie has no clue how to build a cheap system like this.

They will do what is realistic, look at red sea's website and price out a kit they know is designed to work together.

Pricing out a hodgepodge of low cost parts only makes sense for those of us who know exactly what we need in advance.

 

[Jimbo327]

 

[VintageReefer]

Your entire scenario is only viable as a build for a experienced reefer. A newbie has no clue how to build a cheap system like this.

They will do what is realistic, look at red sea's website and price out a kit they know is designed to work together.

Pricing out a hodgepodge of low cost parts only makes sense for those of us who know exactly what we need in advance.

it’s perfectly viable and if a new person to the hobby is on the forum they can simply ask for a budget build, give their goals and budget, and we can steer them in the right direction. Nobody is going to tell them they need to go spend 3k to get a Red Sea system + 1k in extras if they want to get started.

If you join any hobby and start buying random stuff without any research or asking for advice, then you aren’t starting off on a good path

 

[apb03]

it’s perfectly viable and if a new person to the hobby is on the forum they can simply ask for a budget build, give their goals and budget, and we can steer them in the right direction. Nobody is going to tell them they need to go spend 3k to get a Red Sea system + 1k in extras if they want to get started.

If you join any hobby and start buying random stuff without any research or asking for advice, then you aren’t starting off on a good path

I disagree. The average person who decides they want a starter kit in the hobby will land on something like this

Your example is a fine frag tank, not a reef tank for a beginner.

 

[VintageReefer]

My example is a 36x18 reef for under 800 and that tank is 24x22 for 1900.

It’s more than a frag tank, it is an excellent footprint for a full reef. 36”
Wide gives a lot of room for an aquascape and for fish to swim. The lighting I budgeted can keep any coral, while the red sea lights are on the low end of average and have frequent complaints.

I came in under 800$ with sand and rock. Yes they will need a power head and a surge protector but is easily 1000 less.

It would be an excellent beginner tank and there’s nothing about it that makes it a frag tank. I’ve kept a 40 breeder reef, it was a great layout and I would recommend it over a 24” tank anyway

It just depends what the “average new person” wants - turnkey package with mid grade components ready to go, or build your own system with better components. It depends on the personality and goals of the customer.

The statement from the original post was you can’t do this hobby on a budget, I argue, sure you can, if you pick your own parts. None of mine by the way were used or low grade

 

[VintageReefer]

Let’s also not forget about the best deal on the market right now if you have a moderate budget…

83 gallon rimless with starfire glass
48x20x20
Ghost overflow
Custom hand made cabinet
26 gallon sump
9 gallon ato
3 filter socks
Plumbing kit

On sale now for $1439 shipped
If you are in cali and want to pick it up, even better. $999
Normally 1599 shipped with plumbing kit

Mine is in my garage ready to get setup

 

[Polymate3D]

As others are saying, it can be done on a cheaper budget for sure. A big factor can also be how much you are willing to DIY.

Not my current tank but my build in 2012. Tank was a bare clear seal one for £50. I did the acrylic back filtration setup, with dual pumps etc.
Lighting was a mix of cool white, 440nm and 470nm LEDs. 27 of them which I got made at the time by a Chinese manufacturer for about £3 each. Prior to livestock the entire setup was around £500 (90L aquarium)

This time I started with a stock Fluval Evo which around £250 starting point. I only added a wave maker £20 on a timer in the 1st year.

This hobby can be as expensive as you want it to be, but there are many ways to do things on a budget.

- Paul

 

[homer1475]

Just the way the OP is worded is just wrong.

Every tank is built on a budget, just depends on how big, or small your budget is.

 

[Alexraptor]

I'll see you "don't exist" and raise you a "does exist"!

15G tank
Maxpsect Jump L165 LED
Tunze 6020

Complete manual water changes and dosing with AFR, the later bought in powder form, for best price.

Every single coral in the tank was dirt cheap. Paid only 20 Euro for an tennis ball sized acro colony. The rest all started out as cheap frags, with several being sourced at frag swaps. All the shrooms in the tank are also hitchhikers, so didn't pay a single cent extra for those.

 

[VintageReefer]

I'll see you "don't exist" and raise you a "does exist"!

15G tank
Maxpsect Jump L165 LED
Tunze 6020

Complete manual water changes and dosing with AFR, the later bought in powder form, for best price.

Every single coral in the tank was dirt cheap. Paid only 20 Euro for an tennis ball sized acro colony. The rest all started out as cheap frags, with several being sourced at frag swaps. All the shrooms in the tank are also hitchhikers, so didn't pay a single cent extra for those.

That’s a really nice setup with healthy corals and colorful colonies!

 

[William Chiavetta]

I think yes and no. My current set up works well with budget and DIY gear, but the road to getting here cost a lot in failed experiments/trial and error. . .

This is what I was trying to say. sorry I didn't make it more clear and thank you for clarifying