How Much Did You Spend On Your Tank?

[DBR_reef]

It's reefing season again! And inevitably people will ask how much a reef tank costs, and people will keep getting poor answers to a vague question. So rather than debate how much it cost to set up a reef tank, a question with a million answers; how about a thread that asks how much you spent on your tank.

I ask this because I believe the three reasons people fail at this hobby (and far more people fail than succeed), are a lack of money, time, and/or knowledge. I think the easiest way to solve the money issue is to start with a realistic budget, and make sure this is something you can and want to afford before taking the dive. Some will say that a budget in this hobby is a bad idea (or useless), but not planning and budgeting for a new tank or the next tank upgrade is a surefire way to evoke disaster, IMHO.

So, what did you spend?

If possible give us a link to a build thread or a short summary of the setup/livestock
What did the initial setup cost?
What does the maintenance cost?
Break these costs down if possible.

What is the best cost saving advice you can give?

Anything you wish you had spent more/less money on?

[DBR_reef]

I’ll start with my example, which is probably way to detailed!

I started a new 120 Gallon mixed reef tank approximately 1 year ago, with basically no equipment or livestock on hand. I would say I have mostly high end equipment with lots of automation, although I wouldn’t mind a ATI T5/ Kessil lighting upgrade :)

A build thread can be seen here
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2567425

My best money saving advice, do some DIY, buy a lot of livestock from other hobbyist, buy high end used equipment, and buy energy efficient for equipment that is on 24/7 (i.e. pumps).

The one thing I wish I had spent more on is the tank itself- they are not that expensive new, it is the most visible piece of equipment, and it is really hard to change out.

Approx. yearly maintenance cost:

RO and DI Refills- $50/year
T5 Bulbs - $120/year
Salt - $150/year
Carbon/GFO - $40/year
Testing refills - $20/year
Food - $150/year
Calc/Alk/Mag - $10/year
electricity - $200/year
water - $40/year

Total: $780 per year

And here is what I spent after 1 year of setting up and running (minus electricity and water): $1641

Here is what I currently have, at an approximate, very conservative value of $3000 if parted out

Equipment:
40b Sump and filter, ro system, water change system, bins, 3 aqueon pro heaters, isolation tank+ lights +skimmer, em200 skimmer, test kits, dosing pump, dual reactor, return pump, 6 bulb T5 lights, tank and stand, live rock, apex gold, pm2, eb8, eb8, tunze 6105+6205, power compact light+120g, 4 bulb t5, milwaukee salinity, eb8, eb4, hanna ulf checker, breakout box, autofeeder, 2 eheim jager 250 w heaters, alk checker, stir plate, red sea test kit

fish/ CUC:
4 anthia, hippo tang, shrimp+ cleaners, dottyback, yellow tang, flame angel, butterfly, 1 clowns, damsel, trochus snails, hermit crabs, leopard wrasse.

Coral/invertabrates:
Hammer, hammer, anemone, Duncan, Duncan, lemon lime torch, favia, elegance, frogspawn, blue cap, gorgonian, orange ricordia, blue incrusting thing, hammer , peach digitate, hammer, Duncan, cali tort, dragons breath, micro gonio, clean-up crew, pot coral, Purple acro Formosa, Garf purple bonsai, Red planet, Green slimmer, Blue hydno, Orange sunset, Mystic sunset, Rainbow monti, Sideshow bob octospawn , Yellow hammer, Green hammer, Duncan, Various zoas, todds torch, large clam, cup coral, encrusting thing, unknown acros.

[DBR_reef]

From Slats post:
Here's mine, and I am sure I'm forgetting a lot:
http://i.imgur.com/j3UXPe5.jpg

[DBR_reef]

The much maligned and slightly hilarious Bloomberg budget. I can easily see someone with a lot of money and little knowledge doing exactly this.

