Times Are Tough

Ok I can see that I was wrong for starting this toppic. And I wasn't refering to myself as the example, but yet made a example out of myself in trying to understand why people always want to suggest doing things the exspensive way. Sorry fellas no hard feelings.

 

I agree with Peredhill. I advise folks at to what I would do. nothing more, nothing less. so I have an RO/Di system. yes. it is hooked up? no. I dont have the filters for it yet. My old one is spent and I need to get new filters. I jsut setup my new tank. the water tests at 90 tds. my neighbor has a spring well that tests at 40 tds. I used 10 gallons of that to top off my sump tonight.

before I had the Ro/Di system, my tank was mediocre. Lots of algae and could not ever get much to do well. once I went Ro/Di, my tank took off. everything grew extremely well. I did so well with all my sps with some growing an inch a month. the water in was the only change I made. Nothing else. I didnt even change my water for 4 years.

I dont know anyone's financial situation. heck I barely know mine. I dont have the money to get new filters now, so ill have to wait and use my neighbors spring water. Luckily our tap isnt bad either.

In addition, I am a DIY guy. I built my sump out of a rubermaid tub. I have a very used chiller. I built my own DIY coil Denitrator. IMHO, if I can build it and it work, then by all means ill do it.

Its not ALWAYS about expense, but sometimes, you gotta pay the price to do this hobby successfully. same with classic cars and bass fishing. I ahve kept a reef for 10 years or more. in that time, I have spent way more money on my boat, fishing gear and bait then I have on my tank.

Heck a brand new boat could run you over $50 grand!

 

I see how it is guys no love for sollie eh haha jk

 

That's not true, it's your opinion, plain and simple. What you can do will depend on knowledge, time and money. Not all of us has an abundance of all three.

 

you weren't wrong, you asked for an opinion and we replied as requested.
there is always more than 1 way to do things, many of us will give the straight forward, and often costly solution, but then you'll start to get the DIY answers that will help you save a few bucks.
The fact is this is a forum where we don't know the people posting or anything about them such as their economic status unless they tell us in their post so we tend not to consider that when formulating our answers.

 

I'm glad you brought this up, it allows for some good discussion.


Peredhil, I agree 100%, great post. I don't give any advice I wouldn't use myself. I only offer the best advice I can, that's it. I also think that many times, members offer cheaper alternatives or other ways of doing something. For one quick example, just today, there was a thread about a member switching from MH to T5 b/c of heat issues. I suggested instead of buying a new T5 fixture, try a fan over the sump/refugium. It wasn't necessarily what the OP was exactly asking, but I suggested the alternative as a reliable, effective and cheap alternative.

 

Interesting topic...I try to suggest what I think of as the best way to do things. Things I would try myself. Things that may be costly, or a very inexpensive DIY alternative. If I don't know the answer to something, I simply say I do not know, or suggest someone who may.

If money is a problem, as it has been & is for me at times, I try to make that point in my posts. If someone else is having the same, I suggest they mention that in OP to get better answers/suggestions.

 

I think people should post what they think THEY would do if they were in the OP's position. It is then the OP's responsibility to read and research and decide what is best for him. Thats the whole point of forums. You may not agree with a post, but it is their point of view and you are responsible for choosing which route to take. If the majority of the posts are saying the same thing, chances are, they're right. There are alot of very talented and experience people on here, you just have to pick and choose who you trust and listen too.

 

I have DIY overflows, DIY siphons, DIY fuge, use tap water, AND my tank looks great. Heck, even the fish stay alive. One of which is a mandarin. And I don't have a protein skimmer, reactors, sterilizers, etc.

99% of the fish at petco would rather be in my tank any day so I must be doing something right.