Weekly Discussion - Why DIY when you can buy?

[Anonymous]

Weekly Discussion - Why DIY when you can buy?

Is it worth it to make a device for your reef tank when you can purchase a ready made version for not that much more than it will cost you to learn how to build it, get the tools needed to build it and the time it will take you to actually build it?

And, what device do you feel is necessary to DIY because such a device does not exist commercially?

About the RDO Weekly Discussion:
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[shr00m]

DIY rules if it can be DIYed i say DIY it... why BUY when you can DIY ? building is fun.... flooded floors are fun!

 

[Will C1]

my firat tank i bought everything, but now that im more expierienced i have started DIY'ing everything and it works the same and i have way more fun designing something and building it then seeing how it works or dosent :lol:

 

[Joe DeSantis]

Keeping the brain active is why. I never really DIY because I am too busy but if I had time I defenitely would

 

[Anonymous]

DIY is a hobby within the hobby. You do it because you enjoy it. Not it mention the feeling of pride that you get from building it yourself. You can customize things to your likeing and save some cash to, if the scrape pile doesn't get ya!

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Yep. DIY all the way!

I like learning ANYTHING. so learning how to work with acrylic, was a great time.

Hey, let's see if I can build a tank

10x10x10 mantis tank. It did great! I only used 1/8 acrylic, and it DID leak after a year, but what the hey. I got to build a tank! and I also learned how to work acryic.

When I decided to hook a fuge up to my 7 gal bowfront (bought to replace the leaning 4 gal cube I built) I priced out CPR's, and found out that I could build one for about $20, and make it to fit EXACTLY what I needed. Wallah. Next day I had a refugium (no leaks, even!)

I also grew up remodelling houses, so woodworking is really second nature to me. I have built both hoods for my tanks now, and am going to build my stand and canopy for my new tank. that way I get what I want. EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

Brett

 

[wombat1]

I DIY'd a skimmer once that was a great source of pride. It didn't work as well as my Euroreef, but I can use it on a softie tank in the future. I built my own reflector, MH ballast case, and did the wiring as well. My refugium is DIY also. Surge buckets are, as far as I know, unavailable commercially...
I say go for it wherever possible, and where it's not going to be visibly "homemade" looking.

 

[Anonymous]

Pride .

 

[Anonymous]

When I came up with this discussion topic, I did not have plumbing in mind, as I think plumbing is necessarily DIY (you pretty much can't buy a plumbed system off the shelf). I was thinking more about devices for your tank.
I have been thinking about a power back up system for my tank. I could buy one that does everything I need for 400 or 500 bucks, the difference being 600 or 1500 watts. I could build one of these systems for about 250 bucks, but not really knowing how to make one it could take me 50 hours to get it together, and I don't want to even think about the time it would take me to track down all the parts. It seems much easier, faster, safer and cheaper - when you factor in your time - to just buy the system off the shelf.
That said, if I move to a Ca reactor I think I will DIY it because the things are really pretty simple.
Perhaps I am just biased because I have little electrical and electronic experience but plenty of acrylic, wood and plumbing experience.

Are there any devices you think NEED to be DIY?

 

[shr00m]

sorry but i was just gonna say if you feel like that you might as well not DIY, no offense or anything but people who DIY enjoy the time it takes, its a learning experience. of course it will take lots of time becuase youve never done it before but you save a lot of cash, and you actually do something instead of just forking over a wad of cash for something. people who DIY usually save money but thats not the only reason they DIY for sure, its just a plus.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Righty , would it matter that that plumbing is for a closed loop system with 2 intakes and 4 returns that are plumbed into the bottom of a 150G acrylic tank and hidden in the rockwork ? A tank that I personally built from 1/2 acrylite sheets sitting on a DIY stand with its own power circuit whith all GFI electric plugs that I installed myself and a DIY acrylic fuge that I built . Some of that plumbing runs to a glass 15g sump that I drilled myself using a dremel tool . It also has a draining system and I will be adding a new RO/DI and plumbing it straight to the stand from the basement just as soon as I get done with my custom canopy which will house 2 x 400w MH and 4 double 65w PCs . I am going to do some custom sheetmetal work and custom fan work and ventalation .

Like I said , Pride , Thats wasnt plumbing under a oceanic reefready tank .

 

[Anonymous]

All I have to say is...that's some beautiful plumbing there, sid.
I don't think I've worked with much else that's as neatly put together. And I know that all that plumbing I've put up isn't anywhere nearly that nice! :lol: (Hey, it moved the water, that's what we're after, right? :lol: )

 

[Anonymous]

Siddroww,

Sorry if you took offense, as that was not at all my intent. You should be proud of the system you built, it rocks. I was trying to get this discussion into the area of devices, rather than plumbed systems - complex or simple - as there really aren't any off the shelf plumbed systems.

shr00m,

No need to apologize, we want your opinions.
IME, people don't really save much money at all by going DIY. Doing it because you want to makes lots of sense, as does the feeling of accomplishment for a job well done.
How much money do you think you have saved by going DIY? Do you have any specific examples?

