How much is YOUR nano setup worth???And the stuff in it?
- Thread starter saltman123
- Start date
saltman123
New member
So as expected numbers anywhere from about $500 for starters all the way up the line when fish and corals are into the mix.
I am considering a 12 gallon aquapod nano and an expecting it to run about $400 to $500 with some really nice live rock and sand. Guess my biggest question now is, should I just go for the 24 Gallon aquapod since it is truly only a few bucks more in equipment.
My LFS sell RO for $1.00 to $1.25 for Fresh and about $1.50 to $1.75 for pre mixed salt water. I do however have a store called "Wild Oats" which is a hard core health food store and they sell Culligan purified water for .40 cents a gallon.
Says it is 4 stage processed first through sediment filters, then carbon, then reverse osmosis, then UV. Think this water is good? Sounds like it may just be the ticket for me not to have to buy my own RO system right away. If I go with the 12 gallon I figure I can pull it off buying water for a while.
I am considering a 12 gallon aquapod nano and an expecting it to run about $400 to $500 with some really nice live rock and sand. Guess my biggest question now is, should I just go for the 24 Gallon aquapod since it is truly only a few bucks more in equipment.
My LFS sell RO for $1.00 to $1.25 for Fresh and about $1.50 to $1.75 for pre mixed salt water. I do however have a store called "Wild Oats" which is a hard core health food store and they sell Culligan purified water for .40 cents a gallon.
Says it is 4 stage processed first through sediment filters, then carbon, then reverse osmosis, then UV. Think this water is good? Sounds like it may just be the ticket for me not to have to buy my own RO system right away. If I go with the 12 gallon I figure I can pull it off buying water for a while.
icenine2005
New member
I shudder a little when people ask me this question. I used to say it was approaching a grand, but in truth it passed that mark just a bit a bit by now.
I did FW tanks for years, and big ones too... I dismissed lots of set ups when I was doing ony FW because they "would cost like a grand or something" but here I have spent that much on a much,much,much smaller tank... but you know what?
The thing is worth every penny. ...and every hour I have spent on it.
I did FW tanks for years, and big ones too... I dismissed lots of set ups when I was doing ony FW because they "would cost like a grand or something" but here I have spent that much on a much,much,much smaller tank... but you know what?
The thing is worth every penny. ...and every hour I have spent on it.
This looks fun. Haha.
Well let's see:
-Used 25 gal jebo with stand, jbj pc fixture, eheim ecco, aqua uv sterilizer, heater and waterfall filter for $140.
-Used 30 gal hex (for refugium) $30
-Overflow box $35
-Pumps $80
-Coralife pc ficture for refugium $100
-Used 80lbs Live sand $40
-Used 100 lbs Live rock $20
-AquaC skimmer $120
Which totals to:
$565
But I work at a fish store so I got some good deals and I spent a lot of time on the internet looking for better deals.
I can't even begin to list the livestock, but I think I spent about $1000 on corals and fish, and that's with my employee discount. I seem to have an addiction to corals. ;-)
Well let's see:
-Used 25 gal jebo with stand, jbj pc fixture, eheim ecco, aqua uv sterilizer, heater and waterfall filter for $140.
-Used 30 gal hex (for refugium) $30
-Overflow box $35
-Pumps $80
-Coralife pc ficture for refugium $100
-Used 80lbs Live sand $40
-Used 100 lbs Live rock $20
-AquaC skimmer $120
Which totals to:
$565
But I work at a fish store so I got some good deals and I spent a lot of time on the internet looking for better deals.
I can't even begin to list the livestock, but I think I spent about $1000 on corals and fish, and that's with my employee discount. I seem to have an addiction to corals. ;-)
wow newbie so I remember lol
wow newbie so I remember lol
Well tank was $183 with shipping at drfostersmith website. I got the 24 gallon aquapod.
Trip to lfs for live sand and live rock was $217 got 1 bag live argonite sand and 19 lbs of live rock that I got a heck of a deal on 3.50 a lb or this wold have been a lot more. I got powder tests for ammonia, nitirite, nitrate, and ph. I got 25 gallons of premixed ro/di saltwater at 1.20 a gallon.
$35 at lfs for rubber tubbing, bag of salt, magnet glass cleaner, and thermometer. Salt was on sale.
$65 for 2 tank raised ocellarous clowns and some mysis and spirulina food.
$35 for some coral frags.
$75 for some coral frags and more mysis and ph buffer for if I need it. 10 more gallons of premixed water.
$7 last night for some garlic to put on my fish food from lfs.
So I have $617 in and am a newbie. I need to go get snails today starting to have algea so that is going to be an additional expense.
wow newbie so I remember lol
Well tank was $183 with shipping at drfostersmith website. I got the 24 gallon aquapod.
Trip to lfs for live sand and live rock was $217 got 1 bag live argonite sand and 19 lbs of live rock that I got a heck of a deal on 3.50 a lb or this wold have been a lot more. I got powder tests for ammonia, nitirite, nitrate, and ph. I got 25 gallons of premixed ro/di saltwater at 1.20 a gallon.
$35 at lfs for rubber tubbing, bag of salt, magnet glass cleaner, and thermometer. Salt was on sale.
