Quote:
Originally Posted by
ja138522 http:///forum/thread/386110/buyin-vs-making#post_3389325
I have a store about 30 minutes from my house where i can buy saltwater for my tank but with the cost of gas so high i wondered if it would be worth it to make my own salt water. They're cost is about $1.10 a gallon, If so what is the best way to make it myself.
Is there a formula, Can i use tap water as long as it cycles for a while. Can i order the salt online.
Thanks.
Lets do the math on this then. If you have a 55g tank (I think that is what you have). To get set up and running for the first year you would need to fill it completely once so.. 55 x $1.10= $60.50.
Then you need to do like a 10% WC every two weeks. 10% x 55g = 5.5g lets just say 5g to make it easy 5g x 26 =130g for the year worth or water changes so 130g x $1.10 = $143.00. So for the first year of maintaining your salt water tank you have $203.50. And this is if you don't have any emergencys that require a larger WC. I am sure most people will tell you that this is a "when" not an "if" you will have issues. This also does not count the price of fuel for your car going an hour round trip to purchase water.
You can get a good RO/DI unit for like $150.00 a bucket of salt should cost you around $50.00- $60.00
Making your own water will pay for its self in a year or so.
This is the case for most people who get in to salt water. In the long run it is just cheaper to make your own water using an RO/DI unit. Now if you were to dip your toes in saltwater fish keeping for a couple of months and then get out of it... well then buying by the gallon is the cheapest.
Now you can get RO/DI water from the local super store (Walmart, or any other large store like that) where they have the purified water station. It usually sells for between $.29 -$.45/ gallon and then mix with salt at home. This can save you the $150.00 -$200.00 for a good RO/DI unit... But if you do more math you will find out that paying the up front cost of the RO/DI unit will pay for its self in the long run as well.
Hope this helps.
