How much did your Tank Setup Cost??
- Thread starter Roatan Reef
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OP
OP
Roatan Reef
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Absolutely, my 125 Mixed Community/S. American Cichlid Tank...Waterbox 65 - $2,000
Custom Tempered Glass Eurobrace - $500
2 x MP10s - $700
Vortech Battery Backup - $200
2 x AIs - $560
IM Heater - $250
Syncra SDC 3.0 - $250
Rock/Sand/Additives - $500
Salt - $100
Fish - $500
Miscellaneous pumps/gear/RODI - $500
Total - $6,000 (Haven’t even got into corals yet)
Estimated Budget - $3,000
Coming from freshwater, it’s a hilarious difference. You could have a custom 5k 500+ gallon tank with 1k in filters and call it a day. You just don’t know till you know.
Bought tank used for $225, Included Metal Halides, Stand and Sump(I converted it for Fresh with a Canister Filter, closed the overflows)
4 Chamber Cannister Filter $150.
2 Powerheads, 1 Heater $125
Decorations, $150
Already had fish, but have bought more since, like a Custom Green Phantom Pleco at Aquashella for $75, but all fish in tank probably about $500 total, and that's over Years.
But overall tank and set up, under $700..compared to Saltwater...
OP
OP
Roatan Reef
Valuable Member
My wife always says..."don't say it front of me", when others ask...even though she knows...
Wasabiroot
Valonia Slayer
True. I got a used 240g acrylic with slight scratching that I buffed out with Novus for 600 bucks. Throw in a cheap jebao return pump and a decent sump and it's less than a grand for an enormous setup. I built my stand from 2 by 8s but likely it would be way more now.Waterbox 65 - $2,000
Custom Tempered Glass Eurobrace - $500
2 x MP10s - $700
Vortech Battery Backup - $200
2 x AIs - $560
IM Heater - $250
Syncra SDC 3.0 - $250
Rock/Sand/Additives - $500
Salt - $100
Fish - $500
Miscellaneous pumps/gear/RODI - $500
Total - $6,000 (Haven’t even got into corals yet)
Estimated Budget - $3,000
Coming from freshwater, it’s a hilarious difference. You could have a custom 5k 500+ gallon tank with 1k in filters and call it a day. You just don’t know till you know.
MaxTremors
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Just equipment (basically everything but livestock), for a 28g tank I’m at around $1400. That’s upgraded lighting, wavemakers, a HOB refugium, skimmer, heater, test kits, etc. With livestock it’s probably $2500-$3000.
Koh23
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Well, kinda embaresed here, but....
Most expensive thing is lights, around 450$ total, other equipment is 50-150$....
Compared to what others have, i'm redefying "budget" build term...
Rather "poor mans build"....
Most expensive thing is lights, around 450$ total, other equipment is 50-150$....
Compared to what others have, i'm redefying "budget" build term...
Rather "poor mans build"....
bestfishes
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Its like a car. Joy is measured in smiles per gallon! Ive spent well over 15k on my latest full automation set up. Lighting by far is the single most expensive item.
codenfx
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Started my first reef tank so the initial cost goes up a lot. Let’s just say my budget when I started was $4,000, now I’m well over $9000. I keep an excel sheet on the stuff I bought.
Bob Weigant
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I got extremely lucky , entire set up was free. I got out of the hobby for over a year and was looking to get back in. A friend of mine had a customer who just wanted it out of his house. Right place at the right time. Now Im in the process of changing out the lights to new Gen5 radions
Joe.D
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Hi Everyone! I'm new here and am looking to start up a reef tank.
Years ago when I was in high school and college I had a 10 gal freshwater tank. Since then, I've always wanted to do a Salt Water tank.
I started researching over the past month or so and needless to say, I was a bit blown away by some of the start up costs I've seen. I've done some research and don't want to start too small so I don't have to upgrade a year or 2 down the road. I think I'd rather have a sump vs an AIO - seems that everyone that I've seen with an AIO ends up upgrading in a year or 2.
I've been looking on Craigslist here in the Twin Cities and nothing on there is catching my eye as far as a decent used system. Want to be around 90 gallon. Part of me also thinks that if I buy new, I know what I'm getting - not always the case with used - but obviously many here have been very successful being used.
Been looking at a new Red Sea Reefer 350 system. The quote I got was for around $7k (not including Tax) all in for tank, stand, filtration, skimmer, sand, rock, Apex, Netpune Analyzer/Doser, etc. That seems to be around the going rate if you're going to go new for a tank that size (had a Waterbox priced out and it was similar).
I'm able to get a special deal through Amex that will allow me to pay it monthly with no interest over 2 years - but I'm still having a hard time being close to $8k with tax before I even get any fish/coral. It's not that I can't afford it, I'm just having a hard time with that number.
One question I have is regarding the Neptune Analyzer/Doser - that's around $1k right there. Is that something that 3 months from now, I wish I would have bought? Special deal with Amex expires April 30, so if I'm going to get it, I'm going to get it now.
Would love to hear your thoughts on that type of system for a newbie!
Years ago when I was in high school and college I had a 10 gal freshwater tank. Since then, I've always wanted to do a Salt Water tank.
I started researching over the past month or so and needless to say, I was a bit blown away by some of the start up costs I've seen. I've done some research and don't want to start too small so I don't have to upgrade a year or 2 down the road. I think I'd rather have a sump vs an AIO - seems that everyone that I've seen with an AIO ends up upgrading in a year or 2.
I've been looking on Craigslist here in the Twin Cities and nothing on there is catching my eye as far as a decent used system. Want to be around 90 gallon. Part of me also thinks that if I buy new, I know what I'm getting - not always the case with used - but obviously many here have been very successful being used.
Been looking at a new Red Sea Reefer 350 system. The quote I got was for around $7k (not including Tax) all in for tank, stand, filtration, skimmer, sand, rock, Apex, Netpune Analyzer/Doser, etc. That seems to be around the going rate if you're going to go new for a tank that size (had a Waterbox priced out and it was similar).
I'm able to get a special deal through Amex that will allow me to pay it monthly with no interest over 2 years - but I'm still having a hard time being close to $8k with tax before I even get any fish/coral. It's not that I can't afford it, I'm just having a hard time with that number.
One question I have is regarding the Neptune Analyzer/Doser - that's around $1k right there. Is that something that 3 months from now, I wish I would have bought? Special deal with Amex expires April 30, so if I'm going to get it, I'm going to get it now.
Would love to hear your thoughts on that type of system for a newbie!
Utubereefer
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Did my wife start this thread????
I stopped counting at 2k in 2017….
I stopped counting at 2k in 2017….
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Let’s just say with the points I earned from purchasing & installation of my WB 220.6 from WWC I will probably never have to pay for another coral for many years
flashsmith
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Which one?
IM SR80 Probably 4k
IM 25 lagoon frag setup about 1k in this one
RS reefer 625xxl About 7k
Of course that's not including corals/fish and ongoing costs. I always remind myself it's only money and I can always print more... Oh sorry I mean "make more"
IM SR80 Probably 4k
IM 25 lagoon frag setup about 1k in this one
RS reefer 625xxl About 7k
Of course that's not including corals/fish and ongoing costs. I always remind myself it's only money and I can always print more... Oh sorry I mean "make more"
