4.0 Cost Estimates
Description
This article is from the ReefKeepers FAQ, by several authors (see the Credits section).
4.0 Cost Estimates
Here is a rough estimate of what setting up a reef tank may cost.
Two cases are included: a 20g micro-reef and a 70g mini-reef. The
estimates show the min and max for most of the common pieces of
equipment. The estimates assume a standard type of filtration
that is popular today. If a different setup is used, the price
could be more or less. The equipment includes a tank with some
sort of siphon/drain to a sump and then a return pump back to the
tank. A protein skimmer is installed in the sump. This setup is
similar to a typical wet/dry trickle filter except there is no
trickle section with media. This allows the use of simpler, less
expensive sump although a commercial W/D without media could be
used. A trickle media could be utilized at greater cost although
many reefkeepers think it is unnecessary. Keep in mind that
prices sometimes vary geographically. Also, availability may
vary. For example, reasonable Florida live rock may soon no
longer be available (at least not for $2-4/lb).
The estimates include the cost of the initial set-up. There is
also a section on ongoing costs. The ongoing cost will vary
greatly, especially considering that you will stock your tank
gradually. Keep in mind that you always end up spending more than
you think you will. If you set up a reef, you will end up stopping
at the hardware store and/or aquarium store for timers, extensions
cords, GFIs (a must!), buckets, hoses, and books, don't for forget
books. You should read a few books on reefkeeping before even
planning your setup. An extra hundred bucks or three _is_ going
to leak out of your wallet whether you plan on it or not.
Another factor is that more advanced equipment may translate into
less or easier maintenance. You should keep in mind that if you
go with inferior equipment, maintaining the tank will be more
work. More expense will mean more automated equipment and less
work. Also, some varieties of inverts require more exacting
condition, more light, etc. Plan your purchases so that the stock
you buy has a chance of surviving with the equipment you are
using. If you have a bare minimum system, stick hardy items like
soft-corals, polyps, mushrooms, etc.
The minimum included is close to rock-bottom as far as an
acceptable systems goes. It assumes that you are DIYing much of
the equipment as cheaply as possible. The maximum in the estimate
is in some areas a little extravagant but not unreasonable. A good
system that is not extravagant could be put together for somewhere
in between the two extremes. Perhaps, for 1.25 to 2 times the
minimum, you would have a very nice system. Some areas are easier
to cut-corners on than others and some of the initial cost may be
incremental, like buying test kits as needed. Also, you may have
some of the equipment already from previous set-ups or be buying
it used. Seek out the advice of an experienced reefkeeper when
planning and pricing your system.
Micro-Reef(20g):
Tank $ 20/ 140 Glass/
Acrylic.
Stand 0/ 250 Sturdy piece of furniture/
Fancy acrylic stand.
Lights 100/ 300 DIY 60W fluorescent/
70W or 150W MH hood or pendant.
Main Pump 20/ 60 Large powerhead/
Hobby pump.
Sump 10/ 120 A plastic storage container from the
hardware store / A small commercial W/D
without media. (A nice DIY acrylic
sump can be built for about $40.)
Skimmer 60/ 220 DIY skimmer, power head, air pump/
Small commercial venturi unit with
integral pump.
Plumbing 30/ 100 DIY overflow and misc pipes, etc/
Drilled tank or commercial overflow box
plus misc pipes, etc.
Live-Rock 140/ 400 35lb case of Fla rock plus shipping/
30lbs of Pacific rock plus shipping.
Water Treatment 100/ 600 DIY mixed-bed DI with carbon prefilter/
TFC RO unit with DI postfilter and
automated top-off.
Test Kits 100/ 500 A SW combo kit plus and Alk and Ca test/
Most of the Lamotte and/or Hach kits
you think you might need.
Salt 10/ 20 One 50g bag, price varies.
Accessories 20/ 200 There are a variety of gadgets you could
get. You might want to start with a
net or two and maybe a pair of tongs.
---- ----
Setup Total $ 610 2910
Mini-Reef(70g):
Tank $ 140/ 350 Glass/
Acrylic.
Stand 100/ 500 Cheap wood or iron stand/
p Fancy acrylic stand.
Lights 200/ 600 DIY 160W fluorescent/
2x150-175 MH hood (possibly with Actinics).
Main Pump 80/ 140 400-600gph, price varies with brand.
