Price on 240g complete setup?

[chrisqueenz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13096356#post13096356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ROB712
no ive done my reaserch..im just asking if this package the guy set me up with is legit otherwise id go one by one and get exactly what i want...the 1/4 chiller is rated at 260G tanks...i will have around 200g or less after i add all the rock to it so that i should be fine...i have 3 250 stealth heaters written down also ill be fine on that.

Keep in mind water volume drops when you add your rock, but I am assuming your LFS is recommending the use of a sump right? Depending on the size of your sump you will be raising water volume again. I hope you dont feel like we are coming off a bit strong, you are doing the right thing in researching as much as possible to avoid the same mistakes most of us made at the begining.

I think you will hear this statement from every reefer at one point or another "I wish I would of spent the extra time researching and the extra dollar to get it right the first time!"

Your on the right track Rob712, find out all you can!

 

[zachtos]

My 240G SPS reeftank that I setup cost me about $12K out of pocket. I bought several parts used and did a lot of DIY. This was the entire budget to get it stocked as well. Rule of thumb I give people is

$50 X gallon of the display = setup cost
$10 X gallon of the display = monthly maintain cost

If that sounds out of your range, then set your sights lower. Don't go in if you don't have the time or money.

 

[crazzy]

You maybe further ahead to go with something like http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1446127
which is at the other ned of U.S., but complete systems do come up for sale on RC. leaves lots left over for you to upgrade a system . this one, without top notch gear is 180 gallons including fish for $800. Lots to then play with for improvements.
Just a thought. You could get new for $5,000 with some DIY also to get a good system. Take two more months to compare your options, with the econmy in the U.S. a lot of great prices are in the offing.

 

[crazzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13108401#post13108401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
My 240G SPS reeftank that I setup cost me about $12K out of pocket. I bought several parts used and did a lot of DIY. This was the entire budget to get it stocked as well. Rule of thumb I give people is

$50 X gallon of the display = setup cost
$10 X gallon of the display = monthly maintain cost

If that sounds out of your range, then set your sights lower. Don't go in if you don't have the time or money.

Is that a typo? $2,400.oo per month maintenance cost for a 240 Gallon SPS ? How is that possible? Electricity?

 

[stash]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13108401#post13108401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zachtos
My 240G SPS reeftank that I setup cost me about $12K out of pocket. I bought several parts used and did a lot of DIY. This was the entire budget to get it stocked as well. Rule of thumb I give people is

$50 X gallon of the display = setup cost
$10 X gallon of the display = monthly maintain cost

If that sounds out of your range, then set your sights lower. Don't go in if you don't have the time or money.

$10 x gallons of display? so i 200 gallon would cost you $2000 per month? $24000 per year?

are you saying yearly maintenance costs?

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13108476#post13108476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stash
$10 x gallons of display? so i 200 gallon would cost you $2000 per month? $24000 per year?
are you saying yearly maintenance costs?

Yes I think that's what he meant, that includes:
food,
electricity use (tank use plus extra air conditioning),
salt,
calcium/alkalinity buffers/CaRx media,
trace element additives,
carbon,
GFO,
test kits,
pump impellers,
new bulbs,
temp probes,
PH probes,
phytoplankton,
RO water,
replacement filter cartridges,
replacement cleanup crew/detrivores (snails, crabs, starfish, etc),
medications,
algae scrubber pads,
etc.

It adds up, and there's almost ALWAYS something that you need more of. So far I've easily spent 200.00 per month on my 210 gallon system (180 display) not counting livestock and other "setup" gear. It's sickening sometimes, but it helps to get in on local group buys and stock up on staples ahead of time when you find a good deal.

 

[wnutz]

i do beleive that was a typo a tank doesnt cost 2g a month to maintain.

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

I easily spend 500/ month on my tank.

Extra electric, food, water, salt for water changes, additions of coral, fish, 2 part, etc...

 

[zachtos]

I meant about $1 x display gallons to maintain per month roughly (electric, water changes, food, bulbs, problems etc.)

 

[Bud Reeferman]

I agree $5K seems too cheap for new equipment. In the first 6 months you'll spend that much again just stocking. Unless you've got an unusual shape, reconsider acrylic vs glass. It's a newbie mistake.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I disagree, 5K seems like a "normal" price from a "normal" LFS.

But, what your paying for is the overhead costs of the store, not quality equipment. I know, I was one of those guys who walked into a store about 6 years ago and said "I want a big tank and everything to go with it"....4K later I had an Oceanic 135, which was very nice, but the system was adequate as best.

After I discovered Reef Central and spent some time reading, I was off and planning my next system. A 210-in-wall. I purchased the tank locally, but all the other equipment I bought on-line. Ended up with about $3500 in set-up costs. (not including stocking the tank) And I Ended up with a much better system capable of supporting anything I wanted.

Wish I hadn't wasted 4K on that first tank...

 

[Black Mammoth]

I think that you are getting the point. You aren't probably get the greatest of equipment and will probably end up replacing it. That might be OK to do. If you want something now and don't mind slowly upgrading, you can do that. If you don't have to get something now, I would wait and slowly collect equipment that are great deals. But that means learning about the equipment and the hobby. I highly recommend that. You may want to consider a smaller tank and then upgrade later.

You don't have to spend $12k on a system like these guys. But they want to to achieve certain results and have good reliable equipment. That in turn gives you better results and less maintenance.

I have about $4k (maybe a tad more) in my 90g. I bought items a good deals and made my stand and canopy.

