Jump to content
Top Shelf Aquatics

how much did your nano cost?


Jared

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 56
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Depends on what you want to keep. SPS obviously would require a more expensive setup than a softy setup. Could be anywhere from couple hundred bucks to 10x that

Link to comment

I'm in for about $1000 CDN on an NC12DX with no mods other than a surface skimmer and a pump upgrade. That includes corals, inverts, rock and fish.

Link to comment
just woundering what you guys think the average cost is to set up a 10-15 gallon nano aquarium, with everything done right.

 

 

i really dont think there is a average cost for a 10-15g. mostly depends on what you want for your tank as far as livestock and dry goods. you can be really cheap on buying stuff or spend money on the big and better things. i have spent $700+ for my 15g + 15g tanks and equipment. an thats without anything live in the tank yet

Link to comment

I will not speak of the cost of "the Evil Nano Cube of Death", before it is finnished! When it is finished, and I post it, you will be able to guess what the cost may have been.

Link to comment

I found in this hobby, theres no minimum or maximum. You can get some things for steals, but if you want a certain piece of livestock bad enough, sky's the limit to what you will spend to keep it. I recommend $1000 to comfortably shoot for 10-15 gallons.

Link to comment

The cost of the tank set up also very's alot depending on where you live and where you shop. If your buying everything from online venders and shoping the classifieds you will save more money. Than a person who is stuck having to buy everything from there local fish store. Just to setup a 10gal cost me 1000 dollars without any fish or corals. After the tank is up and running than it becomes a money pit. Because your alway's buying salt, new corals, new fish, more inverts, better lights, bigger tank's etc etc.

Link to comment

My new 29 only cost $29, cause I just moved everything from my 40 - but I spent close to $1500 on that, so there you go.

 

I think you could set up a 10 for $300 or less, livestock included - just be frugal.

Link to comment
BustytheSnowMaam

I don't remember how much my substrate cost. However, the 20 lbs of LR in my home tank were @$150 and the lights were $150, add another @$400 for corals, inverts, and fish (this includes shipping)- yikes! Then there's bulbs, HOB filter, fish food, heater...wow, never realized it cost $800 or so before (I have a 10). I have a pretty simple set-up too.

 

Tasha

Link to comment

I have saved every receipt, invoice, etc... and put them into a spreadsheet, so my total is accurate to the cent. Including my recent live stock order from Sea-life florida, which I will get on Thurs., I have spent $512.50. This is for everything, food, timers, water tests, pump upgrade, ghetto refugium light, shipping, taxes, etc... It ended up a nice rounded number $512.50 by chance, this is the real down to the cent costs so far incurred.

I plan on spending a bit more, but probably won't pass the $600 mark for a while (unless I decide to do my custom Luxeon K2 LED light). My tank will be full. But what did I want to spend? I was hoping for under $400, typically taking the most frugal route. Generally I feel I got pretty good deals all around.

I never had to buy salt, the LFS gives me free saltwater. My total on livestock is only ~$100, and its not much.

 

All in all:

I think you'd have a hard time spending less than $500 unless you cut some corners, and even at $500 you've probably cut some corners. Also depends on what you really want in your tank. I was totally entertained just watching weird/alien creatures crawl out my my live rock when I first set up my tank. If I'd stopped there I'd have saved alot of money :lol: But I had to have a fish and some cheap corals :D

 

It has been as much fun for me at setting up my tank and all the preliminary stuff than it has been just watching it.

 

So if you're a cheap easily entertained person like me, you might get away with $500, but I see most people replying have spent quite a bit more... Just set a budget, a plan, and try to work with it!!!!

 

Good luck!

Link to comment

I am probably in about $1500 cdn on my 10g. It would be alot less if I wasn't stuck shipping everything in from out of province.

 

For basic setup w/LR, the old saying $100/g isn't too far off.

Link to comment

wow this thread makes me feel better, i have spent $500 SO FAR, but i havent put anthing i want in it yet, i thought i was paying way too much for my setup but it looks like im right on track

Link to comment

Mine looks like it's going to cost about £800 ($1500 US) just to get it to the point I can cycle the LR. The corals, inverts and fish are going to be extra.

Link to comment

Depends on what it will house (sorry, list in CND, 1.3 of USD):

 

Tank- $10

Stand - ?, could be strong desk.

Styrofoam for leveling - $10

Background or paint - $10

Salt mix- $20

floating glass hydrometer to measure salinity - $10, if refractometer -$45

AP test kits: NH3, NO2, NO3, Ca, kH, PO4, pH - $10x6=$60

Water dechlorinator - $10

If additives, like trace elements, amino-acids, alkalinity and calcium - $16x4 = $64

HOB filter $30,

replacement media - may be $7 a month,

good heater $30,

thermometer, digital - $16

another source of flow - $27

light - AH supply 2x36W, US$97 with bulbs, replace every 6 months - another $34,

live rock - if sale, $5 x 15 lb= $75

couple of small fish - no problem, $30-60

food for them - $4-8 (blended grocery mix or Prime Reef or Formula One pellets)

plactic tool for picking things under water - $16

gravel cleaner or vinyl hose - $10

glass scruber $12

snails or hermits - $30

 

Now corals: it depends

if SPS - add halide lighting, at least Viper JBJ - ~US200, plus replacement lamps ~80; protein skimmer for them $200

if softies - more carbon and (not neccessary) protein skimmer - $26+$100

if LPS - no problem, water changes only,

if non-photosynthetic corals - whatever LPS or softies - I wouldn't do that, too much troubles, as with predatory fish. SeaSquirtTM $20 and big refugium ($40+) at least. Less expences on light.

Food for them: if small-mouthed - $20x3kinds=$60, large-mouthed - $7 frozen cubes, $10 Cyclop-eezy, $4 grocery mix.

 

By source of corals:

full-grown colonies from LFS $50x20= 1000 +tx

frags online - $14x20= 280

By design:

5-6 big bright colonies, strategically placed in the tank - less

50 SPS, tightly packed in a small volume - more

 

SuperGlue gel $3 3g, to glue frags

zip ties or epoxy $20

Power back-up $200, or without heating - battery operated air pump -$25

 

Improperly working equipment, cute puffer or lion or tassel, requiring not nano tank with big equipment in several months - arm and leg.

 

Multiple tanks - multiply.

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions


×
×
  • Create New...