How Much Have You Spent On Your Tank Setup

RobbyG · 03/15/2006, 06:03 PM

I think it would be helpful for new people and even veterans to get an idea of what the average RC person has spent on setting up their system.

To make the Data have meaning for all of us it's got to be a PER GALLON DOLLAR AMOUNT. Not including money you have spent to maintain the tank, JUST what you spent to set it up, Just the Equipment, Fish, Corals, Sand, Chiller, MH, etc.

So example if you Spent $5000 on a 200 Gallon system that's 5000/200 so $25 per Gallon.

DON'T INCLUDE THE SUMP WATER IN CALCULATION PLEASE.

Thanks for participating

RobbyG · 03/15/2006, 06:44 PM

Great thanks for the info so far. Surprised at the amount of people Under $40.

know-it-all · 03/15/2006, 07:06 PM

you forgot a "too high to remember" option

I don't remeber so I can't join in the fun

RobbyG · 03/15/2006, 07:24 PM

Bad memory is a very common disease in Reefers
I thought about a "Lets Not Go There" Option, maybe a mod can add it at the top.

zapata41 · 03/15/2006, 07:54 PM

i've spent enough but i do feel that the size of the tank will skew your results. So you setup a 55g and go MH with a big skimmer tunze stuff etc etc, now take that same equip list and switch the tank to a 200g. same equipment different cost per gallon.

but for me i wish not to think about it anymore.

Tim

ZURCSREEF · 03/15/2006, 08:03 PM

You don't want to know...

RobbyG · 03/16/2006, 12:04 PM

Yes thats true, the cost per gallon between certain jumps in size will skew the data, but under other conditions like going from 100 to 400 gallons or 55gal to 200 gallons the data evens back out as the equipment price soars again when you move up in Gallonage by more than a multiple of 2. The funny part is that with my 90 Gallon Tank I am now seeing how easy it would have been to go to 180 Gallons, my wife would have left me but it would have been almost the same cost

hmm tough decision

For a simple survey I could not think of a better way than cost per gallon, it would have been nice to have a 2 array poll that could include the actual tank sizes.

I think the Poll is still giving us a good idea of what kind of cash it takes to setup a tank.

Quote:

Originally posted by zapata41
i've spent enough but i do feel that the size of the tank will skew your results. So you setup a 55g and go MH with a big skimmer tunze stuff etc etc, now take that same equip list and switch the tank to a 200g. same equipment different cost per gallon.

but for me i wish not to think about it anymore.

Tim

Nathan · 03/16/2006, 12:17 PM

$5,000.00 per 180g

kalare · 03/16/2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nathan
$5,000.00 per 180g

I've spend almost that much on a 30g. I'm crazy though. True, I think smaller tanks cost a decent amount of money to set up. In my case with my smaller tanks, I usually deck them out enough to handle a tank 4 times their size (simply cause I like equipment). Also, tanks 40g and under usually don't have speciallized equipment so you end up buying stuff for a 100g tank and putting it on something smaller. Same initial setup cost, smaller size.

SunnyX · 03/16/2006, 03:24 PM

I would estimate about $5600 for my 225gl.
That is WITHOUT livestock, rock, salt, carbon, test kits, food, bulbs replaced over the years, RO/DI Filter replacement, supplements, etc, etc......

If I were to include those it would probably be double the figure I put up above.

If your going to set up a nice tank be prepared to shell out a few thousand dollars.

RobbyG · 03/16/2006, 05:16 PM

You should at least include the Rocks Fish etc that you used in your initial setup. The prices need to reflect a complete New system.

trippyl · 03/16/2006, 05:46 PM

all told, my 75 cost about 4000 to really get setup right with a chiller, rocks, fish, etc etc ad nauseum.

I think that it would have cost about the same to do a 150+ tank.

SCR · 03/16/2006, 06:05 PM

Did not want to know. Got a little here and got a little there. If you knew what everything was going to cost up front, you may not even get started. It was a lot easier doing it on a pay as you go plan. After a while you get use to spending a 100. here and 100. there. But 5K is about right for an average set up.

