How Much Did You Spend On Your Tank?

[ChytownPrincess]

Too much. This is hobby is absurdley expensive.

 

[Kyuss414]

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 that was kinda his point. Likely the bigger portion of people with tanks don't visit forums, and just go by what the LFS tells them. 20g tank, a clownfish, a tang, a handful of corals... sure 6 months down the road it's probably getting dumped out and tossed in the garage but that likely represents the "majority."

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

90 gallon tank
Wet dry converted to sump
14 gal fuge
125-150lb live rock
Eshoppe skimmer
Kessil 160 x2
4 bulb t5
Maxspect gyre
Jebao wp10 x2
Coral and fish livestock
Eheim return pump
Small eheim return for fuge

Fortunately I am one of the lucky few that has been gifted a tank. The 90 gal acrylic, stand, sump, skimmer, and wp10s were gifted. I probably wouldn't be in my position if it were not for that. That excluded, I'm probably 2500 invested in everything else including plumbing, tests, Chems, etc. . Not really doing the math nor do I care to really know. Lol
PS. Don't tell my wife. Hahaha

 

[Frop]

I think that was kinda his point. Likely the bigger portion of people with tanks don't visit forums, and just go by what the LFS tells them. 20g tank, a clownfish, a tang, a handful of corals... sure 6 months down the road it's probably getting dumped out and tossed in the garage but that likely represents the "majority."

The couple of LFS imo lie to their customers to get them to buy more. The one in town literally halfway yelled "don't look it up!" After I told him I want to start a saltwater tank and going to watch some YouTube videos. He shouted because he said if I watched the videos or looked it up I would be too discouraged to start. And the other saltwater store always says it's easier than freshwater. They sell anything easy/difficult if you ask. Usually there is no disclaimer. Basically like here is your coral filter feed it. Good luck. Lol tricky tricky. I look this stuff up because I don't trust businesses.

 

[ndrwater]

Enough to have bought a really nice car..... Or 2..... Or gone to Fiji for a year, or.... You get the idea...
I knew what I was getting into when I started my latest tank...
This really isn't a hobby for someone looking to do things long term on the super cheap. Sure it can be done, but those who do oftentimes have less success than those who have invested time and effort as well as more money than we would like to remember to be successful.
This is a hobby, not a necessity.

 

[uptcreek]

That my wife knows about?

Based on the current news cycle...I'm not writing ANYTHING that my wife may later discover...even after I'm DEAD!

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Based on the current news cycle...I'm not writing ANYTHING that my wife may later discover...even after I'm DEAD!

And based on your user name, I see where that'd get ya. Lol

 

[JakeK]

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.

Very true. A long time ago I had a tank crash due to huge bacterial bloom. It sucked the oxygen right out of the water. I lost $1,200 in fish overnight.

 

[Tsev03]

I sure hope my husband never reads any post about cost. He guesses that my $10 tank 30 gal from a garage sale has cost over $3000 and it's only been a lil over a year. I have gone very slow with it and I've been patient buying one piece of equipment at a time. I enjoy every minute of it. Total cost is probably more than he thinks.

 

[locito277]

I'm at or near 20 k without water entering the tank as of yet between aquarium, stand, woodwork, electrical and still need a QT and a water Nixon station.

 

[Paul B]

I have no idea as I set up my tank in 1971, but I can start with $50,000 for a boat so I can collect "free" amphipods.

 

[truffle22]

Iv been up and running for 9 months. Iv been doing this hobby as cheaply as possible for me. Not including water and salt I'm in it for around $1000. I got a lot of stuff donated to me and handed down free. So I bet I'd be down $3000 if I didn't get a lot of free stuff.

 

[MSB123]

I love seeing all these big numbers! For my 75 Gallon setup, including the sump, lights and all other equipment, and livestock and rock and sand, I have payed under 800$. I got the tank for 120, all the other equipment for 150, the sump/ dosing stuff for 150, and I bought my corals off a Fish store going out of business- another 100, and fish were about 350. Feel free to msg me if you are looking for some help with going cheap.
MSB

 

[saltyhog]

Yikes, I'm not sure I really want to do this! Hmmmm.

DSA 155, 72x24x21 bought 5 years ago

$1500 for tank and stand
$1800 for 3 Hydra 52's (I'm not counting the 3 Vega's a bought first and sold when I got the Hydra52's)
$450 for the Skimz skimmer
$325 for the Vectra M1
$200 for the Tunze ATO
$600 for the custom Trigger sump
$700 for 2 MP40's
$550 for 2 MP10's
$200 for 3 BRS dosing pumps
$500 for Apex (classic but it wasn't called that then)
$200 for an RO/DI
$125 for an ATO reservoir
$70 for dosing containers
$100 for a fuge light

I don't even want to think about how much I've spent on fish and coral!

That's "only" $7300. LOL I don't feel so bad now.

 

[Thomashtom]

That my wife knows about?

i would be scared to death to say in case my wife found out. LOL

 

[code4]

Hmmm, do the names ATB, Apex, custom Trigger Emerald sump, sound familiar? Good thing my husband does not pay the bills! And most everything in the tank was a hitchhiker! The cute little striped angel was on sale. The cost in money does not compare with the time spent researching and caring for our tanks inhabitants. Over 10 grand.

 

[harryball69]

i dont even try to figure my investment. it never stops. better stuff comes out . what do u do. buy one. it never ends..... good thing my lfs buddy gives me two tickets. wife never knows the real price, lol

 

[Bacon505]

The cost of a reef or salt water tank is how much you wanted to be. If you want to get all high tech and fully automated then big $$$. You can run a really basic system with some limitation and restriction and still have a lovely tank. It all come down to a "want and need"

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Round number I'm right at $1000 for my IM40 for equipment only.

 

[loanrngr]

Newbie with a BioCube 32 LED. $1200 before I just added my $26 pair of Clowns.