Cost for Your FW Setup

[New 2 Fish]

20 gallon tank kit...............$80
(includes.. top with light, thermometer
water heater, tropical fish food,
dechlorinator, ph level test kit, filter )

25lb bag or black gravel.......$12
Rock Background paper........$6
Big Rock Cavern..................$20
Rock Castle.........................$14

3 Bala Sharks and a Bottom Feeder.......$5.99 ea.

 

[easyian]

I just upgraded to a 90 gal tank so ill try mine

90 gal perfecto tank kit. Came with stand canopy,light bar,Rena Filstar xp3 filter $800.00
300W Heater 40.00
Substrate free (I had to take the floor model so they threw it in)
Plants from my previous tank 35.00
Slate free(home improvement store clerk laughed at me when i brought my little pile to the counter)
fish couldn't guess how much
hagen master test kit 45.00
and a few more for odds and ends 35.00
thats about 925.00 most of that in the past 3 weeks

 

[peterp]

Cost of my re-start (in cdn$)
8O Tank's to the Reefcon program for keeping track of these expenses. 8O

Stuff
Tank 33gal ............................... 0
Tank stand ............................... 0
Filter Marineland Penguin 300 ... 0
substrate................................... 0
Air Pump.(very noisy)..................0
Heater tronic 150 ..................... 35$
replacement lamp..................... 25$
thermometer............................. 3.59$
water conditioner...................... 5.99$
air stones.................................. 2.49$
root tabs................................... 7.98$
cycle......................................... 4.49$
FreshWater Master test kit....... 27.99$
properPH.................................. 3.99$
1 replacement bio-wheel.......... 12.99$
replacement bio-wheel bearings. 3.99$
plant anchors.............................. 1.79$

Fish
fish-o-cycling.............................. 10.95$

Plants
JavaFern ................................... 14.99$
Giant Hygro ............................... 6.99$
Giant tora Val(cuttings) .............. 5.97$

Total cost to restart SoFar ..... about 175$

 

[An t-iasg]

OK...here's the costs of my 5 1/2 gallon divided tank with two bettas:

5 1/2 gallon tank...........$9.99
Tank divider .................10.00
Versa Top 16"...............11.99
Gravel, 5 lbs...................3.49
Visi-Therm Deluxe
25-watt heater.............19.95
Jungle Jr. Dirt Magnet
sponge filter ..................5.99
TetraTec Deep Water
Airpump 12...................14.99
Plastic 3-way
gang valve.......................4.49
Airline Tubing, 10 ft..........1.00
Small corner filter.............1.79 (used occasionally)
Floss................................3.99 " "
Carbon............................7.99 " "
Silk Plants (6).................20.00
Thermometer...................1.29
Jungle Salt.......................1.99
Food..............................10.00
BettaMax.........................5.99
Novaqua, Amquel.............8.00
pH down..........................2.88
pH test kit........................2.78
Ammonia test kit..............4.49
Nitrite/nitrate kit.............16.00
Small gravel vac...............3.99
2 pairs AquaGloves..........3.49

and:
2 bettas...........................7.00
-------
$ 183.56

So, it's certainly not as expensive as a 55 gallon set-up, but a nice set-up for bettas really isn't cheap!

 

[dralarms]

including my 10 gal QT, and my 55 gal community tank, and including the new emporer 400 power filter I just purchased for $37.99 I would have to guess around 500 to 600. Still cheaper than my other hobbies, collecting guns and rc 4wd trucks.

 

[megnmick]

-10 gallon set-up (recieved for my birthday- but have seen it priced)
included: tank, full hood with bulb, pump, filter, heater, thermometer, 2 plants, one time use chemicals, and samples of food.-$50
-Chemicals- about $20
-Water test kits-$20 ($10 each)
-2 large plants -$5
-rock -$4
-gravel -$7
-nets (medium and small) $4
-gravel vacuum -$7
-food -$5
-background -$4
-book -$3
-extra filters -$5
-fish : black tetra-$3.49 ea.
serpae tetra-$2.99 ea.
I also have a 2 gallon setup-$20
came with gravel filter, pump, and 2 plants
And I also have a 1 gallon set up that came with the same as 2 gallon

 

[pachuco2k]

My 20 Gal FW Tropique

Here's my humble setup. I still have to get a quarentine tank but here's my start. Some prices include Cali gafflin' tax.

20 Gal Starter Kit w/ heater, thermo, full hood w/bulb, and filter - - $86.59
Rena 100 Airpump, Air Tech Gang Valve and tubing - - $28.00
Air Stone - - $2.99
Freshwater Master Test Kit - - $ 19.99
Nitrate Tester - -$5
Background - - $3.98
8 Plants + 4 Ruins including Coliseum w/airstone + 22 lbs grvl - - $56.51
Python Gravel Vac - - $30
4 Brachydanio rerio (Zebras) - - $3.96

Total Spent came to around $235 including tax.

Peace!!

