Is anyone else keeping track? -- I have spent over $2k !!!

[dapellegrini]

Well, at about 8 weeks in now, tallying up the receipts, I figure I have spent just around $2k on everything. The good news is, I was expecting to spend this much or more and I am very happy with the end result. I also think I have everything I need, except continually more plants, fish, shrimp, snails, etc.... But even there, I think I need to start another tank to house my overflow stock.

Anyways, looking at a hi-tech reef, I am figuring I will drop around $5k, so this is really pretty good return on investment and arguably just as fun to watch.

I can't figure out how to post this up in a readable format inline, so here is a link:

http://www.publiclogic.com/fish/Fish_Expenses.html

And if you want to see it in Excel: http://www.publiclogic.com/fish/Fish_Expenses.xls

I highlighted the things that I shouldn't have bought in red, and totaled them out. Again, I think ~12% margin of error is not bad all things considered.

Anyone else keeping track?

 

[blazeyreef]

oh wow! I need to do that! I can just look at all my deposit slips because my pets are the only thing I spend money on when I get a pay-check! (at 14..their isnt much else hehe )

 

[Glenc]

You did it quicker than I did, but I have hit into that ballpark as well. It's really the only money I spend on myself.

 

[blazeyreef]

ok...I just did everything from memmory (from the best I could remember)...and so far I have spent $386.18 on my new SW fowlr..... (tank included)...ouch......

 

[dapellegrini]

That's pretty cheap. I am guessing you picked everything up used... ?

I really decided I would go all out, or junk the tank, thus the expense. Also for a Reef tank, I plan on going all out. MH alone will probably be $800+... Let alone the tank, stand and canopy, plumbing, CO2, calcium reactor, sump/fuge, skimmers, etc.

One expense I did not have in the FW setup was the tank and stand, which probably saved me $500 or more.

 

[blazeyreef]

That's pretty cheap. I am guessing you picked everything up used... ?

I really decided I would go all out, or junk the tank, thus the expense. Also for a Reef tank, I plan on going all out. MH alone will probably be $800+... Let alone the tank, stand and canopy, plumbing, CO2, calcium reactor, sump/fuge, skimmers, etc.

One expense I did not have in the FW setup was the tank and stand, which probably saved me $500 or more.

no but I havnt gotten much,...(even though its cycled) I just have listed.....
tank
salt
hydromiter
LR (22 pounds so far...need more though)
agralive (got $10 off AND 25% dicount..so that helped a lot)
dechlorinizer
new light
fish (only have 2)
so ya...I have been very good with how I have used my money...

 

[Gplayerz]

damm you have it all detailed. Thats alot of money, but it doesnt seem that way unless you itemize everything at least thats how i feel. I just try not to think about it.

 

[mr funktastic]

lol i have 1600 big als points. u get 1 point for every dollar u spend before taxes lol. and thats only the one store. not including any other store i have bought something from. i have 350 online big als points aswell. i am afraid to tally it up lol.

 

[dapellegrini]

It is a lot of money, but in perspective, I don't think it is that bad at all. If it's what you enjoy doing (aka a hobby) then $2k is no big deal... I can spend more than that on computer hardware in one purchase! The only things I don't have complete tabs on here are my local expenses (impulse buys at LFS, etc), but I think I was guessing safely around $300.

Now I will be surprised if I can spend another $2k over the next few years on the same tank...

I am planning an eventual rescape and replacement of substrate which will probably run me over $200, but even with an order of plants...

I suspect that we all spend A LOT more than we would like to believe on our tanks. LOL

 

[maxwell1295]

I don't keep track, becasue I really don't want to know. I've gotten some really good deals(46g bowfront w/stand for $100), but I have also made some mistakes (upgraded my lighting twice, upgraded tank size, MTS, switch from DIY CO2 to pressurized, etc.) and those things costed me more money than if I had done it right from the start...

 

[Esra]

i got my tank (48x24x24), cabinet (pine - unstained) 2x 1500L canister filters, fry cage, gravel, heater, ornaments and rocks, some plants and chemicals for $400 AUD.

Not a bad price at all.

After another $150 AUD for fish and I'm all set now.

 

[dapellegrini]

I guess all things are relative... Size and number to tanks, as well as light-levels probably play the biggest role in what you actually end up spending...

My $2k was on 1 tank, a 72g with high to very-high light and lots of exotic critters...

Perhaps I am a little too analytically minded, but I would love to see others breakdowns!

 

[trotty]

i would probably run into about 10-12k, after all the tanks and impulse buys that have gone through my hands.
The 240 gal FW cost me about 2 1/2k before fish and decorations. no co2 yet.
its now full of discus and plants so add another 1k
my 55gal SW has cost me over a grand without fish.... i had 12-13 tanks at one stage!
i better stop, i'm gonna cry.
I do it, because i love it. thats what counts.

 

[dapellegrini]

i would probably run into about 10-12k, after all the tanks and impulse buys that have gone through my hands.
The 240 gal FW cost me about 2 1/2k before fish and decorations. no co2 yet.
its now full of discus and plants so add another 1k
my 55gal SW has cost me over a grand without fish.... i had 12-13 tanks at one stage!
i better stop, i'm gonna cry.
I do it, because i love it. thats what counts.

That's more like it! A friend at work tells me he has spent well over $15k on his 300g Reef tank in the year since he has had it. Of course that included a custom made tank, etc... A little rich for my pocket book... but hey, it is a good reference point if you are planning on doing a 300g Reef tank.

In that vein, I would say that you could safely bet on $2k-$2.5k outlay on a complete, high-tech FW planted tank with all the bells and whistles, in the range of 75g or so. If you are a budget shopper, buy used equipment, etc, this more accurately represents the upper spending threshold.