Sump 10/ 200 A plastic storage container from the
hardware store / a commercial W/D
without media. A nice DIY acrylic
sump can be built for about $50.
Skimmer 80/ 450 A DIY skimmer,powerhead,air pump/
A large commercial venturi unit
with a large pump driving it.
Plumbing 50/ 150 DIY overflow and misc pipes, etc/
Drilled tank or commercial overflow box
plus misc pipes, etc.
Live-Rock 460/1200 140lbs Fla rock plus shipping/
110lbs Pacific rock plus shipping.
Water Treatment 100/ 600 DIY mixed-bed DI with carbon prefilter/
TFC RO unit with mixed-bed DI
postfilter and automated top-off.
Test Kits 100/ 500 A SW combo kit plus and Alk and Ca test/
Most of the Lamotte and/or Hach kits
you think you might need.
Salt 20/ 40 Two 50g bags, price varies.
Accessories 40/ 500 There are a variety of gadgets you could
get. You might want to start with a
net or two and maybe a pair of tongs.
You could get wave-makers, circulation
pumps and lots of other do-dads.
Chiller 0/ 600 Don't use a chiller, live somewhere cool,
keep the tank in the basement, or an
adequately air-conditioned room/
A commercial chiller.
---- ----
Setup-Total 1380 5830
Ongoing Costs:
Additives- Most reefkeepers believe that some additives are necessary.
At minimum, a buffer compound is needed to maintain the alkalinity.
Also, some Calcium supplement such as Kalkwasser or Cacl2 should
be used. A few trace additives like Strontium and Iodine/Iodide
should also be added. The initial supply of these products will
be around $50. The ongoing rate will vary depending on the size
of the tank.
Water Purifier- If you go with a DI system, you will have to replace
and/or recharge resin. An RO system will require periodic
replacement of the membrane. In the long run, maintenance
of the RO is likely cheaper.
Test Kits Reagents- You will need replace reagents for the tests kits.
Also, the minimum given above is may not be adequate. The
typical SW combo kits are not of low enough range for reef work.
They will only be of use during the first few weeks of
cycling/curing. That estimate assume that you will acquire
the better tests over time or have access to someone else's
expensive tests should you need to diagnose a problem.
Electricity- You will need it to run the pumps and lights. It won't be
insignificant. Electric costs vary. Check the KW cost
on your electric bill. Add up wattage of all the equipment you
are using, pumps 24hrs/day, lights 12hrs/day. Calculate what
the electricity will cost. Don't forget cooling, in many areas,
you will need either a chiller or will have to air-condition the
room where the reef is kept. The lights will generate heat. At
minimum, your AC bill will also go up accordingly. Electricity
mini-reef system could easily be a couple hundred bucks a year.
Water- In some areas, water is expensive. RO units waste several times
what they produce in water. This could add a little more expense.
Salt- You may want to do water changes in which case you will
eventually need more salt. Salt mixes run $10-$25 per 50 gallon
mix.
Lights- Fluorescent tubes and MH bulbs wear out. Fluorescent tubes
are usually okay for nine months to a year before spectrum
shifts and/output reduced significantly. Some tubes, like
actinics, may need replacement as frequently as every six
months. Replacement MH bulbs is recommended about every one to
two years (depending upon spectral shift and output degradation).
Add up the cost of your tubes and figure in the
replacement cost based on the estimated lifetime.
Stocking- This can really vary. You probably shouldn't have more
than a couple fish in the micro-reef and not more than
a handful in the mini-reef. The typical fish suitable
for a reef will be from $10(small goby or blenny) to
$30(small angel or tang). You could spend $300 on one purple
tang though. Pieces of coral, decorative rocks, giant
clams and other sessile inverts start at around $20 a piece
and go to many hundreds a piece. Snails range from about
$1/each to about $8/each and are recommended for controlling
algae. Other motive inverts likes shrimp range from about
$10 to $30.
You probably should start with the snails as soon as the
live rock is in the tank. You don't have to have any fish
if you don't want any. You don't have to have inverts either
although that is probably why you set up a reef tank. Just
quality live-rock is very of nice to look at but sooner or
later you will likely want something else in your tank. The
invert stocking will be very incremental and should be.
It is not heathly to add a lot of stock at once. You can
spread you stocking over up to several years. You could spend
anywhere from say $100 to $750 on the micro-reef and $200 to
$10,000 on the mini-reef.
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