Cost of the reefkeeping hobby

[hart24601]

Pretty interesting. With 77 votes the median is $6,000, but look at that 10,000 and over! Right now it's by far the largest category, I should have included more options... I forgot how many people have really large tanks or really large systems. It would have been interesting to look at the average too if I had put more choices over 10k.

 

[MattL22]

Building the system over last yr

I'd say $6-7k really hoping once I'm done with the build that I can buy everything dry good wise in bulk with Xmas $ and then throughout yr only cost would be electric and water / sps

Can anyone say there build is 100% done and they have no other plans for adding equipment etc?

 

[Maximo]

I'm rounding 9k with my setup! Started aquiring equipment last April! I will definitely be well over 10k come June time! I've got near 3800 in corals alone and still lots of room!

 

[redfishbluefish]

........Can anyone say there build is 100% done and they have no other plans for adding equipment etc?

LOL!


Here's my progression on a couple pieces of equipment:

Powerheads: 3 Koralia 4's ---> 4 Koralia 1400's ---> 2 Ecotech MP40's

Skimmers: MRC 1 ----> MTC ----> MRC 2 ----> SWC 160

Lights: IceCap 6 bulb T5 ----> 2 Apollo LEDs

I think the only piece of equipment that hasn't change since 2008....yet.... is the MAG 9.5 return pump. However, I'm now looking at a Jebao DC pump.

 

[Maximo]

I think the whole point of having a hobby means you are never 100% finished with it! Wouldn't we call that retirement or throwing in the towel?

 

[ReeferIX]

I honestly lost count after 5k, I think I'm in the realm of close to 10k...eeeeekkkkk, don't tell the wife :xd::humble:

+1 here

My Bubble King mini 180 alone cost $1200, not to mention 2x $500 Ecotech MP40's, $1000+ on Apex with all bells and whistles, and a $600 Vertex Libra Doser w/ stepper motor. If my wife found out I spent over $3500 on these 4 things she might kill me. "At least I know I am not alone out there." Thank God I only have a 90 gal Reef! LOL

 

[mrcoffee2]

1.5 yrs in the hobby 8,000+ in the hole

 

[knukles55]

well Ill try to list out my equipment and try to think of a live stock price. hope you find this useful for this thread.

50.00 30g deep blue rimless "used I love craigslist"
150.00 custom built stand
75.00 plumbing
150.00 24in aquatic life 6 bulb t5 "used"
80.00 new t5 bulbs
free.99 mag 250 "used"
free.99 20lbs of sand
free.99 live rock 20lbs
free.99 20g sump "used"
150.00 ETSS 600 skimmer "used"
200.00 2 mp10 "used"
100.00 DIY LED atinic addon
180.00 RO unit
?.00 to much super glue gel
800.00ish between lps, sps corals and fish

1935.00 is just a rough number this isn't counting frag swap admissions, fish food, coral food, salt, water mixing, electricity..........

 

[knukles55]

 

[Fishinwall]

Started cabinet build in Feb 2012. Got water and tank cycled in Aug 2014. These are ALL my expenses since I started to date. Except electricity.

I have about $1,500 in the built-in cabinet alone.

And mine is just a 65 gal... Can't imagine what these big tanks cost.

 

[aslmx]

120 gallon- $50 cl
Stand $75 me and lowes
Asmg3 skimmer- $100 rc
2- 250 watt galaxies with luminarc reflectors and new Radiums $250 rc
Mag 18- $60 rc
2 jebao re-8s- Santa clause or $150
Dry rock - free fellow reefer
Sand- 80lbs $50- pet smart
Sump $40 petco

 

[toothman]

Given the fact I upgraded to a 405 gallon Reef Savvy tank, stand LEDs, etc a year and half ago I'd say upwards of 25,000 to get it just where I want it. For now that is. Went through all the problems from alk swings, hair algae, coral losses and ich that wiped out my fish. But now everything is stable and doing well

 

[Ace25]

LOL, you are missing some... I stopped counting when I hit $100,000 a few years ago.

 

[_Alex_]

I'm jot gonna count. Cause I could of had my 71 k5 blazer completely done and started on my nova by now probably haha

 

[tonymission]

Way higher.... Last year lol

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I stopped counting

 

[JMSKI333]

I stopped counting, but I wouldn't be surprised if I got 10k into my tank over the past 6 years. I think this hobby is expensive regardless because no matter how much money you have, you always spend too much of it on your tank haha.

 

[Rob Top1]

I think this hobby is expensive regardless because no matter how much money you have, you always spend too much of it on your tank haha.

Very very true. Perhaps a new poll. What percent of your income goes into your tank. A $1K set up for someone making $18k is no different than a $100k set up on a $1.8m salary if my sleepy mental math is right. I'd imagine while the percents are the same the impact to a persons economy are very different

 

[hart24601]

Very very true. Perhaps a new poll. What percent of your income goes into your tank. A $1K set up for someone making $18k is no different than a $100k set up on a $1.8m salary if my sleepy mental math is right. I'd imagine while the percents are the same the impact to a persons economy are very different

Very true and a new poll would be good. That is pretty much what I was trying to avoid with this poll!

The median seems to be $6,000 now. I can't imagine how high the average would be!

 

[that Reef Guy]

I have spent a ton.

You can make it as cheap or as expensive as you want (Just like any Hobby).

I will agree with others that there are other Hobbies that are more expensive (Generally Speaking) than this one.

The thread should have more options though like maybe every 10K

20,000
30,000
40,000
etc.

I want to know what the people that said over 10,000 actually spent as that can be a huge difference.

I would also like to know the Record for most spent.