How much is YOUR nano setup worth???And the stuff in it?

[saltman123]

I am curious to know how much people have put into their Nano's from both an equipment size, as well as the live stock, corals, etc.

I have been reading up and learning for the past few weeks now and am realizing just how expensive it is to get into the hobby.

I am curious to know how much people have spent on their equipment. Then separately on the critters, fish, live rock, corals, etc.

Anyone care to share?

I am considering an Aquapod and have also factored in:

Power Head
Aquarium Test Kit
Lighting - Included with the Aquapod
Salt
Water-Reverse Osmosis
Heater
Thermometer
Refractometer/Hydrometer
Algae magnet
Algae Scraper
Food- For Fish and Corals, etc
Skimmer


Then lastly, the inhibitos for the tank including:
Live Rock
Sand/Substrate
Clean Up Crew
Fish
Soft Corals
Anything else.

Anyone care to share their investments? Just trying to get an idea of just how far people have gone.

Either way I am sure the payoff is WELL WORTH IT IN THE END. There is nothing like an awesome looking tank. I am jealous of you all jk

 

[flipteg]

you're not gonna get a lot of people with that kind of information... almost everyone is too scared to do the calculations...

i used to keep all my recipts but after a while, i just started pilling them all in a box with the hopes adding them up one day... i've never got around to doing it and i have lost a lot of them now... it's like i feel light headed everytime i think about the money that goes in to the tank...

 

[saltman123]

That seems to be what many people are telling me

I am in the very starting phases so laying it out on paper before even buying anything is also pretty scary.... Just need to make the jump I guess and buy wisely so anything purchased now can still be used if I upgrade to a larger system later.

 

[flipteg]

buy the best you can afford now... don't necessarily go in to a small tank already thinking of upgrading... i was in the same situation before, but after a few months of having the system, i am now starting to think that my 30 gallons is the perfect size... i like my tank, but sometimes i do get lazy... after the "new" thrill has worn out, a lot of the stuff that should be done, get skipped... and contrary to what most people tell you, a larger tank requires more maintenance... and obviously, cost more money to maintain... electricity, water, RO/DI filters, salt, additives and such... obviously, the larger the tank, the more of those things you use and the more water you have to take out every water change...

setting up a budget of around $1,000 for a 30 gallons for the first 3 months is pretty reasonable... that is in ADDITION to the tank and stand... keep in mind that is if you get everything retail... you can save a lot if you buy online...

everything will just add up from there especially if you get into the habit of "just walking in" to a petshop without really needing anything...

so far, i have bought everything that i have for retail price at local fish stores... needless to say, i have spent WAY MORE than $1,000 on my 30 gallons...

that's kinda the reason why i am not thinking of upgrading anymore... in addition to the work load of a larger tank, smaller tanks do have their own appeal... i can give more attention per square inch of a small tank than a larger tank to make it look just the way i like it...

 

[Agu]

$30/gallon is a pretty accurate figure to set up a reef tank.

If you do a lot of DIY, buy used equipment, and get frags from other reefers that number can get down to $20/gallon. Of course if you'll have to buy tools to DIY that number just goes back to $30/gallon .

 

[bil2k]

It's hard to remember everything, but if I had to guess I'd say I'm up to about $700 - $800ish and 3.5 months into my nano cube 12dx setup.

I'm pretty much done stocking and have slowed down buying things, so it should be easy on the wallet now. I'm only planning on buying a couple more zoanthid frags to mix it up so figure another $75-100 over the next 2 months.

 

[puffer21]

I have a 29 gallon and just on equitment, sand and rock i have spent 1,048 I like to keep track.

 

[Brooks_McClary]

Dude, Set up might be $30/a gallon. Maybe...

But that is a drop in the bucket compared to the upkeep.

I refuse to figure out how much $$$ has gone into my 20gal reef. It is way more than $600.

Just start with what you can and go from there. If your having fun, who cares how much you spend as long as the lights are on and the rent is paid.

