How much $ is invested in you tank?

[Harleyguy]

I'm curious to hear what everyone has invested in there tanks

[mylittleocean]

an arm and a leg :)

2000 +

[Harleyguy]

Originally posted by mylittleocean
an arm and a leg :)

2000 +

WOW you must have gotten some good deals.. Nice

[murray@sc.rr.com]

just got started with a 185 gl island glass tank with only 180 lb of lr minimal pump setup and already at 3500.00

[nbd13]

i am not completely sure but i would say about 3000 JUST ON EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW 180!!

for that 375! you are going to have to pay TONS of money to do it right! IMHO if you dont do it right get the best equipment then you will pay for it in the end, maybe buying the better equipment or you livestock not looking to hot! so i would buy the est equipment, this is just a guess, but i would say about 4000-7000 if ou did it right with just equipment.

but remeber just a guess!

Nick

[willis]

Just for getting water in the tank with substrate and live rock, between 12K and 14k. That also includes some electrical work and room prep. After the tank was running, I don't even keep track anymore on puttin livestock in. I would guess between 4k and 5k. HTH:smokin:

[tjdarla]

I am setting up a 240 gal tank right now and just got a qoute for all of the equip. and it was $6000 and I still wont have the live rock and water

[kyleka.]

I set up a 240 starphire a couple months ago, with the live rock and live sand better than 10k. Sucks but looks great!

[Fliger]

Tank - $1,700
Stand/Canopy - $1,500
Lights - $1,400
AQ2 - $400
Skimmer - $650
Top-off - $175
Stream set-up - $1,500
Ca Reactor - $400
Sump - $400
Plumbing - $200
Live Rock - $800

Most of the above I got really good deals on (really a $950 skimmer, good deals on LR, saved $150 on my calcium reactor), some have been purchased, some are on order. But this is just the bare minimum. I looked at CL options but 3 Streams should be enough for me and the Streams didn't really cost much more. This doesn't include corals, fluidized reactors, salt, test kits, RO/DI, all the buckets and crap that need to be purchased, storage bins, additives, magnet cleaners, kent scrapers, cleaning supplies ... and host of other things to nickel & dime ya to death.

Then of course there is the electricity bill ... blink your eyes and it's time for another $250 for new bulbs and test kits ...

Not a cheap hobby!

[Mr.Lloyd]

Over $15,000 with no rock,substrate or water.I bought about $1000 in inverts and corals this week alone.The stocking and added euipment has not doubled the starting price but it is getting close.I really do not want to go back and see how much I have spent.If my wife asks then I can honestly say I do not know.

[cdbdis]

$7,700 before the first drop of water was added to my 155 Starfire. Worth every penny though to have done it right the first time.

[Dan Fagan]

About $15k and growing...

[richw]

Don't tell my wife --

5 years -- $22k plus. Doesn't include electric which is probably near $100 a month. Yikes!

[Dan Fagan]

I try to stick to a monthly budget too after the initial setup. Dont know why I even bother. I have yet to come in under it (2yrs)...

[PUGroyale]

I prefer to follow this simple credo... "Ignorance is bliss." I don't count it... I don't add it up... really, I never even think about it. I can't ever remember being concerned about the expense. = ) cuz' I've got no clue what it is! ... I would add this additional credo for married reefer's... and this is vital... as far as your spouse is concerned... "Ignorance is imperative." = )

[cwegescheide]

I'm trying to collect all my goodies while I am still single!!!:lol:

Try having a Chinese wife... OMG.. One day I went to the grocery with her. Threw 2 onions in the cart.. She looked at me and said "why do you have to buy 2?"

So needless to say I am aquiring all my goodies b4 she can say anything..

The above was not intended as a slam against Chinese btw.. I sortof wish I was a little more conservative actually. Well I could have worse hobbies... I could be doing drugs...

ALOT OF EM!!! :mixed:

[cwegescheide]

Oh yeah almost forgot.. 2500 (just tank and 400 mh's right now)

[tacocat]

cwegescheide, that's a hoot. Sounds like my relatives, Asian as well. Wait until she sees you pay $20 for a fish that her parents probably used to use as bait.

[cwegescheide]

:) Yeah I better not catch her wrappin up one of my Angels in rice and seaweed or I'm gonna miss her!!!! LOL

Just kiddin. She's awesome. Good visual though! :lol:

[vapor1]

ROFL , I like that . I have $6000 invested in a 180 Oceanic Starphire reef so far . No fish or corals yet though .

Kinda like Bomber says " Quit adding it up, you mess up the hobby "

[Saltywater]

I am in the process of doing the pluming for my new 180gal tank. At this point I am just over $6000.00. This does not include any of the pluming supplies, LR, LS or Live Stock. I have estimated that it will be over 10K when all is seaid and done. I am glad this tank was included in my home remodeling loan.

