start up costs.
- Thread starter chvojka
- Start date
AllenFord_SC
New member
Well as I have read and heard many times, the budget gets thrown out the window within the first month. I personally try not to keep track of expenses because they are just more stuff for the fiance to hold over my head. True this is an expensive hobby, but there are many ways to save a little money here and there. Don't skimp on the lighting or the skimmer though. And as I found out, DIY usually costs more than buying in the long run, at least in my case.
Agreed, the first thing to figure out would be what size tank you are talking about.
Yet, you need to know up front that the tank and stand can be one of the least costly things you will be purchasing based on what you want to do.
Another thing to keep in mind is smaller may not necessarily mean better when talking about saltwater tanks. Smaller tanks require more frequent maintenance and a keeping a very close eye on water parameters at all times because you have less ability to dilute toxins.
Yet, you need to know up front that the tank and stand can be one of the least costly things you will be purchasing based on what you want to do.
Another thing to keep in mind is smaller may not necessarily mean better when talking about saltwater tanks. Smaller tanks require more frequent maintenance and a keeping a very close eye on water parameters at all times because you have less ability to dilute toxins.
ACBlinky
Premium Member
It depends on so many things... there are people here on RC with systems I can only dream of - MH lighting, custom canopies and stands, huge tanks, the best pumps, beautifully done plumbing and electrical work that a contractor would envy...
And then there are people who set up a 10g nano on a budget with nothing more than a HOB filter, standard fluorescent lighting and a little LR. Either way, you can have thriving, beautiful livestock, it depends on what your goals are.
To give you some kind of concrete answer, at the LFS where I work weekends we often tell someone who wants a general idea of SW startup costs that for a reef you can expect to pay around $50 per gallon by the time you're finished, but it could be more or less according to how you want to set things up. My tanks fall somewhere in between the two extremes and this is pretty accurate so far.
And then there are people who set up a 10g nano on a budget with nothing more than a HOB filter, standard fluorescent lighting and a little LR. Either way, you can have thriving, beautiful livestock, it depends on what your goals are.
To give you some kind of concrete answer, at the LFS where I work weekends we often tell someone who wants a general idea of SW startup costs that for a reef you can expect to pay around $50 per gallon by the time you're finished, but it could be more or less according to how you want to set things up. My tanks fall somewhere in between the two extremes and this is pretty accurate so far.
spankerbob
New member
20g tank- $30
Salt - $10
live rock - $100 to $200
Live sand - $20
HOB Skimmer - $100-200
powerheads - $40
lights - $50 - thousands
Salt - $10
live rock - $100 to $200
Live sand - $20
HOB Skimmer - $100-200
powerheads - $40
lights - $50 - thousands
It is a very expensive hobby as I am finding out. I'm new to all this and I would say the fifty dollars a gallon is pretty darn accurate. So far I have over 5000 in my 75 gallon bow front, and I yet to have a fish in the tank yet. I would definatley recommend looking here to buy things, as most everything you would need or want is for sale at one time or another. Find someone you trust, and let them help you with your tank. Another thing, you will get what you pay for. so go with the best equipment you can afford, as you don't want to have to upgrade later down the road.
Having a CA in the house makes it all but impossible not to know what we have spent.. I hear the "We could have had the big BIG screen TV and the hot tub for what we have spent".. but we both agree that it has been worth it. We are in the $50+ per gallon bracket now as well.
PatMayo
New member
I'm surprised, but I did some quick calculating and for me that $50.00 per gallon figure is pretty close. I am not quite there yet but I have yet to buy any corals for my tank. I do have some things that you could do in a less expensive fashion. I have a Pinpoint Ph meter, I'm sure I could have just used Maxi Jet powerheads instead of Seio. I have a remote thermometer, 2 nice digital 350 watt heaters etc.
But some of these things will make the experience more enjoyable. For instance easier maintenance because of good equipment. I used mag-float magnets to attach the powerheads to the tank. It makes it easy to move them and clean them, plus they won't fall off into the sand bed.
So you can do it inexpensively, relatively speaking, or more expensive depending on how your mind thinks. Mine tends to think on the expensive side. (At least that is what my wife says.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Pat
But some of these things will make the experience more enjoyable. For instance easier maintenance because of good equipment. I used mag-float magnets to attach the powerheads to the tank. It makes it easy to move them and clean them, plus they won't fall off into the sand bed.
