pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Hypothetically, you are in a megastore that has every product on the shelf and you are handed $400 to spend. What would you do? Here are your parameters: -You are setting up a new nano for your office or bedroom, max size of 14G, minimum size of 8G. -The $400 is for the tank, lights, pump only, but any money you have leftover can go toward live stock. -Remember, this is the megastore so all brands are in play... JBJ, cad lights, fluval, etc etc. Get exactly what you want! Have fun with this and help me out at the same time! Looking forward to seeing your answers! Link to comment
alanwest09872 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 craigslists Dont forget Salt, Filtration, Test Kits, RO/Di system, Protein skimmer. Are you keeping just fish or is it a reef tank. Need lots more info before we can help you out. Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 You have a separate budget for the "extras" such as test kits. Also separate budget for live rock and live stock. Ideally the tank will keep 2 fish (+/- depending on final tank size) and LPS. No SPS. Link to comment
Neebles Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 400 isn't much of a budget unfortunately but it can be done depending on what you want to keep. Water is going to be one of your most important elements I would say, so a ro/di filter is an important investment (IMO) although there are work arounds I suppose. What kind of corals are you going to want? That is where lighting can become important. I dropped 350 alone on lighting for an 18g cube if that tells you anything. Don't try to cheap out or go to fast in this hobby or it will bite you in the butt. Take your time, plan it out, research, ask for help. Don't be afraid to buy second hand either. Link to comment
Paleoreef103 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 15 gallon Aqueon tank (yes, it's slightly too large, but you can pick them up for $30. If you reaaaaaallly want to be stingy with that water volume go with a standard 10 gallon Aqueon)Evergrow d120 Light ($130, optics off) Jebao RW-4 ($60) AquaClear AC 70 ($50 on amazon right now)inTank Media Basket ($50, optional, but really a nice addition)Total = $320. You have an extra $80 for test kits, media, heater, hanging the light, salt, and an RO/DI system. If I didn't get the media basket, I'd probably DIY mod the AC70 and buy a BRS 4-stage Value RO/DI system. Using that set up I'd keep everything except for hardcore SPS to keep the tank nice and simple. I'd keep a single psuedochromis in the tank and maybe a yellow tail damsel, but that's because I'd love a species tank. Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 400 isn't much of a budget unfortunately but it can be done depending on what you want to keep. Water is going to be one of your most important elements I would say, so a ro/di filter is an important investment (IMO) although there are work arounds I suppose. What kind of corals are you going to want? That is where lighting can become important. I dropped 350 alone on lighting for an 18g cube if that tells you anything. Don't try to cheap out or go to fast in this hobby or it will bite you in the butt. Take your time, plan it out, research, ask for help. Don't be afraid to buy second hand either. Thank you for the concern! I used to be an experienced reefer, but I quit after a move about 6 years ago. I had a 75g setup for about 3 years before that... stable and healthy tank! In terms of this new budget... I know it's not a lot but it's what my work has offered to pay for. Since the tank is on display at work they are willing to chip in $400 for the setup, as long as I maintain it and stock it. If I go slightly over the $400 budget that's ok... I don't mind paying a bit out of pocket for a sweet setup. For a more exact idea of the SPS I'd want to keep... just your basic leathers, frogspawn, xenia type stuff. And exact fish? Not sure yet... probably 2 fish... clown, goby, or gramma most likely. edit: And just to clarify... I feel like I've been out of the hobby for long enough that I just don't know which tanks/lights people trust now. There are a lot of new options that have come out since I last quit. Basically looking for your opinions on what's trusted! Link to comment
Neebles Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Awesome...sorry if I sounded snarky or snobbish, it wasn't my intent. It's awesome that your work is giving you anything!! Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Awesome...sorry if I sounded snarky or snobbish, it wasn't my intent. It's awesome that your work is giving you anything!! No worries mate. I did not take it that way... in fact I'm often giving friends of mine crap about similar things. ie not letting things properly cycle or overstocking their small tanks, etc. I understand your concerns! Link to comment
kidnatural Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I would do $100 im fusion 10, $199 ai prime preorder, and a $55 jebao rw4 that'd be my go at it. Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thank you both paleoreef and kidnatural. I'm currently looking up your recommendations and taking them into consideration! Also, somebody linked me to this: http://www.cadlights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=61_63&products_id=303 Any thoughts on this? 18g might be a bit large but they do have a similar 8g tank. Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 If I only had $400, I'd go basic 10g tank, RW-4, AC70, a JBJ ATO and tom's aqualifter, and a cobalt neo-therm 50W, and 2 of the 14k Par30 bulbs with 90 degree lenses from Coral Compulsion. That pretty much hits all the must-haves for just under $400 for equipment. Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 If I only had $400, I'd go basic 10g tank, RW-4, AC70, a JBJ ATO and tom's aqualifter, and a cobalt neo-therm 50W, and 2 of the 14k Par30 bulbs with 90 degree lenses from Coral Compulsion. That pretty much hits all the must-haves for just under $400 for equipment. Just to clarify, this is the clamp you're talking about right? http://coralcompulsion.com/par38-lamp-clamp-fixture Along with the Par30 bulb? Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Just to clarify, this is the clamp you're talking about right? http://coralcompulsion.com/par38-lamp-clamp-fixture Along with the Par30 bulb? No, no clamp. I would use desk lamps from staples, like 8 bucks each. The CC clamps are too heavy for the thin glass of regular tanks and they cost more. Just the 2 par30 bulbs. Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 No, no clamp. I would use desk lamps from staples, like 8 bucks each. The CC clamps are too heavy for the thin glass of regular tanks and they cost more. Just the 2 par30 bulbs. Ah, makes sense. No clamping onto the glass then... the desk lamps sit on the table and just point them down over the tank. Thanks for the tips... I will definitely take your ideas into consideration! Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Also, and this is what I would suggest, save your money until you can have exactly what you want. If you are going to limit yourself, I'd go with a pico tank of <5 gallons. Go take a look at sandeep's 5.5 gallon in the pico sub forum. Beautiful and not 400 bucks Link to comment
pvreef Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Also, and this is what I would suggest, save your money until you can have exactly what you want. If you are going to limit yourself, I'd go with a pico tank of <5 gallons. Go take a look at sandeep's 5.5 gallon in the pico sub forum. Beautiful and not 400 bucks Thanks for the advice. I certainly don't plan to jump into anything which is why I'm just trying to gather information and recommendations right now. As cool as the picos are, I'd rather not spend money on one when I'm certain I want something bigger in the long run. But yeah... just getting opinions now so I have a starting point to research the various tanks, pumps, and lights. Thanks again for your help! Link to comment
Coolhandreefer Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 For a tank, lights, and pump under $400 I would get a biocube29 with matching stand and I would upgrade the pump. Link to comment
NorthGaHillbilly Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 If its going to be a display at work, I would go with some sort of small AIO. It will look much nicer to non reefing folks IMO Small AIO, upgrade pump, decent light. Good to go 8 gal nuvo, 150 I think Decent Par bulb ~100 bucks Upgrade the pump and you can get away without another source of flow ATO will be a must being gone over the weekends, and you need to be sure they dont cut the power over the weekends or anything weird like that Link to comment
Dramad1 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Talk with Mike at micro reefs and get a cold water system. Link to comment
Formula462 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Dollar per gallon biatch! I would try to go forty breeder or 30L. Par 38s on desktop gooseneck lamps, ac110 for filter, modified how/if you please. Then maybe a hang on skimmer if you can grab one cheap. I'd spend what I could on badass rock. Some pre shaped stuff, and nice sand. Edit: I just read all the office stuff...probably wouldn't want to set that up at work lol. Link to comment
rod00007 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I have a jbj pico 3 gallon at my desk at work. It was 35 and a good starter kit that you could get and add really nice lights to. Maybe add a nanobox tide with storm to it. Link to comment
Eckozulu Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Tank - IM fusion 10g(I like a lot more than my cadlights) -$100 Lights (in order of price) - IM 18w-$150, AI prime-$200, nanobox minitide(my pick)-$250, Kessil A160 with goose neck-$285 Pump - Upgrade stock with a cobalt mj900-$37, or add a Jebao RW4-$55 Heater - cobalt neotherm 50w-$57, ehiem jäger 50w-$28 Filtration - intank mediabasket-$41(I won't use anything else.) Ato(a must for an office tank, imho) - Tunze 3152-$110. Mix and match to make budget work, good luck!!! Link to comment
Neebles Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Tank - IM fusion 10g(I like a lot more than my cadlights) -$100 Lights (in order of price) - IM 18w-$150, AI prime-$200, nanobox minitide(my pick)-$250, Kessil A160 with goose neck-$285 Pump - Upgrade stock with a cobalt mj900-$37, or add a Jebao RW4-$55 Heater - cobalt neotherm 50w-$57, ehiem jäger 50w-$28 Filtration - intank mediabasket-$41(I won't use anything else.) Ato(a must for an office tank, imho) - Tunze 3152-$110. Mix and match to make budget work, good luck!!! I like this plan as well Link to comment
Spenseriana Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Funny you're doing this! I basically have the same requirements, only the wife is the "boss" in this scenario. I bought a used all-in-one Solanan-style Cardiff with a light for $200. It's a little more "furniture" looking for the non-reefers one might share the space with. I say look for used deals, and find something that looks really nice. I spent another $150 on refurbished spectrapure, $15 on a used ato, and now I'm set with equipment. (Although there are always a million little things like scales to weigh your salt, refractometers, test kits, etc.) Really enjoying this thread! Thanks for starting it. Edit: The light is cheap, but has a good color and plenty strong enough to bleach corals if I'm not careful. An old BoostLED 130w. Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Yeah, I was going suggest buying some stuff used if possible. Link to comment
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