I'm setting up a 300g now. If you don't count the build out of my fish room and my in wall setup, I'm doing it it MUCH MUCH cheaper than 12k. I'm buying stuff used and I'm getting good equipment cheap. You don't need everything that everyone runs. You don't have to have these $1000 controllers, but they are nice.

Live rock is expensive. Usually you can find a good deal from local people for around $3/lb So if you estimate 1 - 1.5lbs a gallon. You can see that you will spend a lot. I got a good deal on Marshall rock for about $8/lb and I bought 100lbs for my 90.

 

[tolthoff]

I also tend to agree with the above posts, I think 5k is the low end for a reef tank this size. I am building a 240g reef and here is a list of my equipment:

240g glass tank (starfire 3 sides) predrilled for closed loop and overflows installed - glasscages.com $1500 shipped

65g acrylic sump - glasscages.com $250 shipped

70g rubbermaid stock tank (2nd sump tank) - menards $75

custom built stand/canopy $2500

(2) reeflo hammerhead pumps - saltycritter.com $329/each

(2) 300w heaters - drsfoster&smith.com $25/each

(3) Koralia 4 powerheads - drsfoster&smith.com $45/each

Aqua-C 240EV skimmer $400

Pentair QuietOne 6000 pump (for skimmer) $90

PVC plumbing parts (including 14 ballvalves, 120' 1.5" flexible pvc, plus fittings, etc.) - savko.com ~$500

500# sand/crushed coral - drsfoster&smith.com $385

~200# liverock (more to come) - purchased locally, and through reefcentral.com classifieds $600

LED light fixture ~$4000 (hope to purchase soon, right now fish only and using powercompact lighting temporarily.


So... I've spent about $7150 on my tank so far. This does not include lighting, as I have yet to purchase the LED fixture ($4000). This also does not include any livestock, food, additives, and all those little supplies like siphons, nets, auto feeders, etc., that you will eventually end up purchasing. I also do not use a calcium reactor or any type of electronic controller at this time.

I hope this helps... any questions, please feel free to pm.

 

[tolthoff]

Oh, I forgot, I also do not need a chiller at this time. I hope to avoid a chiller using the LED lights. Right now, my temp stays very steady at 78 degrees, but I will be keeping an eye on it as the seasons change.

 

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13111339#post13111339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bud Reeferman
I agree $5K seems too cheap for new equipment. In the first 6 months you'll spend that much again just stocking. Unless you've got an unusual shape, reconsider acrylic vs glass. It's a newbie mistake.

$5K sounds about right, especially given that live rock alone will run over a grand. I was given some pretty good advice when I first started: buy small frags rather than large expensive colonies. You can also buy smaller (cheaper) fish rather than full adults, fish raised by other hobbyists, and fish sold by hobbyists "getting out".

Given that I'm new and my tank hasn't been established for a year, I'd rather gain experience keeping younger fish and small frags than watching big acan colonies STN due to my inexperience and stupidity.

Besides, I want to buy small things and watch them grow in my tank. I want the sense of accomplishment that comes from years of husbandry, and I'm taking it slow.

 

[Jim_S]

I went with some of the higher end stuff for my build. I am well over $8K and still climbing on my 180 display....

It all really depends what you want. I'm into high end equipment, so I wound up spending more. If you want to save money in some areas, its not that hard

 

[tolthoff]

A final thought... Before my build, I had a small 12kW home generator installed to protect my tank(s) from a power outage. It is expensive ($6500 installed) but please consider. A storm system moved through my area on Monday and I lost power (among other things like trees), until last night. My generator ran non-stop for 4 days. Without it, I would have lost everything. Plus, you get the added benefit of jealous neighbors!!

 

[ROB712]

thank you guys for all your imput...i will talk to the guy ive been going to him for years now...i will set up a list of everything i need with him and i will post the list and hopefully you guys can tell me if its legit and if i will be alright with the setup..i looked over it and yes it is very basic setup so i will change some things

ive been doing a lot of reading on here and im glad i posted this thread because its really helping me a lot...thanks guys so much! ill hopfully have some new build pics of my new tank in a few weeks for you guys!

BTW if you guys want to post pictures of your reef tanks around the same size as the one im planning please do i would love to see them!!!

 

[tolthoff]

This is a thread to my 240g build project. Any comments or questions are welcome and appreciated!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1400735

 

[ROB712]

ok guys a new tank just came up!
its the same size as the one im looking for only acrylic
tell me what you think im going to look at it tommorrow.
system
2 Rio 32HF return pumps, 2 Seio 2600 circ pumps with Seio wave controller, 400w heater, chiller, UV sterilizer, protein skimmer, 4 Coralife wavemaker power centers(3 in use, one other set up but not being used), Complete lighting unit 72" long -(3) 250w MH 14000k (4) 96w power compact actinics(one not working) (8) 1w blue moon lights (2) cooling fans, 60g sump refugium with (2) 65w 5600k flourescent lights and powerhead for circulation, (3) return lines on top with (6) loc line eductor heads - these increase waterflow without adding additional pumps, spray bar return under live rock, 2 cooling fans in the cabinet and 2 new fans(in box) for the canopy.
his tank is set up and if i decide to go with it tommorrow i will polish the tank up a bit re arrange all the rocks give the whole system a basic tune up kinda and start to cycle the tank. then bring the fish back and start to build the coral he has a few that i will hold at a friends house.
my ONLY second thought about this system is that it is acrylic and my local fish guy says acrylic doesnt hold up as well.
tell me what you guys think!
seems like a really cool guy cant wait to see it tommorrow