Monthly Costs of a small reef

[jezzeaepi]

Dont want to add things all at once, or your setting yourself up for failure(and needless coral death). Best to add them slowly in smaller batches. If your not going to have a fair amount of disposable income after your car, then its not going to be a fun hobby for you. If you instnatly have everything you want in your tank, then what is there to keep you interested?
With a 28 gallon tank you are going to have to top off every day without forgetting. Youll also be spending money on food, replacement bulbs once every 8-12 months, carbon if you do that, plus other misc parts from time to time.
You WILL need a skimmer. A first timer will not be able to run a tank without one without serious consquence(to your fish and corals). You will need about 100 dollars worth of testing supplies + refractomoter. Youll spend close to 800 probably before any livestock. Live rock and clean up crew will run you another 300.

Its not an entertainment center. Cant just set it up in the corner and expect it to be perfect and run perfect without putting anything in to it after the initial setup.

 

[misguided]

I'm 18 and i'm buying my stuff i save one check and spend another check on the tank. 28 gallon is what i have and trust me you'll want to upgrade i'm already buying a 120 gallon and i dont even have my 28 setup yet. Don't skimp on equipment its the most important part of the hobby.

Logan

 

[mattvisocky2003]

Well... most important part next to the reefkeeper himself. Good job researching before you upgrade.

 

[Im14abeer]

I'm surprised at the somewhat negative tone seeing as you're showing remarkable restraint for a young man. (Except for the buying everything today.) It doesn't have to be crazy expensive to be nice and healthy. Agree with above posts regarding skimmer though, especially on a smallish tank. Also, don't add all at once, maybe a couple really desireable corals, then use the car to go to a frag swap.

Good luck, stay responsible,

>jamie

 

[FishMaster1000]

Well I was not going to add ALL corals at once. I can use my Nc for the smaller/ Lower light needing corals! And I would still be interested in this hobby even if my tank was stocked! I want the tank to look at it, not to constantly be spending money adding things. And I will not be able to upgrade in the future as the tank is in my bedroom and can hardly handle anything larger. My parents do not want the tank in the main parts of the house. It is still a toss up. I may go tonight or tomorrow to purchase some things..Of course depending on my choice!

 

[fishman805]

My 37gal cost me about $1000 to setup and that's without the corals and fish....

Bob

 

[reefer_for_life]

if your dad is buying everything get a skimmer. for a tank that size a CPR BakPak would do the trick. there not too expensive, about $120, and would do a good job on your tank.

 

[ol'dude]

Ya gotta start somewhere and from what I can see you're not just diving in to see if things live or die. The notion of an adaquate skimmer should not be considered lightly since it IS the best method of oxygation and nutrient export known (to most of us) as this time. I also suggest that you reseach each and every piece you want to add for compatabilty to each other, water quality, light requirements, etc..

The list goes on and on but you are on the right track. My only suggestion is to understock and watch each additions placement for weeks if not months and observe the reaction of all inhabs.

Kudos to you for having the insight to inquire!

 

[FishMaster1000]

OH I have been reading for sooo long... I am doing good with my nanocube. I purchased that to minimize my initial investment in the Marine world, and to see if I could handle it! As far as skimming, I really rather not have the big nasty cup in plain sight in my room. Lighting requirements I have down! Its just the decision on if I will be able to have the monthly funds necessary. I do not think it will be too much..Well I am going to the LFS tomorrow to get salt for my nano..I will probably make the decision while im there!

 

[piranhaking]

the cpr hob skimmers dont look that bad, and are easy to cover up. I have a 10 gallon right now, and i am about to start making a new tank. I also only have limited space, so i cant find what i want. the main reason for the upgrade is so that i can have a skimmer and a sump.

 

[Salamander]

I agree with most of the above posts and commend you for inquiring. Listen to these folks though so you can do your best. If you don;t like to look at your skimmer, get a tank and stand where you can put a fuge/sump underneath it and put your equipment in there. It will make a big difference and will allow you to upgrade your tank and go SPS if you desire to down the road. And try using kalk instead of additives unless its a two part like B ionic. You may also want to fork out early for a RO/DI which can pay for itself in the first year of use. Good luck

 

[GPB]

I have a small 37 gal reef. Like most folks I sunk about 1200.00 in hardware to set it up.

Monthly expenses aside from critters, here's what I would expect.

I go through about $15.00 of two part additives per month.

I replace my ligt bulbs once per year. 2 PCs and one MH. Depending on what you buy that would come to about $ 10.00 month if you split up the onece a year cost.

Salt for water changes: about $5.00/ month.

I replace my RO /carbon/ and floss media in my RO filter once a year. That comes to about 10.00 month.

Test kits: I test pretty regularly and use Salifert (not the cheapest) 5.00 / month. I regularly check Alk, PO4, and Nitrate.

I replace PH and ORP probes annually: 100.00 or $9.00 /month.

Food: Not sure: I don't use much: I'd gueess at 3.00 month. I use cyclopeez, marine snow, Frozen Krill, and Formula One frozen and pellets.

Activated Carbon: 2.00 month. I usually replace every other month.

I would also allow about 15.00 a month for unknown incidentals that come up like broken heaters, pumps. It's a fact of life, stuff happens.


Good Luck on your tank. Probably could do it for less by replacing light bulbs, probes, and RO media less often. I don't like to take chances

 

[fishman805]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6923133#post6923133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GPB

I replace my ligt bulbs once per year. 2 PCs and one MH. Depending on what you buy that would come to about $ 10.00 month if you split up the onece a year cost.

I've also got a 37gal reef.... What lighting fixture did you get that fits over the top of your tank with PC's and MH..?? I'm wanting to increase the lighting above mine and aside from building one myself, I've not found a 30" fixture thats got that sort of lighting ...

Bob

 

[GPB]

Fishman,

My 37G is a Oceanic Cube. Width is 24", not 30". I use a Aqualight Pro with a 175watt MH and 2 65w PC's. Fits like a glove over the 37G cube.

 

[thereefmaster]

I was under 750 bucks for my 55G mixed reef w/lights.

Monthly, about 40-50 which includes salt.

I do 25% weekly w/c's.

But is costs about 100 dollars every 6 months to replace my bulbs...

-Nate

 

[alten78]

If I got this all straight, your old man is going to buy everything up front so startup costs really mean nothing to you right? That alone screams "go for it!"

As far as a monthly cost estimate, obviously you don't pay the utility bills so are you going to have to pay the additional electricity the new tank is going to consume? If you do it probably wont raise it much more than 10 bucks a month. For example, say you got 250w mh running 8 hours a day in a 30 day month at 10 cents per kWh is gonna cost ya a whopping 6 bucks...

Im bout as broke as a ...well...16 year old :lol: If I can do it, you can too

 

[jezzeaepi]

You neglected to mention that you already had a tank going =P

 

[FishMaster1000]

Well, I bit the bullet.. Ha what am I saying..the Old man bit the bullet.. The tank is skimmerless AS OF now... WIll most likely be ordering a skimmer this week, possibly today. They had the Super SKimmer at the LFS but I want something slimmer, not as bulky looking. I was thinking the Bak Pak or Remora. ANy experience with the bak pak?