Cost analizing

[mercenary-grunt]

Is running a reef a lot more expencive than a agressive? Just thinking it is, and I dont have tons of money, to drop month after month. I want both but I doubt wife will let that much water in the house.

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[Scooterman]

FO is cheaper to run, you probably can do softies easily & some LPS but stay away from sps and you should be much less on expenses.

 

[mercenary-grunt]

thank you. i might get some softies and put it in a seen refugium, but i think im going to do an agressive tank for now.

 

[colin779]

I can't see it being that much more month to month. All i do is water changes (i shoot for 10 gallons weekly, usually is bi-weekly), I've never dosed anything (and i do have sps) so that's a huge expense eliminated. Coral you dont have to fill a tank up, shoot, its taken me 2 years to fill up my 90, and a lot of that is from stuff growing out. I probably run all the same equipment you do, maybe a little more. I have 2 175w halides, 2 fans for ventilation, 4 koralia 1050gph powerheads, 750gph return pump, swc 160 cone skimmer, and a 250w heater. I think the electricity was roughly $10-$15 per month.

 

[BigAl07]

The upfront cost is usually a good chunk more (better lights, flow, skimmer etc) and depending on what lights you run it will run a bit more on electricity (skimmer, powerheads, and lights all consume some).

 

[mercenary-grunt]

i have 3 400w mh. over my 180g. and looking at the cost of the continual buying lights every 8-12 mmonths is a little daunting.at least with the fo i would be able to go a tad longer right?? i have a 180g that is pushing 200 - 210G and about to add a 30g fug.

 

[mojoreef]

Lighting is always the biggest hit when it comes to reef keeping. You can loose that with a FO for sure, you can also go with a FO with LR and then add some not so light loving corals. 3 mh's over a 180 opens you up for most types of corals, but as you say you have to replace them. So it becomes a matter of if you can afford it or not.


mike

 

[mercenary-grunt]

I have a fowlr now. I have about 120 ish pounds. And thank you all for the input. Helps alot to boince ideas.

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[jrgilles]

With trading coral frags, it may be cheaper to fill up your tank with corals, since you have the setup already. Just something to think about. Once you put in enough little pieces, they will grow and fill everything in.

I only have a 75, but it is fairly well stocked now, and most of the corals I have either been given frags, traded frags, or gotten them very cheap. I have repeatedly fragged and sold many of the things in my tank, and that more or less covers replacement bulbs. I don't have too many fish (a lot due to fear of introducing infections, as I have no quarantine tank)

 

[Krish]

Man a pico is expensive if you lived where I do!! Count your blessings lol!! When it comes to reef tanks though and tanks that have a problem with keeping cool, chillers and the lights will be your biggest energy consumers.


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