Cost of running a large 210g tank

polaraligned · 09/27/2006, 04:17 AM

Please correct me if I am wrong here:
Cost of running 210 Reef aquarium for 1 year:

3- 250w MH fixtures 12 hours/day = $41.08/month = $492.92/year
4- 96w Flourescent fixtures 14 hours/day = $24.53/month = $294.36/year
Heaters 500w running 10% of the time = $2.74/month = $28.8/year
Replacement MH bulbs 3 @ approx $100 each = $300 year
Replacement flourescent bulbs 4 @ approx $45 each = $135/year
New RO membrane $75 or more
Salt- 20% change per month = $180/year
Food- Guess $120 per year
Misc that always comes up $100/year
Depreciation of your pumps, heaters, lights etc as they
have a limited lifetime. = $130/year

Total cost per year = $1856.08 Ouch!!!

Scott

r00onmac · 09/27/2006, 04:22 AM

thats nothing once you have cleared all the startup costs.. =0)

poknsnok · 09/27/2006, 06:02 AM

where is the other 1000.00 for corals??

DaveWC · 09/27/2006, 06:02 AM

Now double that estimate for all of the things you didn't think of. Like replacement/addition of livestock... new pieces of equipment that you have to have etc. Also consider the cost of buying & running a chiller, an HRV system for humidity, addition of a Q tank/ frag tank and stuff like that. It's not a cheap hobby.

ruiny · 09/27/2006, 12:00 PM

I would be happy to get away with 1800 per year.
It is an expensive hobby.
So work backwards if you need to and only get a tank that your bugget will support. It does get a lot more expensive as the tank size goes up.

Fiziksgeek · 09/27/2006, 12:13 PM

You forgot the skimmer :-)

I run a dual beckett on my 210 power by a panworld 200ps...thats right...290 watts of poop removing power running 24/7!!!

polaraligned · 09/27/2006, 03:19 PM

You are right. I forgot the pumps.
Add say 800 watts running 24/7
and you add another $841 per year
for a total of $2700 plus whatever
else I forgot/need.

Scott

MammothReefer · 09/27/2006, 03:32 PM

I dunno, about running the lights so long, or needing so many... I'm running 2x250w DE's over my 225 currently (and plan on adding some t5's in the near future) but.. 12-14 hours a day? I'm running my lights 6-8 max.

Pumps 800w?

I've got 200w return,
2x6100 = 80w or so.
30w for calc reactor
50w for skimmer
10w ozone

370w 24 hours a day.

500w 6-8 hours a day.

Salt, I use a bag ever 1.5 weeks.. so thats about 10$ per 1.5 weeks so I'm spending about 350 a year in salt.

Food, proboly around 100-200 a year

Replcement bulbs, about 160 a year atm. (ABs 20ks only 70-80$)

46bfinGA · 09/27/2006, 03:57 PM

sounds to me like your trying to talk your self out of it! if money is your main concern then your in the wrong hobby thats for sure.
its amazing how much money can be spent on these tanks.but i normally just hide all the reciepts so i dont have to look at them.
still cheaper hobby then fast cars and motorcycles.

818 · 09/27/2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 46bfinGA
but i normally just hide all the reciepts so i dont have to look at them.

I dont even ask for them

MammothReefer · 09/27/2006, 04:23 PM

Oh and i'm not sure I agree that it's cheaper then cars!.. I've spent MUuuuch more on my tanks in the past 3-4 years then my 69 camaro.

46bfinGA · 09/27/2006, 04:31 PM

well i guess everyone situation is different,i have a hard time not spending money on my wifes new mustang.wheels and tires one month,exhaust the next,and so on...........................and i just bought a 240 cube so im going to have to slow it down a bit so i can get it set up.

of course my wife has no problems reminding me!

