How much did your Tank Setup Cost??

[Dhaleillama]

Sadly I just did the math around lunch. for my tank (read sea 350 kit without lights)pump and skimmer, rock, sand and cycling chemicals I'm at $3k, just spent $2k for the lights, and still need to get a new Apex, and power heads which will be roughly another $2k probably... Its been cycling for 4 weeks so I got lights coming for the next step lol

 

[Bruce Burnett]

I don't believe any of you 12k

I read some of these and thought the same thing.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Well after looking over some of this. Yes you can start on a budget or you can spend stupid amounts of money. In my current 100 gallon display I went with quality stuff and have $5 grand not counting any livestock. No Apex but ato, dosing. My old 300 gallon cost about the same but had most stuff from 40 years of spending money.

 

[OU812Reefing]

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!

I plead the fifth

 

[Joe's 220 Reef]

I did the rough math and am close to 10k just on the tank and equipment. Corals are close to that amount as well. That also does not factor in all types of supplies, maintenance and equipment failure replacements. The only thing that makes me feel good is I keep my equipment for quite some time so I get years out of it.

 

[steveschuerger]

IM 30l tank , Hang on refugium, wavemakers(Tunze 6040, AI Nero 5), Finnex heater/controller, ReefBreeders Photon V2 32” for my main equipment. So total cost about 1800-2000 for just that. Add in testing and supplements supplies, another few hundred. Then 3k plus on livestock. And I still would love to have space for a larger tank

 

[Adolfo]

 

[sawdonkey]

So this will make many of you feel better - I've bought most of the equipment for my upcoming 240 gallon tank. Tank isn't even set up yet, and it's looking like I'll be close to $70K by the time I have water in the system.

I’m genuinely curious……how is this even possible?

I’m thinking about top of the line equipment that you may or may not need, and I cannot even get close!

 

[Manny’s Reef]

I’m already over $15k with this build and it’s not even a full six months old yet.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I’ll do the math at some point but a ballpark figure would be around 15-18k for my 300g

Could have been a lot worse but I built my own stand, sump etc.

 

[rckfsh44]

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!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I got my 90 gallon Oceanic reef ready tank, stand, sump, skimmer, return pump, 4x54w t5 fixture, and tunze 3155 ATO used for $400.

After a short time, I added 2 Jebao powerheads for $60 each.

After several years, I did upgrade the lights to Hydras (but am thinking of adding some T5s back).

Still using the same skimmer with the same pump. Replaced the ATO pump once.

Edit: forgot the heaters... Bought those new, Eheim Jager 150 watt, replaced every 2 years just because.
Also, included in my initial $400 purchase was a 4 stage RODI that I bought new filters for.

 

[Shooter6]

A 400g,320g,300g sump, 2x 40g breeders for qt
A 90g qt
50g lowboy frag tank

Not counting fish and corals im all in around 8k.

 

[steveschuerger]

This my little slice of (Expensive) heaven

 

[acropora4u]

225 and all the " required" reef equipment 15k +

 

[reefstarterpack]

I have a problem spending money and this hobby feeds that addiction

 

[Ulmo]

I went with a budget build on my RSR XL200. Roughly $10K (excel spreadsheet spits out $9877) since starting it in mid-2021. That's with no Apex or GHL, only entry to mid-level equipment (listed in build thread that is missing some minor updates). Only a few softies and a couple LPS. Total does include other livestock, food, and consumables though.

Initially planned on spending $3K-$5K. Figured I had spent close to $6K-$7K before this thread instigated me to total just what order confirmation e-mails I had saved.

Now has me thinking that my estimated $12K-13K upgrade to a IM EXT 112 would probably cost me quite a bit more. Thanks for making me realize I should probably wait longer and save more.

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

Let’s see, I’ve been saving and spending for two years to get everything together for my next tank - my “forever” tank - and I expect to be adding first fish sometime later this year, probably 10K in.
I don’t run.

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

I cant do this.

I just looked at Mobius, and the Radions, MP40s & MP10s i have currently running is over 6 grand. Whats worse, I have Kessils over most of my tanks, so I cant go down this rabbit hole.

 

[homer1475]

It's a hobby, so it's disposable income.

I don't care what I spent to make myself happy. The enjoyment I get out of watching the tank trumps any money I have spent.