How do you guys do this?

ya i have been putting 20 bucks away every week towards the lights, seems like something always comes up to where i have to use it though. i think everyone can relate to that. i deff dont want to cheap out and buy crappy lights though.

 

thanks, i appreciate it

 

+1 on getting hooked up with other local reefers. Alot of what we have gotten has been because of other people looking in their fish room and finding extras of stuff that they were willing to give/let go of real cheap.

Also, we don't make huge money, but are comfortable. It helps that we don't have young kids at home anymore (son is 28 with a family of his own now).

We prioritized what equipment we would need first. Researched it, saved and then went and got...moved on to the next piece of high dollar equip.

 

Best idea for you is like everyone above stated Craigs list.. and i will add check a few of your local papers.. You will never know what you will find.... And simply ask a few LFS if they heard of anyone selling or shuttin thier tank down...


Best of Luck...

 

Well, I waited until I was 42 and had enough cash. Even then I had trouble convincing myself that I should spend that kind of money on myself rather than saving it all for my kids' college funds. I always wanted a reef tank. One day I realized I needed a hobby so I just made the investment and never looked back. Everybody needs a hobby and a passion and most hobbies cost serious money. The nice thing about this hobby is you can always observe your handiwork while relaxing in your family room and the whole family can enjoy it.

I do what I can to save money as much as possible. It does cost some serious $$$ but I've never wished I didn't take the plunge. You need to do something for yourself once in a while.

 

I found someone on craigslist that was downgrading, I had a 55gallon with Hob filters.
He traded me a 72Gallon bowfront with trickle filter, said it was to big for his space.
Also i recieved all my live rock for free, someone was moving and didnt want to take the rock or fish.
I purchased some base rock of craigslist for $2.00 a pound, showed up at guys house with $20 and he ended up giving me 25pounds.
All my corals i have started out with have been frags.
The lfs sells them here for $15.00 each, any frag you want about 2-3inch piece.
Then just posted on there frag swaps and found people were more than willing to trade.
Also i am unemployed, i have a 3 year old son i am fixing to fall over the hill and hit 30
My wife is the only bread winner in this house and she sure as hell cant afford blowing the money on my saltwater addiction.
Just keep your head up, if you enjoy the hobby so much
you WILL find deals, you WILL make it happen.

 

We all have to start somewherre with a tank. Yours looks great BTW. When I strated in the hobby i did not research anything. Bought my tank on a sidewalk sale the LFS, with sump, protien skimmer, and pump(everything used but the tank). I did think i splurged and bought lights which were PC. Later once I started reading more on here I found that they are not what I needed. So I started putting money back to get the t5's. Like you as well something was always coming up that would dip into the reserve. After the 18 or so months I learnt alot about the tank as well as what I needed to do in order to keep my fish/corals healthy. Looking back I am glad that I had the time, because if not i would have probably went through alot of livestock and corals, which would have cost me even more money. Today I rarely have issues that arise that requires special attention to the tank.

Just a different way to look at it and my .02

 

My last set up i have done wile living on a ssi disability check, so i understand the budget thing, i have set my last one up using lower cost budget items lights, power heads, skimmer's, return pumps and a lot of diy. being i only keep softies, leathers and lower light corals my lower cost lights for the most part give me more light then i want for some of the coral i have. and all the cheep stuff i have bought i have not had any problems with the way they work or them lasting as long as name brand stuff. I don't have as much tied up in my hole setup as some do in there lights alone.

 

I am single, no kids, have a decent job, and it still took me 2 years to get where I am. Craigslist is my friend.

A lot of it is patience... go figure. Just waiting for the right deal to come along. Personally, I don't thing I would enjoy it as much if I could just go out and buy it all at once. I enjoy the hunt.

 

+1. IMO getting it all piece by piece, doing the research and finding the best deal is a HUGE part of the hobby. Hubby and I have spent hours looking for just the right piece. Gives us a hobby to do together.