The HARD Truth about Reef Keeping...

[Animal Chin]

In the 8 years doing this I couldn't even guess but what I do know is I spent $2500 Saturday on livestock alone...lol

 

[Joshua Kerstetter]

When I upgraded from my 50 to my 220, I started a detailed spreadsheet, that kept track of absolutely everything I could break down. I'm just under 5K, for equipment, and 1.5K for livestock, that's for the 220, and my 30 quarantine. I can't say I've truly wasted money, I've definitely done some upgrades I knew I was going to be on track for but delayed due to finances, wasted some salt due to some screwed up test equipment. I wasn't ever going to start with the best stuff, I started with a lot of used, and DIY stuff, then gradually upgraded, I'm almost at the end now. Going the DIY method, as well as keeping a constant eye on the Facebook groups, R2R selling forums and Craigslist has absolutely been the number 1 factor that allow me to do the upgrade to begin with. I know I'll upgrade later for features, but in terms of stability I'm mostly set. I don't chase the great new thing, I also like to space out my upgrades

 

[Daniel91]

You forgot taxes

 

[kevin.st]

How much have I spent on my CURRENT system?

I try not to think about it.

 

[Greaps]

Buy a pure breed dog $800-$1000-$2000, vet and food bills $500-1000 per year. Your average reef tank can run similar numbers. My next tank will be 120g. I'm not sure what it will cost, but I suspect it won't be significantly more to setup verse a 75g or a 40b for that matter.

 

[6TankReefer9]

Buy a pure breed dog $800-$1000-$2000, vet and food bills $500-1000 per year. Your average reef tank can run similar numbers. My next tank will be 120g. I'm not sure what it will cost, but I suspect it won't be significantly more to setup verse a 75g or a 40b for that matter.

Good thing about aquatics verse most other animals is they'd rather you not be there and don't require pet sitters if your system is done right

 

[Lousybreed]

The main thing most new reefers or aquatic enthusiasts fail to realize is the cost of owning a stand-alone, functional, reef tank that will meet the requirements to grow healthy coral, keep the stock happy and a system that will be ready to deal with swings thrown at it.

I’ve been fascinated with reef tank systems for the past three years and have never stopped researching the hobby, which was what drew me in as it’s a hobby that one can never master as there’s always more to learn!

That aside, the hard truth to reef keeping that most people need to realize is that this hobby is EXPENSIVE, and it’s not one where you can, we’ll you can, but you should skimp out on!

I’ve been designing my dream tank build over the past week, charting all the required parts that ARE required to have a system ready to take handle swings and keep human involvement to a minimum.

My ideal tank is a 22G Long ADA Aquarium, with an Eshopps External Overflow into a custom 20G Long Sump with room for a refugium in addition to a Protein skimmer.

After Charting out all of the parts needed to make this system run, keep in mind that my philosophy is always to go with the best product at the most reasonable price, the price still come’s around $1,500 before adding any livestock, and that’s just for a 20-gallon aquarium set up without any ecotech products!

Before you call me crazy, just note that I have successfully run a 12G JBJ nano cube with Coral and healthy fish all for under $300, but that was a lot of work, and the risks in running a system such as that are not fair to the livestock and largely depends on you!

Not sure how many of you reefers actually added up ALL of the costs that went into your system, or throughout your entrance to the hobby, but I’m sure many of you will be surprised!

Let me know your thoughts on my list, maybe I missed some item that I have yet to ADD to the dream build!

And I would say you should still add another $300 blanket cash for the unthought of things you will need!!

 

[sghera64]

“Reef” screen savers have come a long way and with a 2K screen you can have a fantastic reef with zero maintenance, no leaks, vacation ready (or take it with you) and when you want to watch TV at night you don’t have to worry about the glare from those pesky MH or T5s splashing light all over the room. All this at the fraction of the cost - - and no tree huggers can scorn you for raiding the ocean of its corals.

Man, I’m starting to fall for this myself.

 

[ParsedOut]

A nano can be done on a budget without much in the way of compromise. Built my 20g long for a whisker over $500 all in. Could have been less if I didnt over buy the rock, only using about 14 lbs of the 25 I bought.

20g long $20
Life Rock $140 25 lb
Heater Had it Aqueon Pro
Auto Top Off $62 DIY ATO
Return Pump $35 Rio 1000
Acrylic for AIO $35
Plumbing $20
Skimmer $67 Hydor Slim Skim Nano
Light $90 21led Reef Bar Pro
Temp controller $30 Inkbird Itc-308

 

[ZoWhat]

$1000+ is the top choice?

In 20yrs I've had $1000+ in FISH die on me




.

 

[jcl123]

I have a 135G tank almost ready to start it up, I think I passed $20K not long ago. Allot of that money went into Apex and automation, backups, lighting, and so forth. And yes I would say I am well on the extravagant side of things in my equipment choices.

This is actually the main reason I have been in aquariums for 40 years, but this is my first reef tank, never could / never wanted to spend the money. I was very happy with freshwater, and was getting ready to build out this 135G as the mother of all African Cichlid tanks. It wasn't until my wife said "I don't care how much it costs, I want a saltwater tank" (queue disturbance in the force) that I finally said OK. And as I am building this, I am still wondering if it will be more work than I want and I will end up converting it back to fresh water. Although more likely it would become a really nice fish-only tank.

