College student, wanting to setup a nano tank again, help? :D

[joker577]

Hey guys, I'm 19 and I'm about to be a sophomore in college with an apartment and I'm wanting to setup a saltwater tank again. I had a biocube when I was 16 and upgraded to a 75 gallon at 17 but then I had to sell it for college :/
Now I have a tiny bit of cash and my mom said it was cool to setup another as long as it's small, since I can transport (my college is only 45 mins away from my house).
Here was my old tank

I was wondering what would be the best way to go about this and if you guys could please help me out here. It's one thing to do it on my own and try and buy everything but if I got the essentials and maybe some DIY stuff my mom and dad might be more apt to the idea. Thanks guys

 

[Cwazy Clown]

Hey man, I'm also going to be a sophomore in college, and I also started reefing when I was young (15) but quit when I was 16-17

I'm doing a small 8g cube for college. I'm also getting my own place which means space is limited. I'm guessing you're literally on the same boat. If you take a look at my tank thread in the nano forum, I designed everything to be really contained and take up as little space as I can manage and also have it be fairly easily maintained. I started it 3 weeks ago and plan on transporting it to college in 4 months. haha

I'd obviously suggest that you go for something small. Depending on your apartment, I'm in a studio, so my space is really limited. Buy used so if something happens, us lacking money college kids, we can easily replace it and not feel like sh*t about spending more money.

What size tank and what budget did you have in mind?

 

[joker577]

Less than $500, 30 gallons or less, I had a aquapod or something in mind but I think im gonna look at your thread and go from there

 

[Cwazy Clown]

That would get you pretty far IMO. My whole set up right now including livestock cost me ~700. Geez, if you can fit a 30g in your apt, that would be sweet. There are a couple ebay sellers who do great acrylic tanks for pretty cheap. Let me see if I can dig him up.

 

[joker577]

I had imagined something like an aquapod or just something simple, was wanting to keep like a small clam, maybe a couple fish... probably a shrimp pair, SPS.

 

[joker577]

Well see the reason why I was looking at a reasonable aquapod or something was because I was worried about a sump hassle and all that extra space taker upper lol. I know those clowns cost a lot so I only planned on getting like 1-1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon and like an inch of sand at the most... 30 gallons seems a little too big for me so I'm looking or some smaller alternatives lol.
Sigh... here was my original a few years back

 

[Cwazy Clown]

yeah those clowns set me back 250$

heres a sweet AIO tank.. really cheap but idk if its too small...
http://cgi.ebay.com/PICO-12X14X8-DE...aultDomain_0&hash=item2c5512bfb3#ht_586wt_791
take a look at that seller's itmes.

 

[Peppie]

Have you thought about DIY 20gal. AIO? I bet you could outfit it for less than 500. I would be willing to help tou put it together. I have all the tools to do so. CL always has tanks at about $1 per gal. I know of a plastic wholesale to buy their cutoffs.
Check out my builds here at RF in the nano site. PEPPIES 20 AIO.
I have started my second build PEPPIES 20 long AIO build.
Where are you going to school? What are you going to study?

 

[Peppie]

I gave you the wrong title.It is 20 long AIO Build. Here are a couple of pics.

 

[joker577]

I'm going to school in Gaffney, SC called limestone college and i'm studying athletic training. Peppie it looks nice it just seems like a little bit to handle, I was hoping to keep everything and get like the live rock etc. for less than $500 because as depressed as my mom was the first time when I took down my biocube for a bigger tank if i'm gonna do it again I wanna keep it compact, I was kinda looking at the biocube 14 gals or just something all in one or not with too much upkeep. I'm gonna be playing lacrosse in the fall and I wanna be able to maintain it if you see where i'm coming from lol

 

[Peppie]

It seems like I wouldnt be able to offer my tools to you. SC is one heck of a drive. lol
Good luck on your tank and keep up your school work that is most important.

 

[joker577]

Well, if you can PM me or some type of instant messenger we might be able to talk about doing something reasonable?

 

[Peppie]

I wouldnt have a problem with that. But I live in Wa state. I thought you were local. I would not want to build your tank without you you being directly involved. If we were to do it together I would not charge for labor and tool use. If I were to do it myself it would be a job. Then there is the shipping issue. I understand you can get a small AIO for a good price on CL or ebay.
If you have the idea that you can afford to have me build you one. I would be more than willing to do it. I think your money would be better spent localy.

 

[joker577]

When I posted this I was looking for help as far as ideas, online and help offered such as yours which is perfect.. as you know when your out of it for a while the websites change and how people build tanks changes too, just looking for the push in the right (cheaper) direction lol