Expense of a nano?

[t5Nitro]

If anyone cares to post, what is the average expense of setting up a 10-20 gallon tank?

Thanks.

[reefman13]

Depends on what you want for filtering, equipment, sump, live stock. There are a lot of components.

Give us a better idea of what you had in mind. Cuz some nanos I have priced out at about $400 and some ranging up to $2500. So helping us narrow it down would be good

[nauticac4]

I have a mixed 20L tank. I have 3 fish, a dozen or so corals, 35 lbs of live rock 20lbs of sand, 130W PC light, digital timer and 3 powerheads, protein skimmer, and a filter and heater I had laying around...I'm in almost 1000 bucks. My neighbor on the other had has a 30 gallon he just started and is in only around 300 cause he bought stuff second hand and actualy got a tank and stand for free. You can spend as much as ur wallet will allow.

[Jimbo327]

By the time you have it stocked and have a couple piece of equipment to maintain your tank. I say you will be at least $1000 into it. Every little thing adds up. New bulbs. $50. Some test kits. $50. Some fish food and salt. $50. Oh, look, nice fish and snails. $50. Shipping overnight? $50. You get the picture. It's not the main tank that is going to cost you, it's the little things that add up over time.

[chkit]

you can't get away cheap in this hobby. i tried that when i started and ended up buying bunch of equipments that i didn't want to buy when i started. So if you want to do it right the first time, do alot of research and shop around.

[ezcompany]

just stay away from exotic stuff, then again who wants to!

[jazz_craze]

To get my 12 gallon tank set up from scratch to cycled cost around $350-$400. That included an "all-in-one" tank with lighting/filter, sand, live rock, timer, and heater.

But like Jimbo mentioned, it's the stuff after that's almost impossible to control. I share alot of "maintenance stuff" with 2 other work friends that also have nanos so it's minimized my monthly expenses but I've still spent probably another $350-$400 in corals, fish, snails, crabs, shrimps, food, chemicals, etc.

This is WAY TOO addictive so seriously think about it before starting...ha ha...oh, but if you have another tank or friends that have tanks that will graciously give you free frags, you'll be much further ahead.

Good luck!

[Eklikewhoa]

My 12g is my first real reef tank and I felt the need to splurge a little to get it right the first time.

Fully stocked and modded....a little over $2000.

[bboy aqua]

my 10g cost me around $800 already and its still not fully stocked

[Modena AL]

I'm $600 deep into my 10 gallon and I don't even have water in it yet. Picking up rock tonight and will be filling it up!

[messina06]

lets not forget the liverock. Granted, for a nano, depending on the size, you will brob only need roughtly 15-20 lbs but that stuff adds up.

One all set up though, the upkeep is not that bad. Its when you begin to buy more tanks that really hurts the pockets

[Crackerballer]

Typically for a reef tank you can expect to spend $40-50 a gallon. Obviously taking your time and shopping for stuff on the for sale forums and craigslist will save you time.

So pick which one you want, everything setup quicker and cost more, or piece stuff together and save money but not time.

I personally know where you could get a 24g Aquapod with Sunpod and rock for $250 if you were in NC, or a 24 JBJ with stand for $200, or a brand new Biocube 14 for $155 shipped.

Research and do your homework so you only have ot buy once.

[DiverDownBrian]

This was my initial list




You can see my full blog here:

http://ddbbsr.com/aquarium/aquarium.htm

[Jimbo327]

Here are the big expenses that you need to decide if you want for yourself.

Obviously, tank is the primary.

Then you have to decide if you want chiller and ATO and skimmer. Those are the big ticket items that you can live without, and cut your cost dramatically, but you wind up having to watch over the tank all the time.

[[17]shawn[17]]

for my 20gal and 20gal sump i have spent about $2500

[t5Nitro]

Originally posted by reefman13
Depends on what you want for filtering, equipment, sump, live stock. There are a lot of components.