Someone compared this to collecting or working on cars, I would say with some exceptions that this hobby, while not quite as expensive, it is getting there. That is how you should look at it.

I don't think people should complain about it or get frustrated with it. It is threads like this that I hope newcomers see, so that they can think real hard if this is something they want to get into. Because I would hate to see (as has been mentioned) someone "cheap out", still spend "quite a bit of money" (whatever that is for them), and then have poor results, because they were not really ready to go all in, it's like being "house poor". Especially if you know your spouse won't be on board and you try to sneak it. I will bet this hobby can and has contributed to more than a few divorce cases.

Even with nano tanks and used equipment, I think the "cost per gallon" or however you want to compare it to other types of setups, is going to be very high.

As long as you can look at the tank, feel proud, and (mostly) not feel bad about what it cost, then I think you are OK.

Then of course that is not my only expensive hobby, I am also into Home Theater :/

-JCL

 

[6TankReefer9]

I have a 135G tank almost ready to start it up, I think I passed $20K not long ago. Allot of that money went into Apex and automation, backups, lighting, and so forth. And yes I would say I am well on the extravagant side of things in my equipment choices.

This is actually the main reason I have been in aquariums for 40 years, but this is my first reef tank, never could / never wanted to spend the money. I was very happy with freshwater, and was getting ready to build out this 135G as the mother of all African Cichlid tanks. It wasn't until my wife said "I don't care how much it costs, I want a saltwater tank" (queue disturbance in the force) that I finally said OK. And as I am building this, I am still wondering if it will be more work than I want and I will end up converting it back to fresh water. Although more likely it would become a really nice fish-only tank.

Someone compared this to collecting or working on cars, I would say with some exceptions that this hobby, while not quite as expensive, it is getting there. That is how you should look at it.

I don't think people should complain about it or get frustrated with it. It is threads like this that I hope newcomers see, so that they can think real hard if this is something they want to get into. Because I would hate to see (as has been mentioned) someone "cheap out", still spend "quite a bit of money" (whatever that is for them), and then have poor results, because they were not really ready to go all in, it's like being "house poor". Especially if you know your spouse won't be on board and you try to sneak it. I will bet this hobby can and has contributed to more than a few divorce cases.

Even with nano tanks and used equipment, I think the "cost per gallon" or however you want to compare it to other types of setups, is going to be very high.

As long as you can look at the tank, feel proud, and (mostly) not feel bad about what it cost, then I think you are OK.

Then of course that is not my only expensive hobby, I am also into Home Theater :/

-JCL

Couldn't agree more! Well said! Can you post any pictures of your main tank?

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

After buying a used 180g that came with a 75 sump, stand,skimmer,rock, rodi, and a reef keeper for $700. I have put easily another 200 just getting it in place. From running extra outlets to plumbing and simple painting of the back of the tank. Still on the hunt for lights, return pump, power heads, ATO(target under $1k for the rest). All before I even get water in the tank. But if your not looking for the newest and best there are some great deals to be had IF your willing to wait until they come around. Just be willing to spend ALOT of time searching and jump on something when it does come up. Doesn’t bother me though as this will be my first tank and I keep learning more everyday about how I can successfully keep this little ecosystem alive and well.

 

[Forsaken77]

There should be a $3,000+ and a $5,000+ option as well and I bet most of those votes for over $1,000 would end up in the 3-5k money spent. You can EASILY be over a G before you even put water in the tank.

I can estimate I spent around 5K on a 93 cube tank and I don't even have a controller. But that includes a small QT tank to go with it, rodi setup, the little things like nets and scraper stuff, and meds as well. I buy everything new because I don't want to inherit someone else's headache.

Then I got a 180 and had to re-buy most things.

 

[Rakie]

$1,000 plus? That's.... a very, very low range. Most people are about $5k in with just a little 40-50g tank.

Here's whats typical of people on the low end.

Tank: $300+
Light: $400+
Skimmer: $200~
Sump: $150+
RODI: $250+
Powerheads: $300+
Heaters: $80+
Livestock: $1,000+
Test Kits: $200+
Refractometer: $50+

And this is a very, very, very, very minor setup not counting anything but the most obvious stuff.

I've probably spent $400 on frag plugs and glue over the last two years alone. Every time I order plugs I spend like $80-100.

 

[Punchanello]

Wow. That same tank and gear would cost double in Australia. The hard truth is you got off cheap!

 

[Rakie]

Wow. That same tank and gear would cost double in Australia. The hard truth is you got off cheap!

Those numbers are double here too, if not triple. I just put it as a conservative number because not everybody spends $2400 on 3 Radions or $5k on a custom tank.

$300 or less for a tank isn't possible. Like it's straight pretend-fantasy land. RODI systems cost more than that.

 

[dannyfish]

I think we should start a new thread on the Number and Cost of DEAD Fish in Reef tanks from amateurs to the Pros? Who wants to start a new posting?

 

[6TankReefer9]

I think we should start a new thread on the Number and Cost of DEAD Fish in Reef tanks from amateurs to the Pros? Who wants to start a new posting?

Nothing fun in counting up the amount we lost in this hobby, I'd rather focus on how much the "initial" investment is as well as keeping the hobby going.

 

[dantimdad]

I wanted to stay <$1000 but I see myself going over haha

Check out my sub $1K build. I am on track.

Oh and @Brew12, my fiance' can see the thread. LOL!