Cost Information

[Stan Peterson]

Hi,

Newbie here again.

I recently asked and was told that to set up a reef tank would cost
somewhere in the range of from $25 to $50 a gallon.

How does this compare to a salt water tank, and what would the cost
range be?

Am I correct in thinking that the major difference between the two is
that the reef tank has live coral, clams, etc., while a salt water tank
would just have rocks and plants and livestock? I'm also assuming that
the environment is less tricky to maintain, and doesn't require the same
amount and type of stuff that a reef tank needs like calcium reactors,
skimmers, special lights, etc.

Thanks again for any information.

[Thomas Bishop]

"Stan Peterson" > wrote in message
> I recently asked and was told that to set up a reef tank would cost
> somewhere in the range of from $25 to $50 a gallon.

Including live stock, that sounds about right.

> How does this compare to a salt water tank, and what would the cost
> range be?

What you refer to as a "salt water tank" sounds like a fish only. A reef
tank is sal****er as well.

> Am I correct in thinking that the major difference between the two is
> that the reef tank has live coral, clams, etc., while a salt water tank
> would just have rocks and plants and livestock? I'm also assuming that
> the environment is less tricky to maintain, and doesn't require the same
> amount and type of stuff that a reef tank needs like calcium reactors,
> skimmers, special lights, etc.

You are completely correct. A fish only is just what the name implies, only
fish with no corals or invertebrates (except snails and crabs I guess). You
can have a FOWLR, which stands for Fish Only With Live Rock, and
invertebrates. That comes very close to a reef but without the special
ingredient, corals. Corals are what makes a tank expensive with the lights,
skimmer, additives (calcium reactor is not necessary), etc.

[rtk]

Tullock: Reef Aquariums, 2001, page 44
"I suggest an allowance of about $30 to $50 for each gallon of tank
capacity as the the final cost of a completed sytem. This includes not
only the tank and the equipment to run it, but also the biological
componets, such as live rock, seawater, and the inhabitants, whether
fish or invertebrates."

Clearly the reef aquarium is a very open-ended project, really a work in
progress, so I don't see any number of dollars as being final, but
Tullock's estimate seems realistic for a system that could be complete
if it were not in the nature of aquarium owners, at least me, not to put
a *Done* on the project.

Ruth Kazez

Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr. wrote:
> Hi Stan
>
> I would say those figures are a little on the light side, if your
> referring to a reef, including livestock. One could easily hit
> $100.00 per gallon, all things included. Then there is the
> maintenance and running costs on top of that.
.............

[Stan Peterson]

Thanks for the info.
So the BIG DIFFERENCE is coral. Coral requires the special lighting,
skimmer and a method to get calcium into the system.

If I decided to start with a FOWLR setup, what basic equipment would I
be looking for (or if it is simpler-what would I NOT NEED compared to a
reef aquarium?)

Thanks again.

Thomas Bishop wrote:
> "Stan Peterson" > wrote in message
>
>>I recently asked and was told that to set up a reef tank would cost
>>somewhere in the range of from $25 to $50 a gallon.
>
>
> Including live stock, that sounds about right.
>
>
>>How does this compare to a salt water tank, and what would the cost
>>range be?
>
>
> What you refer to as a "salt water tank" sounds like a fish only. A reef
> tank is sal****er as well.
>
>
>>Am I correct in thinking that the major difference between the two is
>>that the reef tank has live coral, clams, etc., while a salt water tank
>>would just have rocks and plants and livestock? I'm also assuming that
>>the environment is less tricky to maintain, and doesn't require the same
>>amount and type of stuff that a reef tank needs like calcium reactors,
>>skimmers, special lights, etc.
>
>
> You are completely correct. A fish only is just what the name implies, only
> fish with no corals or invertebrates (except snails and crabs I guess). You
> can have a FOWLR, which stands for Fish Only With Live Rock, and
> invertebrates. That comes very close to a reef but without the special
> ingredient, corals. Corals are what makes a tank expensive with the lights,
> skimmer, additives (calcium reactor is not necessary), etc.
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

after some reciept hunting and figuring out what went where

my 125 FO has cost about 1400 total for all equipment currently in use, livestock,
everything not including any consumeables.

my 150 reef has not been completed and ive put more than 2700 into it, and i figure itll
set me back another $1000 to finish it.


--
Richard Reynolds

[Dragon Slayer]

I agree with Ruth, a reef tank is NEVER done. its a constantly changing
(things grow) environment that you will always be moving this here and that
there and then realize "wow I got room for just one more coral in this spot
if I trim out a few of these shrooms and chunk out a few of those zoo's"

kc