Hi

Many of us have more than 1 tank. Just want to find out from all on what ways is used or can be used to maximize cost effectiveness. I guess it can be separated to 2 different cost, startup cost (equipments) and running cost. (water, electricity and manpower?)

Calling for comments.

The most cost effective tank are of course the low maintainance tank for which I have 2, 1 footer and another 5 footer. The only cost involved in my 1' tank is electricity cost for fan and light and water for topping up! WC is about 6 months once as with cleaning of filter while 5' is for a duration of 1 year!!! Use the energy saving bulb for my 5'. Use a hang-over filter for 1' while 5' uses 1 2'high cannister filter costing RM190.00 frm China which came with media as well. Already in use for about 1.5 yrs. The real problem will be plant selection which is quite limited and foreground plant is even worse! Non of the normal foreground can be used. I go with crypt or liverwort which btw is the nicest so far and best of all, its FREE!!! found in abundance around my office. Start up cost always add up to quite a bit of course but I think the real cost will come when you're too into this stuff that you dont care about the cost of plants anymore!!!! I actually started with very limited budget but for a while all cost gone to hell when i wanted to try all sorts after encountering these forums that while not exactly forces you to open up your wallet did nothing to discourage you either. Now ended up with piles of stuff which experiance will teach are useless in my quest for the perfect tank setting!!

__________________
Who is the more Foolish, the Fool or He who follows him?

While it may not be so cost effective for some, I find that it's by far the best thing that I've done for my tank recently is, Get a chiller!

Before I got a chiller, I was so always so supportive of fans as soon as you step into my house you would hear the sound of fans running in my tanks day and night. I also used to turn on the aircon for a couple of hours at night just to keep the room temperature low so that my tank's temperature would go below 27C on one of those hot days. Well...now that I have a chiller running for 2 months now, I think I'm saving up on my time, energy and I get more satisfaction out of this hobby.

Another thing I did which everybody seems to disagree is to use a sump tank for my planted tank. It's giving me crystal clear water and for once shrimps are thriving in my tank, bees, japonica, amano etc(this could be due to the chiller as well). I only run my sump outside of my 9 hours photoperiod, so that means I get more O2 inside my tank which is also recommended by Amano. During the photoperiod, my fluval 402 will still be running so that my filter system is running 24 hours. For this, no more cloudy days! priceless!!

__________________
Isaac Goh©

Moss: Singapore, Taiwan, Weeping, Spiky, Erect, Xmas.

Pellia: Coral pellia, Normal pellia, Medium pellia?, Wild mini pellia.

While chiller does have its advantages, it does have its disadvantages as well, cost for 1 is a definate disadvantage, and outside heat is a second! Dont know whether it works for the others, but my 5 footer shrimp tank is located on the ground floor of my d/s office block and is situated in the pantry where there are no direct sun and is totally enclosed but do not have an air-cond environment. With just a fan, I've recorded temp of up to 19C on some rainy days but mostly it stays at around 22-23C. My tank have a 3" skirting that encircle the tank that I think greatly help cool the water somewhat as I have the benefit of comparing it with other tanks that do not have this. So, maybe the location of tank will help lower the temp without chiller.

KG

__________________
Who is the more Foolish, the Fool or He who follows him?

you mean you run your sump tank as a mechanical filter + o2 supplement?
hmmm...can you post a pic of your sump and tank?
i'm curious as when a sump is not running the aerobic bacteria in filter wool dies off...this will foul the water and you say it's fine? i need to take a good look...

chiller is great if you can afford it. also if you got it piped/wired so that it's out side and not inside... the heat is released into the room.

__________________
So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

It's interesting to hear that you have plants/fish to collect around your office. Where do you work? Your company hiring?

Agree with the piling part. Maybe we should have more auction activities... or another topic on "Lets go through our cabinet and find what equipment are useless..."

You have an interesting note about chiller. I think fan is a nuisance when it comes to water filling activities also. I guess it is a question of able to pay the electricity and chiller itself. I am sure most people would want to get a chiller if can afford the cost.

I read before the marine people modify split unit aircons. One of my marine friend recommends using it. If I am not mistaken, Melvin (Pandan Indah) uses this method as well.

Hi kimco
You post a very interesting fact about your 5 ft. Mind to share more about the location and what you mean by 3" skirting thing?

What is the ambient temperature during/after office hours?

if you have space under the cabinet, you can put a timer with a diy water top up device[melvin can make you one]
some plumbing with ball and float and you never have to touch your aq if you use fans. much cheaper to run with fan than chiller. trade off is noise...
i'm not into chiller because of fish diseases that come with lower temp. ich is devastating and comes calling often in low temps

__________________
So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

A skirting is a pc of glass around 3" thick which surrounds the tank on 3 sides. Ambient temp in the pantry is around 26C. Like I said earlier, tank is located at a place where there's no sun contact and when light is not on, it can be very dark!

__________________
Who is the more Foolish, the Fool or He who follows him?