RobbyG · 03/17/2006, 12:01 AM

SCR thats true but some people start without proper funding and end up with dead fish, best they know what there getting into rather than to have the Animals suffer.

davidryder · 03/17/2006, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobbyG
Bad memory is a very common disease in Reefers
I thought about a "Lets Not Go There" Option, maybe a mod can add it at the top.

yeah that's funny that you used the words "bad memory" and "reefers" in the same sentence referring to the other hahaah

rich415 · 03/17/2006, 01:37 AM

I guess I'm one of the few that am glad I participated in this poll I actually thought it was way higher than $1300 for my 37 gallon

Kinetic · 03/17/2006, 01:44 AM

spent $5000 so far on my 82 gallon display, which actually has 190g total system volume.

I spent about $4000 on my 32 gallon m-tank =P

Connoisseurpoet · 03/17/2006, 02:30 AM

Ive spent 1300 dollars on my 29g since Jan of this year and i got lots more to spend on. my project probably will cost me another 2 grand. Then im off to 250 gallons

DMK · 03/17/2006, 04:05 AM

$3500 for initial setup of 92 corner w/ no LR, sand or livestock. all together 3 years later i have to be between $8000-9000. i don't even think about it anymore.

vessxpress1 · 03/17/2006, 06:04 AM

I just figured it up the other day for a guy. All equipment, rock, livestock tests, chemicals, food, with a lot of good deals on livestock from a local reefer along the way.....3,100 in my 38 gal.....and rising.

RobbyG · 03/17/2006, 03:02 PM

Aquarium Salt Water is probably the most expensive Liquid per gallon on the planet

Stile2 · 03/17/2006, 04:15 PM

about $1300 on my 29 gallon, and using most of the equipment from the 29 on my new 77 gallon, add about another $3000

Keith

RobbyG · 03/17/2006, 04:26 PM

SO Far as of 17 Mar the Poll gives an average of $58 Per Gallon

ste6168 · 03/17/2006, 05:07 PM

i voted 10-20$ per gallon, but i did not take into consideration livestock. As i dont have much yet, im sure that i will be well into the 20-40 section once fully stocked and fully set up.

rdmpe · 03/17/2006, 06:40 PM

I'm at about $30/gallon on my fairly new tank. I don't really have any corals yet and only a couple of fish/inverts.

View Poll Results: How Much You Spend Setting Up Your System
More Than $130 Per Gallon	26	10.00%
Between $130 - $100 Per Gallon	13	5.00%
$100 - $80 Gallon	19	7.31%
$80 - $60 Gallon	38	14.62%
$60 - $40 Gallon	67	25.77%
$40 - $20 Gallon	72	27.69%
$20 - $10 Gallon	19	7.31%
Under $10 A Gallon	6	2.31%
Voters: 260. You may not vote on this poll

03/15/2006, 06:03 PM	#1
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	How Much Have You Spent On Your Tank Setup I think it would be helpful for new people and even veterans to get an idea of what the average RC person has spent on setting up their system. To make the Data have meaning for all of us it's got to be a PER GALLON DOLLAR AMOUNT. Not including money you have spent to maintain the tank, JUST what you spent to set it up, Just the Equipment, Fish, Corals, Sand, Chiller, MH, etc. So example if you Spent $5000 on a 200 Gallon system that's 5000/200 so $25 per Gallon. DON'T INCLUDE THE SUMP WATER IN CALCULATION PLEASE. Thanks for participating

03/15/2006, 06:44 PM	#2
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	Great thanks for the info so far. Surprised at the amount of people Under $40. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/15/2006, 07:06 PM	#3
know-it-all Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: in my now frozen chair (aka Wisconsin) Posts: 1,488	you forgot a "too high to remember" option I don't remeber so I can't join in the fun __________________ current tank 94 corner, SPS/LPS basement sump

03/15/2006, 07:24 PM	#4
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	Bad memory is a very common disease in Reefers I thought about a "Lets Not Go There" Option, maybe a mod can add it at the top. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/15/2006, 07:54 PM	#5
zapata41 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 2,024	i've spent enough but i do feel that the size of the tank will skew your results. So you setup a 55g and go MH with a big skimmer tunze stuff etc etc, now take that same equip list and switch the tank to a 200g. same equipment different cost per gallon. but for me i wish not to think about it anymore. Tim

03/15/2006, 08:03 PM	#6
ZURCSREEF Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 2,347	You don't want to know...

