Help Me Start the Cheapest Reef Jar Ever

[Alyciac327]

All tips on how to do a reef jar on the lowest budget possible are wanted here.  One gallon jar preferable.  Thank you!

[patback]

A jar....and a window.... maybe some airline tubing.

[Ratvan]

5 hours ago, patback said:

A jar....and a window.... maybe some airline tubing.

Yup, depending on the heat that the airline puts out you may not even require a heater. I didn't 

 

That's my Phyto and Rotifer Culture btw

[Clown79]

I ran my pico jar with a small pump and abi par 38. The pump maintained temp, the light was awesome. 

 

Jar was from walmart $10-$20(second hand stores even cheaper)

 

Abi $24

Pump $11

[Alyciac327]

11 hours ago, patback said:

A jar....and a window.... maybe some airline tubing.

So no lighting?  Just the light from the window? 

[Ratvan]

1 minute ago, Alyciac327 said:

So no lighting?  Just the light from the window? 

What you want to put in it?

[Alyciac327]

1 hour ago, Ratvan said:

What you want to put in it?

Still planning but mostly softies, maybe some zoas, stuff like that

[patback]

1 hour ago, Alyciac327 said:

So no lighting?  Just the light from the window? 

Well cheapest, yes.  Nothing will be colorful, but you could keep most soft coral in it without them dying. 

A long time ago I had a thread I started. Just a few zoas in a clear glass bowl with some water and saran wrap over the top of it peeled back enough to stick a finger inside. I think I abandoned the project a few months into it but they opened everyday and didnt look not healthy. 

[Ratvan]

36 minutes ago, Alyciac327 said:

Still planning but mostly softies, maybe some zoas, stuff like that

Not sure on the cost but @Wonderboy has been using some type of fairy light LED system on some.of his experiments

[Clown79]

Check out the pico jar contest that happened last year.

 

For lighting most commonly used was 12 w ABI par 38, can keep anything. Amazing growth and colouration of corals.

The Asta 20 is another option for a pico jar

[Wonderboy]

But they are very much experiments. Those e26/27 led bulbs have been my go to for affordable dependability; +1 on the ABI tuna blue - just recently got to try one, and I could say for many situations, I may prefer this one over most.

[Alyciac327]

6 hours ago, Clown79 said:

Check out the pico jar contest that happened last year.

 

For lighting most commonly used was 12 w ABI par 38, can keep anything. Amazing growth and colouration of corals.

The Asta 20 is another option for a pico jar

I read about those bulbs.  I'll have to see if I can find a desk lamp that can handle that wattage at a yard sale or something. 

[Clown79]

3 hours ago, Alyciac327 said:

I read about those bulbs.  I'll have to see if I can find a desk lamp that can handle that wattage at a yard sale or something. 

The par bulbs are regular e27 bulbs. The Abi is 12 watts.

[burningmime]

If you don't have other reefing equipment, there's some startup costs besides the jar, light, and pump, if you don't already have it. So far for my new jar, I've needed to buy:

 

* RO/DI or distilled water + salt mix (can use an RO/DI system)

* Powerhead for mixing the salt (you might get away with using the same pump as for the tank, or very vigourously mixing with your hands)

* Way to mount light

* 2 heaters: one for tank, one for mixing bucket (cheaper than I thought they'd be)

* Test kit (more expensive than I thought it would be)

* Thermometer

* Refractometer

* Live rock (or Dry Rock + BioSpira)

* Sand

* Algae cleaner/magnet

* Light timer

* Bayer Insecticide for dipping (probably optional)

 

Other things, which I already had lying around, but should mention:

 

* Bucket (ideally have 2)

* Some tupperware containers

* Extension cord/power splitter

* Super glue

* Plyers and Xacto knife for removing stuff

* Gloves

 

I'd say your minimum startup cost would be about $150 US minimum from having nothing to being ready for your first coral.

[OBXReef]

My last two tanks, one reef the other South American each 125 gallons, far from being low cost. Check out this thread from @new-b-reefer. Simple and low cost.

[new-b-reefer]

52 minutes ago, OBXReef said:

My last two tanks, one reef the other South American each 125 gallons, far from being low cost. Check out this thread from @new-b-reefer. Simple and low cost.

Thanks so much for the mention. I also build an informational website/blog. Feel free to check it out and message me if you like. The website is Jarquarium.com 

on Instagram or Facebook; homeaquatics_etc 🙂

[Alyciac327]

9 hours ago, burningmime said:

If you don't have other reefing equipment, there's some startup costs besides the jar, light, and pump, if you don't already have it. So far for my new jar, I've needed to buy:

 

* RO/DI or distilled water + salt mix (can use an RO/DI system)

* Powerhead for mixing the salt (you might get away with using the same pump as for the tank, or very vigourously mixing with your hands)

* Way to mount light

* 2 heaters: one for tank, one for mixing bucket (cheaper than I thought they'd be)

* Test kit (more expensive than I thought it would be)

* Thermometer

* Refractometer

* Live rock (or Dry Rock + BioSpira)

* Sand

* Algae cleaner/magnet

* Light timer

* Bayer Insecticide for dipping (probably optional)

 

Other things, which I already had lying around, but should mention:

 

* Bucket (ideally have 2)

* Some tupperware containers

* Extension cord/power splitter

* Super glue

* Plyers and Xacto knife for removing stuff

* Gloves

 

I'd say your minimum startup cost would be about $150 US minimum from having nothing to being ready for your first coral.

Thanks, I've had a tank before so I knew about that stuff.  One thing I'll be doing differently, though, is getting saltwater from my LFS. Just easier for me. 

2 hours ago, OBXReef said:

My last two tanks, one reef the other South American each 125 gallons, far from being low cost. Check out this thread from @new-b-reefer. Simple and low cost.

Thank you!!

[Alyciac327]

1 hour ago, new-b-reefer said:

Thanks so much for the mention. I also build an informational website/blog. Feel free to check it out and message me if you like. The website is Jarquarium.com 

on Instagram or Facebook; homeaquatics_etc 🙂

Thanks so much!  I'll follow you!

[Alyciac327]

1 hour ago, new-b-reefer said:

Thanks so much for the mention. I also build an informational website/blog. Feel free to check it out and message me if you like. The website is Jarquarium.com 

on Instagram or Facebook; homeaquatics_etc 🙂

Just realized I started following you on Instagram this week through my rabbit's account lol!  @kermitthebunny

[new-b-reefer]

On 9/27/2019 at 10:59 PM, Alyciac327 said:

Just realized I started following you on Instagram this week through my rabbit's account lol!  @kermitthebunny

Aha, yes I remember kermitthebunny, awesome:) thanks for following along 🙂

[Alyciac327]

5 hours ago, new-b-reefer said:

Aha, yes I remember kermitthebunny, awesome:) thanks for following along 🙂

Thanks for following back!  🙂