opinions on down grading...

[anin]

hey everyone, so i need some help deciding what to do..I had my 75AGA reef tank for 2.5yrs now, and i just can't keep up with the maintenance of it. I work full time and go college full time.Another concern was electricity, even with my T5 and all, i can't keep up with it. Either i want to completely sell everything off or get like a bio cube or like a 20G AGA. I wanted to try to keep my Sps if possible to do without MH or T5.I was looking into the current powerbrite,its meant to be used as supplement, but how would it work on a 20 long, would like say 2 or 3 powerbrite alone work? I guess is no?would still need vho? But i really would like to keep electricity down to minimal. Either i have to see if i can setup something small or i have to get rid of everything...Any suggestions, greatly appreciated! Thanks

Anindo

 

[NJ_ychung1]

go fishonly tank. buy an automatic feeder. no maint required for as long as you like and no electricity consumption.

 

[anin]

well its not like i can't any electricity at all lol..just not as much as a 75g reef setup..So for led lighting, any one can chime in? would powerbrite work? I see PFO, wasn't trying to spend that much..

 

[vangvace]

What are you having trouble keeping up with maintenance wise? Besides SPS what else would you like to keep?

An all-in-one with even a 150W MH should be under $40 a month for electricity.

The danger you are going to run into though is dosing and evaporation.

And YGPM coming about the LEDs.

 

[vangvace]

oh and the powerbrights are designed to be supplemental lighting

 

[DaveK]

... I work full time and go college full time...

I am someone who made a similar mistake many years ago, and tried to keep my aquariums going and go to college. Now the advice I'm going to give you is not going to be pleasant, but it's really the best thing to do.

With college, and especially with a full time job, you just don't have the time to keep any aquariums, period. Sell or give away all the livestock, and sell or put away all the equipment until you are done with school. I know, it seems like a long time, and no doubt, like myself, you love the hobby, and everything that goes with it. Put it away for a few years. You do not want the aquariums to be down grading to be your GPA.

If you absolutely must have something, keep a 10 gal FW tank, but that's all. Nothing fancy, nothing that will require work.

 

[anin]

Thank for all the replies, well i think what i should be doing is just putting this hobby away until i have more time, but i think i will take a chance and maybe do a smaller tank..I was actually thinking of like a getting a regular 20high and put together a retro kit consisting of workhorse ballast powering a 24" 24watt T5, supplement with 2 of the powerbrite leds..that should be relatively cheap to do..i can make my own stand, add a 10g sump, and use a smaller skimmer..

 

[anin]

What are you having trouble keeping up with maintenance wise? Besides SPS what else would you like to keep?

An all-in-one with even a 150W MH should be under $40 a month for electricity.

The danger you are going to run into though is dosing and evaporation.

And YGPM coming about the LEDs.

maintenance wise, not really giving much problems, but electricity my dads been complaining about alot lately lol..with my lights on, heaters, skimmer, phosban, 2 pumps, 2 powerheads, kill a watt measures like 900watts! So i will look more into leds..thanks

 

[NJ_ychung1]

i guess you have your answer then. you have weighted the problem areas. 1. maintenance 2. power consumption.

if you can deal with the maint aspect and reduce power load and you are okay then that solves the problem.

with respect to maint, imho, i think smaller tanks are a bit more maint due to evaporation and temp control but see how it goes, maybe you will have great success. i hate to see anyone leave the hobby.

take it easy and good luck

 

[DaveK]

Thank for all the replies, well i think what i should be doing is just putting this hobby away until i have more time, but i think i will take a chance and maybe do a smaller tank..I was actually thinking of like a getting a regular 20high and put together a retro kit consisting of workhorse ballast powering a 24" 24watt T5, supplement with 2 of the powerbrite leds..that should be relatively cheap to do..i can make my own stand, add a 10g sump, and use a smaller skimmer..

You would solve the power consumption with what you plan, but it's still going to need maintenance. Think about this carefully. Do you really have the time?

If you figure a full time job is going to be 40 hours a week, and a full load of courses, 15 credit hours, is going to require about 45 hours a week of work in addition to the classes, you are already at 100 hours a week, or 14.5 hours a day. Plus you still need time to sleep and eat.

Put the hobby away for awhile. I know it's hard, but some things are necessary.

 

[anin]

hey guys, just to let you guys know, i will be downgrading to a 50g that i can keep in my room, it will most likely be just FOWLR tank..Thanks for the inputs..