 

[flamron]

Here is my future setup. Some items have been purchased already.

125 gal oceanic w/ hood and lights-499.99
Custom built stand (by me)- 75.00
Proquatics 2400 canister filter- 82.00
Penguin 330-23.49
Heater- 20.00
Powerheads- 38.00
UGF- 30.00
Substrate (150 lbs of pea gravel from Walmart)- 8.00
Plants- 25.00
Rocks- Free (Kansas is rocky, good for tanks)
Fish- 150

Cost of equipment +/-$1000
Enjoyment of setting up and watching-Priceless 8)

 

[Enki]

New 50 gal tank w/ top, light, Millennium 3000 filter, heater and thermometer = $150

Gravel = $free from my fishy friend's extra gravel supply.

Used dresser that will be reinforced into an aquarium stand = $60

More to come so no total yet, but I think I have made a bargain start

 

[Electrobes]

man I cannot stress how entering into a new hobby, a person ALWAYS ends up spending so much more than what they could have done for a WAY cheaper price. it sucks

 

[fishfoo]

The Santa deal...

Looking at all these posts, it seems like most of you don't bother paying for tanks. Lot's of hand-me-downs. Unaware that this free option was so readily available, I ignorantly paid real money. Bought a...

Tenecor 20 gal flat back hex show, black background. ($80) (Yummy)
DIY stand and hood. (Useful exercise for all these power tools and scrap wood laying about) ($N/C) (Looks fab, too, if I do say so myself)
20 gallon `acquarium starter kit' including Aquaclear 150/media, hagen 100w radiant heater, net, thermometer, food, plastic plants, water conditioner. ($35) (Doubtless inadequate, but a start...)
(2X) 36w PC lights (1 daylight, 1 actinic and fixture) ($75) (Probably overkill, but it's done...)
The de rigeur `Miracle Beam' system, with 3 miracle units @$8 per miracle ($24) (It's a fishtank, it's a nightlight, it's a fishtank AND a nightlight)

So that's roughly $215. So far. The rest I will leave to my 20 year old, gainfully employed dotter, to fill at her whim & leisure. That is, unless you wiser and more experienced aquarists can convince me to spend more money up front on some vital yet over-looked accessory.

 

[stoneydee]

Ok, where do you guys get all these free tanks and hoods?

 

[ferret]

I guess people might be interested.

90 Gallon: I found this All-glass tank on sale, $200 off. The tank and stand with glass hoods and lights was $288. I did not get a canopy (Hate the way they look). The tank has two Emperor 400s (Roughly $70 each), two large ornamental ship halves ($120, I splurged ), and at least $150-200 in fish and plants. 300 watt heater, $20. About 100 pounds of pebble gravel, roughly $60 cause I was a newbie and bought epoxy coat gravel from petsmart

75 Gallon: Originally purchased for a lizard, I believe it ran me about $149, and later got a $99 oak stand. Runs an Emperor 400 and Penguin 330 ($70 and $30). Its had a variety of fish in it over time, and the current residents are worth about $50 I believe. Heater is a 300 watt, costs like $20. Same as 90 on subtrate, but about 75 pounds ($45ish)

29 Gallon: First real fish tank I had, bought for $99 starter kit. Replaced the original filter with a $30 Penguin 330. Has about $50 of fish and $50-60 of ornaments and fake plants. Plus 1 java fern. Heater came in kit. Blue gravel, about $8 worth

20G-A: Tank was $15, filter was $20, heater was $15. Sand subtrate, I got a 50 lb bag from Home Depot for like, $2. Still have over half the bag. About $15-20 worth of snail shells for Lake Tang shell dwellers I've not purchased yet, and might not for some time. Heater was $14

20G-B: See above with following differences. Gravel bottom, about $10. About $20-30 in ornament fake drift wood and fake plants. Two convict cichlids worth about.. $4 Heater was $14

10G-A: Penguin mini ($22), heater was $14, tank was $8. Two goldfish (About $10) and a small pleco ($3). $20-30 in plastic plants and ornaments. $25 for hood and light.

10G-B: Original filter from the 29 starter kit. $14 heater, $20 in ornaments and fake plants. Sand substrate. Free fish though, guppy fry! $25 for hood and light

3G: $35 for the tank, which included filter and light. $20 in live plants and small fake driftwood. 6 neons (Roughly $10-12).

Let me try to tally this... I've spent... somewhere around $2000 total on this hobby. I rounded up to include the two fish disasters I've ran into.

 

[fishfoo]

As hobbies go, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than yachting, civil aviation, equestrian activity and high end photography. It seems roughly comparable to golf, poker (played badly) and woodworking. It's considerably more expensive than watching TV, chess or writing a novel.

 

[mattrox]

It's considerably more expensive than watching TV, chess or writing a novel.

And a lot more fun too!

