I'm looking to start a new tank, I've kept freshwater fish for over a year now & wanting to move into saltwater. I'm looking in the range of a 220 gallon tank, my question is how mush should I budget for glass tank with sumps, pumps, R.O. filter, etc. etc.?
Starting tank budget?
- Thread starter Johnnysaltwater
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I'm trying to all new. I dont have lights, i was planning on fish only the first year, before i attempt corral, I have saved $6,000 so far & I plan on taking my time, but the more I read the more I don't know if I'm even in the ball park.
lauderdalestunner
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You are in line and waiting for tickets. It's a labor of love and hard earned money.
neupane00
Well-Known Member
$6000 should be plenty enough to get you decent setup if you are going to stick with stock aquarium and not custom one. Good idea going fish only first. But pls dont put in any copper or any medications on the tank. Live rock will absorb it and you will have trouble putting in corals later on.
I would go with deep dimension 200 gallon tank.. tank and stand $2500. Sump , get biggest one, and get this used. if it doesnt leak, you dont need fancy one. $400 .. Pump, heaters, cheap powerhead etc since no corals, put in $500 towards that. RO unit about $250. Get decent skimmer $500. I would do dry rocks and make it live, and sand.. $700 .. That brings you up to around $5000 without lights and livestocks. But i cant imagine lights costing a lot for fish only tanks.
I would go with deep dimension 200 gallon tank.. tank and stand $2500. Sump , get biggest one, and get this used. if it doesnt leak, you dont need fancy one. $400 .. Pump, heaters, cheap powerhead etc since no corals, put in $500 towards that. RO unit about $250. Get decent skimmer $500. I would do dry rocks and make it live, and sand.. $700 .. That brings you up to around $5000 without lights and livestocks. But i cant imagine lights costing a lot for fish only tanks.
Kurt Copeland
Active Member
If you know how to shop around, I would think your $6k would be more than sufficient. The trick is to learn as much as you can about the various options for sumps, filters, monitors, and other gear and make a plan. Then search for the best deals you can.
Instead of trying to see how big you can get with your initial budget, you should be determining what it is going to cost you each month to MAINTAIN whatever it is you are setting up. Water changes, salt, foods, supplements, test materials, filtration media...
Instead of trying to see how big you can get with your initial budget, you should be determining what it is going to cost you each month to MAINTAIN whatever it is you are setting up. Water changes, salt, foods, supplements, test materials, filtration media...
Great! Thanks for the detailed information!
I can afford $100 a month, if I cut out a few other things maybe more, but definitely $100. For 220 gallon is that enough per month?
Kurt Copeland
Active Member
Certainly. Of course, it all depends how you manage it. Learn to buy items like salt in bulk buckets and always consider the cost per pound. Get items in multiples and consider doing group buys with neighbors and clubs. There is ALWAYS a way to achieve the same or better results and still save money. The idea is NOT to go cheap but, rather, to go INEXPENSIVE.
If you super-saturate your tank with low-tolerance, high-maintainence exotics which require constant attention, treatments, filter changes, special foods and more...it will be more expensive to maintain than rugged, strong-willed specimens which can beautify your tank and achieve your goals.
Learning your options and planning ahead will save you SO much time and trouble...and money.
And, of course, you have to find balance with what you really want to see in your tank. Like I said, don't go cheap. Just make it inexpensive.
Robertchrisroph
Active Member
Welcome. I have a 150. if my tank cost 100 dollars a month to run I would get four more. Lol my wife would love to only see me spend that much. my lights alone MH costs about probably 50 bucks to run a month. Just a light
Robertchrisroph
Active Member
- Oh yea. I got mine used. For 700.00 Craigslist, put another 2000 in it and I have a nice tank. But ? Its endless on the money you and I could spend. Kurt has some great advice. Good luck
Wow! My wife will not let me pull the trigger until I know "most" (lol) variables. I'm pretty sure her recommendation is going to be smaller tank. So much homework, part of why I love it!
Harold Green
Well-Known Member
Built my 21og last year. Tank new aqueon reef ready($800), stand built it myself$150 for materials), skimmer bm220a rated for 400g tank($250), sump built from a 75g I had sitting around plus 1/4 acrylic I had and silicone to assemble( $0 as I had all materials), mag 18 return pump($120), heater($20), five black box lights($600 total), Two durso kits,bulkheads, pvc fittings and pipe($300), wp 40($64), gfo/carbon reactor(<$100), thermostat to control heater($30), test kits($150), ato kit($30), light for refusium($20), filter socks($4each), refractometer($25), salt per 150 gallon mix($50), live rock mix of used I had and fresh 50 pounds from florida($300), reused crushed coral I already had. Total just a fraction over $3000. Shop around and you can find some good deals. Many fish stores will sell you a tank for little more than their cost.
