Monthly Costs of 180g Tank?

jab502 · 04/04/2006, 11:33 PM

I am about to purchase my first tank. A 72"X24"X24". I have already priced all of the equipment that I will need to get the thing going. My wife is very concerned about the ongoing monthly costs. Not including the costs of stocking the tank what do you think the monthly costs would be (electricity, food, testing equipment)?

Dubbin1 · 04/04/2006, 11:50 PM

Better then $100

cyclgrl · 04/05/2006, 12:06 AM

You can calculate your tank's electricity cost based on the equipment you are planning to use here:
http://reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php

Other costs to consider: salt (based on amount/frequency of water changes), water, food, additives (e.g. calcium/alk, phosban, carbon)

dragonforce · 04/05/2006, 12:14 AM

Most of the costs would be setting up the tank. It really depends on what you want to do. Reef? FOWLER? MH lighting, VHO, or PC? Monthly cost of electricity for my 37 LPS reef with a 175watt MH went up about 20 bucks.

Other things to consider. Will you have an ro/di system to mix your own salt and top off your water? This will cut costs in the long run and salt is fairly cheap especially if you buy the biggest sizes that companys have to offer, you get much value for your money. I like to feed my tank a high quality pellet food, frozen food, and live foods on the trip the LFS. You can get a week supply of live brine and/or blood worms for a few bucks. With a tank that size and if you plan on buying around 250-300 lbs of LR you fish will get most of their food naturally.

As far as costs of chemicals goes, I would consider a calcium ractor on a tank that size which would have very low monthly cost.

The main point is that this hobby is an on going forever thing. No one ever has a tank that is finished. There is always a new fish, invert, coral or something to buy or pay for. The rewards however, exceed the costs.

kewliz · 04/05/2006, 01:38 AM

Another thing to calculate (which is impossible to calculate) is the cost of the constant changes and upgrades you'll want to do even after it's setup. Reef tanks are like pimped out cars - you're ALWAYS spending money on something newer and flashier and something to make it run better....

04/04/2006, 11:33 PM	#1
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	Monthly Costs of 180g Tank? I am about to purchase my first tank. A 72"X24"X24". I have already priced all of the equipment that I will need to get the thing going. My wife is very concerned about the ongoing monthly costs. Not including the costs of stocking the tank what do you think the monthly costs would be (electricity, food, testing equipment)?

04/04/2006, 11:50 PM	#2
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Better then $100

04/05/2006, 12:06 AM	#3
cyclgrl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,266	You can calculate your tank's electricity cost based on the equipment you are planning to use here: http://reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php Other costs to consider: salt (based on amount/frequency of water changes), water, food, additives (e.g. calcium/alk, phosban, carbon)

04/05/2006, 12:14 AM	#4
dragonforce Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, 92677 Posts: 587	Most of the costs would be setting up the tank. It really depends on what you want to do. Reef? FOWLER? MH lighting, VHO, or PC? Monthly cost of electricity for my 37 LPS reef with a 175watt MH went up about 20 bucks. Other things to consider. Will you have an ro/di system to mix your own salt and top off your water? This will cut costs in the long run and salt is fairly cheap especially if you buy the biggest sizes that companys have to offer, you get much value for your money. I like to feed my tank a high quality pellet food, frozen food, and live foods on the trip the LFS. You can get a week supply of live brine and/or blood worms for a few bucks. With a tank that size and if you plan on buying around 250-300 lbs of LR you fish will get most of their food naturally. As far as costs of chemicals goes, I would consider a calcium ractor on a tank that size which would have very low monthly cost. The main point is that this hobby is an on going forever thing. No one ever has a tank that is finished. There is always a new fish, invert, coral or something to buy or pay for. The rewards however, exceed the costs.

04/05/2006, 01:38 AM	#5
kewliz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 718	Another thing to calculate (which is impossible to calculate) is the cost of the constant changes and upgrades you'll want to do even after it's setup. Reef tanks are like pimped out cars - you're ALWAYS spending money on something newer and flashier and something to make it run better....