Bloomberg’s article suggestions:
$36: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist — amazon.com
$90: The Reef Aquarium, Vol. 3: Science, Art and Technology — amazon.com
$20: Join Marine Aquarium Societies of North America — www.MASNA.org.
$0: Visit ReefKeeping.com, ReefCentral.com, Reefs.org, advancedaquarist.com.
$1,200: 90-gallon Monterey tank, stand, cabinet, glass top, canopy.
$12: Self-adhesive solid black or royal blue background.
$809: 90 pounds of cured live rock
$140: 80 pounds of live marine sand
$350: Setup by two technicians
$260: Spectrapure 90 Gallons Per Day RO/DI unit to create deionized water that is mixed with salt
$140: Tropic Marin Bio-Actif Sea Salt (two buckets will last a year)
$140: Additional salt for saltwater creation throughout the year
$1,500: two 18-inch Acan Lighting 600 Series Prism LED Lighting Fixtures
$162: Algae Attack Pack-Deluxe for 75-gallon tank (includes mix of 65 Hermit Crabs, 30 snails, 3 Abalone) — liveaquaria.com
$50: Blue Linckia Starfish
$50: Red Fromia Starfish
$120: Red Crinoid (Feather Star)
$65: Sinularia Leather Coral
$375: Acanthastrea Lordhowensis
$150: Orange-eye Favia
$175: Branching Green Hammer Coral
$150: Bleeding Apple Scolymia
$200: Wellsophyllia Brain Coral
$250: Blue-Eye Lobophyllia Brain Coral
$70: Orange Cycloseris Plate Coral
$80: Dendrophyllia/Tubastrea (nonphotosynthetic)
$80: Green Slimer Acropora
$80: Red Planet Acropora
$200: Orange Capricornis Montipora
$100: Micromussa
$130: Seriatopora (Birdsnest Coral)
$50: Stylophora
$125: Pulsing Xenia
$100: Pseudochromis springeri
$100: Helfrichi Firefish
$250: Purple Tang
$250: pair of Onyx Percula Clownfish
$300: Scott’s Fairy Wrasse
$20: Blue/Green Reef Chromis
$40: Green Mandarin Dragonet
$250: Chevron Tang
$1,000: Earli Wrasse
$50: Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp pair
$20: Brightwell Aquatics Lugol’s Solution (iodine to detoxify excess oxygen)
$20: Brightwell Aquatics Liquid Reef (to promote growth of corals)
$20: Two Little Fishies Marine Snow (filterfeeder food for certain corals and invertebrates)
$50: Red Sea Reef Energy A & B (amino acids and carbohydrates)
$170: Zeovit Pohl’s Xtra (to enhance the contrast and intensity of coral color and increase growth)
$780: After initial setup, additional cost for one year
$19: Kent Marine Nautilus Sea Squirt Feeding Prong
$12: Frozen Piscine Energetics Mysis Shrimp cubes
$6: Frozen San Francisco Bay Marine Cuisine cubes
$15: Frozen Argent Cyclop-eeze (for fish and corals)
$15: Hikari Marine-A dry pellets
$20: Brightwell Aquatics Garlic Power food soak (to stimulate eating and reinforce immune system)
$13: Brightwell Aquatics AminOmega food soak
$20: Brightwell Aquatics Vitamarin-M Multivitamin Supplement
$723: After initial setup, additional cost for one year
$1,100: Precision Marine 36″ x 18″ Reef Sump ($600), Iwaki 55 RLT Water Pump ($500)
$860: Diablo 2500 Protein Skimmer by CoralVue ($500), 25-watt Ultraviolet Sterilizer ($360)
$135: Quiet One 1200 Water Pump ($60), plumbing supplies ($50), grounding probe ($25)
$45: Eheim Jaeger 300-watt Aquarium Heater
$870: MTC Calcium Reactor ($700), CO2 canister ($170; 5 lbs.)
$1,400: Coralife 1/4 HP Chiller ($1,200), Pressure regulator ($200)
$110: Mag Drive 500-GPH Water Pump
$795: Ecotech MP40 Wireless Powerhead ($475), Ecotech MP10 Wireless Powerhead ($320)
$100: Two 30-gallon HDPE water barrels with tops with bung holes to change 25 percent of the water every month — globalindustrial.com
$12: Mag-Float aquarium glass cleaner to remove excess algae
$60: Red Sea Marine Master Lab Test Kit
$60: Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Test Kit
$10: Seachem Marine Buffer (pH buffer keeps the pH high enough with dissolved mineral content for the fish)
$130: Refractometer (measures the salinity of the water)
$25: Digital thermometer

Bloomberg’s The Real Cost of Saltwater Aquarium: $17,334

[DBR_reef]

Mad Hatters Reef response

I wouldn’t agree with this pricing or route either, but it is the other extreme.