 

[wombat1]

I think I saved a considerable amount on my MH setup:
reflector: $2
Iwasaki bulb: $70
MV ballast: $50
Wiring, case, mogul socket, etc.: $20
Total : around 140 dollars
Most "complete" setups like this are considerably more. I wouldn't show it off as supreme craftsmanship, but it works fine and it's all hidden in the hood anyway.
The 3' skimmer I built with acrylic tubing cost around $35. About $20 was the tubing. If it was made with PVC it would be even cheaper. I'm guessing an off the shelf unit would be around $100 at least.
The big drawback is the professionalism involved--reflectors and skimmers built by the pros are a lot more efficient and effective than I can build. Once you've built your own, however, you know what to look for in a quality product.

 

[Anonymous]

No problem Righty , by the title of the thread I thought you were looking for examples and opinions of why people would rather DIY than buy off the shelf , I didnt know you were looking for specific devices . You are right , there are not any complete plumbed systems , thats why I thought my project was perfect for a DIY thread .

I can add this , I could have bought a tank stand and canopy for less than I will have invested in this DIY tank setup , but then I couldnt stand back and say "look what I have built"

Back to the why question in the title of the thread , Pride .

 

[shr00m]

well one example is the wetdry i made (i know i know!!! this is in my 35 gallon FO tank. my 75 gallon is DSB and there is not gonna be a wet dry on this one) but anyway my wet/dry was built with a rubbermaid sump and a rubbermaid trashcan for tower, i used a pump i already had and the total cost was around 20 bucks compared to i dunno about 150. so i did save some cash on that and it does the job very well all my levels stay at 0. tooabout 20 - 30 mins to make with a dremel and some silicone (to silicone pieces of eggcrate to hold the eggcrate).

i want to attempt a skimmer, i have a berlin classic on the way for use with my 75 but i have a 125 gallon that im gonna setup this summer and i might try to diy a skimmer for it, like a 4 footer. i also am planning on DIYing a hood for the 75 and the 125 and the plumbing of course.

 

[ChrisRD]

IME, people don't really save much money at all by going DIY.

I'll have to respectfully (partially) disagree here. If you follow a plan of a proven design to keep screw-ups and experimentation to a minimum, I think a significant buck can be saved. Of course, screwing up and experimentation is half the fun... :wink:

I built a calcium reactor for $95 (including the price of the Mag 2 recirculating pump). It could probably be done cheaper too. Similar sized commercial units can cost several times that much. Cheapest I've ever seen a similar sized commercial unit (including the pump) would be around $200, but usually they are $300+.

My kalk reactor was also very cheap to build - about $60 (including the cost of the mixing pump), and again, I could have actually done it for less. The commercial kalk reactors I've seen for sale range from $100 to $275+.

I agree with Wombat - this stuff isn't as pretty as the commercial stuff, but it works fine. Another benefit (besides some of the things mentioned above) is that if I break something I can get most of the stuff locally. No mail-order or dealing with a company for service. I built it, so I can fix it.

OTOH, I will say the cost savings by going DIY can really vary depending on the project IMO. Some stuff just isn't worth the effort (again, IMO).

 

[Anonymous]

I'll tell you why I encourage everyone to try DIY whenever they can, and that is because when you've built it yourself you have a much better understanding, not just of the hows and whys of the workings, but also of what a manufacturer of a truly quality product has put into it. It gives far better appreciation.

Also, if I hadn't been able to build most of the accessories for my tanks, I would NOT have been able to afford to get into the hobby/trade.

 

[ReefVan]

If you're willing and able DIY has great rewards for the experienced or inexperienced. Pride, working with your hands, satisfaction, innovation, saving money.

I myself have built and/or developed 4 different types of rotating return units, a KW reactor, a twin tower Ca reactor, a wavemaker, hi-low level sensor units, sumps and other little odds and ends.

Now I'm working on a DIY peristaltic pump unit and maybe eventually a DIY MH lighting system.

The personal satisfaction alone outweighs a lot of the savings.

Van 8)

 

[fishfarmer]

I started my first reef as mostly DIY = skimmer, overflow, lighting hood, kalk doser, sump.

I've since bought a skimmer, but everthing else is pretty much DIY. I will probably upgrade to a good commercial skimmer as opposed to building one from the various DIY skimmer plans out there. I could build one but don't want to screw it up and would rather spend that time on other reef duties. I would probably be more enthusiastic about DIY if I had an actual workshop and not trying to sneak projects into work :roll: .

I think DIY lighting is probably a necessity. I haven't seen too many hoods with just the right lighting for my needs and configured the way I want them in the hood.