Pricing out an aquarium - Opinions needed

[Tuffyyyyy]

I just got the go ahead for my big tank! Couldn't be more thrilled, but I know that it's going to be a while before I actually pull the trigger. Back when I was into PC Gaming I would always be playing around with rig setups and this feels fairly similar. The first step is that the wife said there needs to be a fill list accounting for everything I'm going to need, and that's what I've been working on.

This is my first time putting together a full setup, it's been entirely AIO for the 3.5 years I've been doing this...what am I missing? The link below has a list of everything I could think of but I have no doubt there's something missing. Am I off on the budget for stand and plumbing? Anyone have a rough idea about the wall? What about the sump and skimmer? I'm pretty lost when it comes to those.


Things I have (thus I either don't need or can trim if I went too cheap on other things):
APEX EL with 2x EB32
Nero 5, IceCap 1k
2x AI Hydra 26 & AI Prime HD
Cheaper version of Tunze top-off
Jebeo 4-channel doser

Anyway, check out my list and let me know what you think!

 

[Sailfin11]

It looks like you have a solid plan! I do have a few suggestions. I've been following a few build threads recently and one of the tanks that I really like are these new ProStar Rimless tanks (here's a link). Honestly, my biggest regret is not getting one for my build For a $1200, you get a reef ready 110-gallon tank, with a sump, and sleek stand. I think you may have overestimated a bit on the cost of drilling the hole through the wall. Unless you're doing an in-wall tank and have to take some studs out, cutting a hole in drywall is really easy and something you can do in 15 minutes with a jigsaw (just be careful for electrical and water lines). For salt, I'd get a cheap box of Instant Ocean (I get mine from chewy.com for a good price) to start as you won't put corals in for a while. I like your redundancy in heaters and the T5/LED hybrid! I have used both the reef branded sands and the ones you find at the hardware store and really found no difference (this is what I used) Best of luck!

 

[Fishingandreefing]

The above is good advice man. Check out the pro star tank from liveaquaria thst might save you at least a few hundred bucks. What about you do the wall with the help of maybe a buddy? Pay him a couple hundred?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nice package but I believe you can do better on price and even larger for same money.
You at minimum should be entitled to discounts on equipment and lighting

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Nice package but I believe you can do better on price and even larger for same money.
You at minimum should be entitled to discounts on equipment and lighting

Without buying used or private sale, tell us how you can get a discount on lights. I have only seen them on sale during or before Black Friday 2019.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Without buying used or private sale, tell us how you can get a discount on lights. I have only seen them on sale during or before Black Friday 2019.

Place such as aquarium specialty and BRS has open box/customer return items under full warranty at good discounts. (Under clearance and bargain bin), Reef breeders does factory direct also and great discounts

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

It’s hard for me to express to another if they are over budget etc because in short it’s not my money or tank I see daily. Personally, if you want a brand new tank etc, it won’t be super cheap. For example though, I found a used 240 with stand and sump for 300 that was only 6 months old and it’s still my current tank and no issues. If you have that money set aside, I’d consider live stock and corals also etc in that budget.

The is also again personal choice, but for me name brand doesn’t mean much. With that said your choice on skimmer and heaters are good selection and dependable. I don’t know about wood costs, but not sure if you want to personalize your stand or if it doesn’t come as an option. For safety reasons and warranty I would try and find a tank that was overflow ready and plumbing as well (inside the overflows).

As well again preference myself prefer hands on, that’s just me so I would never use apex or auto doser etc. I’m not saying they are bad items, but one it saves lots of money, and not that much time. The key thing is it eliminates the possibility of something failing.

I think what you have set aside to spend is more than plenty. It would be worth checking into to see how much you can save on equipment, and stretch that amount further. A lot of items that are cheaper lol actually are better than name brand. The ehiem heaters though lol are soo reliable in my experience. It will definitely be neat to see with what you go with (if any changes on your list), and how it turns out.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Place such as aquarium specialty and BRS has open box/customer return items under full warranty at good discounts. (Under clearance and bargain bin), Reef breeders does factory direct also and great discounts

My bad, for some reason I was thinking op was getting radions or AI

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Hello,

It’s hard for me to express to another if they are over budget etc because in short it’s not my money or tank I see daily. Personally, if you want a brand new tank etc, it won’t be super cheap. For example though, I found a used 240 with stand and sump for 300 that was only 6 months old and it’s still my current tank and no issues. If you have that money set aside, I’d consider live stock and corals also etc in that budget.

The is also again personal choice, but for me name brand doesn’t mean much. With that said your choice on skimmer and heaters are good selection and dependable. I don’t know about wood costs, but not sure if you want to personalize your stand or if it doesn’t come as an option. For safety reasons and warranty I would try and find a tank that was overflow ready and plumbing as well (inside the overflows).

As well again preference myself prefer hands on, that’s just me so I would never use apex or auto doser etc. I’m not saying they are bad items, but one it saves lots of money, and not that much time. The key thing is it eliminates the possibility of something failing.

I think what you have set aside to spend is more than plenty. It would be worth checking into to see how much you can save on equipment, and stretch that amount further. A lot of items that are cheaper lol actually are better than name brand. The ehiem heaters though lol are soo reliable in my experience. It will definitely be neat to see with what you go with (if any changes on your list), and how it turns out.