$100-200: Buy a used 90 gallon aquarium.
$100: build a aquarium stand.
$50: Build a canopy.
$5: Paint the backside of the aquarium.
$180: 90 pounds second hand live rock on Craigslist.com.
$50: 90 pounds of sand.
$75: RO/DI Unit
$50: 200 gallon salt mix
$150: 6 bulb t5 lighting
$50: Blue leg hermit crab (50)
$30: Astra snail (30)
$15: cleaner shrink
$40: Pair of clownfish
$30: Yellow Tang
$6: Blue/Green Reef Chromis (3)
$15: bicolor blenny
$15: Cardinalfish (2)
$35: Flame Angelfish
$12: Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef Flake Food.
$5: Ocean Nutrition Seaweed Selects Green Marine Algae.
$10: San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze Dried Krill.
$10: Raw Shrimp (from the grocery store).
$30: Aquarium sump (old or used aquarium)
$150: Aquarium Lighting
$35: Powerhead(s)
$50:Return Pump
$25: Plumbing
$30: Heater
$20: Light Timers
$25: Protein Skimmer (DIY project)
$40: UV Sterilizer (pond model)
$15: Hydrometer.
$5: Thermometer.
$20: API Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit.
Total saltwater aquarium cost for a 90 gallon saltwater aquarium: $1605

[DBR_reef]

Melev's suggested 120-gallon reef-ready system:
An excellent suggestion- I would replace the VHO's with T5's and choose a more modern return pump

Full tank / stand / tall canopy - $1200

Lighting:
A four foot tank would need two metal halide bulbs and I would supplement with two 4' VHO bulbs.
Reflectors (Lumenbrights) - $129 x 2
Metal Halide bulbs - $75 x 2
4' VHO bulbs - $25 x 2
Icecap 660 ballast (VHO or T5) - $129
Icecap e-ballasts (MH) - $135 x 2
Timers - $15 x 3

Sump & Equipment:
Sump / refugium -$325
Reef Dynamics Protein skimmer - $400
Heater (3w per gallon) 175 watts - $40 x 2
External Sequence Dart return pump (dialed back) - $225 -or- Internal Maxijet Utility Pump - $160
Icecap 120mm fans $45 x 2

In-tank:
Sand 200 lbs - $140
Live rock 120 lbs at $8/lb - $600 - $960
EcoSmart MP40w Vortech pumps - $450 x 2

Other:
100gpd RO/DI - $175
Red Sea Pro Reef salt - $60 per bucket
Test kits - $120
Thermometer - $5
Refractometer - $55

Adding up the above items totals $5277

$500 in miscellaneous - plumbing, electrical, etc
$500 for a controller, like Neptune System's APEX or Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite Net.

That adds up to $6277, plus tax.

[earwicker7]

We are still 2 to 3 weeks from being finished with the build, but it looks like it will sit right around 40k.

[DBR_reef]

We are still 2 to 3 weeks from being finished with the build, but it looks like it will sit right around 40k.

Any chance we're going to get to see a build thread on this beauty?

[earwicker7]

Any chance we're going to get to see a build thread on this beauty?

Yes :)

I have been taking pictures.... I would rather post all at once than a slow drip.

[m0nkie]

~20k to start without getting wet... but this is a 600+gal project with all new equipment, fully automated

probably average 3-5k for a 150gal SPS system.. this is with automated almost everything

[mpderksen]

I don't have a full rundown, but I'm guessing $3-4K, with half of that being the Apex with DOS and the MP40 . I tend to believe that the prices aren't scalable as you go up in size, linearly. An Apex to run a 75 is the same as a 240. Same with dosing pumps, etc. twice the return pump isn't twice the money. And a WP is a third the cost of an MP, so the range here could be huge in the final totals.
Then there's stocking preferences. SPS or softies? Different lighting costs there. High end tangs and wrasses or more common livestock.
I look at tanks like the ones Dennis and Brad have built, and then look at mine, and just feel like I need a bigger budget, but also realize they "spent" TIME to make them beautiful, not just cash. Likely if I switched places with them, the tank would decline from where they are now.

[homer1475]

Although I don't have a breakdown of each piece of equipment and such, I do have a couple build threads. Links are in my sig.

