Reef on a Budget

[inkblue]

I know everyone loves to recommend the latest and greatest equipment to anyone who will listen, but people are people and they will eventually buy what they think will make do. It's just life...

So instead of discouraging reefers on a limited budget, why not suggest affordable alternatives and maybe they will learn to walk before they can run, making a better and educated reefer along the way.

Suggestions...?

 

[JLAudio]

I have been the prototypical "cheap ebay brand" buyer through out my reefing career. I have won a cpl and lost a cpl. My first piece of advice to people who want to skimp and by cheap is "Be ready to make modifications" and "do your research".

You can save alot on lighting by buying cheap but you may need to modify and change the ballast in time. But you stil may win out.

I bought HOMBBY brand from Ebay, I give it a good rating. It has good cooling system, quite electronic ballast, overall good product and I paid much less than typical medal halide combo systems.

I bought cheap fuges that you have to glue together. There annoying to put together (hr. or so for avg joe) but for $40 bucks, well worth it and took the same nitrates out of my water as the ecosystem $300 one does.

I do believe skimmers are the one area that the cheap brands do not seem to be able to handle the job requirements. Maybe with a recirc mod its possible, but not out right

All of this is IMO and through my 4 year experience in the game

 

[jhale]

I understand your logic, but I think it's best to buy quality equipment from the start.

worst case scenario if you have to leave the hobby your equipment will retain some value and you will get back some of what you spent. I gave away two carloads of reef stuff that I never should have bought in the first place. It does not have to be an expensive hobby, just tailor the equipment to your needs, but purchase well made products. the only way you will know what's well made when you start out in the hobby is to do your research. don't buy anything on impulse!

 

[drperetz]

...

Quality brand name might cost more $$$ but, once acquired the quality and reefing experience increases.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Depending on the amount people are able to spend on their tanks defines the "Budget" you are talking about.

Your purchases are indicative of the livestock you plan to keep. If you are only keeping fish and live rock there is no need for MH lighting, but if you plan on keeping NO lighting on an SPS tank you're an idiot, I know first hand because I tried to keep SPS under PC lighting and failed like an idiot cause everyone here told me it wasn't a good Idea and I didn't listen.

Protien skimmers, I had a prism before I found this site and after I found MR I switched to the remora. That is because I listened to advice. Had I found MR in the first place I would have not wasted the money on the prism but went right for the remora.

Skimping on quality will bleed you dry of money as you slowly upgrade and it will make things harder to keep livestock wise.

My advice is to buy the industry standard recommendations for the environment you plan on keeping!

 

[inkblue]

I understand the advanced reefer's thinking of buying the best from the start, but if you look at the for sale threads, how many of those are really 'quality' equipment being sold?

People will buy according to their budget no matter what. So why not recommend good used items or new items that will last them at least a year or two, especially if they are unsure if they want to stay in the hobby or not.

 

[inkblue]

Quality brand name might cost more $$$ but, once acquired the quality and reffing experience increases.

...but the quality of products being used does not equate to the quality of care being given.

 

[drperetz]

...

So then lets rate the thread where the item is being sold...

This will show the user the quality and demand of the product being sold on the forum...:chef:

 

[inkblue]

Good idea, but people selling would get upset especially if the products they are selling sucks...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It is like anything, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The quality of the equipment may not be the level of care the livestock is getting now but it leaves room to grow in the future to the proper care.

 

[roncgizmo]

I think the best thing to do is open your eyes and look for deals, Both new and used
when I setup my 20 I wanted to do it as cheap as possible.

My first filter was an AC70 I paid <30 bucks and that was new then I did a DIY
fuge it was a 10 gallon tank with some glass baffles cost about 20 bucks to make.

then I made an overflow out of PVC (pics in my gallery) cost under 5 buck and never let me down.

if you buy something like a Mag5 look online you can buy it for under $50 go to your
LFS and your going to pay $79~99 for it.

then I bumped up to a 37 I traded for some zoos that came with a stand I couldn't use
so I traded my 20L with that stand for a redsea wavemaster pro.. the power heads, I bought 2 MJ600's and a 1200 for 20 bucks from another member my mag5 I paid $30
for it I bought a current 30" dual PC light for 50 (after I replaced the ballast)
BTW, the ballast was around $35 mail order, I paid $6.50 for it (new) and bought
it from the company that makes them for Current. For me finding the deal is half the fun just don't look for it when you need it now!

 

[drperetz]

....

u r right inc, I thought about that...
Not only that the people selling will try to overrate they product or live stock, making a false rating....

However, the rating allows only 1 time choice so the average of the correct votes will still be visible in the end...



There are many ways we can do it...

 

[ScottK]

The problem with rating other people's items for sale is that unless you go over and look at it, you have no idea what condition it's in. A person could be selling a high-end item that is in poor condition.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Rating is not a good idea period in for sale forums. I know this first hand too.

 

[roncgizmo]

It's easy to find ratings on almost anything now...if not google search MR...
if you do that and still buy the Seaclone you're a fool unless you got it
so cheap it was worth it for the pump.lol

 

[inkblue]

Exactly what roncgizmo did... why not recommend simple/'beginner' equipment first that can pretty much be sold back for the same price and then move up slowly to better equipment, if your budget allows.

I know quality products like a Tunzes are great, but why recommend that if you know someone starting out can get a maxijet moded for less because maybe he/she has one lying around from their freshwater tank setup.

 

[Dace]

This thread will go on and go on with no real solution. You want quality and reliability...
Buy quality and new. if not, then just be happy with what ever stuff you buy that's used, read up on products to find best reliable product and cross your fingers hoping it was properly maintained

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Exactly like Dace said, If you are on a small budget MR is the place to be because there are some great deals here.

 

[inkblue]

We can't all be negative. Solutions arise from discussion.

It's easy to tell people to read up, but in reality, they will most likely not. They will do things based on what people say here. Hence the reason for this discussion.

 

[roncgizmo]

No mater what, you should always have a backup anyway on some of your stuff.
I don't care if you have a top of the line return pump you paid $350 for, you need
to have a backup for it if something gos wrong..IMO