Cost Of Running A Large Tank

[Jessica's mum]

Hi

Really got into this and would like a large tank may-be 180l or even 260l
could anyone advise on the running costs of a larger tank in the UK?
Would it be harder to look after and maintain?
Are ther any we should look out for?

Thanks
Kath

96l tank
4 Danios
2 black mollies
3 Guppies
Lots of plants
and still very much a beginner

 

[Miss Wiggle]

there's two sides to it really

a bigger tank is much more stable therefore you are a lot less likely to have problems or diseases, so the amount of 'extra' maintenance outside of your normal routine should be a lot less.

but obviously if you have to take more water out it's going to take longer for things like water changes. however i've never found it to be too bad. i can do our 350l tank with not too much effort in half an hr, which isn't an enormous chunk of time once a week. Running costs I've never noticed a difference. the only time i've noticed our leccy bill go up significantly is when we got the marine tank.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well i'm not from the UK but here are some pro's and con's that could possibly help you out! Best of luck with your decisions !!

Pro's :
~ More fish
~ more room to decorate
~ better stable water conditions

Con's :
~ takes longer to fully clean
~ more water use (water changes)

 

[smmetz]

Im from the US also, but I'll compare my 20 gallon to my 55 gallon in monthly costs.

I arrived at the following estimates, including costs of electricity, water, and water conditioner. I did not include fish food in my pricing.

55 gallons = $4.90 per month
20 gallons = $2.20 per month

I'll assume that through weekly 20% water changes, I need to treat the whole tank of water every month.

As you can see, I do not have a lot of light in my tanks, they are not planted and I am using the lights that came with a kit for each tank.

Electic usage measured in KWH, (kilowatt hours) - which probably cost me about 15 cents each.

My bottle of water conditioner costs me $14, and does 500 gallons if I almost double dose it, which I typically do to be on the safe side.

I pay about 7 cents per 10 gallons from my town water supply

I did not include fish food in my estimate.

55 gallons (~200 liters)
34 watt lights, on 8-10 hours per day = 1/3 kwh/day = 10kwh per month = $1.50
14 watt filter motor = 14*24*30/1000 = 10 kwh per month = $150.
water treatment stuff for 55 gallons - $1.50
55 gallons of water - 0.40
total: $4.90 per month


20 gallons (~75 liters)
17 watt light, on 8-10 hours per day 0.75
7 watt filter motor - 0.75
water treatment sutff for 20 gallons 0.56
20 gallons of water - 0.14
total: $2.20

So, the cost in my case is a bit more than double. This does not include fish food.

 

[Jessica's mum]

Thanks
We just need to check the maximum size we can fit in our room!!!

looking forward to a good variety of fish now

Kath

 

[scorphonic]

Hello Jessicas mom...I'm from Ireland so whatever prices I give divide them by half coz this is a rip off country!!

To set up my 180L tank (I'm assuming you are asking for costs for components etc..) I had to get gravel which was about 20 euro. An extra heater (tetratec HT200) which was 37 euro, an external filter (tetratec ex 700) for 156.95 euro. An API master test kit (30 odd euro), Tetra Safe Start for about 15 euro a bottle (You need 150ml for the 180L tank) tank and cabinet about 400 euro.

Not sure about the electricity though..haha..

Best of luck with the tank set up...I'd recommend you buy some Safe Start...from what I hear its ment to work absolutely perfectly. The bacteria only become activated when they are placed in aquarium water so you can be assured that the bottle that you are buying is 100% prepared to set up your tank quickly!!

 

[Jessica's mum]

Hello Jessicas mom...I'm from Ireland so whatever prices I give divide them by half coz this is a rip off country!!

To set up my 180L tank (I'm assuming you are asking for costs for components etc..) I had to get gravel which was about 20 euro. An extra heater (tetratec HT200) which was 37 euro, an external filter (tetratec ex 700) for 156.95 euro. An API master test kit (30 odd euro), Tetra Safe Start for about 15 euro a bottle (You need 150ml for the 180L tank) tank and cabinet about 400 euro.

Not sure about the electricity though..haha..

Best of luck with the tank set up...I'd recommend you buy some Safe Start...from what I hear its ment to work absolutely perfectly. The bacteria only become activated when they are placed in aquarium water so you can be assured that the bottle that you are buying is 100% prepared to set up your tank quickly!!

Thanks
You may think its a rip off country but we think you can't find Guinness as good anywhere else!

 

[scorphonic]

Haha...thats because ya cant! Guinness have now released a new type called the Guinness Brewhouse Series, North Star. Its heavenly!! Nice and sweet...and not at all bitter...you could drink it by the gallon....

Wouldn't advise it for the fish though...they may get hooked!!

 

[Zeoth]

How did the conversation from pros and cons of keeping a big tank lead to Guinness?

 

[gpgscott]

I think it was J. Paul Getty who is credited with 'If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

sorry, couldn't resist

Scott

PS, I keep em because they make me smile.

 

[Dutchie]

Damn Miss Wiggle, half an hour to clean your tank.......

I did mine for the first time with the new large tank and using a powered vacuum..........took like 10 minutes although I'll assume thats because I only have a few fish in it currently.
It sucks the dirt and water out amazingly well.........

I then used the hose to fill the tank up with 10% new water and added the conditioners etc..

My smaller tank takes all up around 4-5 minutes..............

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Damn Miss Wiggle, half an hour to clean your tank.......

I did mine for the first time with the new large tank and using a powered vacuum..........took like 10 minutes although I'll assume thats because I only have a few fish in it currently.
It sucks the dirt and water out amazingly well.........

I then used the hose to fill the tank up with 10% new water and added the conditioners etc..

My smaller tank takes all up around 4-5 minutes..............

yup, it's got serious high waste fish in it, takes quite a lot of vaccing.
then cos we pump water stright from the tap to the tank we run it in fairly slowly so there's not too much temp drop.

it does take half an hr or so, but around 10 mins of that is spent doing stuff, the rest just waiting for the tank to fill up and deciding what to have for tea!

 

[Dutchie]

aha gotcha, that explains it...........

 

[dwarfgourami]

I spend an hour doing my big tank (240 ltrs) but that's because I've always got fry in there, so I vacuum really slowly with a small vaccum head; also, our tap won't fit any hose attachment so I'm carting buckets around. Still, it's not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning. I typically spend an hour on big tank and about 1- 1 1/2 hrs on the 4 small tanks.

My husband has been muttering about the electricity bill, in fact, you'd think from his reaction that the fish accounted for all of it, that we no longer used ANY electricity for cooking and lighting the house.

 

[Teri]

Hello Jessicas mom...I'm from Ireland so whatever prices I give divide them by half coz this is a rip off country!!

To set up my 180L tank (I'm assuming you are asking for costs for components etc..) I had to get gravel which was about 20 euro. An extra heater (tetratec HT200) which was 37 euro, an external filter (tetratec ex 700) for 156.95 euro. An API master test kit (30 odd euro), Tetra Safe Start for about 15 euro a bottle (You need 150ml for the 180L tank) tank and cabinet about 400 euro.

Not sure about the electricity though..haha..

Best of luck with the tank set up...I'd recommend you buy some Safe Start...from what I hear its ment to work absolutely perfectly. The bacteria only become activated when they are placed in aquarium water so you can be assured that the bottle that you are buying is 100% prepared to set up your tank quickly!!

Actually, don't be too sure about "rip off Ireland", we lived there for 5 years, and moved back to UK last year...Esb is actually not so much cheaper over here (though I never tried to run a fish tank in Dublin).
Sorry, Jessica's mum, that's no use at all to you!