With my new tank and carrying over quite a bit from the previous tank, I'm sitting right around 5K. I will admit I cheaped out on a couple PH(Jebao) and my lights(Mars Aquas). So that number could easily reach 6 or 7K with more expensive lights, and a couple MP40's.

[boshk]

I wonder who will be the first to tick the 'I've made money'

[Dkuhlmann]

There is one tank and tank owne,r a member of RC that I'm sure has spent over $1,000,000 and counting.

[Devaji108]

well i checked the 1-2K not 100% sure on the price kinda scared to added it up. but that should be in the range. close to 2K. for a 90 SCA

maybe if I have time later i'll will give a detailed report...

[Sohal Tang Tim]

Its still cheaper then a newer model snowmobile!!!! And i can use it 12 months of the year!!!

Its still cheaper then boat,,,,even an aluminium with decent motor....

Its still cheaper then many hobbies....

And it lassstssss longer then all of them once paid for.

[HidingReefer]

I probably did not include everything but

Skimmer - 200
LED Lights + Goosenecks - 380
T5 Fixture + Bulbs - 80
Media + Reactors - 120
90G Tank + Stand + ~70 lbs LR - 300
Return Pump - 60
Sump - 50
Powerheads - 100
90 Degree adapter for Kessils - 40
Various Chemicals for pests- 30
Fish - ~100
Corals ~ 200
ATO - 40
Kalk - 20
Sand - 40
Total - ~1760
Didn't even realize I spent this much :) but every dollar I spent was worth it

My advice : You don't need to have top tier equipment to run an outstanding reef tank!

[scubadan206]

Between the initial cost and the upgrade, including tools, I am in the 5-10 K range.
Seems to be in the majority according to the poll.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24283746&posted=1#post24283746

[seamonster124]

My 100-gallon cube cost $100 o build. Everything else I acquired by bargain shopping and the reef is thriving currently. Other than salt & electricity, I have spent zero dollars on my tank in over 6 months .

[SeaCucumberFan]

My LFS sold me a 50 gal for the price of a 25 gal!!

[Bent]

I think I've spent about 2500, so I doubled it and said 5-10k lol

[soulpatch]

build thread in sig.

tank/stand/canopy 1,800
sump 1 450
custom sump 550
skimmer (used) 250
ato (used) 100
extra socks 60
reactors 100
reactor media 60
rodi 300
water change tanks 250
plumbing 300
return 300
jabeo ph 100
wav 500
dos 300
apex 600
vertex calc reactor 500
dual stage reg 450
co2 tank 70
ati t5 fixture and bulbs 700
2x kessil a360 800
ato container 150
heaters 150
qt tanks 120
mixing pumps for water stations 300
dry rock 300
sand 200
marine pure 100
maro algae 60
pods 100
designer clown pair 150
wrasse 30
pajama cardinals 40
cuc 150
corals 2,000
lost fish 400
webcam 100
macro fuge light 40
cleaning supplies 100
total estimate 13,030

Now add another 1-2K minimum in purchases for the wife so she looks other way…

[ca1ore]

Cost of current system, or total time in hobby? For the former, probably in the $10K range; latter, no clue. Less than I've spent on audio/video gear though.

[gone fishin]

I never bothered to keep track.

[greaps]

We need to ban these threads.

[Chihuahua6]

Only $1820 to set up my 150 gallon acrylic tank

Bought tank used for $200
Buffed out entire tank $50 for sanding pads (borrowed the sander)
DIY stand $150 for wood and parts
75 gal sump FREE
Glass partitions and silicone for sump $35
Return pump FREE
Koralia pumps for circulation $75 roughly
200 watt heater $20 (new from fellow reefer)
Live rock $125 (from fellow reefer)
Octopus skimmer $150 (used from fellow reefer)
Sand $25
LED lighting $650
Plumbing $100
RODI $100 (used)
Salt to set up tank $40
Test kits and additives $100

[89Foxbody]

The tank itself I got for $500. Then add in the skimmer and reactor and dosing pump and other assorted nonsense and I'm well over $1500.

