Average cost to maintain reef tank

[redtigrinus]

Hi Everyone,

I am setting up a new reef tank and I'm always hearing that I should go as big as I can afford and accommodate. But, I as we all know the cost of having a reef aquarium doesn't stop at the initial setup so my question to all you experienced reefers is how much money are you spending each month to maintain your tanks?

I currently have a 90 Gallon but I have an opportunity to go as large as 150 Gallons. This tank will eventually be an SPS dominant tank with a large bioload, just to give you a gauge as to what I'm thinking with this setup.

Any input you all could give would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[reefstarter]

Run a reactor and lights and pumps about $100 a month

 

[JasonandSarah]

Everyone's electric is different so not counting that I'd say it's fairly cheap. I use 1/10th a jug of gfo every month and probably 1/3rd of brs 2 part. Let's say 1/4 of a bucket of salt and 10.00 in frozen foods.
1/10th gfo- $3.50
1/8th jug of rox carbon-$5.00
1/3rd brs 2 part-$15.00
1/4 bucket of salt -$12.50
10.00 in frozen food-
= $46.00
This is what I use on a heavily stocked sps tank that's 75g. So I'd say you'd be around $60.00 plus electric.
This is assuming your running led and don't have to acct for bulb changes and chillers ect ect....
That's also without adding in the monthly binge frag buying and the such. That's stuff you just shouldn't add up! Then you'd have to admit you have a problem

 

[this is me]

On my 200gallon with 2x250W DE MH running 7 hours a day, 4x39W T5s running for 9 hours a day, 2x250W heater, pumps, and everything else, the electricity alone is about $50 a month. This is without the electricity price hike that supposed to go up 37% this Winter.
I do 10% water change every week with IO salt. ~$35 per 200gallon box when on sale. Dosing with BRS salts, carbon, and GFO that I usually spend ~$200 a year.
All in all, I think an average of $70-$100 a month for the tank not accounting the livestock you put in is a safe number to go with.

 

[this is me]

binge frag buying

rotfl!!

 

[redtigrinus]

Thanks. I really appreciate the feedback. I was more so referring to things outside of utilities. Food, dosing supply, salt etc.

I know utilities varies a lot based on equipment and where you live.

 

[choff]

I have 310 total gallons.

Salt 35 bucks for 200 gal box of io. 2 last 3 months
tlf acropower $23 every 4 months
Red seas color $44 every 4 months
Food LRS reef frenzy $18 a month
Nori $6 monthly
Carbon BRS rox $45 lasts me 4 months
Seagel $20 every other month
Carbon reactor media $25 every 6 months
CO2 canister refill $25 every 6 months
Replacement probes say 1 or 2 of the 4 i use per year $80
RODI filter replacement $100 yearly if the RO filter goes
Power head or impeller failure $100 yearly
Test kit replacements $40

$25 monthly avg on misc glue, plugs, new tongs, paper towels, replacement tubing etc


That's roughly 150 a month. You would scale a little less at 200 gal and might not have as many powerheads (10) as me or probes for failures or change out as much water as I do (15 pct weekly) that will require less salt and rodi filters.



...stupid auto correct

 

[this is me]

Thanks. I really appreciate the feedback. I was more so referring to things outside of utilities. Food, dosing supply, salt etc.

I know utilities varies a lot based on equipment and where you live.

If you take away the cost of utility and the livestock, this hobby is actually pretty cheap. Water and salt is pretty don't really amount to much. Even on a large system. Fish food is almost negligible.

 

[choff]

If you are able to stick to the things you need it certainly can be. I'm almost to that point. The first couple of years I bought a lot of stupid stuff.

...stupid auto correct

 

[Andy V]

If you are able to stick to the things you need it certainly can be. I'm almost to that point. The first couple of years I bought a lot of stupid stuff.

...stupid auto correct

I couldn't agree more. I have boxes of crap that I thought I needed that haven't been opened in two years. I will probably throw it all away soon...hundreds of dollars wasted. Don't be tempted to buy stuff you don;t need.

 

[TomD]

Now that LED's are affordable it has really brought the electric cost down. When I got into the hobby if you wanted good growth, color, "with" the shimmer it was MH only. My first PFO hood must have been running $100 a month itself on a 90.