How much did your Tank Setup Cost??

[Roatan Reef]

At the point I don’t even know anymore

Just say.."I don't Remember:

 

[jtichenor]

I used to estimate $50 per gallon to get it setup and stocked. Then $10/gal yearly for maintenance. Now it's closer to $100/gal with controllers and better (more expensive) gear. Still running about $10/gal for food and maintenance though.

 

[Bolen2]

I posted earlier about how my setup is 90% DIY and I sort of calculated about how much it ran. To reiterate, I built the sump, the stand, filtration, phosphate reactor, and the overflow myself. Most of the materials I had on hand or I got cheap. I already had the aquarium for 20 years (tank is a 55 standard that my parents set it up as a fresh when I was 4 and I have had it since) and most of the dry rock I used was from previous builds. Altogether it cost me around $550 for the build itself but a large chunk of that went toward lighting. Not as bad as what I had thought but I’ve spent about double that on it since the build on basic things like sand, salt, and livestock. If anyone wants a rundown on the setup itself and how I put it all together I’ll be happy to share. I’ve started this setup in January and I have THRIVING fish and coral in it already so although it’s not high dollar stuff it works and it works well.

 

[Roatan Reef]

Don't. It's a trap...

It's a Tarp!

 

[Roatan Reef]

Less than everyone who bought things brand new I suppose. Much of my setup is used since it's the best bang for the buck method.

My current setup is a standard 90g tank/stand/canopy I snatched up for $300.
External overflow kit - $80
2 black boxes $60/ea - $120
29g tank/sump - $20
Return pump $60
Heater $20
Diy algae scrubber w/leds - $30
WaveMaker - $60
100lbs LR 9yrs old $2/lb - $200
Sand - $30
Misc & plumbing - $100

So just over $1k for a complete setup minus livestock costs.

Not bad at all...

 

[Roatan Reef]

It all depends on how I look at it with having my real receipt or the made up fake wife receipt… My LFS really makes me a fake receipt so if my wife asks how much did that $180 fish cost. $20

So...its kind of like going to the strip clubs? We have some that are steakhouses and they will give you a receipt for your meal at the steakhouse, but it includes all your expenses for said Strip Club...you can even itemize it and get a reimbursement from your company...right????

 

[Jeffcb]

A little bit more than I was expecting....

 

[srcleary]

I asked my son to come with me to pick up a used 300g tank to upgrade my 125g. We drove over 12 hours in a moving truck and through a severe storm twice.

he said “Dad this is no longer a hobby. It’s a lifestyle.” I said “No. It’s a disease!”

if you need to ask what it costs, you can’t afford it.

 

[Nonya]

***Redacted ***

It looks like you were going to talk about Reef Club!?

 

[gibec]

I just started 3 months ago.. bought a 13.5 gal fluval evo. So far im in it for about 1800. This is including all corals all gears and upgrades.. fish, etc. thankfully my tank is small enuff for me to set a limit in how much corals i Can put in it. I usually look for cheaper corals that i like before i look at the expensive rare ones and trying hard to keep it that way...
Dont care mu h for rarity.

I still have a couple things i want to buy like hanna checkers and mayb 1 or 2 more corals to finalize my tank..

 

[gbroadbridge]

Lol...I don't really want to know how much your Tank Setup Cost...I am finding it comedy gold at this point

Since setting up my 1st ever Mixed Reef Tank it goes as follows:

Oh Wow...that is Awesome, Your Tank is Amazing, Oh Wow...look at that fish..Oh wow...what is this coral? Would you look at That!! Plus at least 5 other pleasantries ....always followed up with...


HOW MUCH DID IT COST??

I always tell them...if you really want to know, don't Ask, and if you are interested, Toss your Budget into the Abyss!

Never Fails!

I end with how much does it cost to view the Magnificence of God's Creation? We severely underpaid!

Probably about 10 times what I told my wife, but she does the same with her shoes and handbags.

 

[Doctorgori]

how much did my tank cost?
nothing worse than a divorce lawyer trolling a aquarium board drumming up business

 

[Jerrym21]

Was at 6500 but…
Forgot to add in 200lbs of live rock, RODI and mixing station, fridge and other items for the tank room. So I’m probably closer to $9000 without livestock.
2 sumps were used and cheap.
My best purchase was a used Euroreef RS250 skimmer back in 2009 for 50 bucks.
still using it to this day and love it

 

[MoshJosh]

Only $470 total. . . for my 7.5 gallons or reef. . . conservatively. . . before livestock

 

[shakacuz]

i tried to DIY most of it. even up costing roughly the same, if not more (due to DIY supplies like drill bits, clamps, pvc glue, etc) then a pre-made setup.

i am ball parking it here (rounding up), but the initials setup cost for my tank was probably 2-3k. the upgrades/electronics have been near that. most of my money/investment has gone into corals and maintenance/corrections.

 

[vlangel]

Hey, I have been doing this for almost 25 years. I have had 3 main tanks as I upgraded and downgraded through the years. I reuse anything that can be reused, like my live rock, pumps, heaters, lights and power heads. By now I have most everything I want, so my tank is affordable and that is the main thing that matters to me.

 

[twwety]

I'll say I just bought 2 new radion lights for 2k and it no longer fells like I made a big purchase anymore just another drop in the bucket.

 

[reefiniteasy]

I did it. I created an Excel spreadsheet and broke things down by category. I went through every website I've ever ordered from and digital receipts from local stores.

 

[Swbvegas]

It cost me multiple sleeping on the couch many times.

 

[Sean Clark]

Just because I have a Google Sheet... That does not mean that you will be getting into it...