Cost of Running Large Tank
- Thread starter agruetz
- Start date
CyclistMT
More Idiot Than Savant
It's going to be really hard to estimate until you define what kind of tank you want to keep. And even then, what you use for equipment will have a bearing on your monthly costs (think electricity here).
I have been very intentional in my equipment selections to keep electric costs down per month. My goal was $50 a month in electric costs and I think I'm fairly close to that. (My power costs about $0.10 - $0.12 per kW. Depending on what area of the country you're in YMMV.)
That being said I anticipate having a calcium reactor in my future and there are additional flow pumps I would like to get that I didn't plan on initially. But if I can stay between $50-$75 in electric costs per month for a 300 gal I'll be happy.
I'm doing 10% water changes every 2 weeks right now so that works out to be about $15 a month but salt choice will dictate this cost. Right now I'm using Kalk for calcium supplementation and that's fairly cheap overall. Two part may cost a little more but I really haven't looked at it. Once I have a calcium reactor I'll have to consider the cost of media.
Then there's carbon, GFO or carbon dosing, bulb replacement (if MH or T5), food, etc., etc.
So it really depends so much on how you design your tank. I would guess that $100 per month (including electric) is probably a base line for tanks this size, but it can certainly be much more depending on design/objectives.
I have been very intentional in my equipment selections to keep electric costs down per month. My goal was $50 a month in electric costs and I think I'm fairly close to that. (My power costs about $0.10 - $0.12 per kW. Depending on what area of the country you're in YMMV.)
That being said I anticipate having a calcium reactor in my future and there are additional flow pumps I would like to get that I didn't plan on initially. But if I can stay between $50-$75 in electric costs per month for a 300 gal I'll be happy.
I'm doing 10% water changes every 2 weeks right now so that works out to be about $15 a month but salt choice will dictate this cost. Right now I'm using Kalk for calcium supplementation and that's fairly cheap overall. Two part may cost a little more but I really haven't looked at it. Once I have a calcium reactor I'll have to consider the cost of media.
Then there's carbon, GFO or carbon dosing, bulb replacement (if MH or T5), food, etc., etc.
So it really depends so much on how you design your tank. I would guess that $100 per month (including electric) is probably a base line for tanks this size, but it can certainly be much more depending on design/objectives.
I have a 330...depends: reef or Fowlr. I have a fowlr with 96 watts of led...enough for my tank and minimal impact on my electric bill, infact, here in florida running the lights 7 hrs a day, and 3 pumps 24/7 my bill only rose about 20$/month. Don't ask me how. I change 90 gallons once a month...so factor r/o consumption. I need around a bucket of instant ocean every other month. I run my house a/c at 74 to keep my tank at 78-79. I mostly buy squid/shrimp at publix and blend it..combined with a few packs a month from the pet store to keep cost down. It all depends on your system...reef will obviously cost more to maintain due to lighting and other factors. Hard to put a dollar amount on it...but I figure I spend close to $100/month for elec/water/AC/food...and I think Im on the low end.
I am not to concerned about the electrical costs. I can calculate that once I choose the equipment. I was mostly concerned about salt (water changes), Supplements (Alk, Calc, Mg, Kalk Wasser etc...) and obviously food.
I am planning to do a reef on 1/2 and a fowlr on the other 1/2 water will mix but the non-reef friendly fish will not.
Currently I have to do 20% water changes per week other wise things get out of whack in a hurry. I am not sure if this is needed in the larger systems. Based on 20% weekly water changes I got the totally cost maybe to some where around 1500 - 2500/yr or around 125 - 210 (about) per month. Does this seem realistic?
I am planning to do a reef on 1/2 and a fowlr on the other 1/2 water will mix but the non-reef friendly fish will not.
Currently I have to do 20% water changes per week other wise things get out of whack in a hurry. I am not sure if this is needed in the larger systems. Based on 20% weekly water changes I got the totally cost maybe to some where around 1500 - 2500/yr or around 125 - 210 (about) per month. Does this seem realistic?
Electrical consumption is a big factor. I have 1100 gallons of saltwater and my monthly bill for just the tanks is about $150-200, add salt for water change and that is about $70/month, food is another $20/month, bulbs add up to about $50/month, calcium reactor media, GFO, carbon is another $50/month. Gadgets go bad, so add another $50-75/month for them. Then there is the livestock which cost several hundred dollars a year until tank is stocked. My average cost for just my tanks is about $500/month.
Sounds insane but those numbers are totally true. Salt, Carbon, GFO, GADGETS and livestock. Yup 500 a month sounds right as long as you watch yourself because one can easily spend that much weekly as well, especially at the beginning with livestock. OP don't think about it just get the tank!
Thanks, This is exactly what I was looking for. I am not to worried about the electricity quote just because I will calculate that when I figure out the equipment.
So if 1100 Gallons (sounds like multiple tanks), is around 500/month is it safe to assume 300 - 400 is about 1/3rd of that cost coming in some where around 150 - 250/month?
I want the big tank when I move into my house but...I do not want to be tank poor and have my fish and coral suffer so just trying to make sure I can handle it responsibly before I do it.
Oh I most likely will just dive in and not keep track
it is safer for my heart that way.
jjk_reef00
New member
IME this is a mistake, pick one or the other and set up one big tank. If you want both then set up 2 seprate systems and use your reef water when you change your FOWLR. Large fish eat tremendous amounts of food and can produce a large amount of waste.
I'd say $100-$250 is definetly doable but like others have said it all depends on what you are trying to keep. I have 500 total gallons FOWLR and I spend $50 a month on salt doing weekly 50 gallon water changes (1/2 since I'm now doing bi-weekly), and $20-40 a month on food. Electric in AZ is killer in the summer when the AC run 24/7. Other than that I spend money on new livestock, and QT tank basics (salt, food, medication). The livestock is definetly the most costly part of my tank these days.
Yea after researching the live stock I wanted on either side it became clear that these would not be big enough and I would end up with half of what I wanted on each side, so this is most likely what I will do.
Yea I was not going to count the livestock buys
. I figured I would roll that in as tank setup costs....besides I can slide those past the wife...Thanks for the info.
