Skimmer $981
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Return pump $3003
How much did your Tank Setup Cost??
- Thread starter Roatan Reef
- Start date
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Return pump $3003
ripcord
Community Member
A lot less than my other hobbies! The wife says, as long as it keeps me busy and out of her hair, it’s worth every penny. We’ll see how she feels about that, with the new 1000 gallon system in the new house!
OP
OP
Roatan Reef
Valuable Member
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Ocala Reef Club Member
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Set up and size???
My thread has all the description. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/heavenly-aquarium.884802/
Susan Edwards
5000 Club Member
I have a spread sheet of all tank costs since 2016 when I got my first saltwater tank. It is staggering.... I could almost buy a Tesla! My new tank, the RS 3xl900 is about what I owe on my honda civic car. Well over 20k less than 30K lols. Pick a number... Hitting 4k for this year. More new stuff like clear view lids and livestock and just maintenance and additives etc.
I went with better rock, red sea equipment and higher end than my previous tanks. Even did 2 mp40's. I did not stint. I also went with Apex gear. Also did a water change station in garage and hubby put in an audurino fail safe system. I also put in 2 dedicated 20 amp breakers and 2 outlets of 4 plugs each in my office. More power in this room than in entire house almost lol's. This includes the amts of additives I needed and salt and all manner of things needed.
In my opinion it has paid off. Flow is great, rocks are good, no marco dust (don't count the algae I'm fighting). Compared to my last set up, this has been worth it and I should have bitten the bullet with the last tank.
I went with better rock, red sea equipment and higher end than my previous tanks. Even did 2 mp40's. I did not stint. I also went with Apex gear. Also did a water change station in garage and hubby put in an audurino fail safe system. I also put in 2 dedicated 20 amp breakers and 2 outlets of 4 plugs each in my office. More power in this room than in entire house almost lol's. This includes the amts of additives I needed and salt and all manner of things needed.
In my opinion it has paid off. Flow is great, rocks are good, no marco dust (don't count the algae I'm fighting). Compared to my last set up, this has been worth it and I should have bitten the bullet with the last tank.
fish farmer
2500 Club Member
It cost about the same as driving to Florida for a couple of weeks, staying in nice hotels and eating seafood every night.
MYosh88
New Member
Last December I replaced my 17 year old Oceanic 58 gal when it started to leak (R.I.P.). I bought a Red Sea Max E-260 AIO (56 gal display volume) from Aquatic Art for $2,824, plus some other goodies. When he sold it to me, Cris Capp said something sympathetic to the effect that it's always more than you think 
In going through my records, I found this price list for the Oceanic, written by the kind folks at Sherman Tank (yup, they had a figure of a WWII tank in their signage).
The setup included stand, lights (PC compact!), and sump. In 2021 dollars, the cost would be $1858.56. I don't have the price I paid for my first skimmer, a Urchin Pro, but I saw a modern listing where it was going for $265, taking the total to $2123.56.
So ... you could conclude that for a "comparable" setup, things have gotten more expensive over time. NOW, you could argue that today's equipment is far more capable, which for sure is true. You could also say this about cars. According to cheapism.com, the inflation adjusted average price of a car in 2004 was $34,411, in 2021 $25,045.
Do I think this hobby has gotten more expensive? Yes (especially considering all the additional "stuff" like controllers that can be bought). Do I still enjoy it? Yes
In going through my records, I found this price list for the Oceanic, written by the kind folks at Sherman Tank (yup, they had a figure of a WWII tank in their signage).
The setup included stand, lights (PC compact!), and sump. In 2021 dollars, the cost would be $1858.56. I don't have the price I paid for my first skimmer, a Urchin Pro, but I saw a modern listing where it was going for $265, taking the total to $2123.56.
So ... you could conclude that for a "comparable" setup, things have gotten more expensive over time. NOW, you could argue that today's equipment is far more capable, which for sure is true. You could also say this about cars. According to cheapism.com, the inflation adjusted average price of a car in 2004 was $34,411, in 2021 $25,045.
Do I think this hobby has gotten more expensive? Yes (especially considering all the additional "stuff" like controllers that can be bought). Do I still enjoy it? Yes
I don't know. I have a 13.5g Fluval Evo that I tried to go all budget on and wasted a ton of money upgrading bad parts. Maybe 1K in just setup? Then made an IM Nuvo 10g office tank with good stuff--all I remember (self-induced amnesia) is my wife's "you bought a plane ticket for rocks!??".
Lately, I've been getting the feeling that I want a gem tang...
Lately, I've been getting the feeling that I want a gem tang...
c0kefree
Community Member
For my Reefer Nano, i stopped being curious at $3,000.
however this includes the $800 i spent for my biocube 16 setup that came with the light, ato, wavemaker, heaters, inkbird, rock, clownfish, and coral. (Using all the equiptment from that on my Reefer)
bought the reefer used for $500 which came with two return pumps, an aquamaxx skimmer and some other goodies.
but needed a new stand for $400 (im ultra paranoid with stands, after a tank failure in my past)
i’ve bought a reactor, redsea top, tons of chemicals, supplies, dc return pump, corals and fish now ontop.
without going used, probably 5k or so in just stuff.
however this includes the $800 i spent for my biocube 16 setup that came with the light, ato, wavemaker, heaters, inkbird, rock, clownfish, and coral. (Using all the equiptment from that on my Reefer)
bought the reefer used for $500 which came with two return pumps, an aquamaxx skimmer and some other goodies.
but needed a new stand for $400 (im ultra paranoid with stands, after a tank failure in my past)
i’ve bought a reactor, redsea top, tons of chemicals, supplies, dc return pump, corals and fish now ontop.
without going used, probably 5k or so in just stuff.
Karen00
2500 Club Member
+1 to over budget. That happened the first day I went shopping for my stuff.What did it cost? You mean the initial cost, how much I went over budget or the ongoing cost?
LOL
Karen00
2500 Club Member
I should keep track but have stopped. I knew I was in trouble when I went way over budget the first day of shopping for this tank (my first) and the endless supply of ancillary stuff that goes with it. LOL Just when you think you're finished something new and cool comes out or some "must have" is released and so the cycle of life continues.
ekandler
Active Member
I’d say close to $8,000 for equipment to get it going, then god knows how much in fish and coral.
reefer 350: $2,000
2x XR30s and RMS: $2,000
7 stage RODI: $600
ATO: $200
Eshopps S-120 skimmer: $300
Pumps, fuge light and reactor: $300
2x Ai Nero 5s: $300
Rock and sand: $300
Heater and controller: $150
Apex, trident, DOS: $1,800
reefer 350: $2,000
2x XR30s and RMS: $2,000
7 stage RODI: $600
ATO: $200
Eshopps S-120 skimmer: $300
Pumps, fuge light and reactor: $300
2x Ai Nero 5s: $300
Rock and sand: $300
Heater and controller: $150
Apex, trident, DOS: $1,800
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