In the near future I may be setting up a small saltwater system, primarialy of invertibretes, and I would like to know how high the total cost of ownership is for such a system relative to the cost of an "intermediate" freshwater setup. Sea salt averages $1.25 per gallon around here. THank you.
SW total cost of ownership?
- Thread starter QCppg
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I was curious some months back, and posted this thread. These are the real costs of some members' setups, and there is quite a range of cost per gallon.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27378&highlight=cost
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27378&highlight=cost
are you wanting the total cost of, lets say what it would take to set up a 20 gallon or so, minus the actual livestock. i think that theres a little too much variation in cost of salt water tanks to give a good general price. if you can give a little more detail about what you want i can give you a decent quote on what it would cost here in indiana to get it. tuff like how big a tank? are you going to have live rock? what kind of coral, if any? things like that.
The Perfect Formula
Add up everything you think you'll need for the tank before you buy it and then multiply your estimated price by 2.5. The point I am trying to make is, it's fairly expensive. And for me, I did major research before jumping into this and it is still more expensive than I thought.
Add up everything you think you'll need for the tank before you buy it and then multiply your estimated price by 2.5. The point I am trying to make is, it's fairly expensive. And for me, I did major research before jumping into this and it is still more expensive than I thought.
Saltwater is also different from freshwater in that you're not going to save very much going with a smaller tank when you think in percentage of the total cost.
When I did FW tanks, the most expensive part was my 45 gal tank and stand. My skimmer cost just 10 bucks shy of the tank and stand's total price. Where a 20 gal FW is much cheaper to set up than a 55 gal, I don't think the savings of a smaller tank make that much of a difference in SW. And it's just easier to keep the water in a larger tank more stable, anyways.
When I did FW tanks, the most expensive part was my 45 gal tank and stand. My skimmer cost just 10 bucks shy of the tank and stand's total price. Where a 20 gal FW is much cheaper to set up than a 55 gal, I don't think the savings of a smaller tank make that much of a difference in SW. And it's just easier to keep the water in a larger tank more stable, anyways.
If I do set this up (that's a pretty big if BTW) I would be likely using a 20-28 gallon tank for space reasons. I simply don't have room for ANOTHER 55 gallon (as of toniht I have two). I should've phrased my question differently, what are the maintenence costs of a saltwater setup? (I can come up with large amounts of money at once but even small routine payments irritate me. THAT's why I want to know.)
Honestly I'm bad at routines and I have only checked my nitrates, nitrites, amonia and stuff once on Easter when I got a test kit... I only do a water change once every two weeks or once a week... I have a large 5gallon bucket of salt and I bought a big can of formula one flake food. Like I said I'm really bad at keeping a routine but I do have frozen food to feed them but right now since school has been over for the last month I've been bad with levels and stuff... dont get me wrong my tank is going great but there is no matinence... i mean timers, power heads on all the time... filter needs to be cleaned whenever i feel adventerous but its not as bad as you prolly think... btw i have a 29gallon.
Once the tank is up, your monthly costs will be:
Food, anywhere from $5 and up, depending on what you feed and what you have.
Salt: depends on how big your water changes are. On my 10, it costs about $15 every 4 months, but that's absorbed into the greater cost of buying salt for the 120's ($45/bucket at least once a month).
Water filtering, if needed.
Electricity--I usually figure $20/tank, but that's an average.
Food, anywhere from $5 and up, depending on what you feed and what you have.
Salt: depends on how big your water changes are. On my 10, it costs about $15 every 4 months, but that's absorbed into the greater cost of buying salt for the 120's ($45/bucket at least once a month).
Water filtering, if needed.
Electricity--I usually figure $20/tank, but that's an average.
Your expenses in both setup and maintenance costs will be dramatically determined by how much homework you do BEFORE plunging in. The more you know, and if you're lucky enough to know people who have SUCCESSFUL and ESTABLISHED (over a year) setups to guide you along, the less mistakes will be made initially (mistakes = money 
).
If large sums all at once is no big thing, but little bits all the time is an issue, buy everything in bigger quantities (food, salt, test kits, etc.), and make sure your equipment is good. Don't skimp on that, 'cause when it craps out on you and you've gotta pay another 300.00 on lights like I had to a couple of months ago, let me tell you there's no greater frustration.
Good luck, and have fun with the setup, if you do plunge in!
). If large sums all at once is no big thing, but little bits all the time is an issue, buy everything in bigger quantities (food, salt, test kits, etc.), and make sure your equipment is good. Don't skimp on that, 'cause when it craps out on you and you've gotta pay another 300.00 on lights like I had to a couple of months ago, let me tell you there's no greater frustration.
Good luck, and have fun with the setup, if you do plunge in!