ESTIMATE TOTAL COST OF YOUR REEF TANK!

[fish farmer]

Now my 29g is over $850... insane....

I think my old 38 gallon was pushing a grand at year 2000 prices.

My 29 is over a grand. I'm adding everything like the mixing station and RO/DI systems.

 

[Panama Brown]

This is hard to answer... I just did a guesstimate on my latest home display of my Waterbox 180 w/ hybrid lights, equipment + livestock..... Im right around $20k. Last I counted I had roughly 130 different pieces / species of coral with several of them being $200+ for a single piece/head/polyp. My ex wife says this hobbie ruined our marriage. Lol. I'd say her hobbie was drinking wine.... At least I can grow my hobbie and sell it if Im ever in a crunch! Moved a few months back and was able to raise $1.5k in just a few weeks from selling coral. Could hardly tell I put a dent in my stock. In a way, you can call my reef my "savings account" lol.

I will say this though.... When I first started out 5 years ago I put together my first 125g system for only $600!!! Took my time looking for used, free, & cheap stuff. Over the years ive upgraded everything you can think of. Just like reefing in general, good things take time and dont happen easily. Patience is key!

 

[Nick Steele]

Automating a 20 gal is about as expensive as automating any size tank haha. Have to if you want to ever leave the tank alone for more than a day.

I just left my tank on Sunday for a week long vacation. No automation besides ato and so far tanks looking well!

 

[Freenow54]

I see gem tangs listed at over 1k now and yellow tangs are going for 500 to 600 in my LFS

Wow You are talking US. I am talking Canadian. Guess I got lucky. Sounds to me like LFS should be boycotted

 

[ClearwaterReefer]

My 32 Gallon Biocube is 4 months old with only one fish and I have spent around $1100.

Same tank for me, and I'm not far off. Not counting livestock. lol

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Same tank for me, and I'm not far off. Not counting livestock. lol

Those things save a lot of money in the long run because it has a lot of things planned out from the beginning that would cost you a lot more to buy individually. Have you spent a little more or a little less?

 

[adsf430]

I just left my tank on Sunday for a week long vacation. No automation besides ato and so far tanks looking well!

Just wait until you add one SPS colony haha

 

[PeterB113]

Lol I already have a birdsnest in there I'm scared to buy a acro frag lol

 

[MartinM]

Almost 50 yrs of SW fish keeping… well into 6 figures!

25+, and this

 

[Nick Steele]

Just wait until you add one SPS colony haha

Probably won’t have any colonies for awhile. But the Walt Disney strawberry shortcake and pink caddy are all growing nicely.

 

[fish farmer]

I think my old 38 gallon was pushing a grand at year 2000 prices.

My 29 is over a grand. I'm adding everything like the mixing station and RO/DI systems.

I just did a cost breakdown at current prices/equipment available for my 29 gallon with 20 long sump if I built it today.

Tanks, lights, skimmer, pumps, ATO, overflow. = $1050.

RO/DI 4 stage, test kits, plumbing, etc. = $530.

20 lbs KP Live rock, 25 lbs dry rock, bag of sand. = $365

Salt, carbon, etc. = $50

Dosing equipment. = $100.

$2095 before live stock, I could add a couple hundred more to the equipment list.

 

[PeterB113]

I just did a cost breakdown at current prices/equipment available for my 29 gallon with 20 long sump if I built it today.

Tanks, lights, skimmer, pumps, ATO, overflow. = $1050.

RO/DI 4 stage, test kits, plumbing, etc. = $530.

20 lbs KP Live rock, 25 lbs dry rock, bag of sand. = $365

Salt, carbon, etc. = $50

Dosing equipment. = $100.

$2095 before live stock, I could add a couple hundred more to the equipment list.

Lol how much do you estimate with livestock that's the real question!

 

[smokin'reefer]

2

 

[hotdrop]

Waterbox 45.2 3k in equipment 1k in livestock. It’s pretty bare considering how much money is in it.

 

[LegalReefer]

$235 before livestock, ~$435 with livestock added. It’s only a 5 gallon tank, but I’ve managed to keep costs lower (and I think it’s looking good!) by not being too overly picky. Maaaaybe should have been pickier about my light, but it works and things seem to grow and like it pretty well. Only a few months old but I’m enjoying it!

 

[PeterB113]

$235 before livestock, ~$435 with livestock added. It’s only a 5 gallon tank, but I’ve managed to keep costs lower (and I think it’s looking good!) by not being too overly picky. Maaaaybe should have been pickier about my light, but it works and things seem to grow and like it pretty well. Only a few months old but I’m enjoying it!

Is that a Marineland 5g?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I can’t do it. Hurts too bad, I’ve spent too much and there’s no stopping anytime soon. 5 figure range. 9 years in the trade 4 tanks over the years 6,29,60,120g

 

[LegalReefer]

Is that a Marineland 5g?

It is! Great price, and it’s been a fantastic tank for me so far. Only thing I wish is that the stock pump was a *bit* stronger, but it works well for what it is. I’m using the stock light on a small 1 gallon tank to grow some macroalgaes, so it’s all been put to use.

 

[fish farmer]

Lol how much do you estimate with livestock that's the real question!

Over the ten plus years of this tank with what I've lost $1000 but that could include shipping. What is in the tank now $500 + excluding shipping.

 

[hey_hey_heeyyyyyy!]

I Wanna hear your ballpark figures on how much you think you've spent on your reef tank so far. Don't tell the wives........ including livestock!