Saltywater

[griss]

Easily over $10,000:eek2: Don't let Mrsgriss see this thread:D

[hwynboy]

I used to keep meticulous track of what I was spending till I hit $8000. Then I stopped....it made me sick. I easily have spent over $12000 to date...I have to go, I need to throw up now.

[Fliger]

Originally posted by griss
Easily over $10,000:eek2: Don't let Mrsgriss see this thread:D

LOL. I put RC on netnanny - need a password to get on. If my wife ever found out that little box from premiumaquatics cost $800, she'd kill me. I found a way out though - find your wife an expensive, addictive hobby. We just got back from digital camera land. Now I can buy her an $800 lens for her birthday and she can buy me a bigger calcium reactor! :lol:

[P.A.JOe]

I'm under $3k for an Oceanic 180 with 15+ fish, 400lbs of LR and a dozen of anemones. BTW...The shrooms are taking over!!! I also have a purple lobster that morphs every three months.

Joe

[lost1]

I am setting up a 265, hmm lets see....oceanic tank, lots of holes, ampmaster pumps, 60 dollars shipping for my double beckett 848 aerofoamer clone, two acrylic sumps, bulkhead fittings, valves, 2" schedule 40 316L stand, alan bradly PLC controller, two dedicated circuits with all outlets switched, GFI's, genx 40 pump, Hun I am a better shopper than all those other reefers, I only have spent 1000 dollars so far!!! LOL

[griss]

Originally posted by Fliger
LOL. I put RC on netnanny - need a password to get on. If my wife ever found out that little box from premiumaquatics cost $800, she'd kill me. I found a way out though - find your wife an expensive, addictive hobby. We just got back from digital camera land. Now I can buy her an $800 lens for her birthday and she can buy me a bigger calcium reactor! :lol:
:lol: Actually, Mrsgriss has two expensive hobbies now. She has done scrapbooking for several years now and recently set up a 58 gallon tank. Her rock is still curing:)

[L98-Z]

I'm curious what costs so much. Well, for those that are in the 8-12k range that is. I didn't realize they could cost that much, or either there are alot of hidden costs.

[griss]

Originally posted by L98-Z
I'm curious what costs so much. Well, for those that are in the 8-12k range that is. I didn't realize they could cost that much, or either there are alot of hidden costs.
I don't track my costs, but here is an idea of the equipment I have...

450 gallon acrylic tank
Steel stand
6 250 watt Ice Cap MH ballasts
6 PFO and Sunlight Supply pendants
6 DE MH bulbs
300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank (for refugium)
150 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank (sump)
32" tall Geo Dual Beckett Skimmer
30" tall Geo Calcium Reactor
Dolphin Ampmaster 3000 pump
Iwaki MD70RLT pump
Two 1" SeaSwirls
Two Tunze 6100 Streams
Tunze Magnet cleaner
Tunze Multicontroller
Light-Wave lighting, wave and moonlight timer
300 pounds Kaelini live rock
40 pounds Marshall Island live rock
200 pounds Caribsea Special Grade Sand
pH Meter
Two 1000 watt Won Pro Heat II heaters
12,500 BTU window AC (heat and humidity control)

I am sure I am leaving something out, but that should give you a good start on why it costs so much;)

George

[beerguy]

My new 180 came in at roughly $6500, that included new lino and paint however.

I told my wife I thought it would cost 4-5K so she wasn't too upset...

[Fliger]

L98-Z, it gets real expensive, fast. I know you can buy a lot of things used and get good deals if you have the time. I just don't have the time, I need instructions or help from the manufacturer to put things together, and I need a somewhat automated system. It's impossible to put together a big system unless you plan it out well at first - figure out what you need exactly, if you get lucky enough to find something used in good condition you can save money. But on big systems you just GOTTA get good quality equipment, and much better to have it new or barely used. Otherwise it's just headache after headache, and a time drain. I learned my lesson with my 150. Others might disagree, that is just my experience.

Mrgriss - LOL. Actually the new camera is an extension of my wife's scrapbooking. When our son was born, she went to a "scrapbook party". She asked if it were OK to spend money, I figured, hell - what does a photo album cost. She came back with some leather bound books that could have bought me Aquaconnect 14K replacements. She did design our first family Christmas card though, the picture was in the front row of a December Chiefs game. The score was 49-10, but I can't remember who they were playing ... something about Vermeil though ...

Actually the new camera is great, I can use it for my tank as well.

[Mdwannabe]

Jeez, if I thought about it, I would go to work, grab a 12 scapel, and cut my neck.
Considering start up of new 170, along with past tanks, and poor animals I made yard fertilizer.....Well over 20K!!!
Gotta go to work now....Thanks for making me realize it!

[Blntz]

Wow good question, I have a 180 sps. I would say over about 5 years, 20,000.00. What can I say i'd rather have my tank then a new car.

