Economy is tanking, how to save your Tank?

[rayray]

The western world's economy looks bleak. Lets face it, reefing is a luxury.

Post what you are doing to make those reefing dollars go a little bit further.

Heres what I did.
1. use my reef old water change for my FOWLR new water since it is cleaner. FOWLR water goes to the garden
2. shorter photoperoid
3. LED lighting - my lights will pay for themselves in 18months since the chiller is never on, & no more MH (I saved $250 on electricity last month). If you DIY LEDs, you will save $$$!!!
4. lighter on the feedings
5. swap/trade/club corals instead of LFS/online
6. bulk reef supply
7. traded or sold all my old gear - finally accepted I wont need all those smaller tanks, older skimmers, backup gear, etc.

What I'm considering:
1. getting out of SPS - there is a huge $$$ increase with everything involved
2. cheaper salt
3. no more upgrades

 

[Puffalicious]

This is what I did:

-Went LEDs
-Cheaper Salt
-Installed an ATS (so I can eventually take my skimmer away)

 

[MedicBMC]

Reefing is a luxury, but I don't think we are going to have another economic collapse. I for one though have also taken steps to reduce my impact and cut costs.

I first started by downgrading from a 75g to a 34g.

Total power consumption is down over 300w/hour.

-switched over from 324w T5HO to 135w LED
-cheaper salt (RC) and less water per WC about $1.20 now per week.
-Buy/trade/sell locally and search for good deals.






My main goal was to have an easy to keep LPS/zoa tank with exception to my birdnest which are very easy to keep. I spend far less time on maintenance and more time actually enjoying it. Over the past 2-3 years I've found what works and what doesn't. One thing in particular is getting rid of unneeded equipment and stopped following coral fads.

 

[rayray]

Reefing is a luxury, but I don't think we are going to have another economic collapse...One thing in particular is getting rid of unneeded equipment and stopped following coral fads.

I fully agree about avoiding coral fads.

my buddy who owns an LFS said he used to be able charge anything he wanted for chalices, the following year couldn't give them away!

Im still trying to shake the memories of the boom days (2005-2007) when LFSs couldn't bring in livestock fast enough. It will never be again. Must accept reality.

 

[gonumber24]

Good info everyone. I put leds on my 29 biocube. It uses 29 watts instead of 72. The lps corals are doing well. Also, I take my reef water from my 150 and use it for water changes on my 240 fowlr.

 

[GoReef165]

Nice thread rayray... hey, so you dump your old FOWLR water in the garden? You growing sea salt chips or what? lol

 

[AquaVaj]

Doesnt saltwater kill plants? Heard one way to stop plants from growing is to soak the dirt with saltwater. Plants won't be growing there for a long time.

 

[GoReef165]

I'm just now getting set up for "my last" upgrade...right. So, I just invested in a new skimmer, lights and tank.

My plans to save money in the future are:
1. Sell/Trade all old equipment
2. Sell/Trade corals with other SCR's.
3. Run my RODI waste water line to water my money tree.
4. Be more patient and enjoy what I already have (watch things grow)
5. Stop visiting all my LFS's every weekend (every other). If I don't show, I won't blow $.

 

[rayray]

Doesnt saltwater kill plants? Heard one way to stop plants from growing is to soak the dirt with saltwater. Plants won't be growing there for a long time.

Ive been dumping my 30gallon twice monthly water change on my lawn for 6 years, no problems.

My wife's roses dont like the salt water much, because I think its the pH (they like acid?). But all the tropical plants are doing well. We also add hose/sprinkler water of course, I think it helps diulte the salt.

I also use to direct my RO/DI waste water to the lawns, but it nearly caused a flood. You dont appreciate how much RO/DI "waste" you generate...

 

[GoReef165]

I just bought 100' of 1/4" RO tubing to run from my garage RO/DI system to my pool. So much easier when making a large quantity of water.

 

[rayray]

you got a great idea. i used to collect the RO/DI waste for our pool also and pump it in, but it was too much work.

we now run a saltwater pool system. I used to joke with my kids I was going to use FOWLR waste salterwater in the pool to save on pool salt. big "ewwww gross!"

but have you seen what kids do in the pool?

 

[happaman]

Great thread. I direct my RO waste to the garden; have 1 tank sunlit only (gonna supplement for color tho soon) made a ATS/fuge and now my 55 only has 2 pumps running instead of 4 (dropped reactor & skimmer); switched to IO salt.

we reefers will survive and eventually thrive cuz we embrace new tech like LED's, solar, minimize waste and improvise. We've been doing that in the household with drip irrigation, drought tolerant plants and no lawn, powerstrips on TV/micro, solar LED entryway lights etc and have saved boku $ on electrical/water/gas. I mean hundreds of $ it's friggin shocking what we kinda of dough we wasted over the years.

 

[dorkymk3]

Cut down lighting by only running them for 7 instead of 10
Added Phosban reactors and Purigen reactor
Water change is now 5% instead of 15% every week
Lighten the fish feeding to once a day

Things in the future:
Upgrade to LED light fixture to replace my MH / t5 system on both tanks.
Stop buying corals, and just sit and watch the ones in my tank grow.
Switch to BRS two part dosing

 

[wickedfish]

1) Focus on parameters not buying coral
2) took out 2 bulbs on my 10 bulb fixture
3) My ReefDogg is building me a led fixture to supplement( this one is for shimmer and pop but at least it's low energy.)
4)also gonna do an led in the fuge if Mike ever shoots me
The link. My 12 watt pc light went Out on Saturday.
5)switched to IO
6)Feed a lot less (less gfo)
7)Haggle (it's definitely whack but if a penny here and there and I can buy something else.$
8) Fans instead of chiller.
9) all of my pumps are low wattage. Educated guess including skimmer (BK SM250)and return (bubble blaster 1700)and 6 other pumps, I'm running 227 watts per hour.
10) RO waste goes to the back lawn I hate that only my wife likes. And to my palm trees.
11)make Oscar drive to all the reef stuff, JK your my desi. driver!

In the near future I also want to build my ATS. I have a mag 5 nib waiting to be used for this. I just have a lot of crap in my sump and need to make room. Also I would want to build a good led setup for it.

 

[GoReef165]

you got a great idea. i used to collect the RO/DI waste for our pool also and pump it in, but it was too much work.

we now run a saltwater pool system. I used to joke with my kids I was going to use FOWLR waste salterwater in the pool to save on pool salt. big "ewwww gross!"

but have you seen what kids do in the pool?

lol.... I have a SW pool to. I do know what kids do in pools. Especially boys. haha