What is your monthly budget for your tank?

[BSJF]

Anyone care to admit it?

Once it's up and runnin' how much do you spend on average over the course of a month, year. Include replacement of lights, equipment upgrades...

I'm interested in particular for the 150-200 gallon tank range. But others might be interested in smaller or larger systems.

Do tell...

[CoryDude]

If I had one, I'd tell you. $5 one month, $500 the next....you never know. My budget stops when my wife's face turns 3 shades of red. Then I know I've pushed her too far.

[Europhyllia]

Once it's up and runnin'
This is the loop hole I am using: The tank has been up since May 09 but I consider it still in the establishment phase so stuff still gets bought, etc.
I am giving myself another 6 month to buy new equipment and livestock and hopefully after that things will get level out.

[BSJF]

My budget stops when my wife's face turns 3 shades of red. Then I know I've pushed her too far.

I love this one! I got around this by having a set amount each month for all my fun, gas, and lunches at work. He has the same. Now neither of us turn 3 shades of red. I can starve or drive less and increase my budget for my tank! I try and keep a reserve built up for emergencies, equipment upgrades and lights.

Come on Karin, full disclosure, you can do it! Mine's only been up 6 months and I'm not using that excuse any more. However, I do still upgrade equipment and buy corals (my most recent being a new controller :), my new SPS and acans, all of which I'm still feeling a bit guilty for). I know the rest of the year will be much less than what I've spent the last few months. I don't NEED anything. I WANT lots and lots!

[Meslo]

my 110 has been up less than a year so I cant say for sure about yearly but I do know my electric bill went up around 30-50 a month from all the lights pumps ect.

Other than that my monthly costs would be my whats left of my paycheck after house payment food water elec :) LOL

[kkiel02]

Off my memory- change bulbs yearly $150
buckets of salt- Im guessing 5-6 per year this really depends on which brand you use- I use $60ish range so 300-360
Food- I go through that fairly quick with all my tangs- $100 maybe more
Carbon, along with other misc chemicals and test kits I have no idea but Im sure its at least $100

Then I am always buying corals, I havent bought fish lately but still may fill my angelfish position soon.

Ace had a good breakdown of his 240 gallon awhile back if you want to search for it. It would be much more accurate than mine for sure.

[Europhyllia]

I really don't know! Not so much in November but January was huge with upgrading from Seios to Vortech, buying lots of coral, etc.
I bet even with not buying anything it will run about $100 a month for food and supplements to keep the alk, ph and calcium up. I am just guessing since I still haven't stopped buying new equipment. I still *need* moonlights, etc.

[BSJF]

I have some moonlights I'm not using. You interested? I think there are 4 of them. Not sure it they are all piggybacked on one outlet or two. I'll check.

[BSJF]

I won't factor in my electric bill! That would put me over the top. haha :blushing:

[hobogato]

here is a good thread that rob started a while back

http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56235&highlight=spend

my post there:


specifics - $monthly amount

Tank size:
150 gallons

Filtration:
DSB, macro algae, and mangroves - no sump or skimmer

Water:
tap thru carbon filter - $1.70

Lighting:
solar tubes - $0
t5 suppliment (218 watts @ 12hrs/day) - $6.30
bulbs ($80 per year) - $6.70

Circulation:
closed loop (140 watt external pump) - $8.00
tunze wave box (30 watts) - $1.70

Food:
spectrum pellets - $1.70
frozen - $3

Salt:
5 gallons twice weekly - $12.50

Miscellaneous:
carbon - $5
filter floss - $1
super glue - $10+

TOTAL (per month)- $57.60

[kkiel02]

There it is. Do you still use tap water filtered with carbon?

[BSJF]

You are a superglue fool! That is almost the most expensive item on your list!

You have one of the lowest cost tanks I have seen.

[Europhyllia]

I have some moonlights I'm not using. You interested? I think there are 4 of them. Not sure it they are all piggybacked on one outlet or two. I'll check.
maybe! I am still not sure how I'm going to do it since I don't have a canopy. My tank is open top with an ATI fixture suspended over it. I may have to go with some kind of stick on or underwater thing. I really miss the moonlights...

Ace no way can you get away with $3 worth of food per month! Got to be a typo.

[RayAllen]

My tank BC29 yearly approximate is $250 or only $20.8333 a month :) My wifes happy about that.

Granted I havnt had the tank that long I could come up with a appox.

The prices listed a for a approx full year, not including utility bills.