[hwynboy]

Originally posted by L98-Z
I'm curious what costs so much. Well, for those that are in the 8-12k range that is. I didn't realize they could cost that much, or either there are alot of hidden costs.

LMAO

I thought the same thing before I got *** deep in this hobby. My original plan was to put aside a COUPLE GRAND to make a NICE saltwater tank...LOL boy was I not prepared for what followed. I did some research (mostly here on RC) and I took the plunge. Well I know for a fact Im well over the 12k range. here are some things to consider when thinking it's hard to spend that kind of money..or a list of a few things I have

Euroreef CS 8-3
MRC-2 skimmer with dual injectors
5 MH lights with fixtures and bulbs
cost of a 280 starphire tank and 125 AGA tank
plumbing supplies (for the 280 alone \it was well over $500)
MRC Dual Chamber Calcium Reactor
All kinds of mag pumps for the skimmer, for water changes etc.
all kinds of heaters for the two main tanks and the 5 hospital/QT tanks
Stands for the tanks
8 110 VHO's and the ballasts to fire them
Live Rock
Live stock
ALL the test kits Magnesium, Calcium, Alkalinity, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, Alk, PH.
PH monitor, salinity monitor
all my digital temp readouts I think I have 8 of em
all my maxijets for the hospital/qt tanks
2 Tunze 6100s with multicontroller
Carbon
RO DI set up

Sequence SW seal pumps which are the bomb sooo quiet.

all the additives for food like garlic, selcon, zoecon, the food itself...doesnt seem like a lot but over time it gets to be.

I could go on and on but let me tell you it does not take long to add up. I am a thrifty shopper and I get great deals on a lot of stuff I own. It's not unusual to spend $200 a week or so on fish stuff. Heck some pieces of coral I own are about that much a piece. Its not a cheap hobby that is for sure

[dgasmd]

This is the one thing that depresses me to no end. Here is a list of equipment. No water, LR, or anything alive yet on this new tank, but the equipment comes from my previous set up. I already have about 100 SPS frags from my previous set up in a friend's prop system.

-750g starphire tank
-stand
-canopy/stand covered in travertine rock look alike material (means tons of moolah)
-return pump: iwaki 100
-circulation pumps: AM3000, two 5800 gph sequence pumps, 2 actuated ball valves
-chiller: 2HP Pacific coast chiller/heater
-Chiller pump: iwaki 40
-ozone: 250 mg ozotech unit
-temp controller: ranco dual unit (will be sold)
-Ca reactor: custom GEO unit
-Kalk reactor: custom GEO unit
-skimmer: aerofoamer 848 with iwaki 100 (will be replaced altogether)
-lights: 5x400 watt with eballast and lumenarc reflectors plus 4x48" and 4x36" actinic VHO on icecap 660 and 430.
-sump: 150g rubbermaid tub
-top off: litermeter pump
-RO/DI: 5 stage with dual DI 100 GPD with pressure booster pump
-Monitors: pH, salinity, and ORP PinPoint monitors.
-water: natural sea water trucked in (that is the plan at least).

Missing:
-500 lb of tonga branch and kaelini rock
-water
-electrical panel for the entire tank
-generator
-vent system with fans to blow out heat from tank's top and from chiller.

My best guess is close to $15-18K on the above alone. Your guess is as good as mine on the rest.

[Fliger]

Maybe we should start a thread on how you justify your tank, here is my quick list ...

I was going to buy Car A, I bought Car B instead, solely because of my reef tank. Car B was about $10K cheaper than Car A. Not that I couldn't afford Car A still, but that was how I justified spending that type of money on my tank.

I also play far less golf.

And my wife is happy that I'm home more.

My son loves the tank. He even loves watching nature programming. He is only two.

Guests at my home are mesmerized by my tank. I also have a pretty expensive couch and recliner, people never mention anything, just park their @sses on them.

I was a marine bio student before I switched so it's a way to keep in touch. Now I can afford the tank of my dreams. ;-)

I lived on the beach for 15 years in a row, now I live in the desert, so it's my only connection to the ocean day to day.

Lastly, my fish are much smarter than most people I deal with all day.

[capescuba]

Given that I have now had 2 210 glass tanks, 1st one leaked as I tested it, the other leaked on my hardwood floor while I was away on vacation. So can I add up the cost of floor replacement, emergency flight home, cost of the vacation we lost etc .....

I learn't my lesson though. No more glass for me. I think I am well over 10k, with pretty much nothing to show for it
:eek:

[Harleyguy]

I decided when I started to put this project together, that I would not have a budget, and if it took me years to complete, well then so be it. I have put together a spread sheet of what I estimate it will take for me to get to the point that I will be able to put livestock in. It spit out a cost of ~$13,000.00:eek: .
I am currently starting another business to pay for it:) . All is well.