$65 for 2 tank raised ocellarous clowns and some mysis and spirulina food.
$35 for some coral frags.
$75 for some coral frags and more mysis and ph buffer for if I need it. 10 more gallons of premixed water.
$7 last night for some garlic to put on my fish food from lfs.
So I have $617 in and am a newbie. I need to go get snails today starting to have algea so that is going to be an additional expense.
neverwouldof
Member
I'm right at 2500.00 so far for Aqua Pod 24. Have Coralife 150watt pro with 65watt actinics. Hangon fuge in back with light. Coralife 65gallon super skimmer. (3) rios running in addition to original.... crazy money
saltman123
New member
It would be nice if you guys could also include a picture of your tank if they are available. that way people could really see the price to look ratio 
I don't even want to try to do that calculations, but I'm willing to bet that I've got over $1500 in livestock in my 29. I don't even want to try and remember what I've paid for my equipment, upgrades, consumables, or electricity.
This was a couple months ago as I was upgrading to full T-5 lighting, and adding about 20sps frags..been meaning to take some more recent pics.
This was a couple months ago as I was upgrading to full T-5 lighting, and adding about 20sps frags..been meaning to take some more recent pics.
annetate
Premium Member
10- Tank
110-Skimmer
100- 96 Watt 50/50 coral life lighting
40-LR
15- Shrimp
40- 2 Clowns
20- Firefish
20- Starfish
10- Feather
20- Scallap
10- Snails & Crabs
25- Sand
20- Sun Coral
20- Carnation
40- Green Mushrooms
20- Red Mushrooms, Pink Zoas
15- Powerhead
5- Cover
10- Filter
.25/ Gallon RO
20/ Month- Salt, Food
5- Hydrometer
15- Heater
30- Misc. (buckets, hoses,..)
5- Therm.
I think thats it, 625+Monthly expenses, and some small things i forgot
A little more than i thought but pretty good for a 10 gallon tank I think. I like it just as much as my 55! Which i'm sure is way over 2500 easy.. I'd say a good estimate is 50/gal, not 30...
I still plan on dumping plenty of money into both on corals, clams, and such.
818
New member
You guys are trippin...
Join a reef club, get to know some reefers in your area...I have yet to spend more than 600.00 on this particular 110g Starphire. Group buys, trade, is the best thing that happened to us reefers!!!
LOTS OF DIY work though :lol:
I might start a 24gL nano
Get yourseld a 20$ frag of yellow polyps and let the trading begin!:bum:
Join a reef club, get to know some reefers in your area...I have yet to spend more than 600.00 on this particular 110g Starphire. Group buys, trade, is the best thing that happened to us reefers!!!
LOTS OF DIY work though :lol:
I might start a 24gL nano
Get yourseld a 20$ frag of yellow polyps and let the trading begin!:bum:
Pico Keeper
Premium Member
5.5 AGA - $10
2*24 Watt PC Retrofit - $48 (DIY Raingutter Canopy $25)
AC500 used - $25
AC500 skimmer - $7
AC15 used - 2 for $10
Purigen - $7
Carbon - $3
Digital Thermometer - $9
Live Rock - $25
Live Sand - $10
Canister Filter - $20
Line Loc - $5
25 W Finnex Heater - $20
Candy Cane - $35
Blasto - $35
Xenia Elongata - $free
Zoos - $5, $5, free
GSP - Free
GSP2 - Free
Kenya - $15
Feather Duster - $12
Cleaner Shrimp - $12
Hermits / Snails - Free
Toadstool Leather - $15
Mushrooms - Free
Green Clown Goby - $12
Cheatomorpha for fuge - $10
Extra's that Ive puchased along the way for other tanks:
Digital SG Meter $60
Test Kit $35
Calcium Test Kit - $20
Phosphate Test Kit - $20
Foods - $30
B-Ionic - $25
Seachem Ammonium Alert - $5
Nimble Nano (Pico Version) - $7
$224 Tank
$156 Livestock
$202 Extras
$560 Total in last 6 months. About 95 bux a month investment.
2*24 Watt PC Retrofit - $48 (DIY Raingutter Canopy $25)
AC500 used - $25
AC500 skimmer - $7
AC15 used - 2 for $10
Purigen - $7
Carbon - $3
Digital Thermometer - $9
Live Rock - $25
Live Sand - $10
Canister Filter - $20
Line Loc - $5
25 W Finnex Heater - $20
Candy Cane - $35
Blasto - $35
Xenia Elongata - $free
Zoos - $5, $5, free
GSP - Free
GSP2 - Free
Kenya - $15
Feather Duster - $12
Cleaner Shrimp - $12
Hermits / Snails - Free
Toadstool Leather - $15
Mushrooms - Free
Green Clown Goby - $12
Cheatomorpha for fuge - $10
Extra's that Ive puchased along the way for other tanks:
Digital SG Meter $60
Test Kit $35
Calcium Test Kit - $20
Phosphate Test Kit - $20
Foods - $30
B-Ionic - $25
Seachem Ammonium Alert - $5
Nimble Nano (Pico Version) - $7
$224 Tank
$156 Livestock
$202 Extras
$560 Total in last 6 months. About 95 bux a month investment.
