The Cost of Reefing

[Zoaelite]

Are we considering this for 1 month, 1 year, 5 years? Or is it what you have OVERALL spent?
Levi

[VFX]

Hey Darryl

Are we talking the initial cost to get set up & running?

ie. tank, stand, lights, reactors, skimmers, live rock, power bars, power heads, plumbing, etc.

Or are we including live stock, additives, salt & overall running cost?

.

[sharuq1]

It always costs much more than you originally thought it would....

[Aquattro]

My last large tank (155g) cost me about 10k total to get it where it was, including all stocking, equipment and associated costs. I then broke down the annual costs of all maintenance items (salt, bulbs, RO membranes, etc) with a cost of $137/mo to run.

So ya, these things can get pricey!!

[Parker]

Please, PLEASE don't make me add it all up!

With my 265 I'm pushing $14,000 and there isn't a drop of water in it. But most of the costs are tied up in cabinetry that goes along with the tank for astetic purposes but wasn't nessacary. I have no idea what the final number will be and I don't wan't to think about it, but I have been thrifty when if comes to equipment, buying used when I can etc.

[Haloreef]

I'm not telling... my wife may read this!

[VFX]

Here's the set up cost of my 60g mixed reef with approx UK prices in CAD.

• Deltec Micro Reef - $9000
• Tunze 6080 x 2 - $250
• Tunze Controller - $320
• Upgrade lights to 2 x 150 MH with T5 actinics - $1200

Over $10k for a 60g set up before you even got it wet!

Cost me at least another $6k on top of that once it was stocked & all the 'miscellaneous' items were bought.

Reefers have it good in Canada in terms of bang for buck.

My current Solana 34g set up owes me around $1300 so far not including live stock & corals...

• Tank, Stand & Light - $800
• Sand & Live Rock - $140
• 2 x Korallia 1 - $60
• 3 x Heaters - $60
• Power bars & cables - $60
• Thermometer - $20
• Miscellaneous - $150

A relative bargain in comparison!

VFX.

.

[mark]

Cost me a new house (wife got the house, I got the tank to go in it).

[Chowder]

It all depends on what your adding up. I have had my 65 Gallon for about 2 1/2 years now. If I add up all it took to get where I am now it would easily be over $10,000. This is mostly because I like to change my mind on what I like to keep. The tank itself has gone from no overflow to new tank with overflow, Softie to SPS, have had a hugh zoo collection that I got ride of about 8 months ago for 1/3 of what it cost me. Alot of the equipment has been upgraded as well.