It doesn’t shock me to hear estimates in the $20,000.00 range, especially over years. The cost of livestock, testing supplies, salt, filters (RO/DI), bulbs, ballasts, probes, food, CO2 and supplements on a monthly basis can be extreme (especially if you have good taste in fish and corals like I do). The thing is, if it were cheep and easy everyone would have a huge salt reef in there house.
I am proud of what I have done and what I'm doing, it's a great stress reliever, and my kids love it. I also love the fact that most people within the reef community have a great common bond. To me every cent is money well spent. If my spread sheet told me that my tank was going to cost $100,000.00 I would grit my teeth and work a lot longer until it was done.

[willis]

You, my friend, have the right idea:smokin:

[lost1]

I am really surprised at the cost of just the plumbing fittings, I had a budget of 300 dollars for the plumbing, I am at least double and possably triple that number.

[willis]

Wait until you find out that you missed a plumbing part.:eek1:

[tacocat]

Plumbing can get expensive. One nice thing is if you have a local LFS like mine, I take in coral frags and use the creidt to buy bulbs and dog food.

[jeffbrig]

My 'plan' is currently for a 72x30x30 room divider, ~280 gallons. I've priced out my initial setup at around $9000 - including pumps, plumbing, lighting, RO/DI, and lots of the miscellaneous stuff (salt, test kits, QT). However, that's still before the first drop of water goes in there. And I'm sure I'm missing a few things - the inevitable chiller, a calcium reactor if/when the kalk reactor isn't enough. Start adding live rock, coral, and fish and I should hit $12-13000 in no time.

[richw]

I wanted to try to better define my estimate. Keep in mind that I have a 230 IA tank, 2 250mh and 4 vho and all the trimmings. My estimate is pretty firm and as noted does not include electric or water usage over the past 5 years.

I have also relied extensively on MO to keep costs down and have subtracted payments received in selling coral and unneeded hardware. Like everyone, I have also evolved. For example, the estimate includes the cost of upgrading from a 125 to a 230 (less of course the money I got selling the 125), upgrading from 175w to 250 mh (again less the cost of selling the old fixtures) and moving the tank from NYC to Cherry Hill -- around $1300.

Coral and live rock -- $6500
Fish -- $3500
Hardware (tank, lights, skimmer, etc.) -- $15,000

I also try to limit my monthly purchases to $150. This includes bulbs, fish, food, etc.

Ouch.

[Acrylics]

Funny that this topic is brought up right now, (I shut down my tanks last Dec ) as I sit and stare at the $4k I have *just* in lighting, $3k in stands, thousands in plumbing parts, and the $1500 or so I spent having an 80 amp sub-box brought in. The countless hours I had in set-ups. Ugh, I was easily in the $12k range or so and this did not include animals as most were gifts, or tanks themselves else I'd be in the $35k (or so) range. As Harley points out, it was $$ well spent as I enjoyed it immensely and probably saved me hundreds of thousands in inpatient psychiatric care ;)
Maybe someday some intelligent shrink will start a clinic where you pay $200/hr to sit in the middle of a fish room and stare at pods. Hmm, an idea.

James

[waterway]

Well I got into this hobby thinking I was going to save money. Instead of shopping for clothes, shoes, and anything else we women buy, I would put up my tank. My husband thought it was a great idea to find a new hobby.............. After I stopped telling how much everything cost...... he bought me a nice camera( his thinking was try a different hobby). Now I have the best pictures of of my salt water tank.:p


So the cost of his golfing,car,skeet shooting, etc. v.s fish tank.

well how much have I spent...................Well lets just say I don't keep track................ :D

And they all live :D ever after

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Guess I'm the exception here. I'm starting a 190 project. So far I'm only out about 1000 bucks. Got the AGA drilled tank, a GRI 15700 return pump (3000 GPH @ 40' head) and a MAG 36 closed loop pump, plumbing fixtures, 60 G sump (OLD FW tank I bought years ago) and built my stand. I'm a real shopper and also build everything that I can. I got a good deal on the tank, traded a 250 W Mh setup I had and 100 bucks for it. Got my return pump from a fellow RC member and my other pump from Ebay. Built my stand and will be building my skimmer, CA reactor as well as installing it in a wall. I picked up a CO2 tank, regulator and siloniod for free. I know I'll be up near the 10K mark when I'm done but that will include all of the Oak woodwork that I'll do to build it into the wall.

[Harlemzportoroc]

yup in the G's also, not to mention the mistakes that occur in the begining ;0/

[maoiwowie]

Its almost comical how much we spend on our tanks. Why do we spend in excess of 10K to keep some colorful rocks alive? Im not sure myself...still trying to figure this out. Although its aesthetic value is not questioned...does it make sense to have spent all that money to allow a cheap $20 RTN'd frag send your blood pressure through the roof? We must be crazy.

