Cost of Setting up 10-20gal Nano

[uthscsa19]

I am considering setting up a 10-20 gal Nano that contain 2 small fish and some coral (nothing that requires to much light). I was wondering what my total budget for something of this size would be? I will be starting from scratch, so I'll have to buy everything. If someone can give me a descent estimation of the set up costs, it would help me in the planning phase of my aquarium.
Thanks

 

[davind]

So far including mistakes, I'm into it $900 not including livestock. That is for a 12 gallon. Here's the break down.
Aquarium (Including heater and light and filter that I did not use) - $160
Live Rock - $65.00
Live Sand - $20.00
New Light for corals - $300.00
New Filter - $40.00
Thermometer - $10.00
Temperature controller - $90.00
Fan (those lights get hot) - $50.00
Timer for lights - $30.00
Moon Light - $15.00
Refractometer (don't use the cheap plastic swing-arm hydrometer) - $50.00
Test kit - $50 (minimum)
Salt and R/O water - $50.00
Misc (Shipping, etc.) - $60.00

 

[sagowitz]

Take davind's total and cut it in half and you can get yourself a decent set up.

 

[gregzbobo]

anywhere from 50-100 bucks a gallon for nice setup

 

[davind]

Originally Posted by Sagowitz
Take davind's total and cut it in half and you can get yourself a decent set up.
I don't know whether I should be offended by that or not.

You can probably tell that a lot of the expense is related to lighting. I chose to never be limited by lighting on what livestock I can choose. In my case that means 150W MH lighting. I could have gone a lot cheaper there and probably not had the heat issues, but hey, it's what I chose.

 

[treybom]

ive spent about 200 on my 20 gal.. not including the tank though

 

[sagowitz]

Originally Posted by davind
I don't know whether I should be offended by that or not.

You can probably tell that a lot of the expense is related to lighting. I chose to never be limited by lighting on what livestock I can choose. In my case that means 300W MH lighting. I could have gone a lot cheaper there and probably not had the heat issues, but hey, it's what I chose.
Please don't be offended, however, their lighting needs are much different than yours. He said he doesn't want anything that requires much light, whereas you wanted much more. So, they can cut a lot of cost on lighting alone.

 

[yimmy]

300wats on a 12gallon...like 25-30wats per gallon :scared: . Thats a lot of light, I thought 7-8 was a lot...I don't think it will cost you 1000$ but I would say 500-600$. My 95gal FOWLR cost me 2200 then now I'm upgrading to a reef so like 3k

 

[davind]

Originally Posted by Yimmy
300wats on a 12gallon...like 25-30wats per gallon :scared: . Thats a lot of light, I thought 7-8 was a lot...I don't think it will cost you 1000$ but I would say 500-600$. My 95gal FOWLR cost me 2200 then now I'm upgrading to a reef so like 3k
I have no idea why I said 300. It's actually 150 (I spent $300 on it). I edited the post. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[joshradio]

my new 15 set up ran me about $500 total...

 

[pclown]

You can do an Aquapod 24G with 70W MH lighting with everything you need to get started for about $600.
Aquapod 24G w/70W MH lighting - $350.00 (I have seen them as low as $339.00)
*Includes Tank, lights w/ fans, and wet/dry filter.
Live Rock - $150.00 (30 lbs)
Live Sand - $30.00 (30 lbs)
Thermometer - $10.00
Test kit - $50.00 (Dont spend $100 for basic test kit)
Salt and R/O water - $25.00 (I buy mine premixed from LFS at $1 a gallon)
Hydrometer is fine - $10.00
Total $605

 

[sweetdawn]

tank from walmart 10.00
hinged glass top from petstore 20.00
power compact light 80.00 for a decent one that you can have some corals no clams or anemones
heater 15.00 walmart
temp gauge 2.00
power head 20.00
liverock 70.00
go bare bottom
forgot a filter 100.00 if you go with a skimmer around thirty if you just go with a penguin or the equivalant.
alternitive fish only with one fish lots of inverts and feather dusters
five gallon from walmart with hood,light,biowheel,temp gauge, 35.00
40.00 for liverock
10.00 for small heater

 

[keith burn]

Originally Posted by uthscsa19
I am considering setting up a 10-20 gal Nano that contain 2 small fish and some coral (nothing that requires to much light). I was wondering what my total budget for something of this size would be? I will be starting from scratch, so I'll have to buy everything. If someone can give me a descent estimation of the set up costs, it would help me in the planning phase of my aquarium.
Thanks