MammothReefer · 09/27/2006, 04:38 PM

I hear that.. Luckly i've been in wiring mode on my 69' while this new tank build has been taking place which is more time then money.

pennyguy23 · 09/29/2006, 11:07 PM

In the past two days. I had a refractometer break 80$,
Added a heater (cheap one) 40$,
Two things of food(flake) 21$
Two buckets of salt 70$ each,
New magnovore magnet 120$,
pads 12$,
Fish shipment 245$,
Hanna phosphate colorimeter 180$,
reagents for the Hanna 60$

898.00$ in two days,

WOW I didn't even realize I spent that much until I started thinking about it and then added it up.

IF YOU AREN'T ADDICTED YET, You will be and you will spend alot. So if you can WALK AWAY!!!

J/K it is a wonderful hobby and alot of FUN. Welcome

nycreef · 10/01/2006, 08:39 AM

Reminds me of a funny thing I once heard.
Rich guy wants to buy a yaght from another wealthy man. So he shows him the enitire yaght floor by floor room by room. now they are at the helm and the rich guy asks the wealthier man, how much is the cost for the gas to keep her running? the wealthy man looks at the rich guy and says, sir this yaght is obviously not for you. rich guy says why?
the wealthy man says if you have to ask how much then your looking at the wrong yaght.
I always loved that story since I was a kid. Taght me to shut up or put up.

Titan*69 · 10/01/2006, 09:47 AM

I'm in about 5K canadian, and I don't even have water in it yet. Between the tank, custom sump, deltec skimmer, new R/O unit, pin-point monitors, pendants, bulbs, steel tubular stand, etc....sigh.

09/27/2006, 04:17 AM	#1
polaraligned Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 42	Cost of running a large 210g tank Please correct me if I am wrong here: Cost of running 210 Reef aquarium for 1 year: 3- 250w MH fixtures 12 hours/day = $41.08/month = $492.92/year 4- 96w Flourescent fixtures 14 hours/day = $24.53/month = $294.36/year Heaters 500w running 10% of the time = $2.74/month = $28.8/year Replacement MH bulbs 3 @ approx $100 each = $300 year Replacement flourescent bulbs 4 @ approx $45 each = $135/year New RO membrane $75 or more Salt- 20% change per month = $180/year Food- Guess $120 per year Misc that always comes up $100/year Depreciation of your pumps, heaters, lights etc as they have a limited lifetime. = $130/year Total cost per year = $1856.08 Ouch!!! Scott

09/27/2006, 04:22 AM	#2
r00onmac DVM in training Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,161	thats nothing once you have cleared all the startup costs.. =0) __________________ Matthew Current Tank Info: 55 display with 20L sump

09/27/2006, 12:00 PM	#5
ruiny Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 536	I would be happy to get away with 1800 per year. It is an expensive hobby. So work backwards if you need to and only get a tank that your bugget will support. It does get a lot more expensive as the tank size goes up. __________________ Go Sens Go Current Tank Info: 93 mixed reef

09/27/2006, 03:32 PM	#8
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	I dunno, about running the lights so long, or needing so many... I'm running 2x250w DE's over my 225 currently (and plan on adding some t5's in the near future) but.. 12-14 hours a day? I'm running my lights 6-8 max. Pumps 800w? I've got 200w return, 2x6100 = 80w or so. 30w for calc reactor 50w for skimmer 10w ozone 370w 24 hours a day. 500w 6-8 hours a day. Salt, I use a bag ever 1.5 weeks.. so thats about 10$ per 1.5 weeks so I'm spending about 350 a year in salt. Food, proboly around 100-200 a year Replcement bulbs, about 160 a year atm. (ABs 20ks only 70-80$) __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula Last edited by MammothReefer; 09/27/2006 at 04:22 PM.

09/27/2006, 04:23 PM	#11
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	Oh and i'm not sure I agree that it's cheaper then cars!.. I've spent MUuuuch more on my tanks in the past 3-4 years then my 69 camaro. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

09/27/2006, 06:02 AM	#3
poknsnok Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: tampa/ Brandon Posts: 2,802	where is the other 1000.00 for corals??