[Foster]

too much

[vapor1]

All hobbies are expensive. I have almost $10,000 in dive gear , and thats not including several thousand a year in dive trips . BUT, ya gotta spend it on something .

[Harleyguy]

Can't take it with you.

[reeftechie]

I have well over $20k in my tanks, shh dont tell my wife she would kill me, she thinks I get it all free ;)

[John Brancheau]

I myself am in the 10K range, but to be perfectly honest with you, I think it is still cheaper and more beneficial than a therapist........

[jeffbrig]

Originally posted by John Brancheau
I think it is still cheaper and more beneficial than a therapist........

I used the same argument when I bought my S2000 roadster :D

[theseeker]

I have a 300 gal reef tank, 6 months old and I have invested about 22,000 to date. It should be noted that I have a marine biologist in my home once a week. I also have rather rare and exspensive specimens in my tank.

[eruss]

Not counting livestock, over $15,000.

Until I started this project last August I had kept the same 80g custom reef tank for 14 years. Sooooo......when the Mrs. asked "how much?" to set up I told her "about $4,500", needless to say that went in a hurry! She's since adjusted to the fact, although I lost some ground when I fired it all up and the electric bill jumped $150 a month!

[paulpp187]

tank, equip,livestock over 15,000.00 not including supp,and elect,water etc i have 2 tanks though

[paulpp187]

reeftechie thats a good one i tried that for about the first 5,000 it didn't work after that

[twd4]

10k....all equipment and most livestock wholesale

[blueleg]

I have probably spent about 3-4k and I am only 17. I have been in this hobby for a year and a half and I can tell you, its addicting!! I cant wait to get a real job and my own house!

[KJMiller]

I am 16 and i have $5000+ in my tank and it is only a 125 glass

[gweezpie]

210 gallon w/150g sump I am between $5,000 and $6,000 but probably $9,000 if you count the 125 I just took down

[ocporkpie]

i've poured over $500 alone into a jbj nano cube that's been through 2 moves, a crash and a pistol shrimp killing spree( you don't even want to know).
i few months back, i started planning for a new 150 and my estimates kept increasing about $300-$400 each week until my final total brought me up to about $4700 after rocks sand and water( rocks and equipment all at wholesale deals... still got me up to this insane number).
btw, that included:
-150 euro style visio 6 panel glass tank
-flat black deluxe moore cabinets
-3x400w deluxe hamilton mh fixture w/ electronic ballast
-80 gallon drilled glass sump/fuge
-ASM g-3 skimmer
-aqualogic 1/3 hp inline chiller
-dolphin 2100 magnetic pump
-200 lbs of fiji ultra show rock
-200 lbs of live sand
-2 tunze 6100's w/ multicontroller
-all plumbing to be contracted out to a friend who's a pro installer

at that point i capitulated- that was w/o a reactor, vho's/compacts, ro/di unit, various monitors, topoff system, various meds, food, scrapers, test kits, etc... OR LIVESTOCK!!! i conceded that i no longer want a fishtank... ha, for about 10 minutes before i started looking for the best used tank i could find.
a couple days later, i found a 90 gallon visio euro-style glass tank w/ a 2-tone cherry/black laminate stand and canopy about 30 miles away from me. it came with a 1/4hp chiller, 2 hqi pendants, 4 strips of pc's, a euro-fil sump, g1 and backpack skimmers, killer plumbing system, 100 lbs of fiji and marshall rock, 100lbs of live sand, uv sterilizer, ph controller, and then some. the tank was less than 2 years old and looked a couple months old. $500 bucks cash- i was the first and last guy to look at the tank. after selling off the equipment i planned to overhaul, my cost of the above system w/o chiller, pendants, and rocks( which were colonized to the bone w/ majano anemones), i actually made money. this week i plan to put in orders for a myreef cr-6 w/ spraybar with an iwaki 40-rlt, milwaukee regulator, 5 lb tank( $400+); still trying to decide on the lighting rig- stuck between hamiltons, pfo and sunlight supply( neighborhood of $600); topoff system( osomolator? medical dosing pump? approx $200) and pick up about 125 pounds of kaelini/fiji ultra( <$300) and 4 SEIOs( $180).

after that, i'll be using up all my free time making LFS runs twice a week, constantly scouring the internet for cherries, cleaning and maintaining my tank, scaping and rescaping...

lol, so can somebody explain to me when the stress "relief" begins.

[Bigred]

I have a 270 that I have about $4300 in so far. It's only a month and half old. Also what makes a difference is have a wholesale lisence.

Tank 1000
stand 95
in wall material 350
AC unit 200
Lights 600
Pluming 150
Sump 100
Skimmer 300
Sand 250
Pumps 300
Live rock 800
home made acrylic stuff 150

[coolfishy101]

3,000 on my 55 I am 16. Got it when I was 12. Now I have a job and it will go up to about 4200 within a year. Tank looks awsome though. (reef tank-car????.....reef tank) It's too addicting (especially sps). I need help!