I agree, buying used is definitely way to go but hey if you got the money and don’t want the hassle, go for it. SCA is one of a better and cheaper selection. I think Red Sea and water box are over priced.

 

[Sarah24!]

Without buying used or private sale, tell us how you can get a discount on lights. I have only seen them on sale during or before Black Friday 2019.

Hello,

One way is ask companies to be a beta tester for their new lights. All of my lights, wave makers, returns literally were given to me to beta test. The company was amazing and I have not had issues. Yes it took time and process but worked, (yes I was a research student at the time which may have helped). The primary reason was I wanted to compare and see the difference. A newer company that even has done this on here is noopsyche lights, and they are darn good lights. The company I asked (one of many (they just said yes faster), was current usa. There are definitely ways to find great lights that are equal to better than radions and hydras etc.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

My bad, for some reason I was thinking op was getting radions or AI

I have 2x AI Hydra 26 that I got 40% when they went on clearance. I knew 2 of those probably wouldn't be enough so I'm adding the Aquatic life hybrid.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

It looks like you have a solid plan! I do have a few suggestions. I've been following a few build threads recently and one of the tanks that I really like are these new ProStar Rimless tanks (here's a link). Honestly, my biggest regret is not getting one for my build For a $1200, you get a reef ready 110-gallon tank, with a sump, and sleek stand. I think you may have overestimated a bit on the cost of drilling the hole through the wall. Unless you're doing an in-wall tank and have to take some studs out, cutting a hole in drywall is really easy and something you can do in 15 minutes with a jigsaw (just be careful for electrical and water lines). For salt, I'd get a cheap box of Instant Ocean (I get mine from chewy.com for a good price) to start as you won't put corals in for a while. I like your redundancy in heaters and the T5/LED hybrid! I have used both the reef branded sands and the ones you find at the hardware store and really found no difference (this is what I used) Best of luck!

Thank you for the reply! The sand & salt suggestions are great very helpful.

This is going to be an in-wall tank so that's why I (hopefully) have enough contingency. I'm not at all handy so I need to get someone to look at it. But since it's an in-wall I'm thinking the best thing to do is get everything separately, otherwise I'd definitely grab that ProStar for that price.

 

[Silent]

Do you already have a quality RO/DI unit with good filters? Do you want a mixing station or a way to store salt and RO water?

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Do you already have a quality RO/DI unit with good filters? Do you want a mixing station or a way to store salt and RO water?

I have an RODI so I’m good there. I’ve gone back and forward on the mixing station...just not sure that there's going to be enough room for a couple of 50g tanks in there, especially because I have a 30g frag tank that I'm going to plumb into it. I’m turning a butlers pantry into a fish room. Here’s what I’m working with. I know it’s gross so step 1 will be to clean everything out and get it organized, but I marked off a 48”x24” tank on the wall. I'm pretty tall so I'm excited about how high up on the wall it's going to be.

 

[Johnd651]

I actually have an almost identical list as you do floating around on here. Depending on how intricate the finish work is on the stand, the price will go up fast. Im at $500 for a stand (also 120 gallon tank), and my plumbing was double in price, all the union fittings and valves are actually very expensive. I was going to get most of my plumbing from supplyhouse.com and only colored PVC from BRS.

I also have stuff like RODI and quarantine tanks, which Im guessing you already have.

What are you looking to do with the hole in wall? tank in wall or just for piping and wiring?

 

[Super Fly]

Congrats on the wife approval! SCA tanks are nice, r u not interested in their PNP system that comes w lot of extras? Might save some $ there. As far as the list, what about livestock or is that part of a different budget.

 

[Johnd651]

I have an RODI so I’m good there. I’ve gone back and forward on the mixing station. I’m turning a butlers pantry into a fish room. Here’s what I’m working with. I know it’s gross so step 1 will be to clean everything out and get it organized, but I marked off a 48”x24” tank on the wall. I’m 6’5” so also pretty excited about how high up that it.

How do you feel about construction? Depending on whats in the wall and if its loading bearing, it would be a matter of making a header and trimming the sheetrock out.

 

[JoshH]

I would look into a different overflow rather than the Synergy, also your plumbing will definitely be more than $100. I would wager to guess $2-300 atleast..

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I actually have an almost identical list as you do floating around on here. Depending on how intricate the finish work is on the stand, the price will go up fast. Im at $500 for a stand (also 120 gallon tank), and my plumbing was double in price, all the union fittings and valves are actually very expensive. I was going to get most of my plumbing from supplyhouse.com and only colored PVC from BRS.

I also have stuff like RODI and quarantine tanks, which Im guessing you already have.

What are you looking to do with the hole in wall? tank in wall or just for piping and wiring?

I'm okay going super basic on the stand since it'll be hidden in the pantry. I guess I do have some concern about the price of having the stand built into the wall.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Congrats on the wife approval! SCA tanks are nice, r u not interested in their PNP system that comes w lot of extras? Might save some $ there. As far as the list, what about livestock or is that part of a different budget.

I have an Innovative Marine 30 and a Waterbox 20 that are both pretty full of stuff so I'm assuming that I'll be held over for a while just moving everything from those tanks into a single big one.