For just a look at saltwater fun, you don't need that much stuff.
10 gal $9.99
filter up to 20 gal (hob) $29.99
lights 13" 24w 50/50 will work $29.99.
c/c $15.00
l/r $50.00 10lbs
Most sw fishkeepers have most of this stuff just sitting around anyway. Talk to a friend that you may have about loaners. c/c l/s l/r you can get free or loaned. We've got 100 pounds of ugly live rock just sitting around doing nothing.
Loaners are a good way to get started. You might talk to some of your friends that are into this hobby and see if you can borrow their beginner tank to see if you enjoy sw fishkeeping. If you do, you will want to upgrade most likely. If you don't, you're out nothing...
After looking at your posts, you can get new nano, and put some of the l/r,c/c,s/l from the tanks you have running. You'll only need to get the tank, lights, and a filter.

 

[thehat]

In the past two months I did exactly what you are wanting to do. I think I am to 900 bucks and that inludes the price of the jbj nano cube that I got that pretty much comes with everything you need. I just did 5 types of mush, leather, zoos, trumpet coral, bubble tip, and green star polyps. and three fish. I am gonna add like two more things and I am done. I amagine it would runn you right around 1000 bucks depending on how in depth you want to go. And if it is your first tank it might cost you alil more as you learn.

 

[oreo12]

Man for that much cash you could have gone for a 75 gal and not spent much more

 

[pclown]

Originally Posted by oreo12
Man for that much cash you could have gone for a 75 gal and not spent much more
Please tell me how? I Started my reef for about $800 and I heard that before so I was hoping you could explain it to me.
Thanks

 

[oreo12]

Well lets see buy a used set up like a 54 gal corner for $100 has live sand and live rock in it power heads and heater. Buy 75 gal tank on sale at pet store for $75 add sand from lumber yard the agr of course $9.00 move live rock and sand from 54 gal to 75 gal buy base rock for $2 a pound 25 Lbs that is $50 sell 54 gal tank and stand for $75.00 Hum now 75 gal tank is free. build your own stand about $50 for bulding meterals by oberseas 48" 260 watt light $120 shipped prizzem skimmer from local suply house for $60. Add new power heads 3 1200 maxis on sale at My freind als site and hang on filter for carbon from wallmart for $40 Internal power filter with live rubble rock $40.00 Ro filter from action site for $100. I think that covers it I might have left off some little thing. about $570 total anyway thats how I did it. But i am some old guy always looking to save a buck. I like doing more for less.

 

[bawood]

Let's see I'll take a swing my price listed as well
Aquarium 20$ 0
Heater 20 0
Filte(hot) 30 0
l.r. 160 90
sand 15 15
salt 20 20
water 10 10
test kits 35 35
lights 60 0
skimmer 30-100 30
hood 30 15 Supplies built my own
stand 70 0
ph 20 0
So I am into mine for about 220 besides livestock and maintenance costs.
a comparable setup would be about 500. The best bet for nano systems is to know someone with a larger setup it helps getting hand me downs and seeding the tank with good bacteria.
My set-up is far from optimal, but my fish are doing well and I'm about to start adding low light corals as soon as I get my CA test kit. I decided to stay low stocking until I've got a better skimmer, but I am happy with it. Technically you don't need a stand even and can find varying prices on stuff.

 

[pclown]

OH, yea that is what I thought when someone told me that before. But to go to the LFS and buy and set up your tank the way it should be is much different.
I shopped around and it was not cheaper for me, not even close. I even looked in the paper for someone selling a tank and did not find anything that I thought was worth anything.
I did not know anyone with anything that I was looking for so I went with LFS to make sure I got what I needed.
My Tank: Basic Setup - $695.00
24G Aquapod w/150w HQI MH - $400
Stand - $60
LR - 30 pounds - $125
LS - 20 pounds - $20
RO/DI Premixed water - $25
Heater - $15
Thermometer - $10
Test Kit - $40
75G Basic setup - $1470
75G Tank w/stand - $400
2 x 250w MH Lighting - $400
LR - 75 Pounds (1lb per gallon and 1.5lbs a gallon) - $300
LS - 60 Pounds - $60
Power heads (2 - 3) - $80
RO/DI unit - $150 (Cheap one and you have to replace filters 2 -3 times a year)
Heater - $30
Thermometer - $10
Test Kit - $40
We could add a protien skimmer and a sump at another $200 but I wont.

 

[smaug]

PClown,
Where are you getting your stuff from? I paid $155 for 28 lbs of LR from that new store in Evans. Store was recommended by a friend that's been in the hobby for a couple years.