[jdieck]

I stopped counting at over 25K

[raskal311]

got most of my stuff used
80gal stand canopy
1/6 chiller
250 mh and 2-96 pc
170+ lb lr, 2inch ls
lots of soft coral
losts of clean up crew ie snails shrimps star fish......
40gal sup, skimmer, return and other pumps, fuge
test kits, chemicals, salt, everything else

I'd say say $1300 or so

[Peter Schmiedel]

All you who have to "not tell her the truth" (liar is such a hard word ;) ) you just made a big mistake. You have to have all tanks before she comes in your life :D

While my princess stepped into my life I had already 20 tanks. She was impressed. Fort the last big one 320g she could decide on the stand color etc. Ok were are classical DINK's - she thinks I am nuts spending all the bucks, but its my money ;)

I run an excel sheet for my main tank and for the rest and she even know's the total amount - you wont ;)

[diverdan814]

since January 04, I have spent in my 210 FO between 7-9,000 dollars- don't keep track, just try to enjoy and realize life is too short to deny oneself....

You cannot take it with you.

[Harleyguy]

My wife has Horses, and I don't ask (nor will I ever) how much she spends on them. We each have our own "play money" accounts. I am guessing that my tank finished will cost less than 1 of her horses, but I still won't tell her how much I'm spending on "fish".

[KJMiller]

Hey coolfishey I know what you are talking about I got my job for my tank I fill up my gas tank then go to aquatic reef LOL

[coolfishy101]

Well worth it IMO. Every one else my age thinks I'm an idiot. Kind of a whole other life style that nobody else understands. (except for everyone here :cool: )

[angiras]

well I can do a rough estimate on my planned upgrade.. some things I already have and can list - others I can speculate.

tank - 700
stand/canopy - 2500
lighting (pendants, ballasts, bulbs) - 900
skimmer - 500ish
sump - 300?
rodi - 150?
tunze - 700?
liverock - 700?

but this is the first time I've added it all up. I dont really care about the final tally - as long as myself and everyone else that visits appreciates the result.

-Ben

[Ishkabibble5710]

wel for the 20 gallon seahorse tank,i got about $1000-$2000 that is alot for a sophmore in high school. seahorses are even more addictive than reefs

[diverdan814]

tell us about your seahorses- what is so fascinating about them?
I am really interested...

[lortiawhak]

about $2000 and i'm not even in highschool yet.

[coolfishy101]

A lot of that going around. You'll be addicted for life now.

[ejamsrhere]

I'm a bit ghetto but lets do a quick tally on costs

100g glass tank- free
Used stand+canopy+LR+LS+Sump,misc supplies $300
Used skimmer ~ $60
Misc equip ~ 455.00


BUT I already had my lighting, overflow, pumps from my 55.

I have a long way to go, but I'm up to about $815

All I can say is that second hand equipment is the way to go. But ignore that I said that.... leave it all for me :)

[sunglee32]

i have over 10k invested in my 125g and am planning
a 200-240g tank. i just got an estimate and the 200-240
is in the 8500.00 dollor range.

[sunglee32]

****! my fiance just read my post. i think i'm gonna have
to pick a cheaper hobby like.......burning hundred dollar bills.lol

[derick]

Expenses,



New house to put custom 280 gallon tank visible on 3 sides.
Home theater system to distract wife from how much tank cost.




I spent all my money on a reef tank... the rest I wasted.

[netjackson]

$1200.00 and still going.

Rob

[Oyster]

Not a dime...none of it was my money.......LOL cept my sponsor ship.

[reefkeeper59]

all new 240 and 120 plumbed together. just put water in without the salt. testing sumps. I've shoped the web hours and hours (really month and months). Best over all pricing was custom aquatics out of CA. Built my own stands and canopy's.

Bout $10,000 so far. Still need test kits and/or probes. sand, fish,rock,ro/di,four more fans,food,electrical system,etc, etc, etc...

should top 12 to 14k within 6 months

[DerekW]

Originally posted by Harleyguy
I'm curious to hear what everyone has invested in there tanks

All of it.

:)

[Chris777]

about 10k

[wooglin]

About 2000 including corals and fish. I really have been lucky to have a LFS that has given me some great deals on corals and fish. Also Richard at TampaBay has helped give me some great deals on rock for tank.

[Harleyguy]

My numbers keep going up as the size of my system keeps getting bigger. My tank grew almost 100 gals in 3 weeks. :)

[nwrogers]

my soul

[Mahlhavoc]

hrmm, let's see

450g custom tank, fittings etc. $3500+
3- Darts $450+
1- Calcium reactor $500+
3- 400w MH ballasts, bulbs, and LAIIIs $1500+
ACIII controller and all the goodies. . I broke $6k easily already . .

Ok. . I am not gonna do this!! And I haven't even scratched the surface with rock, sand, fish, corals ..

