In defense of the cost reefing today there are several options that simply were not available in years past.
Expensive hot metal halide bulbs now run on Digital ballast saving 20%-30% on energy consumption!
There are Power Compact light, T5bulbs 54 watt (T5=Tube Dia. 5/8) thats a lot of cool light--less heat transferred to a reef tank the better!
Pumps today run much more efficiently drawing fewer amps. Yet moving up to twice as much water! This translates to a cooler pump=less heat transfer into the main tank.
As for filtration I am a minimalist reefer I have a overflow box with a 200 micron sock on the end for solids-rinse out every few weeks. This dumps into a laundry basket --the bottom is a 2-4 inch this substrate consisting of crushed coral, sand , some extra live rock that I did not like in the main tank, crushed shell about six different kinds of macro algae, refugium a protein skimmer that I run occasional and two Taam Seio 620s gph --@ 8watts each. 16watts total --that is 12 watts less then one of my old power heads and it only moved 380 gph!! , (with exception to my refugium about 200 gallons per hr)
A closed loop system running newer pumps on a wave maker moves enough water through the live rock- smaller pumps smaller bill-
To summarize cooler lighting options , simple refugium (laundry tub), two power heads, and a protein skimmer that runs occasionally -- I have no need for a chiller (helps to have a large refugium)
Total wattage around 400 watts! There has never been a better time to set up a reef tank - So fear not and do not get discouraged---- Yes saltwater is expensive but the operating cost have come down considerably. Hope this helps
Good Luck
Expensive hot metal halide bulbs now run on Digital ballast saving 20%-30% on energy consumption!
There are Power Compact light, T5bulbs 54 watt (T5=Tube Dia. 5/8) thats a lot of cool light--less heat transferred to a reef tank the better!
Pumps today run much more efficiently drawing fewer amps. Yet moving up to twice as much water! This translates to a cooler pump=less heat transfer into the main tank.
As for filtration I am a minimalist reefer I have a overflow box with a 200 micron sock on the end for solids-rinse out every few weeks. This dumps into a laundry basket --the bottom is a 2-4 inch this substrate consisting of crushed coral, sand , some extra live rock that I did not like in the main tank, crushed shell about six different kinds of macro algae, refugium a protein skimmer that I run occasional and two Taam Seio 620s gph --@ 8watts each. 16watts total --that is 12 watts less then one of my old power heads and it only moved 380 gph!! , (with exception to my refugium about 200 gallons per hr)
A closed loop system running newer pumps on a wave maker moves enough water through the live rock- smaller pumps smaller bill-
To summarize cooler lighting options , simple refugium (laundry tub), two power heads, and a protein skimmer that runs occasionally -- I have no need for a chiller (helps to have a large refugium)
Total wattage around 400 watts! There has never been a better time to set up a reef tank - So fear not and do not get discouraged---- Yes saltwater is expensive but the operating cost have come down considerably. Hope this helps
Good Luck
