Monthly Costs

[Billybatz9]

Hey guys,

What are your monthly costs? I am getting into saltwater tanks, and I would really like to know what your monthly costs are?

Of you have corals and fish, do you have to buy two separate foods? Food for corals and food for fish? What about anemones? And do you feed your fish dry foods or live food?

[m0nkie]

You can feed your fish pellets, frozen, flakes or make your own from grocery store.. such as shrimp, scallop, clam etc..

Corals have their own food you can buy. Such as reef chili, coral frenzy, etc
.
Anemones will eat raw shrimps scallops etc.. it will also eat small frozens that you feed your fish

Most people feed a variety.. so you will probably end up with one of each

[m0nkie]

I spent about 100$ on dry food.. its going to last me foreverrrrr... but im fairly new so not many fish

After your initial set up, it shouldnt cost too much to maintain. Dosing chemicals, salt mix and rodi cost.. thats about it.. oh and electricity

[lllesley]

A lot depends on the size of your system.
I have to do 250 litre water changes every time so thats about $50.00 in salt alone without RODI water added to that price. .
I use rowaphos 250ml a time change every 12 weeks, 1 liter costs about $100 so thats $25 a change. Fish food and coral food is the least of the expense.
Dosing can be expensive to depending on the size of the tank, bigger the tank the more the dose.
Electricity is also a big consideration our bills have doubled since getting the tank.
Globe replacement, test kits need replacing, constant RODI for top up.
It is not a cheap hobby.
But if it all works it is well worth it .
Hope this helps.

[Crooked Reef]

Between food, water changes, dosing, carbon, gfo and electricity I would say on avatage about 50 to 75 a month, most months being closer to 50. This does not include any livestock. Some months I need to get a few snails or something to help clean the tank. It sounds like a lot when you say it even to me, but then I realize that I spend more feeding my dogs than on my upkeep on the tank and it makes it better.

[Pife]

I budget for 100 a month.

[ardsman]

During the last few months I have come to realize that most reefers seem to have the same affliction as me, more money than sense! but sitting back and admiring your creation is more than an ample reward. I don't even have any livestock in the thing yet and it still looks awesome! even my better half is coming round, "turn the light on" (she like to watch the shimmer) lol

[schatzi]

Cost directly equates to size of the tank and system you have. I'm running about 265 gallons and would guess I spend $50-$60 a month on electricity. My water bill might be $10 higher per month. I buy salt probably 7-8 times over the year at $45 a box. Food is not much, maybe 5 bucks a month on average. The highest cost is at start-up, after that you only have large expenses on new equipment or really exotic livestock. Given the beauty of the hobby when you do it right a $100 a month is cheap.

[rocsec1]

I am between $50 and $75 a month just for stuff for the tank
If I see something bright and shiny it gets lot more expensive
Last month I added am apex but sold the RKL so it wasn't too bad
The monthly costs aren't the killer it is the equipment that is bad

[E46Twist]

$20/month for electricity. Frags,fish,new crap.... Lots. It really depends on utilities cost, by the time my reef is factored into my electric use, my rate is down to $.071/ KWH, it is much higher in other places. Unless you have a huge tank salt should be cheap as should food ad other consumables

[ca1ore]

I have a number of tanks and a large 265 display. I figure typical monthy running costs, including electricity, supplies and nominal livestock additions, is about $200. Occasional livestock purchases can be higher though.

[E46Twist]

The most important thing to remember is once you start buying coral, it will get out of control fast

[melvinakshay]

I'm guessing about 30 bucks in electricity. Food is probably 5 bucks.

[m0nkie]

Originally Posted by E46Twist

The most important thing to remember is once you start buying coral, it will get out of control fast

I have seen quite a few people that sells enough frags to support all their tank cost.

need to set up a frag tank sometime and try this out.

but yes... once the coral buying begins, there is no end to it.

[E46Twist]

Originally Posted by m0nkie

I have seen quite a few people that sells enough frags to support all their tank cost.

need to set up a frag tank sometime and try this out.

but yes... once the coral buying begins, there is no end to it.

I am getting one set up, however it is for grow out before I put frags in my 125. I suppose one day it may become a tank to raise my own frags.

[planedoc]

I have a 240 and 75 saltwater plus a 110 fresh. It's hard to say dollar wise because I use 2800 kilowatt hours each month. The first 300 are 9.5 the next 700 are 5.5 and everything after that is 4.5. (Duke energy indiana) There is extra charges of about. 03 for environmental and infrastructure and other BS. So I have to say that the tanks are extra and operate at the lowest rate. When I heat my house in the winter to 68. My gas heater doesn't run unless it's less than 40. (the 600 gallons of 78 degree water keeps my 1100 Sq ft house warm and humid. In the summer my AC is set at 75 and works extra to cool the tanks as the heaters heat the water. Kind of like ****ing into the wind. With . 045 cents a kilowatt hour I spend about $125 on fish tanks. (this is a rock bottom rate. Southern California people pay like .25 per kilowatt after 2000 watts. So that would be times 6 $750. We get a discount for using more (buying in bulk) while they get punished and charged a punishment fee for each kilowatt used over the "normal usage" Salt cost about $50 a month based on 200 gallon water changes (reef crystals from Dr F&S) . If there are problems I up to 300 or 400 gallon changes so could be 75 or a hundred ($60 average) . I buy my food once a year from brine shrimp direct in bulk very cheap. About $300 a year or $25 a month. I use koralia powerheads and they get replaced every two years at $30 each time 8. 240 /24 is $10 a month. Much better than using premium powerheads. I have leds and T5's the yearly cost to maintain leds is 0 but T5 cost 160 a year to replace. That's 15 a month. My RO/Di system cost $160 a year to maintain including the replacement float valves. With algae cleaning products like scrapers and pads for magnetic Cleaner, replacement filter socks, carbon, gfo and clean up crew replacement is around $30 a month So it's a grand total of about $280 a month. So to operate a 240 with 75 Gallon sump with Led and T5 and a 75 with 40 gallon sump . That not counting other equipment and live stock purchases. I hate to see this as it a nice car payment or half my mortgage payment. I guess I love my fish. But 280 a month