[crawlerman]

Hope my wife doesn't read this

[scubadan206]

[QUOTE=Chihuahua6;24881678]Only $1820 to set up my 150 gallon acrylic tank

Bought tank used for $200
Buffed out entire tank $50 for sanding pads (borrowed the sander)
DIY stand $150 for wood and parts
75 gal sump FREE
Glass partitions and silicone for sump $35
Return pump FREE
Koralia pumps for circulation $75 roughly
200 watt heater $20 (new from fellow reefer)
Live rock $125 (from fellow reefer)
Octopus skimmer $150 (used from fellow reefer)
Sand $25
LED lighting $650
Plumbing $100
RODI $100 (used)
Salt to set up tank $40
Test kits and additives $100[/QUOTE)

That's totally cheating for this thread....:bounce1:

[ashish]

I am setting up a new tank and for the first time want to know exactly how much I am spending "especially on those smaller purchases that add up quick". For the past 18 years between the FOWLR and Reef tanks, I've done what we all to often do - Buy it and forget about it like it never happened" - This time around I will make sure to not cheap out on essentials.




Tank $1,200
Reef octopus 202-C $330
Radion $650
Radion $650
Radion mounting $45
Radion connector $40
Reeflink $100
Ecotech vortech $320
Ecotech vortech pump $350
stand $100
Sump $350
Doser $200
Vectra pump $300
Apex system $700
Elos tester $70
Dryrock $100
TDS monitor $31
RO membrane $80
Salt $40
ATO Pump $16
ATO holder $8.99
Soft tube fixture $10
acryilc rod $15
Total $5,706

[DBR_reef]

I am setting up a new tank and for the first time want to know exactly how much I am spending "especially on those smaller purchases that add up quick". For the past 18 years between the FOWLR and Reef tanks, I've done what we all to often do - Buy it and forget about it like it never happened" - This time around I will make sure to not cheap out on essentials.




Tank $1,200
Reef octopus 202-C $330
Radion $650
Radion $650
Radion mounting $45
Radion connector $40
Reeflink $100
Ecotech vortech $320
Ecotech vortech pump $350
stand $100
Sump $350
Doser $200
Vectra pump $300
Apex system $700
Elos tester $70
Dryrock $100
TDS monitor $31
RO membrane $80
Salt $40
ATO Pump $16
ATO holder $8.99
Soft tube fixture $10
acryilc rod $15
Total $5,706


Looks like a solid setup!

[DBR_reef]

Since my first post on cost, I switched to a 180g with a basement sump, and while most cost and investments have stayed fairly flat, my energy use has skyrocketed. A cold Basement sucks energy- that and metal halides. According to the apex I am using an average of 980 watts at any one time, which will cost me just over $1000 per year.

A few caveats, most of this is coming from the 1500w of heaters it takes now to heat the tank, so I am probably spending less on heating the house; this is upstate NY and it is cold, and the basement is ~50 degrees F; my cost may go down in the summer, although then I might have to cool it, we shall see.

[reefgeezer]

So Far:

DFW 90 Reef Ready Tank & Stand.... $700
DFW Canopy $280
2X Rapid LED Onyx LED Fixtures (Used) $250
DIY Sump $200
Litremeter III + 2 Remote Pumps (Used) $200
MD40es (Used) $175
2X RW-8 Powerheads Don't remember, maybe $150
Sicce Return Pump $90 on sale!
Sicce Skimmer Supply Pump $75
Sicce Reactor Supply Pump $45
GFO Reactor (Used) $25
Skimmer Don't remember, maybe $300
60 lbs. Dry Rock $200
QT Tank, HOB Filter, Heater, etc. $100
ATO Controls $125
Brute Don't remember maybe $30
BRS 1.1 ml/min Dosing Pump $85

CRAP! $2830... I shouldn't have added it up. I'll never do that again!

I still want to add some T5 lighting... I don't even want to think about the cost of stocking the thing.

[Synden]

My 75g, which is at about the 5 yr mark has cost around $8k total but that includes all equipment pieces and replacements, corals, fish, regular maintenance stuff (salt, test kits, filters, ect..) for the last 5 yrs. Initial setup was about $1200 though

Currently working on building a 600g tank in my basement. Its a custom corner pentagon tank that I designed and had made to fit the space. I have been searching for great deals, and collecting equipment for it, for several years now to save money. If it could be repaired or I could DIY, I did, to save money though.
The tank was the big expense since it was custom and was $6k but so far I have only spent about another 2500 on the equipment and materials thus far. In the end I expect to spend around 10k worth to get water in it.