-1 bucket of salt last me a long time with a small tank $40-50
-Bulbs changed once a year (around 8months) $40 Pc bulbs
-Food ( Frozen flat pack and a large can of flake last me a year) 3 small fish feed every other day $25 a year
-1 bottle Iodide suppllement last me almost a year $8
-Carbon changed out once a month $15 a year
-Chemi Pure once every 4 months $48 a year
- Water $50

Now I will be setting up a 180g FOWLR setup soon and that will be a little diffrent.
More salt
Bigger water changes
More food
More carbon, chemi pure etc...

Can easily triple the cost of those item listed on my small tank.

Those will be the biggest factors with the larger tank.

[BSJF]

Mine is a bit staggering...I do keep a budget and track every expense (though I try not to look at the end result)!

Jan-Aug last year $567 ave per month (includes maintaining 125 gallon, 65 gallon, and 55 gallon tanks, purchase of a calcium reactor, the new 150 setup, and chiller. I also sold of several corals and equipment with the move and that credit is reflected here).

Sept-Dec last year dropped to $375 ave per month (includes fish stocking/maintaining the 150, purchase of a 29g QT setup, and some maintenance costs for my 65g tank in Utah that my daughter kept).

Jan/Feb this year - $970 ave per month! I really can't explain, except all my yearly expenses are bought in these months (all new lights, UV sterilizer bulb, 2 sets of RO filters...). And I spoiled myself with a new controller and some beautful SPS and acans.

Mar-Dec this year - I think I'd better coast a bit...I really only NEED salt and additives. My tank is full, my equipment sweet, and bulbs are brand new!

NO this doesn't factor in electricity!

[BSJF]

I'm just doing my part to stimulate the economy :applause:

[RayAllen]

Mine is a bit staggering...I do keep a budget and track every expense (though I try not to look at the end result)!

Jan-Aug last year $567 ave per month (includes maintaining 125 gallon, 65 gallon, and 55 gallon tanks, purchase of a calcium reactor, the new 150 setup, and chiller. I also sold of several corals and equipment with the move and that credit is reflected here).

Sept-Dec last year dropped to $375 ave per month (includes fish stocking/maintaining the 150, purchase of a 29g QT setup, and some maintenance costs for my 65g tank in Utah that my daughter kept).

Jan/Feb this year - $970 ave per month! I really can't explain, except all my yearly expenses are bought in these months (all new lights, UV sterilizer bulb, 2 sets of RO filters...). And I spoiled myself with a new controller and some beautful SPS and acans.

Mar-Dec this year - I think I'd better coast a bit...I really only NEED salt and additives. My tank is full, my equipment sweet, and bulbs are brand new!

NO this doesn't factor in electricity!

WOW, ive been in the hobby for years and have never even gotten close to that. Maybe the most avg a month was $60.

I can honestly say I couldnt afford to be in the hobby if I had your months sums.

I meen the cost you listed are car payments and almost half my mortgage. LOL

[allan]

I spend about ten bucks a month on my setup....

Okay, wife was reading over my shoulder, she's gone now.

190 gallon with a 100 sump, I spend about 15 to 40 dollars a month on supplies. When I buy food it runs about 30 dollars but that lasts about three months feeding once daily.

I've yet to do my first light change, but I'm looking at ten t5 48"... You know you're a reefer when you have to finance your replacement lights.

Not sure about the ac but my electric bill never went over 250 in the last year and as low as 179.

I buy a bag of salt about once a month or every two. I tend to buy more salt when I do those water changes.

[hobogato]

There it is. Do you still use tap water filtered with carbon?

yep :)


...Ace no way can you get away with $3 worth of food per month! Got to be a typo.

that was when the tank wasnt quite so full and i wasnt feeding as much. it is probably double that, but dont forget, i feed live phyto and live baby brine daily. the cost for that is next to nothing now that it is up and running.

[Europhyllia]

yep :)



that was when the tank wasnt quite so full and i wasnt feeding as much. it is probably double that, but dont forget, i feed live phyto and live baby brine daily. the cost for that is next to nothing now that it is up and running.
and mysis. and mollies. :)
Running the phyto already takes up a bunch of room in the guest bathroom. Not sure I can get away with adding a brine hatchery. I might investigate those on-the-tank hatcheries or simply go back to BSD EZ-Eggs...

[cadamsreef]

I have a 225 gal reef tank
100 dollars a month for electric which runs chiller and lights 1180 watts and pumps
25 dollars a month for water changes which is 35 gal every two weeks
20 dollar a month for food/ DT's
500 dollars a year for bulbs MH/T5