What is the highest ONGOING cost to your reef tank?

[Ashibashi]

Getting my plan together for my tank has me wondering. After we're through all the costs of entry - the basics like salt, RODI unit, poweheads, testing kits, basic entry level livestock; what is the biggest cost when it comes to ongoing upkeep?

I dont mean expenses related to catastrophic failure interventions - just day to day, nothing particularly unusual going on upkeep costs.

Let me know! From a noob perspective it kind of looks like it might be salt, especially if you have a larger volume setup.

 

[pledosophy]

Ongoing for me is food. 2 Part would be next. That doesn't take into account the changing of RODI filters I suppose but I haven't calculated that out, nor do I want to lol.

After everything is setup, you are setup. It's hard for many to resist the urge to constantly fiddle with everything, but you really do not need to.

 

[G Santana]

After initial set up, food is the only thing consumed. I however make my own food and it significantly drives the cost down.
No two part or cal reactor yet, so everything is cheap.

But don't ask my wife, she doesn't forget how much got me here lol

 

[Tamberav]

Probably electricity and then food. Things like 2 part, bulbs, and RODI filters last a long time.

I don’t do many water changes. So I buy some IO salt when there is one of those big mark downs and I am good for two years.

 

[homer1475]

Food(between frozen, dry pellets, and live phyto this adds up quickly), and probably a close second, electricity.

 

[reefinatl]

Salt and dosing. I'd be surprised if anyone has something other than that for no going costs. Electricty is right in there though, God bless halides. lol

 

[homer1475]

Salt and dosing. I'd be surprised if anyone has something other than that for no going costs. Electricty is right in there though, God bless halides. lol

2 part isn't expensive if you DIY it.

 

[Ashibashi]

2 part isn't expensive if you DIY it.

How do you DIY it? And to the people saying electricity, do you run MH? Or is that a big expense even with T5/LEDs? Or is it coming from the heater/chiller?

 

[homer1475]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

And my electricity bill went up about $30 a month. I have T5's and no chiller. This of course includes my mixing station electricity.

 

[Kfactor]

Maintenance Forsure and right now getting everything going that I need

 

[elorablue]

Coral.
I know this isn't what you mean by your question, but buying coral dwarfs all other expenses combined.

 

[Reef.]

Depends on the size of the tank, makes a very big difference.

But generally I would say salt, electricity, dosing.

But for me personally I would say the biggest expense has been buying an item for the tank, realising it's not the best tool for the job, then going out and finding a better replacement...I now have 4 glass scrapers for example!

I started with a list at the start of the hobby, with every possible piece of equipment I could think of on it, I have since more than doubled that list, in buying things I never considered I needed at the start.

 

[Jbell370]

Hydro - lights, heaters, pumps, mixing pumps, full Apex etc etc
Salt - Change 5g per day
Water - Here they charge your usage x2 - the thought is what comes in goes to drain
Food - lots of variety and plenty of mouths to feed
Supplies - carbon, GFO, socks, floss, ATI essentials 2-part, Trident regents
My I am bored lets see what is new to try or plan for the future that is still in boxes

For the GF - It's not bad, costs about $20 per month

 

[Reef.]

Hydro - lights, heaters, pumps, mixing pumps, full Apex etc etc
Salt - Change 5g per day
Water - Here they charge your usage x2 - the thought is what comes in goes to drain
Food - lots of variety and plenty of mouths to feed
Supplies - carbon, GFO, socks, floss, ATI essentials 2-part, Trident regents
My I am bored lets see what is new to try or plan for the future that is still in boxes

For the GF - It's not bad, costs about $20 per month

5 gallons a day

What size is your tank!

 

[ChiCity]

the freebies i give away with orders
whenever i make frag packs…

 

[Jbell370]

5 gallons a day

What size is your tank!

240 display +/- 40g sump.

 

[Fish man]

My mistakes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Definitely electricity on my system.

 

[blaxsun]

What I have to cave-in and let my wife have so she’ll tolerate my hobby...

 

[Ashibashi]

Definitely electricity on my system.

A few people have said electricity now, and I'm wondering which of two interpretations is true - does this mean that electricity cost goes up A LOT, dwarfing the other semi-expensive ongoing costs by comparison, or that it goes up slightly and the other costs (and general ongoing maintenance costs) are actually quite small?