Large Reef Cost (1 Viewer)

[porkchop]

I am looking into a large reef, 280+ gallons, and I am curious of what a real number would be per gallon to build such a system. I have heard many people refer to 50.00 per gallon to set up, but that seems REALLY HIGH. I am just wondering what a real world estimate (dollar per gallon) would be for a large system not including livestock and ancillary items that i already own like ro/di, mixing station, and test kits, etc. I know that the costs will vary greatly depending on tank design, quality of items purchsed and buying new/used.....just looking to ballpark and try to get a budget in my head.

I would really like to be at the 350-400 gallon mark for the display and maybe another 100 in the sump.

 

[inigomontoya]

Best bet is to not try some form of $ per gallon but just price out your needed equipment and extras (stand, lighting, etcetera). There is so much variability that only you can answer the question by breaking down each component. Biggest factors are new versus used and custom versus normal. I bought my 8 foot tank with stand, sump, pumps, etcetera used for about 1/3 the price of just my new custom tank. Are you a koralia or Vortech guy, that's a couple thousand difference for that size tank. You get the idea

 

[steveb]

For my 400 about $40.50/gal.

revised: forgot skimmer, several different reactors in original amount.

 

[d2mini]

Best bet is to not try some form of $ per gallon but just price out your needed equipment and extras (stand, lighting, etcetera). There is so much variability that only you can answer the question by breaking down each component. Biggest factors are new versus used and custom versus normal. I bought my 8 foot tank with stand, sump, pumps, etcetera used for about 1/3 the price of just my new custom tank. Are you a koralia or Vortech guy, that's a couple thousand difference for that size tank. You get the idea

+1 to that.

I could tell you that you'll easily spend 10-20 grand but that doesn't really help you.
There is too much variance, especially if you start bringing used equipment into the equation.

 

[steveb]

If you want PM your email addy and I will send you cost breakdown of mine.

 

[inigomontoya]

Ok, Steve made me curious- roughly 19 cents per gallon for my used 260g with new starphire front being added and new leds, nearly half of that cost being new leds at the time. Definitely doesn't include the livestock. My new build is going to be more and I refuse to post it where my wife can see.

 

[porkchop]

inigomontoya, did you mean to say 19 dollars per gallon? if it really was 19 cents then thats only $49.40 to build and light a 260 gallon tank! Please teach me!!!!!! ill do that RIGHT NOW lol!

 

[steveb]

yeah I'm wanting in on that action to...

 

[porkchop]

well....i just looked at your spreadsheet, and since i do have more of a MP taste and I want LED and decent cabinetry, i will budget for 20K. I really would like to keep this down to 10K (buying used and maybe building stand/cabinet myself) and have whats left over to stock and make any additions/changes. Ive got mama's approval....time to start the piggy bank!!!

This hobby seems to cost a lot less when you buy a piece at a time and dont keep track of the totals! I dont even wanna know how much i have in my little 40B!

one more quick question...

if you were doing this all pay as you go, would you buy a piece at a time and just stack it all up in the Garage and then set it up when you had everything (maybe take a year of searching and buying), or would you save all your cash and do one mass of purchases?

 

[d2mini]

A little at a time, especially if you are looking to get some deals on new or used stuff.

 

[steveb]

If I had it to do over again i would save the cash (assuming buying all new)...

Prices drop and new (better) products come out over time (not to mention manufacturers don't care if its sitting in a box or in/over the tank. when the warranty is up its up.).

 

[Mark L.]

I bought as I went. It really depends on how long you are going to take though. I had everything bought over a couple months so new products coming out didn't affect me. I also paid cash for everything and it saved me 100's. I won't mention any businesses here but when you have a pocket full of $100 bills lets just say prices drop fast. And so does sales tax. Over a $20K build it adds up fast.

Like others have said, you can be anywhere from $3K-$30k for a build depending on what you buy and if it's new or used. I'm kinda weird and don't like used stuff so my build was definitely on the expensive side.

 

[Ostentum]

In equipment and tank. I have about 8k sunk into my 260g and fish room, I also bought 90% of what I have used. That is not including fish and corals but that is rock, lighting, skimmer, stand tank, vortechs, Carx, media reactors etc.

 

[johnnytrinh]

My 120g is about 19$ per gallon. Tank stand canopy lights powerheads pumps skimmer reactors uv rocks crush corals. Man I didn't think I spent that much on it. Little things add up quick.

 

[inigomontoya]

Yep, 19 cents, got some super secret connections Ok, need to stop multi-tasking at work, yes $19. I really think it was less even, I am counting some things twice like replacing the skimmer after six months with a new SRO 5000, replacing the koralias after 6 months with seio, and so on.

On whether to spread it out, I would agree that timeframe is the biggest factor along with new versus used. If willing to do used then grab it when you see it. I know SteveB and Andy got bit (even more than me) when the AI price drop happened around a year ago. They were/are sitting on a bunch of leds and that being cutting edge it has gone down drastically (if you consider the chinese led factor).

I think you can manage 400g for $10k. I am looking at less than that (though not much less) for my new 330 custom build with new equipment. If you get a new tank talk to Brian at 3cc, he can help you out. Has been awesome on my build.

 

[steveb]

I know SteveB and Andy got bit (even more than me) when the AI price drop happened around a year ago. They were/are sitting on a bunch of leds and that being cutting edge it has gone down drastically (if you consider the chinese led factor).

Sheesh don't remind me...

 

[steveb]

And for $1600 I can upgrade them all to the AI Hydra (yeah right)...

 

[Diesel]

All good comments I read.
My $0.02 is that no matter what, this hobby is going to cost you long term a lot of Franklins.
Good thing is about this hobby, if you do it right you get some back.
A good way to start is forget about all the equipment you need, do some home work first on how much a tank and stand is going to cost you.
You can find one used for some times for a real good price and if you go custom for the size you want you can either put down $1500 up to $4000, that's just the tank.
Working on a budget is tough!

 

[porkchop]

Just found a 500 gallon on Craigslist for 1950. 8x3x3 looks like it was freshwater? Has cannister filters with it.

500 Gallon Aquarium/Accessories


I wonder how often large tanks like this come up for sale used? I Dont mind used stuff normally, but a used tank (that Large) kinda scares me. Are there any particular concerns with buying a used tank?

 

[madehtsobi]

That tanks been for sale for a longggg time...

U always run risk of having a leak and what not with used tanks...I'm pretty sure even with new ones too but greater with used... But if bought new and u had a leak there's a warranty for it at least but with used...your SOL...


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