Cost of running a tank
- Thread starter Jeremy837
- Start date
dabob79
New member
I think I've got about $4000 in my 93 gallon cube as it sits right now. My electric and water costs are about $20 a month. Food, GFO, carbon and other essentials are probably running me about $30 a month. I pretty much always find something new every month that I have to buy or add or replace as well, so I'll just round up to $75-$100 a month to keep it going lol
It depends on few factors: Tank size, what type of tank (fish only, sps, mixed, etc), quality of equipment used, and utility cost where you live. So, it is different from one tank to another, but one can have an overall idea.
When I designed my system, maintenance cost was a major consideration for me. Here are steps I took to keep monthly maintenance cost at minimum:
1- Buy newer equipment and pay close attention to power consumption. 10W here and 10W there makes a dent at the end of the month/year.
2- Make your own RO/DI water. Buying water is a sure way to waste money.
3- Buy salt in bulks when on sale. When I see salt on sale, I buy 4+ boxes at a time.
4- Buy supplements, tests, etc on a sale day. There is big sales on Forth of July and Labor day. Buy one year worth of supply.
5- If you have a big tank, buy a calcium reactor instead of doser. This is one mistake I made, and I am in the process of fixing it.
For my 325G, my monthly maintenance cost is approximately $175. $60 for electricity, $50 for dehumidifier (summer months), $15 water, $25 salt, $20 supplements, $20 GFO/Carbon, $10 tests. Food cost, medication, and miscellaneous items not included in this estimate. There is always something you will need to buy, so put a aside another $50 or so every month.
When I designed my system, maintenance cost was a major consideration for me. Here are steps I took to keep monthly maintenance cost at minimum:
1- Buy newer equipment and pay close attention to power consumption. 10W here and 10W there makes a dent at the end of the month/year.
2- Make your own RO/DI water. Buying water is a sure way to waste money.
3- Buy salt in bulks when on sale. When I see salt on sale, I buy 4+ boxes at a time.
4- Buy supplements, tests, etc on a sale day. There is big sales on Forth of July and Labor day. Buy one year worth of supply.
5- If you have a big tank, buy a calcium reactor instead of doser. This is one mistake I made, and I am in the process of fixing it.
For my 325G, my monthly maintenance cost is approximately $175. $60 for electricity, $50 for dehumidifier (summer months), $15 water, $25 salt, $20 supplements, $20 GFO/Carbon, $10 tests. Food cost, medication, and miscellaneous items not included in this estimate. There is always something you will need to buy, so put a aside another $50 or so every month.
CoralBeauty13
New member
There is always something you are going to need. I started out buying a 180gl Tank for $650. His wife wanted it out. He ended up selling livestock and all for $1000. The initial setup to have the best stuff we could use on the lesser expensive route still cost another $1500. Sickness,algae bloom,cyano,pest infected, Salt additives and whatever other surprises that comes with the territory, was about a total of $3000 within the first three months. Getting the tank and inhabitants that I want to have it how I want.
My Husband has come to the conclusion..."Don't ask, don't tell" !
My Husband has come to the conclusion..."Don't ask, don't tell" !
Greybeard
New member
It's a hobby.
You could pick up a 29g biocube for around $300, fill it with base rock and soft corals, and have a very nice looking tank, with very low maintenance costs. Find a local reef club, and you could probably fill it with donated colt, xenia, GSP, cloves, mushrooms, zoanthid, palythoa... Tons of that stuff around. Most folks that have it are happy to share.
On the other end, the sky is the limit. You want to spend 50k on a tank? Easy. Folks will come out of the woodwork to help you spend it.
Same with any other hobby. Ask a golfer, scuba diver, firearms enthusiast... whatever. If it's a hobby, it's quite capable of consuming every spare resource you have, in both time and money. That's what hobbies are for... or not. Your choice.
Honestly, if you can't see yourself coming up with $500, and perhaps $50/month to maintain it, then you might want to take up crochet... but it doesn't have to be expensive.
Keep your sights set on something that you have a reasonable chance of success with. Everyone raves about the bright SPS tanks, hundred dollar a polyp zoanthids, super cool colored chalice... but there's nothing wrong with a softy tank.
