High Tide Aquatics

2025 Budget Tank Build Exhibition

Will You Be Participating?!

  • SIGN ME UP!

    Votes: 12 100.0%

  • No thanks...but I've got stuff for PIF

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    12
PizzaOven said:
Are we including cost of tax/shipping in the budget? Can I take frags from my other tanks and add the original purchase price to the budget?

Asking because I'm trying to put together a sub $250 build, stuff adds up quickly!
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I don't make the rules, but I expect with the heart of the contest being budget build I would think [at the least you should be able cut the shipping costs out of the budget] As that would vary for everyone based on where they live and adds lots of factors that wouldn't apply equally to everyone getting the same equipment or tank.

If your in California buying from a store verse a individual or online store taxes should be nearly the same based on purchase price and precentage. So also a fair question regarding taxes?

*As far as taking existing corals and fragging them to use in your budget build I was also wondering whats the rule, princible, or guide to go by with this portion of the contest?

Hopefully there is a simple and fair way to come up with a valve you could work with? )* @ReyDeFarts
 
PizzaOven said:
Are we including cost of tax/shipping in the budget?
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That is a good question and I had not considered that. My thought is that it should be excluded. Tax rates vary so widely in different cities. And shipping can also vary. Seems easier to me to only include the actual price of items.
PizzaOven said:
Can I take frags from my other tanks and add the original purchase price to the budget?
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If it is a frag you paid for, then add the original price paid. If it is a frag you made from a growing piece in your tank, then it would be similar to a PIF item and add $0 to the budget.
PizzaOven said:
Asking because I'm trying to put together a sub $250 build, stuff adds up quickly!
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Indeed!
 
20241215_144931.jpg


I have roughly 300 lbs of rock even more that's not pictured.

This is legit reef rock not the fake stuff.

What I'm offering here is specifically directed for those participating in the budget build.

If your offically signed up or definitely planning to I will allow you to come pick out some rock peices from my hoard for your build (25lbs or less. No charge)

Or we can play circle the ones that your intrested in and I can bring to cfm,

I'm not trying to get rid of all the rock fyi just hoping to help out those in this contest.

My only requirements are:

1.) Join the contest
2.) Don't sell the rock as your getting it for free, pif is ok.
 
MichaelB said:
View attachment 64412

I have roughly 300 lbs of rock even more that's not pictured.

This is legit reef rock not the fake stuff.

What I'm offering here is specifically directed for those participating in the budget build.

If your offically signed up or definitely planning to I will allow you to come pick out some rock peices from my hoard for your build (25lbs or less. No charge)

Or we can play circle the ones that your intrested in and I can bring to cfm,

I'm not trying to get rid of all the rock fyi just hoping to help out those in this contest.

My only requirements are:

1.) Join the contest
2.) Don't sell the rock as your getting it for free, pif is ok.
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That's awesome! Thanks for offering these up. It would probably be prudent if we move this to the PIF thread. Let's leave it here for a little bit and then we can move it tomorrow or the next day.
 
MichaelB said:
View attachment 64412

I have roughly 300 lbs of rock even more that's not pictured.

This is legit reef rock not the fake stuff.

What I'm offering here is specifically directed for those participating in the budget build.

If your offically signed up or definitely planning to I will allow you to come pick out some rock peices from my hoard for your build (25lbs or less. No charge)

Or we can play circle the ones that your intrested in and I can bring to cfm,

I'm not trying to get rid of all the rock fyi just hoping to help out those in this contest.

My only requirements are:

1.) Join the contest
2.) Don't sell the rock as your getting it for free, pif is ok.
Click to expand...
I get tempted more and more everyday to make this budget build happen lol
 
definitely curious what people are going to do for lighting, I'm tempted to get in on this but on the other hand I don't want to buy junk just to make something cheap.. and more to the point, why buy something when I have better that's not in use, for instance I have an XR30 I could put over an old acrylic tank that's been dry longer than most people have been in the hobby, but I feel bad just say "it was free" although I do see an XR30 for about $200 on ebay so I could say that's how much this cost, even though it's a different gen... I could use a Kessil A80 too but again.. where I can find it used? So roughly $100?
 
sfsuphysics said:
definitely curious what people are going to do for lighting, I'm tempted to get in on this but on the other hand I don't want to buy junk just to make something cheap.. and more to the point, why buy something when I have better that's not in use, for instance I have an XR30 I could put over an old acrylic tank that's been dry longer than most people have been in the hobby, but I feel bad just say "it was free" although I do see an XR30 for about $200 on ebay so I could say that's how much this cost, even though it's a different gen... I could use a Kessil A80 too but again.. where I can find it used? So roughly $100?
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What gen xr30? I'll "give" you mine and then you can "give" me yours... ;)
 
sfsuphysics said:
definitely curious what people are going to do for lighting, I'm tempted to get in on this but on the other hand I don't want to buy junk just to make something cheap.. and more to the point, why buy something when I have better that's not in use, for instance I have an XR30 I could put over an old acrylic tank that's been dry longer than most people have been in the hobby, but I feel bad just say "it was free" although I do see an XR30 for about $200 on ebay so I could say that's how much this cost, even though it's a different gen... I could use a Kessil A80 too but again.. where I can find it used? So roughly $100?
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I'm ok with this. @ReyDeFarts for used equipment I think we discussed using the low market value online for anything we already owned (unless you see something similar given away for free/lower price in the club recently).
 