[robcampman]

with some handy trading of equipment, scavaging things together i spend about 270 euro / 300 dollar.

[billyh]

I have a 500g and 2 -100 sump and i have about 30,000

[cbui2]

not enough

[golfschosen1]

210 Gallon 12,000 without a drop of water in it

Steven

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10173773#post10173773 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by golfschosen1
210 Gallon 12,000 without a drop of water in it

Steven

Do you like golf? :D

[golfschosen1]

lol yea why?

[ssbreef]

hmmmmm I'm going to wait till some of the big boys chime in first. Between my 180 and my new 225 in the works...

[DaveWC]

$0. I put together a 225g & a 67g reef tank, all premium equipment, spent $25k all in, including livestock. Then I realized that I enjoyed the research, planning, buying & assembly more then the day to day maintenance. Luckily the money I used to do all of this came from breeding/selling/growing Discus over the years. So I made the decision that I was tired of the weekly cash outlay, tired of the excessive humidity & heat in my basement, tired of worrying about leaks/pumps seizing/algae/aiptasia and I sold it all. I recouped $12k of my money and now I just read the forums and enjoy the trials & tribulations (and successes) of the members here. Have fun! I am.

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10177782#post10177782 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveWC
$0. I put together a 225g & a 67g reef tank, all premium equipment, spent $25k all in, including livestock. Then I realized that I enjoyed the research, planning, buying & assembly more then the day to day maintenance. Luckily the money I used to do all of this came from breeding/selling/growing Discus over the years. So I made the decision that I was tired of the weekly cash outlay, tired of the excessive humidity & heat in my basement, tired of worrying about leaks/pumps seizing/algae/aiptasia and I sold it all. I recouped $12k of my money and now I just read the forums and enjoy the trials & tribulations (and successes) of the members here. Have fun! I am.

Aha!. Better to watch the bulls behind the barrier!
Coward :lol:

[DaveWC]

Coward :lol:

True. I took some of the cash I got back and got a real kicka$$ espresso machine.

http://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/prodimages/Quick_Mill/anita/0990.gif

So now I pull a shot and sit back and enjoy. Funny thing, there's just as much to learn about espresso as there is with reefs. But I can walk away from the my cuppa and no worries. Still fun tho.

[flar92]

Id say between the tank, sump , pumps, lighting, skimmer, Not to mention the 350 lbs of llive rock , corals and other live stock I have over $6,000. invested .But that is a small price for the beauty my reef gives me.

[yaktop]

I dare not keep count, but I know I'm well over 10K

[salty3]

In my 30L reef I got about 700.00 with out corals and fish.
In my 55 FOWLR I have 180.00 with livestock and all.

[Bebo77]

i had to give up my 1st unborn son....

[GMFett]

A couple cars worth. haha This is a funny thread.

[cbui2]

i will be making a withdraw from the kid's saving acct. then next month or so cashing out on me and my wife life policy, and if that's not enough i will sell all the cars. I hope this will do the job if not i will get rid of the house and move my tank elsewhere.

[Jar*Head]

I told my wife $2000.00 for the 550g reef system :) and she believe it. I agree with nbd13

"IMHO if you dont do it right get the best equipment then you will pay for it in the end, maybe buying the better equipment or you livestock not looking to hot! so i would buy the est equipment, this is just a guess, but i would say about 4000-7000 if ou did it right with just equipment."

If you start up with cheap stuff, it either break down on you or doesn't work right. So you start to upgrade and upgrade and more upgrade by the time you know it, You already spent more then most of the people who went with good stuff in first place

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10180498#post10180498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
i will be making a withdraw from the kid's saving acct. then next month or so cashing out on me and my wife life policy, and if that's not enough i will sell all the cars. I hope this will do the job if not i will get rid of the house and move my tank elsewhere.


I thought you already have all the nice equipments

[Jar*Head]

Let me see how i spent

Tank 240g Cube used $850 including stand
Canopy $200 (don't know why i bought it and not being use)
sump $450
Lighting: 2 PFO dual ballast $650, 4 reeflux bulbs $200, 4 L3 mini $400, VHO setup with bulbs $250 Solar revolution mover $300 (now collecting dirt)
Chiller 1/2 hp $1000
Circulation: Tunze master circulation and fitting $400, 4 tunze 6200 and multi controller, 4 tunze magnet $2200.00, Dual wavebox and 4 tunz magnet $1000.00
Filtration: BK400 ext $4000.00 (delivered to my door), Dual chamber Ca reactor, 20lbs co2 tank, regulator $700 (not including the media), schuran multifilter $200 (rowaphos), 3 ebo jagger heater $100

Fuge: Gray bin Free, 250lbs sand $150, 150lbs LR $300, lights $60

I didn't recall i spent that much but this is within 1yr $26820.00
Let not calculate the live stock..... :). My wife would kick my butt if she see this :D

