Thinking about a new hobby...

Well to ease your mind a bit. I have a 240 gal tank. My revolving monthly upkeep is around $50.00 to $75.00. My power bill is about $100.00 just for the tank. I have mh lights large pumps and the temp here has been over 100 for 3 months. On a 75 gal your monthy upkeep would be around $25.00 to $50.00 depending on what food you feed and the type of corals you keep. If you keep stony corals it will be more since you will have to dose ca, and mg.

I hope this helps. Oh and welcome again to a healthy addiction.

 

Het Trekker Welcome aboard!!

There has to Craigslist in your market, this is an excellent place to look for those used systems. Since you are not in a hurry you should find a deal.

I will tell you for example, I have bought many tanks/equipmnet there.
I will soon be listing an 80 gollon with tank, stand, canopy, and sump PLUS 2 150watt Metal Halide lamps with 2-54 watt T5 for 350.00.
If you were to go buy it all new, it would run well over 1600.00.

So watch those postings-ALWAYS tanks for sale-so be choosy.

As for the RO/DI unit-I have been very pleased with mine-it only produces 50 gallons a day, but after you build an auto-top off system ( and you most likely will build one) its cheap and easy and always nice to look back and say "yep I did that". Anyway I got into mine new for 60.00 dollars.

I am full of a lot of stuff, including some info, so drop a line anytime if you would like.

If you are concerned about costs, and I dont mean to frighten you but there sure does seem to be a lot of nickel dime things that pop up at first, except the nickels and dimes are Tens and Twentys

Take care and good luck!!

 

Thanks Vegasfish, I found out that the guy I was quoting pays $.30 per kwh ! I'm thankful to live in a cheaper part of the country. I do appreciate your input. I'm thinking that I could run the system I'm thinking about for around $50 a month in electricity plus other costs.

Hey Reefnjunkie, I have been watching cragslist and will continue to do so hoping for a bargain. My only concern is that as a newbie, I don't know how to distinquish between a good one and a dud.

I actually found a custom tank shop in West Tennessee that looks like they turn out a decent product for the money, but then again I don't know. I can get a reef ready 135g tank with starphire glass on 3 sides for $626. Or around $450 without the starphire.

 

If you find something on CL that you are unsure about, post a link here and we will give you the best information on it we can. Alway looking to help out.....

Worth every penny BTW. I've got my eye on a 600gal monster lately and the costs have me worried.

 

I run about $50 a month for electricity. I have a 90g and two 10g tanks. However, I do not have a chiller and that can suck up some serious power.

 

As others have said, do it right the first time. You have a good start by asking advice here Also, larger tanks are easier to care for, so you are on the right track. As for cost, if you have to ask, you can't afford it (kidding).

Don't skimp on anything. Lights and skimmer are particularly important.

No idea what my tank uses in electricity. I don't care. I keep my house around 70 or under most of the time, so I think my AC costs are more than my tank. Also have no idea what my monthly maintenance costs are, as I don't care. My total power bill runs around $95 a month, so it's pretty minimal, at any case (for a 75). I run metal halides, so they use more power than T5s but at least you know you can keep anything in your tank.

 

Actually Trekker, you dont want to ask "how much" it can be so relative to so many things here, in this hobby you can drive a VW Bug and it looks awesome-if thats your budget, or you can drive the Ferrari and it should look awesome-if thats your budget.

It does not have to be expensive-some people just make it that way

There are WAY TO MANY TOYS in this hobby- This hobby can drain your wallet like the dam broke-if you let it:biggrinbo FEW I feel better now-off my chest

I can just say I have not been 100% honest with my wife as to the exact costs of certain things-And I am glad she makes me have my own bank account-- I dont write down transaction-LOL-should start a poll I bet 15-20% have done the same or similar-"denile" its not just a river in Egypt

Anyway keep an eye out for my new program-its a 12 step program for reefaholics. Hope to see you at a meeting;D

"Keep coming back it works!"

Glad your wanting to get into it, it truly is cool looking at what you can put together

Enjoy

 

Not sure exactly about the electricity .. probably somewhere around $30-50 a month here and I pay 11.2 cents per k/wh.
Food $3-5
Salt $8 (1 water change a month) guestimated
Bulbs (good ones X 2 Metal halide and 4 Actinics) $300 year/12=$25
Free water since I'm in a condo.
New RO/DI filters $40 year/12 =$4 ish with shipping.
Calcium / alkalinity /magnesium supplements... hard to tell maybe $3-5
Refugium bulbs $3
Increased A/C bill .. hard to tell.. not cheap... no chiller here.
Somewhere around $75-100 per month for routine stuff. .. + long term there will be new things that need to be bought. It's not a cheap hobby. Be prepared to spend thousands.

 

BTW, just curious as to how many of you are from my part of the country. I live about half-way between Chattanooga and Knoxville. Either city is about an hour's drive. Based on location, any recommended LFS?

 

That's a lot more money than my 10g tank ;D. I'll have to try to keep the costs down. I already have too many expensive hobbies (photography, hunting, mountain biking, etc.).