So you can do it inexpensively, relatively speaking, or more expensive depending on how your mind thinks. Mine tends to think on the expensive side. (At least that is what my wife says.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Pat
flipteg
New member
i have a 30 gallon tank and i'm well over the $100/gallon mark :eek1: ... but looking at my tank, it doesn't show... although i get most of my stuff from local fish stores... that's probably why it's so expensive... but when i first started it, i spent about $800 to start it up...
Exactly 3 months ago I posted this same question.
Here I am $7,000 later.
I say $7,000 - $10,000 K to do it right. THen $150 monthly in maintenance for the costs of utilities, (water/electricty), foods, test kits, other recurring expenses.
You can see my story at
http://fmellish.shackspace.com/aquarium/index.html
Bottom of each page will take you to previous month.
Here I am $7,000 later.
I say $7,000 - $10,000 K to do it right. THen $150 monthly in maintenance for the costs of utilities, (water/electricty), foods, test kits, other recurring expenses.
You can see my story at
http://fmellish.shackspace.com/aquarium/index.html
Bottom of each page will take you to previous month.
jwhitlow1031
Member
I would say that im at abou $2000 thats about $40 per gallon and i went cheap, no sump i simpy have a canister filter that i run mainly carbon in and a hang on protein skimmer, my lights are only 130 watt pc so i am limited to soft corals, do what people tell you, dont go cheap on the skimmer and lighting, i wish i would have gone in all the way and just bought a MH and Pc combo to start. Here's what that money has gotten me though, www.picturetrail.com/jwhitlow1031
I have to say all things aside i love my tank and the entire experience has been a good one, before this tank i had a fowlr set up. i transfered a few of the fish and the coral banded shrimp from that tank along with the knowledge i had obtained. whatever you do dont buy a tank with a compleatly closed top such as a tank with a built in filter because this will greatly limit what you can do in the future as far as lighting upgrades and skimmers, etc. anyway i hope this info will be of some help. if you have any questions feel free to let me know and ill be willing to lend you any info i can, good luck
I have to say all things aside i love my tank and the entire experience has been a good one, before this tank i had a fowlr set up. i transfered a few of the fish and the coral banded shrimp from that tank along with the knowledge i had obtained. whatever you do dont buy a tank with a compleatly closed top such as a tank with a built in filter because this will greatly limit what you can do in the future as far as lighting upgrades and skimmers, etc. anyway i hope this info will be of some help. if you have any questions feel free to let me know and ill be willing to lend you any info i can, good luck
NCreefwannabe
New member
I bought most all of my stuff locally and used. mine is as follows and growing
55 gallon tank and stand $250 new
LR 71 pounds $ 100 used
skimmer $75 used
sand $75 used
powerheads pump and test strips $100 new
better test kit and other misc. items $75 used
about to be another $250 in a mh and pc combo setup also used.
55 gallon tank and stand $250 new
LR 71 pounds $ 100 used
skimmer $75 used
sand $75 used
powerheads pump and test strips $100 new
better test kit and other misc. items $75 used
about to be another $250 in a mh and pc combo setup also used.
I feel alot better after reading this thread 
Over 4 1/2 years I've dumped about $3000 to $3500 into my tanks...
Thats starting a 72 for FOWLR and running about 4 years and upgrading to a 135gallon tank...
Last summer I bought the 135 used.... while my 135 isn't completely set up yet (I need to build a new canopy) I have pretty much everything I need for a good reef tank by buying almost everything I needed from the person selling the 135 (he was leaving the hobby due to his job)... Tank, stand, VHO ballasts and lights, MH Ballasts, reflectors, and bulbs, DIY calcium reactor, Spectra pure RO/DI unit, big DIY recirculating skimmer, Sump.... I also got about 130 pounds of rock with the tank at about $2.75 pound--- the 135 upgrade costs me about $1500 so far.... still a work in progress though.
Over 4 1/2 years I've dumped about $3000 to $3500 into my tanks...
Thats starting a 72 for FOWLR and running about 4 years and upgrading to a 135gallon tank...
Last summer I bought the 135 used.... while my 135 isn't completely set up yet (I need to build a new canopy) I have pretty much everything I need for a good reef tank by buying almost everything I needed from the person selling the 135 (he was leaving the hobby due to his job)... Tank, stand, VHO ballasts and lights, MH Ballasts, reflectors, and bulbs, DIY calcium reactor, Spectra pure RO/DI unit, big DIY recirculating skimmer, Sump.... I also got about 130 pounds of rock with the tank at about $2.75 pound--- the 135 upgrade costs me about $1500 so far.... still a work in progress though.