 

[grimlock3000]

*26g*
$75 - all-glass 26g bowfront tank
$170 - all-glass black stand
$85 - all-glass glass top + all-glass twin tube hood
$80 - eheim ecco 2233 canister filter
$30 - eheim filter media
$15 - aquaclear 200 power filter
$30 - aquaclear 301 powerhead
$15 - visi therm 150 watt heater
$15 - estes' ultra peark gravel
$20 - various plastic plants
$15 - black slate
$15 - driftwood
$30 - fish
$15 - food
$30 - infrared thermometer
$10 - water conditioner/salt
$15 - test kits
---
$650 8O

"man I cannot stress how entering into a new hobby, a person ALWAYS ends up spending so much more than what they could have done for a WAY cheaper price. it sucks"

no doubt this is true. i somehow managed to know what i was doing, shop around, and still spend way too much money

 

[Neuve]

10 gal tank with UGF $20 + $12 for the hood with fluorescent light
Natural Gravel $4
Wellaby Wood $6 for one large and two small pieces
Heater $10
Azoo Air Pump $9
Water conditioner, aquarium salt, Airstones, lead weighs, air hose, fish nets $5
AquaClear mini $25
A pack of tetraMin $3
A pack of tetraColor $5
A pack of JBL pellets $3
Plants $1
The whole DiY little PVC caves for my bottom fish $10
Water test kits $35
Fish (still working on that) $15-$20d
It all adds up to a grand total of $156

Should I add $30 for the electricity, $1 for live food every now and then, $12 for the hatchery i used to treat my bloated fish and $1 for the weekly zuccini and lettuce and of course, my $3 veggie clip?

Now ive spent like...~ $206

 

[fandsw]

First post, thought I'd contribute on my community tank project:

72gal AllGlass Bowfront/Class Lids/Black Pine Cabinet/All-Glass 2-55W CF Strip $550
Magnum 350 Pro $100
90lbs Flourite $130
3 Bags of Silver Creek Scenic rock (Lowe's) $15

Things that are on order and not here yet:
2 150W EboJager Heaters
2 pieces of driftwood
50+ plants from one of the plant websites

......and then maybe one day will come the fish (livebearer community tank)

Frank W.

 

[Christmasfish]

What Christmas fish have cost so far

Because I got my kids Bettas And they like them they went wild and got me tropicals for christmas.....
Originally very sick tetras in a (eeditops 1+gal or 2liter) tank. Daughter went to fish store with traded cash for corpses and bought Gourami.... so fish=gift

18 gallon custom made chrome and treated safety glass tank= No cost
-was built by grandpa when he bred show fish. I used it for reptiles for years.
biofiltration system with carbon cartridges=$16.99
Challenger II air pump= $14.99
Extra tubing= $5
100 watt sumbmersible Heater=$15
substrate gravels= $6
Aquarium approved Log=$15
Aquarium approved Rock= $7.99
Various starter plants= $6 (though Male gourami shredded all but the Java Ferns building nest..aarrrgh!)
61 cm of backgound scenery=$3
and taxes...about $100

All the bettas in mini aquariums were about $20 per tank set up completed (Filter/substrate/plants/ hooded mini tank)
All this excludes of course water treatment products and stress reducing methods (grains of safe salt/slime coat), water quality test kits, etc.

 

[Kwenbee]

Okay...now that I've gotten deep into this hobby (I just ordered new checks with tropical fish on them...can't find any with bees!), let me see what I've spent:

Game daughter played at carnival to win 2 goldfish - $2
1 gallon tank to house 2 goldfish - $9.97
Gravel for one gallon tank - $1.99
Plants for one gallon tank - $2.97
4 goldfish to replace the 1 carnival one that died - $1.04
1 algae eater - $1.97
10 gallon tank to house all these d**mned goldfish - $21.97
(tank was a complete set with hood, light and filter
Gravel for 20 gallon tank - $2.97
Plant for 20 gallon tank - $7.97
Four guppies, five neons to replace now dead goldfish - $20.00 and change
Bill the Betta who was housed in the 1 gallon tank - $3.97
Two albino catfish, one black molly and three black skirted tetras - purchased by dad while still battling ammonia and nitrites - $19.00
(by the way, it's a good thing we don't pay for water for all these fish we've had to flush in the past few months - burial costs would skyrocket the costs!)
Heater for 10 gallon tank - belatedly purchased - $14.97
Three danios, two guppies and five neon tetras - $18.94 - oops subtract $2.66 for the guppy that died within 8 hours that I returned to the store, so $16.28
5 gallon bowfront for Bill the Betta - $29.97
Heater for 5 gallon - $12.97
Gravel for new 5 gallon - $2.97
Stones for Bill's tank - $4.97
Plants and decorations for 5 gallon - $7.94
Test Kit - $19.99

At this point, two "free" goldfish have cost us $202.91...and that doesn't count the food, pH down (d**n fish store) and ICH medication or the stupid test strips they told me I needed at Walmart.

Now...WAIT til I get my 55 gallon!