Help with Price

brandons

brandons

Member
Ok sold some car parts finally and acquired $550. I am planning on buying a 75g glass tank. I'm thinking I can get that for maybe $150 and then I plan on building the stand and canopy myself. Figuring $50-75 for the stand and $30-50 for the canopy. That will leave me with $230-275 left. Is there anywaya that I would be able to have a setup that could sustain fish with that amount left? Keep in mind I have nothing to start. And as I save up money and sell more parts I could buy more parts like a skimmer and a sump setup. Thanks.
 
brandons

brandons

Member
Ok think I got it so far:
Tank: 100 from Glasscages (65G) w/ overflow
Stand: 75
Canopy: 35
Sump Setup
Heater: 14.99 ViaAqua VA250G (250w)
Skimmer: 158.95 Urchin In Sump w/ Rio 800
Pump: 54.95 Mad-Drive Supreme 7 700GPH
That will leave me with 110 left over. My first sump can be one of those cheap rubbermaid things then i'll upgrade when I get more money. Don't know the cost of those maybe like $10. So with $100 left for supplies (not fish) like food and such what do you guys recommend?
Are these products OK? I realize I need an overflow yet though, does anyone have any links to a DIY one? Then once I get more money I'm going to get the sand you guys recommend from home depot and live rock and cheap lighting to suffice while I save up for VHO lighting.
 
brandons

brandons

Member
For a good while... yes. I want to have a fo tank for 6 months to a year at least. Hence the lighting not being to important right now. I plan on putting in cheap lighting like found on fresh water setups on for now until I save up. I want to go with 2 VHO 10K's and then 2 actinic lights. I'm not sure what the 50/50's are so I guess I'll stay away fromt hem
 
brandons

brandons

Member
Also realizing because I would need more flow and i want the tank to be matured to prevent things from dieing because that's never good
 
viet-tin

viet-tin

Active Member
If your going to go reef in the future id suggest you getting metal halides. That way you dont waste your money on the vho then realize that they arent strong enough. but then again you can always use the vhos as a suplimentation for your corals. Which ever way you want it. Its your money your tank you do whatever. We're just here to help and give are honest opinoins.
 
brandons

brandons

Member
oh i thought the vho's with 10K were enough for soft corals, just not the sps corals (whatever those are just see it all the time). I always see people posting about "there goes the electric bill" in association with the MH's and until i'm done with college (2 more years) i'm in my mom's basement so I don't want to kill the electric bill
 
brandons

brandons

Member
Oh and for an overflow could you use a "U-pipe" like in the bottom of a drain and just have it siphon? Sorry about the million questions
 
viet-tin

viet-tin

Active Member

Originally posted by BrandonS
Oh and for an overflow could you use a "U-pipe" like in the bottom of a drain and just have it siphon? Sorry about the million questions
Im not to sure about that one:notsure: never tried that. Maybe you can post it in the diy board
 
dania

dania

New Member
Hey there,
With the budget you got, maybe you want to check you the classifieds on this site. There are lots of great deals floating around. Look for ones that are selling the whole setup (i.e. tank, pump, skimmer, fish, etc...). Overall, you can save more than 50% by buying used equipment. Especially if the owner is moving, upgrading to a larger setup, or getting out of the hobby. Goodluck and welcome to the fascinating marine world. :cheer:
 
wwfstyle

wwfstyle

Member
Ok for the electric bill from MH? Dont worrie about that. When I placed my 2 - 250 -14k MH my bill may have gone up $5- $10. There was so little increase that I didn't evan really notice. As for a "U" shape from the sink to go towards your over flow? I would stick with a clear 1 so that you can see that all the air bubbles are out of the pipe IMO. Less air trap in the "U" the stronger the water flow. Also check out some of you LFS. I bought a 55 gal sump for $15 that has 3 section in it 1- skimmer section, heater ext... 2- Fuge section, 3- return pump section. Your stand you can make for under $10 by useing cynder blocks and 2x4 and a nice sheet to cover all that so no one can see it. As for the 50/50 lights.... It is the same as gettting 1 10k and 1 atinic bulb. You said that you wanted 2 10k and 2 atinic lights. Well you could cut that in half and get just 2 50/50 bulbs. With my tank I bought alot used and as they broke down I had the experece and knew what I was looking for and needed so I up-graded to what I wanted.
 
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