SaltyNovice
New member
Start Up
Start Up
I've been setting up a 120 for 2.5 months now. MY total bill is sitting at $1557.37. The only thing I have not done yet is add lights and the fish/inverts (most important things). I'm sitting here today going through my "cycle" - one week yesterday. I know the lights are going to cost somewhere around $800.00. So mine will be around 2300 not counting the living things. So I guess I'm at about $19.50 per gallon. That's more than what I was planning on.
And I think I have been really tight with my money so far. The nice thing about this hobby is you do it "your way" (ole' Frank would be happy). Good luck - the money is well spent when the beauty of the reef (or close) is sitting in your livingroom. I can't wait - patience is the reef's master.
FWIW,
SaltyNovice
Start Up
I've been setting up a 120 for 2.5 months now. MY total bill is sitting at $1557.37. The only thing I have not done yet is add lights and the fish/inverts (most important things). I'm sitting here today going through my "cycle" - one week yesterday. I know the lights are going to cost somewhere around $800.00. So mine will be around 2300 not counting the living things. So I guess I'm at about $19.50 per gallon. That's more than what I was planning on.
And I think I have been really tight with my money so far. The nice thing about this hobby is you do it "your way" (ole' Frank would be happy). Good luck - the money is well spent when the beauty of the reef (or close) is sitting in your livingroom. I can't wait - patience is the reef's master.FWIW,
SaltyNovice
smcnally
New member
I don't know what I've spent so far, and I don't want to know. All I know, is that I have spent a crap load. I started with a 37 Gallon, upgraded to a 75 Gallon 3 months later, then upgraded to a 125 Gallon 9 months after that. Don't waste your money starting out with a small tank. You will only go bigger eventually, and you lose out when you sell all your old equipment for stuff that will accomidate the larger tank. I would reccommend a 55-75 gal as the smallest size to start out with a reef.
Aadler
New member
livestock is where things really start to get out of control with money. FOr just a nice small 20 gallon setup, you save a bit of money on Love Rock (20-30lbs @ 100-150$) and you have the potential not to skim (just do 4 gallon water changes weekly, however this would almost make you get a water purifier RO/DI for at least $150ish)... so for a 20 gallon reef set up without livestock,
tank - $25
Glass Top - $10
lights - $150 (250 to do it right, mh/vho/pc combo)
Powerheads - $80
Heater - $20
Glass cleaner - $7
HOB filter - $22
Bad of sand - $20
Live rock - $150
~ $585
----------------------
To set up a refugium (reccomended)
5.5-10 gallon tank $12
PVC fitteings and glue - $35
Drill bit to drill hole in tank - $10 (ebay)
Chaetomorph - $5
Live rock - $30
Light - $40 (pc)
~ $130
Then if you want a skimmer and/or purifier
skimmer $150
Purifier $150
~ $300
Live stock for my 7gallon has been about $300 and im not finished so if you want a really nice looked reef i would at least triple that
Live stock $900
So to "finish" it i would estimate around $1900, but dont forget all the monthly cost associated with running the thing
You could likely do it a lot cheaper than this, but by the time you get halfway... your budget just kinda goes bye bye and you buy what you need/want anyway. So realistically that is would likely cost, even for a 20 gallon tank, the bigger you go the only real cost difference is Buy live rock and livestock, and potentially a higher electric bill (should only really get significant if you really start putting on some big lights.
tank - $25
Glass Top - $10
lights - $150 (250 to do it right, mh/vho/pc combo)
Powerheads - $80
Heater - $20
Glass cleaner - $7
HOB filter - $22
Bad of sand - $20
Live rock - $150
~ $585
----------------------
To set up a refugium (reccomended)
5.5-10 gallon tank $12
PVC fitteings and glue - $35
Drill bit to drill hole in tank - $10 (ebay)
Chaetomorph - $5
Live rock - $30
Light - $40 (pc)
~ $130
Then if you want a skimmer and/or purifier
skimmer $150
Purifier $150
~ $300
Live stock for my 7gallon has been about $300 and im not finished so if you want a really nice looked reef i would at least triple that
Live stock $900
So to "finish" it i would estimate around $1900, but dont forget all the monthly cost associated with running the thing
You could likely do it a lot cheaper than this, but by the time you get halfway... your budget just kinda goes bye bye and you buy what you need/want anyway. So realistically that is would likely cost, even for a 20 gallon tank, the bigger you go the only real cost difference is Buy live rock and livestock, and potentially a higher electric bill (should only really get significant if you really start putting on some big lights.
