How much did your Tank Setup Cost??

[KWSanders]

20+ years reefing .
with multiple tanks come and gone through upgrades .

this current 230 gal … I bought it used with stand and sump for $1600
Plus everything I put in to it .

the actual dollar value of what was spent over the years . I could never imagine

my biggest fear …
When I die my family will sell everything for what I said it cost .

their loss !

 

[Dburr1014]

I have no idea on the initial setup. I bought a lot of used or cheaper gear.
Funny, but I said let's do a smaller tank. (been in the hobby since 90's) and the wife said bigger.
So, now, I upgrade and upgrade and upgrade. I try to keep the hardware to 1k yearly not including birthday or Christmas gifts that I tell her I want.

When we do finely buy a new smaller house with the finished basement she knows a bigger tank is going on also with a fish room. Currently it's a 75 but moving up to a 125~180.

 

[madweazl]

Not sure what all AquaticLog tracks but it shows $9,693.78

 

[Jcascioli]

I feel like this is a sting operation by the wifey. When people ask I usually throw out 15k.. but let’s find out together….
Cade 1800 S2: 5500
All Neptune Gear: 3500
Royal exclusiv skimmer: 1400
2 gyre 350’s : 450
2 MP 40’s: 700
4 Nero 5’s: 800
Vectra L2: 500
4 Radion XR15’s: 1700
Radion XR30: 800
Aquatic life T5 Hybrid fixture: 500
Automatic Water Change station: 900
50 watt UV sterilizer: 450
Grand Total:$17,200.00

**now let’s figure out Rock, Sand, fish, and corals…
Thinking…thinking…..
Omg I’m ashamed….

 

[Unitylover]

My 10 gal cost me approx 120 - 150 to setup

 

[Fish man]

This is great but I hope threads like this don't scare people away from the hobby. We all know it isn't cheap but you can do things economically, and by that I don't mean cheap. I agree that buying cheap stuff doesn't pay off in the long run. I was lucky, I adopted my first tank, a 55g. A friend of mine was tired of it and said if I would come and get it I could have it. It had 4 fish in it and the nitrates were around 50. I spent a couple hundred dollars initially on some upgrades and things I wanted to change but that was it. After a couple years I upgraded to a 90g. I got the tank on sale for $300. I needed more rock and a bigger heater. The skimmer that came with the 55 was over sized so I was able to use it again. I made my own sump out of a 20g I got on sale at Petco, with the stuff I had to get at Home depot it cost about $40. The bigger tank required a bigger stand so I made that for about $400. I've upgraded my lights but don't have the high dollar units. I have 2 good quality American made strip lights, about $350. for both. The tank is a mixed reef with some easy to moderate level SPS, all have good growth and color.
I know most don't have the luck I did to get into the hobby with a freebie. I'm also a diy guy so that helps, but if you do your research, shop on line for a good quality used tank and equipment, you can hold your costs down. I'm also fortunate that I live in a large city with 5 good quality lfs. I can shop around for deals on fish and coral. Sometimes prices vary as much as 25%. I mostly buy frags, one because of cost but I like to watch them grow out over time.
With the upgrades and new stuff I've bought I probably have a couple thousand invested in tank and equipment but I didn't have to spend it all at once either. You can upgrade as you progress in the hobby.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Fun tickets all the way

 

[Young@Heart]

...answer the Question Mr. Smith...How Much did the:
-20 Gallon Saltwater Aquarium Cost?
-55 Gallon Saltwater Aquarium Cost?
-180 Gallon Saltwater Aquarium Cost?

...Well Senator there are a lot of variables and the list includes:
- Tank(s)
-Plumbing
-Lighting
-Electricity
-Sand
-Ecological Balancing Reagents
-On-Site Maint and Support
...
...
...
...
... and
-Livestock

Additionally, Senator my wife has divorced me so there are emotional, legal, insurance and medical costs as well

Mr. Smith: PLEASE Answer the Question at hand.

Senator: I don't know and I don't want to know.

 

[McPuff]

I don't know... it's been spread out over so many years. Definitely enough to buy a C5 Z06 I'm sure. :0) If I could drive one year-round I'd probably consider just having that instead.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

Im going to quote the old VISA commercials on this one...

100 gallon rimless tank and stand... $2200
Lighting... $1000
Return pump... $300

Having a slice of the ocean in your own home... priceless!

 

[Dave-T]

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!

Hard to believe, I know! I was wondering if anyone was going to push back on that. So believe It or not, I have a spreadsheet and it is looking like it will get close to $70K for the setup costs. About $45K of that is equipment and supplies, the rest is labor (plumbing, carpentry, electrical, etc).

The big ticket equipment items are $7500 for custom starphire glass tank, $4K for custom sump, $3K for rollermat (MRC Infiniti), $3K for Abyzz A400 return pump, $3K for GHL control stuff, $4K for lights... Then tons of other stuff like powerheads, RODI and storage tanks, more pumps, heating, ...

And so on. It adds up. DIY would have saved a lot!

 

[Gino]

Woa, woa... this is a completely mystery I don't want to know. Every time I grab a pencil and a paper to figure it out. I end up grabbing a beer and few shots of Tequila and forgot what was that pencil and paper for...buajajajaja

 

[Dani305]

Im at about $4100 for my 75gal

I keep a running list of everything that I buy for the tank in my build thread.

 

[reefiniteasy]

Just my tank and equipment is $5,797.57. This does not include ongoing costs related to testing, salt, fragging supplies and food.

 

[MarsReefer]

I'm building my first saltwater tank now... I'm 2 months and $1700 in... my excel document it telling me my estimated total is going to be $5500... before any living things make it in...and I got the tank and stand for free...

I did freshwater for 10 years and finally decided to make the switch. I'm taking all the lessons I learned from the freshwater side of things and taking the time to do everything the way I want it, even if it costs a little more and takes a little more time.

The wow factor will be worth it to me.

 

[CPC Reefer]

At $100 per gallon and still need to add corals.

 

[dzolot]

just finished my “dream tank!!” 235g. Before and after pics below. I’m embarrassed to say what it cost all-in…

 

[tkdman]

I feel like this is a trap so if my wife is in here somewhere I spent $5.

 

[Nate Chalk]

Im at like 5k 200 gallon custom set up

including failed corals , equipment etc.

 

[PigFarmer]

Left nut is gone