I know the feeling...here is how I cut cost...
1) bought my rock from
www.hirocks.com then seeded it with a few pieces of live rock from my fish store.
2)Skimmer (I bought a lee's counter current and it works fine)
3)Sump...Just use a 20 gallon fish tank and add partitions made of plexiglass from home depot
4)
Maxi Jets...Bought those new from Ebay from Ebaeseller...He has good deals on them and he ships fast
5)Titanium heater (pro heat from ebay) works well so far...Don't buy a rena, My rena only lasted a year
6)Wave timer, bought a
wave master pro for 25 bucks used...
7)Test kits? Don't have any, pet store tests my water for me every now and then
8)Tap water Filter (NONO) Buy your water from publix or Walmart or where ever they have a water machine that you put quarters into....Its RO/Di water and it has worked well for me
9)Themometer...they are only 3 bucks at walmart
10)Just buy a 20$ mag float they work good enough
11)Hydrometer...8 bucks on ebay for one with a needle
12)TDS meter? I don't think I know what that is...
13)Walmart again
14)from home depot for 5 bucks a piece.
This should help you some...CHeck out my gallary here on Reeftank..I have 220 watts vho on a 55 gallon with a home made canopy. It has been running for over a year with no fish loss and lots of corals....
hope that helps
