How much does it cost to set up a Saltwater Tank?
- Thread starter Benfica
- Start date
It's on going.
Yes you need enough for the initial cost, but you also need enough for maintenance.
Power heads can be anywhere from 10-60-80 dollars depending on the size, i recommend Koralia's.
Lights are really expensive depending on what you want in the tank:
-Fish only (any light will do, T8, T5, CF, Halides) can be... 60-1000 depending on how you go.
-JUST soft corals (T5(at least two tubes), CF, Halides) can be... 100/200- 1000
-all range of corals(T5(at least three tubes), CF, Halides, any combo of the three) can be... 500-2000, i have T5's on my 90 gallon and i'm loving them. you may be able to get away with Compact Fluorescents, but i don't recommend them for all corals, unless you got a smaller tank. (you may bea ble to get away with them as i said before)
T5 bulbs can be 25 dollars a peice, not sure how much halides or T8/CF's cost.
Live rock can cost a pretty penny, but price varies from place to place, and the quality of the rock. typically sold by the pound, so the more you want the more your gonna spend.
Sand, sand can be anywhere from 20-40-60 per bag depending on brand and weight. No need for live sand if you have live rock.
You may or may not need a skimmer, it's really down to opinion on smaller tanks. they can be cheap, to expensive depending on size. you're gonna need a refractometer. Don't waist time with a hydrometer. Refractos are so much more exact and IMHO much easier to deal with. refrcatos are usually around 60-100. A bucket of sand could be 40-60, but should last you around all year.
Get a python if you don't already have one, they make water changes a breeze.
What kind of filter do you have?
Get a ShamWow, lol.
Yes you need enough for the initial cost, but you also need enough for maintenance.
Power heads can be anywhere from 10-60-80 dollars depending on the size, i recommend Koralia's.
Lights are really expensive depending on what you want in the tank:
-Fish only (any light will do, T8, T5, CF, Halides) can be... 60-1000 depending on how you go.
-JUST soft corals (T5(at least two tubes), CF, Halides) can be... 100/200- 1000
-all range of corals(T5(at least three tubes), CF, Halides, any combo of the three) can be... 500-2000, i have T5's on my 90 gallon and i'm loving them. you may be able to get away with Compact Fluorescents, but i don't recommend them for all corals, unless you got a smaller tank. (you may bea ble to get away with them as i said before)
T5 bulbs can be 25 dollars a peice, not sure how much halides or T8/CF's cost.
Live rock can cost a pretty penny, but price varies from place to place, and the quality of the rock. typically sold by the pound, so the more you want the more your gonna spend.
Sand, sand can be anywhere from 20-40-60 per bag depending on brand and weight. No need for live sand if you have live rock.
You may or may not need a skimmer, it's really down to opinion on smaller tanks. they can be cheap, to expensive depending on size. you're gonna need a refractometer. Don't waist time with a hydrometer. Refractos are so much more exact and IMHO much easier to deal with. refrcatos are usually around 60-100. A bucket of sand could be 40-60, but should last you around all year.
Get a python if you don't already have one, they make water changes a breeze.
What kind of filter do you have?
Get a ShamWow, lol.
Equipment wise you need 50/50 lights 55$ ebay or lfs and a skimmer 50-100$ ebay or lfs and a 50lb bag of sand from home depot for 5$ + bucket of salt from lfs 45$ your at 220 or something before fish or corals and rocks
your expenses will be different dependent on your lighting weather its a high end fixture with metal halide's and T-5's to Led setups to cheaper but decent PC. this will apply to all your equipment the best is to shop around for comparrison pricing and ask supplier's to cut you a deal if you buy more then a 100.00 dollars in stuff. Just make sure you research what you want to do with the tank and ask question's and then buy. Think about in a year if you wanted to make it a reef maybe you can start with something high end in lighing now and then you won't have bought a less powerful lighting setup then have to turn around and spend more on a upgrading system.
so your pricing can be for a 38 gallon anywhere from $500.00 and up depending on your future plan's with the tank and what you want to spend along with some comparrison shopping.
mr.reef24
best of luck
so your pricing can be for a 38 gallon anywhere from $500.00 and up depending on your future plan's with the tank and what you want to spend along with some comparrison shopping.
mr.reef24
best of luck
If you do your homework and search around you can find used or refurbished equipment a lot cheaper than new on other forums.
I just bought a refurb CurrentUSA Nova Extreme 4x39W T5HO w/ 4 bulbs for my 65G breeder which I have yet to set up. It was on ebay from the manufacturer which refurb returns or defectives for $130 shipped, they have auctions every so often for $99 and then you always get dummies that bid on the one you bid for $99 even though they listed a few more. I ended up paying $99 on another live auction that no one bidded on while that fool who outbidded me paid $20 more...
I'm shopping around for a decent HOB skimmer like a Remora Pro since I'm not goign to use a sump.
It all depends on what you want to go for. I had a 38G H over 10 years ago and only had a CPR BakPak 2 and 2 -55W PC. I only kept fish and some LR. Back then I was on a budget because I was still in college and now I'm going to spend a bit more for better equipment to be able to keep a wider variety of livestock. I lost parts for my bakpak and the cost to replace it is almost half for a decent used skimmer that's complete.
I budgeted myself $300 just for equipment for lights, skimmer, powerhead and other miscellaneous items.
I just bought a refurb CurrentUSA Nova Extreme 4x39W T5HO w/ 4 bulbs for my 65G breeder which I have yet to set up. It was on ebay from the manufacturer which refurb returns or defectives for $130 shipped, they have auctions every so often for $99 and then you always get dummies that bid on the one you bid for $99 even though they listed a few more. I ended up paying $99 on another live auction that no one bidded on while that fool who outbidded me paid $20 more...
I'm shopping around for a decent HOB skimmer like a Remora Pro since I'm not goign to use a sump.
It all depends on what you want to go for. I had a 38G H over 10 years ago and only had a CPR BakPak 2 and 2 -55W PC. I only kept fish and some LR. Back then I was on a budget because I was still in college and now I'm going to spend a bit more for better equipment to be able to keep a wider variety of livestock. I lost parts for my bakpak and the cost to replace it is almost half for a decent used skimmer that's complete.
I budgeted myself $300 just for equipment for lights, skimmer, powerhead and other miscellaneous items.