Cost of a Large Tank

Alex114 · 07/30/2019, 07:32 PM

Currently I have two nano reef tanks. They are not too expensive, but they aren’t cheap either. Eventually (a few years if not more) I would like to set up a 180 gallon or more reef tank with a refugium and everything else that goes with it. So I’m curious as to how much it would cost excluding the price of coral and fish. How much did you spend to set up your large aquarium, and what size is it?

ycnibrc · 07/30/2019, 07:46 PM

It's depend on what kind of corals. If u have time and look hard u can find deal on the forum for tank, stand , drygood to set up your tank cheap. As far as corals if nothing extravaganza then the price is pretty reasonable I have seen Sps frags for 5$ all the time :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Antics · 08/04/2019, 07:09 AM

I think the number will depend entirely on the size of the aquarium and what level/types of equipment you're planning. It could easily range anywhere from 3k to 30k without any ridiculous equipment choices.

Daddi0 · 08/04/2019, 09:06 AM

I found a 200 gallon with stand, hood, lights, sump, Sea Swirl, refugium, pumps, and 200#s of rock for $200.
Cheers! Mark

phc567 · 08/04/2019, 09:34 AM

I was watching a video of melvs reef. He said a average price is 47 dollars per gallon. I’ve been in and out of the hobby almost all my life. That’s pretty close if you buy new. But like Daddio said. I also bought a 120 gallon with all the bells and whistles for 150 on cl.

nikon187 · 08/07/2019, 05:33 PM

yep $30-$50 per gallon is about right

tmnails · 08/16/2019, 08:01 PM

A lot of it depends if you're comfortable buying used items, and how patient you are. Hang out on Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, ect. There are people exiting the hobby as often as they get into it, and many are motivated to sell.

Dmorty217 · 08/20/2019, 06:32 AM

625g... the tank,sump, stand, calcium reactor and skimmer came with the tank for 5k, I have dropped another 3k in equipment like my RD3 return pump and purchased a Lifereef skimmer. So i am in it at less than 10k which is less than what the tank originally cost brand new

jordan_reefer · 08/21/2019, 06:16 PM

Everything costs more with a larger tank. However, you can add a lot more livestock in it. So that's a positive. Used items can also make the build cheaper.

marinelife · 08/26/2019, 05:09 PM

I paid $400 for my 375 Gallon Tank.
Over $4000 on lighting.
Over $5000 on pumps
Over $1500 on filters/skimmers
Over $1000 on CA Reactor.

and then there is the livestock!

Crusty Old Shellback · 09/11/2019, 07:46 AM

Also the cost to run a larger tank is more than a smaller tank.
Water, Electric, chemicals, etc.
When I tore down my 400G tank, my electric bill dropped almost $400 a month.

07/30/2019, 07:32 PM	#1
Alex114 Registered Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 162	Cost of a Large Tank Currently I have two nano reef tanks. They are not too expensive, but they aren’t cheap either. Eventually (a few years if not more) I would like to set up a 180 gallon or more reef tank with a refugium and everything else that goes with it. So I’m curious as to how much it would cost excluding the price of coral and fish. How much did you spend to set up your large aquarium, and what size is it?

07/30/2019, 07:46 PM	#2
ycnibrc STAG HORN DOMINATE REEF Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 3,348	It's depend on what kind of corals. If u have time and look hard u can find deal on the forum for tank, stand , drygood to set up your tank cheap. As far as corals if nothing extravaganza then the price is pretty reasonable I have seen Sps frags for 5$ all the time :-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ SDR STAGHORN DOMINATE REEF Feature Reef of November 2019 GHL TOTM FEB 2020 ABC corals Current Tank Info: 360g Peninsula sps

08/04/2019, 09:06 AM	#4
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I found a 200 gallon with stand, hood, lights, sump, Sea Swirl, refugium, pumps, and 200#s of rock for $200. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

08/04/2019, 09:34 AM	#5
phc567 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Da City by Da Bay Posts: 453	I was watching a video of melvs reef. He said a average price is 47 dollars per gallon. I’ve been in and out of the hobby almost all my life. That’s pretty close if you buy new. But like Daddio said. I also bought a 120 gallon with all the bells and whistles for 150 on cl. __________________ Will in the Witness Protection program Current Tank Info: 300 Gal , 60 cube

08/07/2019, 05:33 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	yep $30-$50 per gallon is about right __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

08/04/2019, 07:09 AM	#3
Antics Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 50	I think the number will depend entirely on the size of the aquarium and what level/types of equipment you're planning. It could easily range anywhere from 3k to 30k without any ridiculous equipment choices.

08/16/2019, 08:01 PM	#7
tmnails Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 25	A lot of it depends if you're comfortable buying used items, and how patient you are. Hang out on Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, ect. There are people exiting the hobby as often as they get into it, and many are motivated to sell.

08/20/2019, 06:32 AM	#8
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	625g... the tank,sump, stand, calcium reactor and skimmer came with the tank for 5k, I have dropped another 3k in equipment like my RD3 return pump and purchased a Lifereef skimmer. So i am in it at less than 10k which is less than what the tank originally cost brand new __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

08/21/2019, 06:16 PM	#9
jordan_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 11	Everything costs more with a larger tank. However, you can add a lot more livestock in it. So that's a positive. Used items can also make the build cheaper.

08/26/2019, 05:09 PM	#10
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	I paid $400 for my 375 Gallon Tank. Over $4000 on lighting. Over $5000 on pumps Over $1500 on filters/skimmers Over $1000 on CA Reactor. and then there is the livestock! __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

09/11/2019, 07:46 AM	#11
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Also the cost to run a larger tank is more than a smaller tank. Water, Electric, chemicals, etc. When I tore down my 400G tank, my electric bill dropped almost $400 a month. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol