How much have you spent on your tanks?

I got back into the hobby about 9 months ago and started a spreadsheet on purchases, tank maintenance, fish details, etc. I stopped entering purchases about 6 months ago when I hit $2000. I only add fish now, mainly to know when I bought them .

I have a 75g, 40 gallon breeder, 2 - 20 gallon long, 20 gallon tall, 2 - 10g, 5.5g and a Fluval Spec III (2.6g).

 

I'm not even gonna try to see how much my high tech tank cost. No way

 

I'm not even gonna try to see how much my high tech tank cost. No way

What does your signature say? Lol

 

What does your signature say? Lol

Hahaha hush . I am meaning like in the money world.

 

To much.. lol

 

In a span of one year I went through a 5 gallon to 15 g to 33g, then purchased a 1 gallon bowl, another 5 gallon (used), a 29 gallon (used) and 3 new 3.4 g.
Price of Tanks:
5 Gallon - $25 I later sold it for $14
15 Gallon - $34 sold it for $23
33 Gallon - $84
1g Bowl - $8.5
5g (used) - $19
29g (used) - $70
3.4g - $14 x 3 = $42

As for the equipment:
Light 1 = $70
Light 2 = $208
CO2 reg - $84
1kg branded CO2 cyl. - $84 (didn't know that it was almost the same price as a 5kg back then)
5kg CO2 cyl - $91 (best investment so far)
Filter - $70

For substrates, plants, ferts and fishes, I no longer remember how much I have spent.
Let's say around $360 since I usually spend around $30 when I go to the LFS (at least once a month).

So, I have spent more than $1,165.5 and got back $37 when I sold my old tanks. And that is all within a year.

 

Who else gets overly excited in the food section and buys one of everything? Which is particularly stupid of me bc it is summer and mosquito larvae are free.

 

don't think I want anyone to know .....

 

Let me try.

Initial blue Betta that started it all plus his bowl, his water conditioner and some food = $30.

After I kidnapped said blue Betta from son because he was not caring for him in October 2017:

OMG this is tough, cannot even think.

3 gallon tank from 29.00, gravel, all inclusive set up so 29.00.

Prime, other chemicals suggested by fish keepers on various forums: 50.00

3 new bettas: 1 from ebay 50 bux, 2 from Aquabid, probably another 50 bux.

Two new divided betta tanks; 80 bux each.

New gravel, decorations, floating logs, betta beds, 4 of each of course, probably 100.00.

Over the course of last year, new pumps for these Betta tanks, foam filters (too big at first so had to order small ones) one for each side, so 4, probably another 100.00.

40 gallon tank ; I forget but think I got it on sale dollar per gallon so say 40.
New hood for 40 gallon tank, 60 bux.

Purigen over the past year, probably 200 bux.

Chemipure a few times, 100 bux.

Python originally 50 foot, added 25 foot extension, plus 2 adapters: 95.00.

Heaters, 4 different kinds, 100.00.

Filters, cannot even count how many I have tried, at least 10: 200.00.

Huge air pump, tubing, etc., with 4 ports for my bettas, 50.00.

Plants: 100 or more, most dead except some Anubis and some other various odds and ends that lived.

Fish food: 50.00 because I order from Ken's fish, bought medicated too just in case.

Various antibiotics to have on hand, OMG, at least 100.00.

Fish: Besides the bettas, there are the snails, the tropical fish, the cory's, 150.00?

I am sure there is tons more but cannot think right now.

Looking to spend:
10 or 20 gallon pea puffer tank.
Gravel or sand.
Fake plants or real plants (but real plants hate me).
I have Flourish, Prime, and StressGuard in my cart currently on Amazon.
Pea Puffer tank will need heater.
Something to house pest snails for pea puffer, filter, etc.
The actual Pea Pufffers.
Pea Puffer tank might need filter depending on what size tank I get.
I am sure there are other things the Pea Puffers will need.

It never ends. I made myself a promise. If these fish die off, no more for me. Just cannot handle the manual labor part too much longer. I am killing myself.

Edited to add, forgot the 2 racks bought in past year for fish tanks: 100.00.
Edited again to add the Green Killing Machine: 70 bux.

 

Oh geez wait until the salties get in here. Ya'll think Freshwater is expensive... stella1979 Nart Lchi87

I don't even want to say how much I've spent. Breaks my heart.

 

Oh geez wait until the salties get in here. Ya'll think Freshwater is expensive... stella1979 Nart Lchi87

I don't even want to say how much I've spent. Breaks my heart.

I was following a build thread for a while and I could not believe how much he spent. OMG.

I want a saltwater tank but I cannot even begin to understand how they work, so nope, not gonna do it.

 

Over the years, thousands, easily. In the 90's I ran SW, both reef and FO. One set up alone for that ran 1500 without fish or coral.
This go around FW, is also a couple of thousand, but 2 of my setups are very nice "furniture".

 

Culprit man.... why'd you have to call me out like that haha.

I don't even know where to begin to list out my cost.
But I will say, with any hobby it's as expensive, difficult, and fancy as you want to make it.

 

Lol... Nart You didn't even have to admit to the Radion, Ecotech, or the Bounce... and I won't admit the cost of my light either! We're talking fish here.

It breaks my heart too Culprit , because too many didn't make it. Ballpark? North of $350 all in over the years, total for all fish, both Freshwater and SW. Could be worse.

 

Oh man. For just my 29 gallon:

Tank & stand - $173
Substrate - $48
Test kit - $30
Test strips (stupid purchase, never used) - $17
Ammonia - $7
Bacteria - $7.5
Heaters (4) - $85
Thermometers - $16
Gravel vacuum - $5
Timer strip - $27
Filter media - $30
Extra filter - $10
Ferts - $17.06
Plants - $81
Dragon stone - $103

Plus this doesn't include the plants, driftwood and other decorations I have bought. Or the 10 gallon or the 5 gallon I have

 

A lot.

 

Lol... Nart You didn't even have to admit to the Radion, Ecotech, or the Bounce... and I won't admit the cost of my light either! We're talking fish here.

It breaks my heart too Culprit , because too many didn't make it. Ballpark? North of $350 all in over the years, total for all fish, both Freshwater and SW. Could be worse.

Baha... I saw people started listing out parts. whoops. let me go re-update my original post.

 

Baha... I saw people started listing out parts. whoops. let me go re-update my original post.

Tanks,heaters,filters,,fish themselves,plants,,decor I want to know it all in total please

The first post said everything lol

 

At least when you get everything it's all over

Haha.... Oh OP... It's never over. Never. Cuz you see it's like eating Pringles. You can't eat just one even tho you might say you are gonna eat just one. Then you swear you'll only have a couple more, than after that just a couple more, than after that just a few more. Until before you know it the whole can is gone!
Silly Iverg1 it's never over.
My biggest tank(atm)(20gallon) from start to finish I have easily spent over $500. That's including all the big stuff: filters, heater, plants, substrate, decor, fish, and test kits. All the way down to the small stuff: food, media, conditioners, thermometer, gravel vac. I have also bought a few fungus meds. And purchased a few fish that isn't with us anymore from newbie mistakes.

 

Well, if we're going the full cost route... smh, I don't even know. 3 display tanks, one old but happy goldie and his tank, 2 quarantine tanks w/several medications, and all the equipment, substrate, hardscape (my goodness ValerieAdams , I know just how you feel about the cost of stone, except I like seriyu), fish, and corals that go with all the tanks. It's easily in the thousands.

 

Well, if we're going the full cost route... smh, I don't even know. 3 display tanks, one old but happy goldie and his tank, 2 quarantine tanks w/several medications, and all the equipment, substrate, hardscape (my goodness ValerieAdams , I know just how you feel about the cost of stone, except I like seriyu), fish, and corals that go with all the tanks. It's easily in the thousands.

Honestly, I went with dragon stone because it was the cheapest I could find at the moment. And I still spent a fortune on it! Lol oh well. I'd probably go a different route with my next freshwater tank. But next on the list is saltwater for sure

 

Honestly, I went with dragon stone because it was the cheapest I could find at the moment. And I still spent a fortune on it! Lol oh well. I'd probably go a different route with my next freshwater tank. But next on the list is saltwater for sure

At least dry rock is cheaper than dragon stone.

 

Been keeping fish since the '60's and would guess about 20k. I had one tank [Undersea Habitat, 240 gal] that cost $5500. Some saltwater fish were 2-300 dollars, it adds up. Probably a lot more than I estimated.

 

Well....my 75 gallon tank with cabinet alone was $500....filtration system $150, decorations and gravel $150, heater $80, wave maker $40, UV sterilizer $120, driftwood $30....then there’s fish, chemicals, etc......I’d say just under $2000.....and I have a koi pond outback...we won’t even go there!

 

I don't want to think about how much I've spent over the years. Luckily, being in college & grad school for over 10 years, followed by being on a tight budget as I repay all that education dead has made me an excellent bargain hunter in all aspects of life!

