Friend wants approximate cost of a nano

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by slink, Jun 22, 2014.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. slink

    slink Plankton

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2014
    Messages:
    2
    While I am a bit more freshwater these days and did the saltwater thing in the past and will again after I move, I'm not totally up to date with the cost of setting up a new aquarium these days. A friend asked me and I suggested a nano if he was tight on space and primarily corals with only shrimp or a handful of very small fish, at most. I was thinking neons or firefish, something like that. He's looking at larger than the small 8 gallons but probably no larger than around 20 gallons. There are some JBJ tanks and others from the nano tank specialists and I was wondering if I could give him a ballpark figure of what to expect to build.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    500-700 for everything, fish, salt, power heads, test kits, stand.....
     
    zesty likes this.
  4. Vinnyboombatz

    Vinnyboombatz Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2010
    Messages:
    6,344
    Location:
    Dunnellon, Florida
    Bio cube 14-164.99
    Bio Cube 29-194.99
    You will then need to add salt,test kits,refractometer,heater,substrate,lr,powerhead(s),mechanical and or chemical media,Dosing supplies(depending on types of corals and wc schedule) misc. tools like net and algae scrubbers,and of course fish,corals. Tell him whatever he comes up with as a number add 20 percent as this hobby can be expensive.
     
  5. FeedYourMachine

    FeedYourMachine Feather Duster

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    239
    Location:
    Treasure Lake PA
    Bought my son a 12 gallon nano with stand for 200 ..
    All said and done, about 300 into it ..
     
  6. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2013
    Messages:
    1,715
    Location:
    Greenfield, WI
    This is what I would say.

    The worst thing you can do is cheapen out in this hobby. It doesn't mean you have to buy the most expensive, but make smarter buys vs lowest price. That always comes with a "within reason" cause for me. lol I tend to dream big sometimes...