Give us a better idea of what you had in mind. Cuz some nanos I have priced out at about $400 and some ranging up to $2500. So helping us narrow it down would be good

I just thought of going with a 20h for 2 seahorse maybe. I didn't want anything fancy here like an ATO/ca reactor or anything. I wasn't sure on what lights. Anyone know of a cheap light that will keep soft corals?

[nbku3vm]

20 High you could get going really well for arount $300 I would think. Here is my little reef list so far. The price for all includes shipping and handling also

130watt PC-$60 ebay
30 watt pc for fuge-$27 ebay
AC110-$48 Drs. F & S (moded into a fuge)
20gallon High- $34 petco
Live rock and purple up-$80 from Paljets here on RC
15 Nassarius Snails- $25 from LFS and Paljets
2 turbo snails-$4.50 LFS
10 mixed hermits-$12 LFS
2 Maxijet 1200-$30 ebay for 2(one went to my cichlid tank)
50 watt stealth heater- $25 LFS
2 fals percs-$40 LFS
1 tiger pistol shrimp-$20 LFS
1 Yellow Watchman- $19 LFS
1 Fire Fish- $10 LFS
1 5 gallon Bucket of Ocianic Salt- $40 LFS
All coral free from fellow FRAG club member here in AZ
1 hydrometer- $6 LFS

[DeepBlueSea]

Originally posted by t5Nitro
If anyone cares to post, what is the average expense of setting up a 10-20 gallon tank?

Thanks.

A month ago I setup a 20L

So far I have spent...

$350 Lighting - Retro Icecap 660 running 4x24w T5 individual SLR reflectors
$50. - Wood for custom hood.

$265 - Protein Skimmer
$120 - Eheim Pump to run skimmer
$85 - 8w UV
$95 - Ehiem Return Pump
$150 - Salifert Test Kits
$50 - 5 or so pounds of seed live rock
$25 - Black Acrylic Sheeting (Custom Sump)
$150 - Tunze Nanostream powerheads
$100 - New RO/DI Cartridges
$100 - Misc (Carbon/Phosguard/Filter Bags/Floss/Net/Food/Additives etc. etc.
$100 - Snails, Crabs (Cleanup Crew)

Approx $1650 so far....

What I had laying around and didn't recently spend money on...
2 - 20g long tanks (1 is the display, 1 modified as custom sump)
Stand - Retrofitted an old 75gal stand
1 bucket of Reef Crystals
100w heater
25w heater
A few power heads
Old dried (Dead) Fiji Rock (At one time it was alive)
50# ESV Oolitic Aragonite Reef Sand
RO/DI Unit
Salinity Float / Hydrometer

When I first setup an aquarium back in 1993 or so... I learned a lesson. "There are two ways to create a reef aquarium. The expensive way and the more expensive way. The expensive way is to do research and purchase the "best" products, the more expensive way it to buy "beginner" products and then re-purchase the "best".

I made the mistake in 1993 in choosing the "more expensive" way.... Hope my post helps you in choosing the "expensive" way...

Good luck.

[Helfrich’s Chic]

Yea I say im up to $2000.00 ish. Its nuts!

[Mark426]

12g fully modded Nanocube, $2000 give or take. However....in the last few months I have only purchased maintenance supplies (salt, food, etc.)

Mark

p.s. the last sentence is supposed make me feel better.

[Travis L. Stevens]

Bah. You all spend too much. My 10g with custom stand, canopy, lights, etc has only cost me ~$200.

Stand: $50
Tank: $10
Canopy: $20
Rock: $10
Sand: $5
Lights: $50
Sump: $5
Return Pump: $20

[Crackerballer]

So Travis you have no no corals or fish? And did you make the stand?

[Purple Penguins]

I gave up on keeping track of my expenses, otherwise I might go into a depression or maybe a self slapping session which could be quite painful

[Crackerballer]

Originally posted by Purple Penguins
I gave up on keeping track of my expenses, otherwise I might go into a depression or maybe a self slapping session which could be quite painful

Amen

[t5Nitro]

LOL.