How Much Did You Spend On Your Tank?

[ngvu1]

Approx. yearly maintenance cost:

RO and DI Refills- $50/year
T5 Bulbs - $120/year
Salt - $20/year (Petco/Petsmart annual salt sale)
Carbon/GFO - $20/year
Testing refills - $20/year
Food - $50/year (less lately cause I have them eat pellets which I have a lot maybe never buy again)
Calc/Alk/Mag - $30/year
electricity - $350/year
water - $40/year (Not sure I use 10-20 gallons RODI a week)

////////////////////////////////////
about $700/year
/////////////////////////////////////

Electricity is eating 50% of that expense.

 

[DBR_Reef]

Approx. yearly maintenance cost:
////////////////////////////////////
about $700/year
/////////////////////////////////////

Electricity is eating 50% of that expense.

What's eating all that electricity? or is it just California rates?

 

[ngvu1]

The 6 bulb T5 has a big part in that. Cali rate is another thing. We are very efficient in using AC during the summer. In the winter we are also very efficient but you know when it hits 65, I don't care how much it costs

I use from 400KW -500KW/month and $30-$35/ month for the reef is not so bad. Many reefers I know hit the top and they are talking hundreds of bucks a month

What's eating all that electricity? or is it just California rates?

 

[Antics]

I don't know- If automation prevents one tank crash it starts looking pretty cheap

I think this is true for a lot of enthusaist users (like people who register for a reefing forum and spend the majority of their free time thinking, working, and talking about their tank.

In personal experience, I'd say there are A LOT more people who get a used set up for free or basically free and then spend a couple hundred dollars on a few fish and a handful of soft corals. The look on their face when you tell them their life will be easier if they buy a 200$ dosing pump or a 500$ controller is definitely amusing.

 

[Kyuss414]

When I figured it out awhile back I came up with about $3000. I got the tank & stand used for a steal with a bunch of other stuff I wasn't going to use so I sold it to recoup some money. DIY'd a bunch of stuff, and my setup is nothing fancy. It's in the basement rec. room with the sump on the other side of a wall, so no fancy remodel to mount it in-wall, no long plumbing runs, not an SPS tank so no crazy lighting, ect. The side of the wall where the sump is, is unfinished, which works great for a "fish room" being concrete floors and all, and where the majority of the money is for lifesupport stuff and maintanence - all that little stuff adds up. Money well spent there though as making routine maintenance easy means it actually gets done routinely.

It also took about 3-1/2 years from the time I got the tank, til the time it had water in it (mom got cancer) so I picked up a lot of stuff when I could get a good deal. It's not packed with livestock either, and most the stuff I do have I got from other local reefers which saves quite a bit, not that I have anything all that fancy anyway.

At this point I probably spend more time watching my tank in a week, than I do watching TV all year. I really never watch TV anymore unless I turn it on for background noise while I'm doing something else.

 

[pdt7361]

I think that I've done pretty good so far. I have a beautiful 90g setup that I've got less than $2000 in...and that is including all equipment, rock, coral, and fish. What helps is being part of a local club...we have a Coral Donation Program (CDP) to get/give some amazing frags. I've also been fortune enough to receive a few of my corals for free and got AMAZING deals on my equipment.

 

[ngvu1]

LOL, where is he funny button when you need them (the new "like" system).

How many free systems or basically free systems have you seen in person? If you want a clear box with water and something moving inside, sure anything goes but if you want a presentable tank, not many reefers out there get them free or basically free. They either work for them or buy them cheaper at best or pay the full price tag for the ballers. Many people are buying hundreds of dollars dosers and controllers and lights...and chillers.....However, that is just my experience!

I think this is true for a lot of enthusaist users (like people who register for a reefing forum and spend the majority of their free time thinking, working, and talking about their tank.

In personal experience, I'd say there are A LOT more people who get a used set up for free or basically free and then spend a couple hundred dollars on a few fish and a handful of soft corals. The look on their face when you tell them their life will be easier if they buy a 200$ dosing pump or a 500$ controller is definitely amusing.

 

[adestafi]

I'm scared to add it all up.... But I know I've spent a lot.

 

[smokin'reefer]

My Red Sea Reefer 450 was about $2200. All that other stuff came with it. Including the equipment, fish and corals. And if anybody tells my girl different we might have to fight.

 

[Brandon42]

That my wife knows about?

isnt this the truth lol

 

[Brandon42]

The 6 bulb T5 has a big part in that. Cali rate is another thing. We are very efficient in using AC during the summer. In the winter we are also very efficient but you know when it hits 65, I don't care how much it costs

I use from 400KW -500KW/month and $30-$35/ month for the reef is not so bad. Many reefers I know hit the top and they are talking hundreds of bucks a month

65! lol it hit -20 here in michigan last year

 

[tj w]

I've had my 300 dd set up since last August and I've got about 12k into it right now. The monthly cost is around 300 for maintenance and supplements. Not including electricity. I agree on not telling the wife thing![emoji51]

 

[AdamPhe]

29 gal bio cube. 9 months old. $1,100 so far. All stock equipment.

 

[tigé21v]

The only thing I hate think about more than how much I've spent is how much money I've LOST...
There are very few things worse in this world than, after rationalizing the expenditures, fall victim to a tank crash.

 

[SaltMan]

Why do products for this hobby have to be so expensive?

 

[Antics]

LOL, where is he funny button when you need them (the new "like" system).

How many free systems or basically free systems have you seen in person? If you want a clear box with water and something moving inside, sure anything goes but if you want a presentable tank, not many reefers out there get them free or basically free. They either work for them or buy them cheaper at best or pay the full price tag for the ballers. Many people are buying hundreds of dollars dosers and controllers and lights...and chillers.....However, that is just my experience!

I work at a LFS and can tell you there is a ridiculous amount of sticker shock in this hobby. Its easy to say "duh!" or "I know that already" but you've most likely acclimated yourself to the pricing structure and don't fully remember what it was like the first time you got serious about spending money. I deal with people all day that recieved a 55 gallon tank and stand for free with a canister filter from their mom/brother/aunt/friend/neighbor and want the equivalent of an 8,000$ aquarium with 3,000$ in livestock on a 400$ budget.

I'm using "you" in reference to any casual reader in this thread, not singling anyone out!

 

[DBR_Reef]

I've had my 300 dd set up since last August and I've got about 12k into it right now. The monthly cost is around 300 for maintenance and supplements. Not including electricity. I agree on not telling the wife thing![emoji51]

Holy @#$%. $300 a month in maintenance and supplements?! Do you have a maintenance service?, or are you dosing gold?

 

[tj w]

Yes, I have it maintained. Lol.

 

[Sm51498]

There is an old engineering maxim that applies.
Pick two: fast, cheap and high quality

This hobby adheres to that strongly.

 

[Wes]

How much did I spend on my "tank"? $800. Setting up the tank and running it for almost 10 years? $20-25k. Adds up quickly. I'm budgeting $10k just to get my next one wet, a 240, and I'm reusing a lot of equipment.