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10180765#post10180765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
I thought you already have all the nice equipments

yes i do, but i still need fish, pay electric bills and etc.:D :D

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10180880#post10180880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEFER714
Let me see how i spent

Tank 240g Cube used $850 including stand
Canopy $200 (don't know why i bought it and not being use)
sump $450
Lighting: 2 PFO dual ballast $650, 4 reeflux bulbs $200, 4 L3 mini $400, VHO setup with bulbs $250 Solar revolution mover $300 (now collecting dirt)
Chiller 1/2 hp $1000
Circulation: Tunze master circulation and fitting $400, 4 tunze 6200 and multi controller, 4 tunze magnet $2200.00, Dual wavebox and 4 tunz magnet $1000.00
Filtration: BK400 ext $4000.00 (delivered to my door), Dual chamber Ca reactor, 20lbs co2 tank, regulator $700 (not including the media), schuran multifilter $200 (rowaphos), 3 ebo jagger heater $100

Fuge: Gray bin Free, 250lbs sand $150, 150lbs LR $300, lights $60

I didn't recall i spent that much but this is within 1yr $26820.00
Let not calculate the live stock..... :). My wife would kick my butt if she see this :D

that is way to complicated,

its so simple nowdays, tank, canister, backpak skimmer & fuge, light canopy. 2 part a/b calcium, baking soda & epsom salt. should do the job:lol:

[Jar*Head]

Is that what you are doing with your tank? :). I have seen your equipment. They all are top notch. Are you plan to run Ozone?

[clekchau]

too much, i estimated for 12k, turned out more than that and still going

[The R/C Man]

My 375 gallon project has over $7500 invested and counting. By the time I build the wall, hire an electrition, add the light ballasts, live rock it will be well over 10K....

[Jim_S]

I want your tank reefer714 :lol:

I've only got a modest $5K in my system......

But I like it :D And definetly plan on spending more :lol:

[Jar*Head]

I never thought i would spent that much till i run into this post. Glad, i didn't do inwall and hire electrician or else the number will be much higher.

[mrpet]

i have a 375 gallon tank still not a drop of h20 in it real soon i hope and im at 10k and get almost everything at wholesale.
sometimes i think i must me nuts.. cool thing is my wife does not trip on it at all... hell she can spend that much shopping in a few months....lol

[pwhitby]

well in the last week alone I purchased a new skimmer and 2 sets of t5s, so theres another $2,500....

I hate to think what the rest all comes to.....on a 600g it can really expensive, really fast.

Paul.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/paul-w/whole_tank-Panorama.jpg

[Jar*Head]

Oh yeah, 600g is gonna be expensive. Mine is only 240

[gsxxxr]

about 18K

[ReefingBuddha]

I know how much but I am in denial... still cheaper then other hobbies. My brother is into cars and is rocking out a custom tuned Novatec Rosso F430, one of 2 in the world. So it is going to be a while before I catch up to him.

For reference, service twice a year costs $15,000 each time before parts and extra labor.

Love the hobby so what we spend it worth it.

[Kaiden]

1st System 300+ Gallons is 20K & Climbing, and too think I don't even have the tank in my hands yet! The thread should start shortly!

2nd System 1000+ Gallons is 45K & Climbing, also too think I don't even have the tank in my hands yet! This thread as well will start shortly!

On the brighter note I am still Alive!

[djohnston]

I am afraid to add it up! But I keep the receipts in a box in case I want torture myself some day.

[ReefDoctorMicromussas]

700gal system... 30K not yet stocked

[Shaun120]

Geez...where to start.

Set up a 120 4years ago and had about $8K in it with LR, sand and that is it.

Ice Storm caused a 14 day power outage in the winter, I would have had to have 3 generators to keep everything going. Lost about $4k in livestock alone. I was in up to $12k at that point. Never the less to say I lost everything. So...what to do?

Buy a 225 Starfire and start over. I am using a lot of my equipment from my 120 including "base rock". After purchasing the tank, system pump, sump...etc, I'm well into the $15K mark and I don't even have water in it. Working on putting in a CL...it never ends.

Like others have said, I enjoy the hobby and love the life it brings into my home. My wife loves it, and she knows how much this stuff costs. All I can say is it keeps me sane, but totally broke!

[pco1988]

210gal invested $25k before water

[customclimates]

I have a 120 with a 39 gallon sump. Not counting livestock or miscellaneous small purchases I would say a realistic $5000 - $6000.00

[treejohnny]

just out of curosity...........if we were to get tank (say 125G) and fill it up with change........i wonder many pennies it would take to fill it......and obviously would still get attention from visitors, but not good enough to stare at for hours on end and ignore the tv....

[Ithreeputt2]

At least 15k and I am just getting going.

[clekchau]

ok after reading what others have invested, i don't feel so bad now LOL