Just wondering about price/tank size...?

Saltcity · 11/04/2008, 06:40 PM

The wife and I are talking about the house we are going to build in a year....not anytime soom but we are planning what we want/need in a house. Of Course a fish room is in the plans for the basement and that is the subject of my question.

I have a 125g and its been going for years. I never kept track of the money invested(or thrown away depending....) on it but I'm sure its over $4500.....
I have two Nano's going, a 24g and a 29g and I probably have around $1200 in each.
I'm wondering if I spent $1200 on a 29g..... Could I times that by ten and be close to the price that it would take to have a 280-300g in wall tank? I will be building the tank so that will save money on that....

1DeR9_3Hy · 11/04/2008, 07:50 PM

That sounds like a good calculation...as scary as that number may be. I don't think everything is proportionate, but most things will be (LR, LS, pumps, pvc,).

lbj · 11/04/2008, 07:54 PM

i would go with a 220 or bigger i was in the same boat as you are i whent from a 125 up to a 220 in the wall of my basement and iam happy i did that.. so i would go big as you can..

Saltcity · 11/04/2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1DeR9_3Hy
That sounds like a good calculation...as scary as that number may be. I don't think everything is proportionate, but most things will be (LR, LS, pumps, pvc,).

I'm just trying to get a rough estimate to throw at my wife but I know it will vary with all the different options of doing something like this.

zlwags85 · 11/04/2008, 09:06 PM

I think that there is some truth to the proportionate cost; however, it really comes down to what you want. If you are willing to buy used equipment and wait for great deals... I think you could easily setup a 280 gallon system for under 10 X's what you spent on your 29g (12k).

I am in the process of setting up a 300 gallon tank and my goal is to keep the entire project under 6k. So far I have been able to get the tank, oak stand/canopy, sump/refugium, skimmer, plumbing, and a couple pumps for a grand.

If you want to buy everything new... then just start adding up what you would be willing to spend on each crucial item and get a ballpark amount on the items you can afford..... however, it isn't hard to nickel and dime yourself to death in this hobby.

Saltcity · 11/04/2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lbj
i would go with a 220 or bigger i was in the same boat as you are i whent from a 125 up to a 220 in the wall of my basement and iam happy i did that.. so i would go big as you can..

I'm wanting a 280-300 gallon so I won't be going smaller... My biggest "Want" is an 8' long tank as well as a 24"-30" width from front to back.

Saltcity · 11/04/2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zlwags85
I am in the process of setting up a 300 gallon tank and my goal is to keep the entire project under 6k. So far I have been able to get the tank, oak stand/canopy, sump/refugium, skimmer, plumbing, and a couple pumps for a grand.

Wow... Way to keep the cost down! Yeah, I would love to spend less and I do plan on making the Tank, Stand, Canopy....etc.... I guess time will tell.

crvz · 11/04/2008, 09:10 PM

$10k can easily be spent on a full blown reef as a built-in. That's why it's nice to go slowly in the hobby.

I couldnt imagine buying it all at once.

chucksta1 · 11/05/2008, 02:06 AM

I would say $30.00 a gallon if you bought good used stuff and shopped around and had patience.

If you just went and bought exactley what you wanted new.... $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon.

wayne in norway · 11/05/2008, 06:42 AM

Bigger is cheaper. Especially inwall where you can hide stuff so you don't need to beautify.

Capt_Cully · 11/05/2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wayne in norway
Bigger is cheaper. Especially inwall where you can hide stuff so you don't need to beautify.

I think that's a great line! Just look at all the people who try to get out. NO ONE jumps on the bigt tanks that people try to sell. The big equipment sits around too. I think if you have a year to plan and design, you can save some big cash by buying used equip. Keeping your eye open for deals will allow you to adapt and change your design based on what equipment you get your hands on.

I mean if you have the means, it's certainly easier to say, "this is what I want" and just buy away. But if you're frugal, I'd go used all day long!!!

Personally, I don't think I'd buy new equipment ever again. Not with all the goodies people fire sale on the used forum.

Good Luck, keep us posted, and pics are a must!

msch1999 · 11/05/2008, 07:11 AM

I would say your calculation is pretty close , if not a touch high depending on if the equipment is new or used, and if you use anything from your current setup. I just upgraded from a 72 to a 210 in wall. I built my own stand, and didn't need a canopy. I used 2 of the 250 HQI I already had above my 72, and added another. Used the same skimmer. Added another 150 pounds of liverock from a local person that was taking down their tank. I don't think i spent any more than $3000 above what I already had invested from my previous setup. Just my .02

11/04/2008, 06:40 PM	#1
Saltcity Moved On Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 4,297	Just wondering about price/tank size...? The wife and I are talking about the house we are going to build in a year....not anytime soom but we are planning what we want/need in a house. Of Course a fish room is in the plans for the basement and that is the subject of my question. I have a 125g and its been going for years. I never kept track of the money invested(or thrown away depending....) on it but I'm sure its over $4500..... I have two Nano's going, a 24g and a 29g and I probably have around $1200 in each. I'm wondering if I spent $1200 on a 29g..... Could I times that by ten and be close to the price that it would take to have a 280-300g in wall tank? I will be building the tank so that will save money on that....

11/04/2008, 07:50 PM	#2
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	That sounds like a good calculation...as scary as that number may be. I don't think everything is proportionate, but most things will be (LR, LS, pumps, pvc,). __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

11/04/2008, 09:10 PM	#8
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	$10k can easily be spent on a full blown reef as a built-in. That's why it's nice to go slowly in the hobby. I couldnt imagine buying it all at once. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/05/2008, 07:11 AM	#12
msch1999 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 470	I would say your calculation is pretty close , if not a touch high depending on if the equipment is new or used, and if you use anything from your current setup. I just upgraded from a 72 to a 210 in wall. I built my own stand, and didn't need a canopy. I used 2 of the 250 HQI I already had above my 72, and added another. Used the same skimmer. Added another 150 pounds of liverock from a local person that was taking down their tank. I don't think i spent any more than $3000 above what I already had invested from my previous setup. Just my .02 __________________ --Mike-- Current Tank Info: 210 AGA mixed reef

11/04/2008, 07:54 PM	#3
lbj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Heath, Ohio Posts: 89	i would go with a 220 or bigger i was in the same boat as you are i whent from a 125 up to a 220 in the wall of my basement and iam happy i did that.. so i would go big as you can..

11/04/2008, 09:06 PM	#5
zlwags85 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Metamora, Il Posts: 378	I think that there is some truth to the proportionate cost; however, it really comes down to what you want. If you are willing to buy used equipment and wait for great deals... I think you could easily setup a 280 gallon system for under 10 X's what you spent on your 29g (12k). I am in the process of setting up a 300 gallon tank and my goal is to keep the entire project under 6k. So far I have been able to get the tank, oak stand/canopy, sump/refugium, skimmer, plumbing, and a couple pumps for a grand. If you want to buy everything new... then just start adding up what you would be willing to spend on each crucial item and get a ballpark amount on the items you can afford..... however, it isn't hard to nickel and dime yourself to death in this hobby.

11/05/2008, 02:06 AM	#9
chucksta1 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: mississauga ont. Posts: 490	I would say $30.00 a gallon if you bought good used stuff and shopped around and had patience. If you just went and bought exactley what you wanted new.... $75.00 to $100.00 a gallon.

11/05/2008, 06:42 AM	#10
wayne in norway Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Stavanger, Norway Posts: 1,271	Bigger is cheaper. Especially inwall where you can hide stuff so you don't need to beautify.