03/16/2006, 12:17 PM	#8
Nathan Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Newtown, Pa., USA Posts: 1,454	$5,000.00 per 180g

03/16/2006, 03:24 PM	#10
SunnyX Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,991	I would estimate about $5600 for my 225gl. That is WITHOUT livestock, rock, salt, carbon, test kits, food, bulbs replaced over the years, RO/DI Filter replacement, supplements, etc, etc...... If I were to include those it would probably be double the figure I put up above. If your going to set up a nice tank be prepared to shell out a few thousand dollars.

03/16/2006, 05:16 PM	#11
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	You should at least include the Rocks Fish etc that you used in your initial setup. The prices need to reflect a complete New system. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/16/2006, 05:46 PM	#12
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	all told, my 75 cost about 4000 to really get setup right with a chiller, rocks, fish, etc etc ad nauseum. I think that it would have cost about the same to do a 150+ tank.

03/16/2006, 06:05 PM	#13
SCR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central, Fl Posts: 708	Did not want to know. Got a little here and got a little there. If you knew what everything was going to cost up front, you may not even get started. It was a lot easier doing it on a pay as you go plan. After a while you get use to spending a 100. here and 100. there. But 5K is about right for an average set up.

03/17/2006, 12:01 AM	#14
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	SCR thats true but some people start without proper funding and end up with dead fish, best they know what there getting into rather than to have the Animals suffer. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/17/2006, 01:37 AM	#16
rich415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 172	I guess I'm one of the few that am glad I participated in this poll I actually thought it was way higher than $1300 for my 37 gallon

03/17/2006, 01:44 AM	#17
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	spent $5000 so far on my 82 gallon display, which actually has 190g total system volume. I spent about $4000 on my 32 gallon m-tank =P

03/17/2006, 02:30 AM	#18
Connoisseurpoet Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 32	Ive spent 1300 dollars on my 29g since Jan of this year and i got lots more to spend on. my project probably will cost me another 2 grand. Then im off to 250 gallons

03/17/2006, 04:05 AM	#19
DMK Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: central NJ Posts: 2,494	$3500 for initial setup of 92 corner w/ no LR, sand or livestock. all together 3 years later i have to be between $8000-9000. i don't even think about it anymore.

03/17/2006, 06:04 AM	#20
vessxpress1 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NW IL Posts: 1,603	I just figured it up the other day for a guy. All equipment, rock, livestock tests, chemicals, food, with a lot of good deals on livestock from a local reefer along the way.....3,100 in my 38 gal.....and rising.

03/17/2006, 03:02 PM	#21
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	Aquarium Salt Water is probably the most expensive Liquid per gallon on the planet __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/17/2006, 04:15 PM	#22
Stile2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yucaipa, California (some little town you've never heard of) Posts: 1,624	about $1300 on my 29 gallon, and using most of the equipment from the 29 on my new 77 gallon, add about another $3000 Keith __________________ If you have a college degree, you can be sure of one thing. You have a college degree! Superman owns Chuck Norris Pajamas!! Current Tank Info: 77 Gallon Custom peninsula 3 sides viewable, DIY Steel Stand, OM Squirt, 2 x 250 w MH, 2 x 95 w VHO, DIY Skimmer

03/17/2006, 04:26 PM	#23
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	SO Far as of 17 Mar the Poll gives an average of $58 Per Gallon __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

03/17/2006, 05:07 PM	#24
ste6168 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,066	i voted 10-20$ per gallon, but i did not take into consideration livestock. As i dont have much yet, im sure that i will be well into the 20-40 section once fully stocked and fully set up.

03/17/2006, 06:40 PM	#25
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	I'm at about $30/gallon on my fairly new tank. I don't really have any corals yet and only a couple of fish/inverts.