Darkxerox said:
I'm ok with this. @ReyDeFarts for used equipment I think we discussed using the low market value online for anything we already owned (unless you see something similar given away for free/lower price in the club recently).
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I definitely think folks should use existing equipment as they see fit. Especially older equipment. Maybe we can all agree on a specific way to submit their perceived value and we can all vote in a poll? I am not sure what the best way to do this would be. To me that seems like a sensible option and it would be easy to see the community agree or disagree.
 
ReyDeFarts said:
I definitely think folks should use existing equipment as they see fit. Especially older equipment. Maybe we can all agree on a specific way to submit their perceived value and we can all vote in a poll? I am not sure what the best way to do this would be. To me that seems like a sensible option and it would be easy to see the community agree or disagree.
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Maybe lets call old x amount of years. And at a certified point consider it to be like a pay it foward in valve. Idk 4-5 years would seem a adquate cut off point, considering Depreciation of all things. Because a 5 year old light orginal costed 500, no way would any one pay a quater of that for something used and that old. So unfair to count it’s orginal valve. Just me thinking of a easy and straight foward way to go about it.

Maybe decreasing valve of every year from 1-4.

1-%20 2-%40, 3-%60, 4-%80, 5+ no valve

% substracted from orginal value when purchased rather new, used, or on sale.

Orginal value being What you bought it for to be precise. Unless it was already 5+ years old when you bought it.
 
ReyDeFarts said:
I definitely think folks should use existing equipment as they see fit. Especially older equipment. Maybe we can all agree on a specific way to submit their perceived value and we can all vote in a poll? I am not sure what the best way to do this would be. To me that seems like a sensible option and it would be easy to see the community agree or disagree.
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Honestly, I think it would better to treat it as a dictatorship rather than a democracy, you came up with the contest then your rules apply, that said there's absolutely nothing wrong asking for input.

Then again *IF* I end up doing it, as I'm not quite sure I want to put the effort in, it'll be for the funsies and not for the prizes, I certainly don't want to be rewarded for being an aquarium hoarder :) That said, me reporting costs of things is more for the educational aspect of it to show the community "this is what you can do for under $500..."
MichaelB said:
Maybe decreasing valve of every year from 1-4.

1-%20 2-%40, 3-%60, 4-%80, 5+ no valve
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Oh boy, I certainly can make some aquarium "for free" if 5+ years of ownership means there's no value in it. 200g aquarium, tons of Radion lights, Vortech pumps, custom sump, massive skimmer with Red Dragon pump... hell the heaters are about the only things that tend to crap out.
 
MichaelB said:
Maybe lets call old x amount of years. And at a certified point consider it to be like a pay it foward in valve. Idk 4-5 years would seem a adquate cut off point, considering Depreciation of all things. Because a 5 year old light orginal costed 500, no way would any one pay a quater of that for something used and that old. So unfair to count it’s orginal valve. Just me thinking of a easy and straight foward way to go about it.

Maybe decreasing valve of every year from 1-4.

1-%20 2-%40, 3-%60, 4-%80, 5+ no valve

% substracted from orginal value when purchased rather new, used, or on sale.

Orginal value being What you bought it for to be precise. Unless it was already 5+ years old when you bought it.
Click to expand...
That would certainly make things easier to price and keep consistent across the board. Relatively easy to audit should we feel the need to. I honestly don't feel the need to police folks on their valuations of equipment. I want people to keep it honest and honorable. I'm almost at the point to say if it is used, automatically 50% of original value if under 1-2 years old. If it's older than 3-4 years, PIF. IDK. I just don't want folks getting hung up on too many technicalities. Thoughts @Darkxerox if we come up with an official discount rate.

Also... it would be nice to have a BAR garage sale soon!
 
sfsuphysics said:
Honestly, I think it would better to treat it as a dictatorship rather than a democracy, you came up with the contest then your rules apply, that said there's absolutely nothing wrong asking for input.
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LOL... problem is I don't have the desire to have to police everyone along the way. I want us as a community to keep each other accountable and fair. If we see something egregious or out of line, we can either call it out respectfully or bring it up to me or anyone on the BOD to handle it accordingly. I do not anticipate that occurring with our group though honestly.

sfsuphysics said:
That said, me reporting costs of things is more for the educational aspect of it to show the community "this is what you can do for under $500..."
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Yeah, that's kind of where my mindset is with it too. I just WWC on YouTube is having a friendly "budget build" competition between their stores. I think they are seeing the importance of bringing in more hobbyists versus only a certain few that can afford high end systems.

sfsuphysics said:
Oh boy, I certainly can make some aquarium "for free" if 5+ years of ownership means there's no value in it. 200g aquarium, tons of Radion lights, Vortech pumps, custom sump, massive skimmer with Red Dragon pump... hell the heaters are about the only things that tend to crap out.
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Yeah...I see your point there too!
 
ReyDeFarts said:
That would certainly make things easier to price and keep consistent across the board. Relatively easy to audit should we feel the need to. I honestly don't feel the need to police folks on their valuations of equipment. I want people to keep it honest and honorable. I'm almost at the point to say if it is used, automatically 50% of original value if under 1-2 years old. If it's older than 3-4 years, PIF. IDK. I just don't want folks getting hung up on too many technicalities. Thoughts @Darkxerox if we come up with an official discount rate.

Also... it would be nice to have a BAR garage sale soon!
Click to expand...
Kinda what i was going for. Something straight foward easy to figure out. Without having you personally called in to evaluate peoples every piece of equipment lol.
 
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