Case in point, 10 minutes after posting this, I noticed our current tank of the month
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548820
Not that he got away cheap, mind you, but shows how nice a softy tank can be!
You could pick up a 29g biocube for around $300, fill it with base rock and soft corals, and have a very nice looking tank, with very low maintenance costs. Find a local reef club, and you could probably fill it with donated colt, xenia, GSP, cloves, mushrooms, zoanthid, palythoa... Tons of that stuff around. Most folks that have it are happy to share.
On the other end, the sky is the limit. You want to spend 50k on a tank? Easy. Folks will come out of the woodwork to help you spend it.
Same with any other hobby. Ask a golfer, scuba diver, firearms enthusiast... whatever. If it's a hobby, it's quite capable of consuming every spare resource you have, in both time and money. That's what hobbies are for... or not. Your choice.
Honestly, if you can't see yourself coming up with $500, and perhaps $50/month to maintain it, then you might want to take up crochet... but it doesn't have to be expensive.
Keep your sights set on something that you have a reasonable chance of success with. Everyone raves about the bright SPS tanks, hundred dollar a polyp zoanthids, super cool colored chalice... but there's nothing wrong with a softy tank.
Case in point, 10 minutes after posting this, I noticed our current tank of the month
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548820
Not that he got away cheap, mind you, but shows how nice a softy tank can be!
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Tank equipment you can calculate yourself since you can check prices on websites.
For utilities i would say if you go with nano size up to 75 gallons your costs for water/electric will go up anywhere from $20-60 a month.
The range is wide depending on if you run a sump (need more water/electricity), LED/MH/T5, how many pumps, etc.
For utilities i would say if you go with nano size up to 75 gallons your costs for water/electric will go up anywhere from $20-60 a month.
The range is wide depending on if you run a sump (need more water/electricity), LED/MH/T5, how many pumps, etc.
I always tell people you can spend very little or spend a lot. Either way you'll have a lot of fun doing it. You can setup a 10g tank that cost almost nothing and you will have a lot of little critters to watch. Start with what you can comfortably afford. Don't try to achieve TOTM on your first try you will be a very happy reefer.
NYCSTORMTROOPER
New member
+1 on horseplay , I'm in the same boat as OP, and I myself is building my first saltwater tank and so far have spend $1300 and not a single drop of water on my 20G long!!!!! I do read lots of advice from fellow reefers that have been reefing for years and the best advice I've read is " Be patient In terms of equipment and do it right the first time and you will benefit down the road " and that stuck to me , So I've been patient for 2 years saving up and getting my equipment ready ...So if you are willing to do it right the first time be ready to spend some cheese ...But overall is all about having fun in doing it and learning about the hobby...Good luck
dustinkimpel
Member
eh after i bought my apex, my 55 setup probably costs around 2000 including livestock... got the tank for free mind you. It doesn't have to be as expensive as everyone claims... for instance radions with a lot of cool features = $799 per light, ebay lights with a 2 channel option = 110 per light. Just be sure to get an rodi and don't go cheap on skimmer, heater or return pump and you're golden.
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dustinkimpel
Member
This will work as far as hardware for a 55 - 75 setup. You need to add expenses like salt, test kits, and a hydrometer.
Tank expense craigslist = ???
Eshopps 3rd gen 75 sump = 189
Eshopps Psk - 75 = 160
Cobalt Neotherm 150 = 64
Ebay leds = 125-250 depending on tank size
Apex return pump = 40 - 100 depending on flow need
Jebao Rw-8 wavemaker = 70
BRS RODI 75 gpd unit = 150
Optional:
JBJ auto top off = 80 + 40 for pump
Apex Controller = 600
happy reefing.
Tank expense craigslist = ???
Eshopps 3rd gen 75 sump = 189
Eshopps Psk - 75 = 160
Cobalt Neotherm 150 = 64
Ebay leds = 125-250 depending on tank size
Apex return pump = 40 - 100 depending on flow need
Jebao Rw-8 wavemaker = 70
BRS RODI 75 gpd unit = 150
Optional:
JBJ auto top off = 80 + 40 for pump
Apex Controller = 600
happy reefing.
Yes, 2 Maxspect 320W. My equipment list is in my signature.