09/27/2006, 06:02 AM	#4
DaveWC Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 217	Now double that estimate for all of the things you didn't think of. Like replacement/addition of livestock... new pieces of equipment that you have to have etc. Also consider the cost of buying & running a chiller, an HRV system for humidity, addition of a Q tank/ frag tank and stuff like that. It's not a cheap hobby.

09/27/2006, 12:13 PM	#6
Fiziksgeek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxford, CT Posts: 1,565	You forgot the skimmer :-) I run a dual beckett on my 210 power by a panworld 200ps...thats right...290 watts of poop removing power running 24/7!!!

09/27/2006, 03:19 PM	#7
polaraligned Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 42	You are right. I forgot the pumps. Add say 800 watts running 24/7 and you add another $841 per year for a total of $2700 plus whatever else I forgot/need. Scott

09/27/2006, 03:57 PM	#9
46bfinGA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ball Ground, Ga. Posts: 1,333	sounds to me like your trying to talk your self out of it! if money is your main concern then your in the wrong hobby thats for sure. its amazing how much money can be spent on these tanks.but i normally just hide all the reciepts so i dont have to look at them. still cheaper hobby then fast cars and motorcycles.

09/27/2006, 04:31 PM	#12
46bfinGA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ball Ground, Ga. Posts: 1,333	well i guess everyone situation is different,i have a hard time not spending money on my wifes new mustang.wheels and tires one month,exhaust the next,and so on...........................and i just bought a 240 cube so im going to have to slow it down a bit so i can get it set up. of course my wife has no problems reminding me!

09/27/2006, 04:38 PM	#13
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	I hear that.. Luckly i've been in wiring mode on my 69' while this new tank build has been taking place which is more time then money. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

09/29/2006, 11:07 PM	#14
pennyguy23 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MI Posts: 694	In the past two days. I had a refractometer break 80$, Added a heater (cheap one) 40$, Two things of food(flake) 21$ Two buckets of salt 70$ each, New magnovore magnet 120$, pads 12$, Fish shipment 245$, Hanna phosphate colorimeter 180$, reagents for the Hanna 60$ 898.00$ in two days, WOW I didn't even realize I spent that much until I started thinking about it and then added it up. IF YOU AREN'T ADDICTED YET, You will be and you will spend alot. So if you can WALK AWAY!!! J/K it is a wonderful hobby and alot of FUN. Welcome __________________ Steven - See my tank in my gallery Current Tank Info: 360gl inwall, reef , 40"Geo Skimmer, 4 Tunze 6100's w/ controllers 400watt Sfiligoi Lighting with 4 ACLS Units Last edited by pennyguy23; 09/29/2006 at 11:20 PM.

10/01/2006, 08:39 AM	#15
nycreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New York City Posts: 190	Reminds me of a funny thing I once heard. Rich guy wants to buy a yaght from another wealthy man. So he shows him the enitire yaght floor by floor room by room. now they are at the helm and the rich guy asks the wealthier man, how much is the cost for the gas to keep her running? the wealthy man looks at the rich guy and says, sir this yaght is obviously not for you. rich guy says why? the wealthy man says if you have to ask how much then your looking at the wrong yaght. I always loved that story since I was a kid. Taght me to shut up or put up. __________________ 787 gal. Sps display tank/ 80 gal. frag tank / 75 gal. fuge / 300 gal. sump 8 Radion Pros/ 8 400W MH 20K Radiums /Vertex Doser for Cal. Alk. Mag/ Avast Kalk ATO/ Reef Dynamics BP1000 Reactor/ Avast G Current Tank Info: 787 Gallon Sps Lps

10/01/2006, 09:47 AM	#16
Titan*69 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ontario,Cdn Posts: 557	I'm in about 5K canadian, and I don't even have water in it yet. Between the tank, custom sump, deltec skimmer, new R/O unit, pin-point monitors, pendants, bulbs, steel tubular stand, etc....sigh. __________________ Grimreefer Current Tank Info: 210 with 90GL sump, 100 Undy, and a minute 40QT