For example...
30g tank at thrift shop = $10
Razor blade = $3
Silicone = $4
Elbow grease = free
total = $17 for freshly re-sealed, fully waterproof 30 gallon aquarium

But are we talking spent on a single fish? No more than $20 (for a gorgeous Apisto). I don't trust my luck enough to risk going all in on the fishes themselves. :/

 

36 gallon (the tank was half off)
Tank-$120
Filter-$50ish
Heater-$60ish
Decorations-at least $50
Gravel-$40
Other stuff (air pump air stone etc.) $30
Glo Fish-$90 (could fit more fish)
Cleaning tools-$40 (just a siphon and buckets)

 

Not even going to start... Bad thing is.. I am considering a salty tank.. so yea the cost is going to go up up up!!!lol

 

Oh my...not even sure I should try...but in my defense, every tank/stand combo I have is used, salvaged off of online sales listings (FB Marketplace, Craigslist, etc) with the exception of the one that started it all that I received as a Christmas gift...so

$300 - 150 gallon miscellaneous cichlid tank with HOB and canister filter with 2-Flowerhorn, 6 Convicts, 1 Kribensis, 1 Firemouth, 1 YoYo loach

$400 - 90 gallon brackish tank with HOB and canister filter, 4-Violet Goby, 5 Dalmatian Molly, 3 Green spotted Puffer, 2 Mono Argentus, 2 mono Sebae

$175 - 55 gallon long misc community tank with HOB and Canister filter, 10 assorted tetras (Neon, Cardinal, Glo), 4 dwarf gourami, 6 danio, 3 kuhlI loach

$250 - 45 Gallon misc community tank with 7-tiger barb, 5-German Blue Rams, 3-Peacock Gudgeon, 1 dojo loach

$20 - 5 gallon with 1 veiltail and 5 ghost shrimp (this was the gift tank that started it all) The $20 bought the substrate, the betta and the shrimp.

$190 - 55 gal long Mbuna Cichlid tank with HOB and Canister filters and 24 assorted Mbuna cichlids (Kennyi, Auratus, Exaperatus, Acei, Estherae,

Obviously this does not count the food, chemicals, nets, etc...sigh...I have obviously lost my **** mind.

Deana

 

I got back into the hobby about 9 months ago and started a spreadsheet on purchases, tank maintenance, fish details, etc. I stopped entering purchases about 6 months ago when I hit $2000. I only add fish now, mainly to know when I bought them .

I have a 75g, 40 gallon breeder, 2 - 20 gallon long, 20 gallon tall, 2 - 10g, 5.5g and a Fluval Spec III (2.6g).

Same here.. there's a point you get to where it's like "I rather not know anymore"

But these are startup costs. Now I spend about $10-20 per month on food, trying something new out , or other supplies. It's a lot cheaper than having a dog, and a lot less than hitting the bar every week for happy hour.


If I were to do it all over again I would have saved a lot of money not buying three different sized aquaclears, two different circulation pumps , etcetc. Also now I am a big fan of simplicity. Tempted to put corner mattenfilters on any new tank and not bother with fancy filtration setups.

 

Same here.. there's a point you get to where it's like "I rather not know anymore"

But these are startup costs. Now I spend about $10-20 per month on food, trying something new out , or other supplies. It's a lot cheaper than having a dog, and a lot less than hitting the bar every week for happy hour.


If I were to do it all over again I would have saved a lot of money not buying three different sized aquaclears, two different circulation pumps , etcetc. Also now I am a big fan of simplicity. Tempted to put corner mattenfilters on any new tank and not bother with fancy filtration setups.

I usually set up spreadsheets for stuff because I'm getting old and forget stuff

I was curious how much I was spending at the beginning but not so much for the on-going stuff. I spent a lot on food but I have a stash so I don't really buy anymore unless it's on sale or frozen foods. I was reorganizing my food stash and thought it would be fun to take a pic of almost everything I had. I probably don't NEED to buy any more food for at least a couple of years.




My dog was pretty expensive when I first got him but he's way cheaper than my fish hobby now.

Since my tanks are mostly setup, I've been breeding for fun so I bought a few small tanks and use sponge filters in them with preset heaters when I can so a full setup is usually less than $40 for a 10g. I did buy a couple of new air pumps to run more sponge filters and air stones.

 

I figured it would be interesting to know.

 

In how long of a timeframe?

 

I don't know what my dad and I invested back in the day, must have been more than 4000 DM, so today about 8000€, so scratching 9000$.

Since I got back into the hobby last year:
By now about 500€, which is right now amost exactly equal to 555$.

 

Oh dear that was quite eye opening. I went ‘tank to tank’ and added up - and not including fish (or water bills!) the number made my eyes water

 

Oh dear that was quite eye opening. I went ‘tank to tank’ and added up - and not including fish (or water bills!) the number made my eyes water

You know what's the real bummer? At least here it got so much cheaper over the last 20 years to keep fish. Even on a budget. Can only be improved with diy or second hand. And even then you don't save a lot of money.

 

MissNoodle Complete total from the very beginning up until now

 

My other hobbies involve things like scuba diving and guitars, so fish keeping is actually cheap, relatively speaking.

 

£3200 in over a year and a half

I'm actually shocked, but I could count on 1 hand how many times I went to the pub last year

 

About $300 just to set up my new 20 gallon from scratch. It adds up quick

 

Impossible to add up what I have spent over the past many many number of years and I really don't want to know how much I've spent over the past 4. I always have money left over at the end of the month so guess I'm not spending too much.