 

[Kogo]

$150 - used 20l w/ 150w VHO, drilled with 10g refugium
$60 - live rock
free - sand
recycled - pumps
$20 - lockline
$85 - large colored hamer
trade - cool FS
$45 - purple mushroom colony
trade - red shrooms
$69 - large colony tiedye shrooms
$35 - neon trumpet
trade - red & green trumpet
$29 - another trumpet
trade - favite brain
trade - assorted zoas
$30 - assorted zoas and palys
$35 - clam
$45 - cooler clam
$45 - aquacultured green leather
$12 - green feather duster
$25 - dottyback
$12 - mandarine (fat and happy for 4 months now so no flames)
$12 - assorted crabs snails and such
$30 - red sea fan
$15 - red tree sponge
$15 - yellow tree sponge
_____

$769 grand total.... and thats with minimal equiptment, DIY, and trades.

add in $4-$5 /month for NSW and RO






i wish i hadnt calculated that!

 

[bamsickle]

I try not to think too much about it... And no way will I ever put it in black and white for the hubby to find..:blown:

B

 

[Kogo]

ill have to disable the internet for a few days until this thread fades into the background

 

[saltman123]

Ha Ha Ha!
You all crack me up

I am the planning type so I stuck it down on paper just to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything.......I then had the bright idea to attach pricing to it to see what I was spending......probably wasn't a good thingjk

Definitely an expensive hobby, but am looking forward to it!!

 

[midknight]

Can always bring the prices by buying used on line. people are always upgrading/downgrading or just getting out. I found a lot of stuff on Craigslist under pet or free section.
There is also a good sales section here. And seeing you didn't say where you are from there is a good site for us Canadians Canreef.com.
I am also very cheap (see my thread) so want to save as many pennies as possible.
I am also finding the most expensive items are the lights.

 

[bennerkla]

Hmm, so far I've spent about 800 dollars on my 5.5 gallon nano, bringing my dollar/gallon ratio to an embarrassing $145.45 / gallon.

Wow. Didn't realize that.

 

[bil2k]

The way I rationalize it is that I could be out on the street doing drugs or being a prostitute instead. The irony is, I may have to turn to prostitution just to stay in the hobby

 

[angelsj247]

ive think i spent about 800 dollars so far on my 20 gal fowlr, which im going to be turing into a reef soon.

 

[snarkes]

man... I wish I was paying what you guys are for your water... my lfs charges 1.79/ gal for salt water and 1.29/gal for RO! Needless to say I just bought a RO/DI unit.

 

[lilprincess]

I've spent almost $900 on my 20L and I'm still spending.

That extra order I just placed for $150 will be our little secret.

 

[vest0830]

Humm...lemme add this up:

25g cube $100
seio powerhead $30
used bakpak skimmer $45 from ebay
hamilton 175w mh light with bulb retro $125 used from here
One of those magnetic scraper things $10 on ebay

thats just for my tank...for in the box o' water....

Sand $3 for 1 bag. Its accually sand with crushed coral in it. then I seeded it with LS from the ocean
LR $35
SO total: ~$348 for my tank

-on my water, I get 5g for 400yen or approximently $3.-- from a coral farm here who gets it from sesoko island (best reef in okinawa) I get my corals from there as well with an average of 1500yen a peice (which is really just a frag the way they set their "farm" up) I suppliment with kent kalk mix, and I drip it into the tank with a homemade dripper set-up.

Total, I would say I have about $500 into everything. The only thing im not using that you would use, the RO unit and salt. I'm considering a RO unit though for top-off water. It would pay for itself over the time I continue to purchase distilled water. Also, I got my LR/sand for ALOT cheaper than what you will get it in the states. If your worried about costs, my best advice would be to pick it up slowly over a few months time (which you could be cooking your rock anyways during that time) and look for used items. There is no shame in using used things, especially if your on a budget. You will find some killer deals on here if you hold out and wait for the right deal.

 

[SpongeRobert]

I've got a 24 gal. nano cube modded to the max with custom stand, canopy, crazy lighting set up, a reef controller, ato system, etc. etc. . I could go on for days. I stopped counting after 2,000.00. Like said before, initial cost is one thing but on going maintenance and live stock will just keep adding up. I originally started in the hobby with a 75 gal then went to a 90 gal. The maintenance was just too much so I went to a 45 gal. and now I have the 24 gal. and love it. Nano is the way to go. My advice to you is to buy good equipment to start with and set it up the way you want it. I sure could have saved alot of money by doing this when I first started in the hobby. Upgrade your equipment Now!