What’s your average monthly tank expense(s)?

[TMB]

I don't even want to add it up! But with over 500 gallons of SPS awesomeness I know I'm spending more than $500 a month . This would not include any new corals or equipment.

 

[saltyhog]

Electricity $40
Water $10
Salts $20
Food $25
Frags $20-&125.(highly variable)
Fish $5
Time 5 hrs ( maintaince)
What I tell her “~maybe $20-ish.”

LOL...that's what I once told my wife all fish and corals cost. Running joke now that she knows different.

$40 for electricity? Yikes! We are blessed....my entire electric bill isn't usually much more than $100!

 

[Xandernfs]

I don't really take in consideration for electricity or water since I am already paying for it and I really didn't see a spike when I set my tank up. My better half really wants me to set a budget so I don't go crazy when I visit my LFS. I picked the $101-$150 range since that is usually what I spend in my LFS and I only go there once a month, if that.

 

[madweazl]

Never thought about. I don't have room for more corals and havent bought a fish in seven or eight months. Only costs are water changes (Instant Ocean so pretty cheap), water, power (only draws 2.8a unless the heaters come on then it maxes at just under 6a), calcium, and alkalinity supplements (BRS). Cant image that is more than $50 a month and probably considerably less. Salt is about $21/month for the water changes I do.

 

[mitch91175]

What about an unknown option?

 

[Sailingeric]

I would like to know how people are getting $40 to $100 extra on their power bill just from a fish tank. I doubt I would spend that much on power in a year.

*** ok I went back and checked our power bill before and after getting a fish and I do see about a $40-ish dollar increase but looking at months we are not running the heater or AC it is kind of hard of tell because my mother in law was living with us for the early part of the year and we got a nice be freezer too. I think I am going to get a Killawatt just to see.

 

[ddrueckh]

230 gallon display $150-$250. That does not include new fish or coral. Just electricity, salt and other misc. maintenance items like test kits, carbon...

 

[Leyth]

HAHA, nice try wife, I'm not answering this question.

 

[Idoc]

Ignorance is Bliss....I don't want to know. If I knew...I would fret about it and not enjoy the hobby!

 

[leroy_jenkinz]

Electric 30
Rodi& sw 40
Frozen food 45
Fresh food 110
2 part & acro power 30
Fish & coral 200-1000 (the goal is zero lol)


How is everyone not spending a lot on food? A blister pack of pe mysis is $15. I use one a week. And reef nutrition is $15-30 for a laughable sized bottle.

I think if you’re spending that much you’d be better off buying fresh food in bulk and making your own mix

 

[SuncrestReef]

I just started my first ever tank last February, so I had a lot of up front hardware costs and then spent a lot over the past 8 months on livestock. My monthly average will decrease as I fill the tank, and I have stocked up on all the spare parts I intend to keep on hand (extra return pump, powerheads, etc.)

Since I charge everything on the same credit card, I was able to put together a quick report:

 

[Daniel91]

I just started my first ever tank last February, so I had a lot of up front hardware costs and then spent a lot over the past 8 months on livestock. My monthly average will decrease as I fill the tank, and I have stocked up on all the spare parts I intend to keep on hand (extra return pump, powerheads, etc.)

Since I charge everything on the same credit card, I was able to put together a quick report:

Glad to see I’m not the only person doing this.
My expenses are far from yours but it’s really nice with an overview.

 

[Hemmdog]

I think if you’re spending that much you’d be better off buying fresh food in bulk and making your own mix

I would be interested if I knew how. Any suggestions?

 

[4FordFamily]

If you’re my wife, probably $100.

In reality with food and salt and my electric bill and replacement stuff, vibrant, etc— $200-500.

This doesn’t include the fish— I don’t even want to think about what I have paid to stock my 500 gallon wall tank. If my wife asks it was about $500.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Obviously electricity which bounces around monthly.

Having three running systems, I pay no mind to it as I feel privileged to have a piece of the ocean in my home in three different places

 

[Fotocha]

Electricity $40
Water $10
Salts $20
Food $25
Frags $20-&125.(highly variable)
Fish $5
Time 5 hrs ( maintaince)
What I tell her “~maybe $20-ish.”

Spent $100 tonight alone ... told her about 20ish lol

 

[Matt Carden]

I would be interested if I knew how. Any suggestions?

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/feeding-your-fish-how-to-create-your-own-diy-mollusk-buffet.544/

 

[KMench]

Electric 30
Rodi& sw 40
Frozen food 45
Fresh food 110
2 part & acro power 30
Fish & coral 200-1000 (the goal is zero lol)


How is everyone not spending a lot on food? A blister pack of pe mysis is $15. I use one a week. And reef nutrition is $15-30 for a laughable sized bottle.

Holy cow! where are you buying a pack of PE Mysis?!? It’s about 5-7 dollars for a pack here.

 

[saltyhog]

What about an unknown option?

Or an "I don't want to know" option.

I just started my first ever tank last February, so I had a lot of up front hardware costs and then spent a lot over the past 8 months on livestock. My monthly average will decrease as I fill the tank, and I have stocked up on all the spare parts I intend to keep on hand (extra return pump, powerheads, etc.)

Since I charge everything on the same credit card, I was able to put together a quick report:

I don't like you very much! I actually have an expense category in my Quicken program titled "Tank". I have yet to click on the summary....LOL, don't want to know!

 

[leroy_jenkinz]

I would be interested if I knew how. Any suggestions?

I saw Matt had given you a link to one recipe but I find this recipe to have more of a wide variety for a diversely stocked tank. I haven’t made this one yet but when my current supply runs out I will but I’ll probably half it because the wife would kill me if I used so much freezer space on fish food

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-fish-coral-food-pic-intensive.535519/