question on $$ and general things

[footballdude2k3]

Hello, I have been on here and have wanted to do a tank for the longest time, but since I think that I will be moving to Las Vegas at some point in the next year or so I do not want to start one until I have a more permanent place to live so I do not cause unwanted stress on fish moving them around all the time. I had a question on about how much you all spend on your fish tanks in a month or a year. I have extra money but I want to make sure that I can properly take care of everything along with all of the fish. Depending on how things shake out when I move I have been looking at everything between a 40 and a 120.

This will be the first time I have ever had a SW tank and I think that FOWLR is the way for me. I would like to have a couple false percs, and 15 tangs....j/k I would never put that many fish in a tank that small. Honestly though I know that I want the percs and I am not sure of what else, I like a lot of color so that is something that I will look for. If I get a bigger tank i would like a hippo tang, but if not then just more little colorful fish.

I have heard a lot of different sides about having sand in a tank, what do you guys suggest? I would like to get a shrimp/goby pair but if sand will make the tank crash then it is something that I would say no to. The clowns will be the last thing I add no matter what I get since they can be *****y haha. But seriously I want a peaceful tank so I do not want to overcrowd it or get fish that do not have room to move around. I would love a Picasso Trigger but I know that the tanks I want are too small, but maybe someday

Thanks in advance everybody!

 

[jjk_reef00]

FOWLR you don't need expensive high power lights. Your cost will be electric (pumps, skimmer, AC to cool the tank, etc), and salt. It really depends on the size of tank, because you will need a bigger skimmer, bigger pumps on a large tank. Even for a large tank you don't need a huge pump, and there are plenty of energy efficient skimmers on the market.

 

[haitwun]

I would say about $700 for equipment if you shop wisely: filter, protein skimmer, tank, stand, RO unit. You do not need lights for a FOWLR.

I spent about $150 per year on my 55 gallon. I used up 2 buckets of synthetic salt a year and spent about $20-30 on fish food.

 

[Recty]

It all depends on size and what you want to do...

I had a 210 gallon tank with a 55 gallon sump. I figure between the 220 lbs of live rock I had about 200 gallons of water in the tank. I did a 10%-15% water change every week, which up here cost about $10 worth of salt mix. So right there I spent $40 a month. Electricity to run the tank, including a 250w metal halide (you dont need good lights, but your fish will look better with good lighting) and a big return pump, plus a big pump running the skimmer, cost me about another $25. So that's $65 a month. Then I would go to the store AT LEAST monthly, normally every 2 weeks and buy about $10 worth of fresh seafood to make my food mix up with, I figure on average I spent about $15 a month on food.

Oh, and then buying fish? It all depends on what you like, but even for a 40g you can find fish that you think are awesome that cost in the multiple hundreds of dollars.

Anyway, all things considered, if I spent about $100 a month on my tank I considered it normal, not including livestock. Bigger tanks mean bigger bills.

Now, I could have easily turned off the metal halide and ran a smaller skimmer, or bought a more efficent skimmer off the starting line. I could have probably gotten away with only one 15% a month water change, saving on salt. I also could have just fed NLS pellets or some other form of cheap and easy food. All said and done, I could have relatively easily cut my bill down to about $30. However, I was doing what I thought the fish would like and what I would like, were I in there shoes, I didnt want to just do the minimum possible.

It depends on the tank, the livestock and your level of care provided. If one or two of those things is small, your bill will be small also.

 

[footballdude2k3]

Thanks for all of the help everybody, I am leaning right now towards a 55g tank, possibly a 10 or 20 sump, I have no idea how to setup a sump or anything, but I am sure that I can learn that along the way I do not want to skimp out or anything like that, these fish are living things and I think that if you are going to take on the responsibility of owning a living thing that you have to do whatever it takes to make sure they are happy and healthy.

I know at some point that I will want a bigger tank, that seems to be the nature of the beast here, but I want to learn and see my expenses on something not as big. Where are good places to find fish that will get along together well? Thanks!

 

[sevendigitcake]

dont do a 55 gallon, instead look at a 75, 90, or 120. these are all 4 foot tanks but are much wider and you will appreciate the extra width. It makes aquascaping easier and gives a look of depth.

 

[Hydrologist]

Thanks for all of the help everybody, I am leaning right now towards a 55g tank, possibly a 10 or 20 sump, I have no idea how to setup a sump or anything, but I am sure that I can learn that along the way I do not want to skimp out or anything like that, these fish are living things and I think that if you are going to take on the responsibility of owning a living thing that you have to do whatever it takes to make sure they are happy and healthy.

I know at some point that I will want a bigger tank, that seems to be the nature of the beast here, but I want to learn and see my expenses on something not as big. Where are good places to find fish that will get along together well? Thanks!

A 10 or 20 gallon sump would be worthless. If you are going to have a sump for a 55gallon I would suggest a minimum of 40gallons.

 

[lostintheocean]

a 20 gallon sump would be fine, for a 55, 75, 90. room for equipment and even a fuge depending on how you lay it out.

 

[nuccadoc]

+1 on not getting a 55. I would get a 120. Buy the largest tank you can afford.

 

[Hydrologist]

Ok, maybe a 20 gallon sump isn't worthless, but if you are going to go with a 55 gallon. I would suggest you get as big a sump as you can.

......As everyone else suggested, get the largest DT you can get. You will only regret it later.

 

[footballdude2k3]

thanks for all of the help everybody i will definately think about all of it