How Expensive Is It Really?

[joshjames]

so iv had many tropical tanks now but have been put off marine because of price and maintanance so wondering
how expensive is it honestly to set up a small 20 gallon max marine tank??
what sort of equipment do i need??
im only 13 so i cant spend to much and how hard is it to start it up and run a successful marine tank??

 

[Truck]

so iv had many tropical tanks now but have been put off marine because of price and maintanance so wondering
how expensive is it honestly to set up a small 20 gallon max marine tank??
what sort of equipment do i need??
im only 13 so i cant spend to much and how hard is it to start it up and run a successful marine tank??

easy to set up, it just depends, on whether you want second hand equipment and what you want to keep.

 

[STD]

Easy to start but can get very very expensive

I don't even want to think how much I've spent on my tank over the years

 

[TigerIssey]

You can set up easily and relatively cheap (compared to full price) with second hand equipment. (some people may warn you against certain items second hand).

The problems come once you are addicted (this happens in a very short space of time), then you want to add equipment and upgrade equipment.

Then there are the fish, compared to most f/w fish marine fish are more expensive.

Invertebrates such as snails, crabs and shrimp. To give you an idea I spent £43 on two Fire shrimp, which is actually a really good price.

Corals - this is where the real addiction lies, it is like smoking one cigarette, Hooked. These are not by any means cheap, the more you see, the more you want.


Once you have your 20g nano running (I have one) you then start to look at your 55g and think, well how much would it cost me to upgrade into that.

You see where I am coming from. You can have a smaller, cheaper system but you invariably on this side of the fence always want more.

 

[Little Fish]

It is going to be much more expensive than running your 75G freshwater. I think you would need something like $600 to start with if you go with all new equipment.

24" PC lights ~$70-100
timer ~$25
saltwater test kit ~$35
good heater ~$26
hydrometer ~$8
50G salt mix ~$15 (probably will last for 4 months with 2.5G water change every week or 5G every other week)
15-30lb live rocks ~$100-$200 (optional but I haven't seen anyone successful without live rocks)
30lb aragonite sand ~$30
mineral supplements~$15 (probably will last for half a year or so)
canister filter or ~$150 (power filter does not work well because they encourage salt creeps and put bubbles into the tank)
protein skimmer

Live stocks are not cheap neither, these are the ones I know easy to keep in a nano tank without expensive lighting.
snail (turbo etc) ~$3
hermit crabs ~$4
cleaner shrimps ~$25
firefish ~$18
clown ~$30
gobies ~$30
Xenia - coral ~$40
Tora Tree - coral ~$30
Clove - coral ~$30

 

[Crazy fishes]

I am one year down the line and in all have spent probably as a rough guest £1500-£2000 for a small 24g reef. That price includes everything initial setup and stocking plus maintenance.

I will say price is incredibly variable and a simple fish only with live rock can be a couple of hundred pounds initial setup and stocking then just salt and water for maintenance.

Regards

 

[Truck]

mine has cosst £550 to to where i am now, and thats a tank, equipment and live rock, once i have the lighting upgrade a better skimmer, an external filter, corals and fish it will be into a £1000 im just glad i have 2 paper rounds lol im 14 btw

 

[bollands]

hey m8 i'm 15 and have recently bought a 30 gal orca tl550, off ebay second hand, i would check ebay first as there are real bargains in there!!!! and most come with everything you need. As for water at my local fish store its £6.50 for 25 L of salt water. so not too bad. maintenance is quite alot but i wouldnt say more than my overstocked freshwater tanks as my lfs is gr8 as they test my water and say whats wrong with it etc ad i think thats for free, this is good because test kits are A fortune! as the others said stocking the tank is also expensive but if you get one from ebay you may have a few free fish and corals thrown in which if wanted you could sell at a later date to buy what you want.

last thing, get a book and read it!

 

[joshjames]

well iv just recently set up a 75 gallon tropical tank so in no position to buy a new tank anytime soon but if i start saving again you never no one day i will try it just too expensive ATM
thanks for the replys guys

 

[Happy Harry]

well iv just recently set up a 75 gallon tropical tank so in no position to buy a new tank anytime soon but if i start saving again you never no one day i will try it just too expensive ATM
thanks for the replys guys

Cant you tap up yer perants for a few quid..... They would love it!!!!!

 

[Little Fish]

well iv just recently set up a 75 gallon tropical tank so in no position to buy a new tank anytime soon but if i start saving again you never no one day i will try it just too expensive ATM
thanks for the replys guys

Cant you tap up yer perants for a few quid..... They would love it!!!!!

...and remember to tell them the tank might smell and look like crap while it is cycling. My mother "strongly suggested" me to throw everything away while the live rocks and the tank were almost fully covered with brown algae. Setting up expectation ahead is good

 

[joshjames]

they have just agreed to have a 4ft tank in the front room so they wont be ready to agree to another large marine tank

 

[chr15_8]

im planning a 15 gallon marine tank with a 20 gallon sump

so far for the

Acrylic to make the sump
pipework
powerheads
pumps
skimmer
Live rock
Sand
Light tubes for maine tank

im expecting it to be around £300 mark i already have the tank.

in the above price i havent included
test kits
ro water /ro system
hydrometer
Any Fish/Wild life!

 

[Alex Brown]

6 months and £2000 in on my 55G reef.

 

[bagu]

6 months and £2000 in on my 55G reef.

i suppose the feeling of looking at your work is enough to take money of your mind...

just wow at that tank! WOW!