How much have you spent on your tanks?

I'm in the "<$1000" category, but I only have small tanks (20g is my largest) that I haven't finished stocking or decorating yet and I've only had them for several months. That said, it has definitely been way more expensive than I had anticipated.

 

Here’s my formula for calculating actual fish spend. . .

The spend I talk to my wife about X 4.

 

I run a small "fish wall" style fish room but I diy everything. I'm still under $1000, but the surprisingly high cost in there is the meds I have used. Specifically on the networked 60 gallon section. I introduced a light (%50ish) stock from a fish store into those and used them as a QT before adding my own other fish. The meds to clear the various ailements in those new fish across 60 gallons of water was about $100, for $100 worth of fish lol.

I get most of my glass used, and built the rack.
$80 lumber
$20 paint
$20 screws and various hardware
$100 all the tanks 10 and larger used or dollar per gallon.
$50 Bought several betta tanks etc from Goodwill over there last few years at 5-10 each.
$150 pumps, heaters, filter foam, siphons etc online purchases.
$80 PVC, tubing, and elbows (still have a ton...)
$40 3d background supplies and paints (still have a ton)
~$100 fish food over 2 year period (it increases each month lol)
$150 meds including on hand stock
$100 in community fish
$100 various bettas (not often pictured)

Edited: sand.. I forgot about sand. About $60 in sand puts me just over $1000. It's listed in my garage/yard expenses.

~$1000 and climbing, though I haven't used most of allot of the raw materials yet. The second 29 and another 10 for the rack are out in my trailer waiting for better weather so I can get back to the 3d background work.

I won't account for the $20 per month in bark and (other) food for the snake, he started my hobby and lives in a (half)fish tank, but keeping him is a different accounting string in the house budget, my wife accounts for him as a "real pet", like the dogs, but the fish all get lumped together.

Here's the wall (work in progress but all the parts and missing tanks are in my garage or trailer paid and accounted for), then there are ~ half a dozen tanks in other areas of the house for betta, or guppy fry grow out.



Once I get the other tanks in and the row of betta and grow out tanks sitting on top of it, you could say this is probably the most "fish wall" you could build, stock, and if required medicate, around $1000.

 

Here’s my formula for calculating actual fish spend. . .

The spend I talk to my wife about X 4.

Hubby doesn't ask....so I don't tell

 

£3200 in over a year and a half

Yes I know how you feel ..is this discussion for freshwater also?

 

Yes I know how you feel ..is this discussion for freshwater also?

For me it's spread over the cost of about 12 freshwater tanks (not all running) and their equipment, scape, plants. I actually forgot food.

 

That's the kind of question I never ask myself cause I don't want to know.

 

That's the kind of question I never ask myself cause I don't want to know.

I never keep actual count but just keep receipts but I do have an hubby in the background totalling up the cost good job he doesn't have access to my amazon account

Well here goes i've just asked him off the top of his head and he said since starting and the tanks alone plus heaters and decor over £1,200 - $1,584 and that's without the fish and extra's for the tanks for cleaning besides fluids ...he's just said I don't think you realise how much you do spend..well that told me

 

I never keep actual count but just keep receipts but I do have an hubby in the background totalling up the cost good job he doesn't have access to my amazon account

Amazon is a killer lol. And it’s so easyy

 

Amazon is a killer lol. And it’s so easyy

Yes I drop on some bargains though sometimes, like two things they would charge for one item I always keep a watchful eye

 

In the last 20 years I could of bought a nice car by now.

 

Amazon is a killer lol. And it’s so easyy

I'm so glad I neither have online banking nor do I buy stuff online. ever.

 

In the last 20 years I could of bought a nice car by now.

To late now thinking about a new car

MacZ I only have one with amazon as I love my books but if I see something I like I get it, as I hate shopping out in general, unless it's for the garden, home or my fish

 

Book prizes are controlled here. You don't save money on amazon. Also, I have a member card for university library. I'm more the kind of customer that goes into a store and looks at the stuff they want to buy. Especially with tank stuff this applies.

 

Book prizes are controlled here. You don't save money on amazon. Also, I have a member card for university library. I'm more the kind of customer that goes into a store and looks at the stuff they want to buy. Especially with tank stuff this applies.

Well the books aren't controlled here they can run expensive and being an heavy reader i've done loads of books from libraries and shops but on amazon I came across other books i'd not read such an highlander books and at 99p I can't moan and it's maninly my fishing liquids as I see them on offer better but otherwise my fish stuff comes from aquarium shops

 

As I said, public/UnI library is my jam. But that's not the topic.

 

That said, it has definitely been way more expensive than I had anticipated.

Wait until you get into high-tech planted tanks... All I can say isead: I've already burnt a truckload of money (I quit counting several months ago), and I'm not even halfway to what my final plan is That said, every time I get to my final plan, there's always another thing

In the last 20 years I could of bought a nice car by now.

Priorities

 

About a month and a half in the game and I would estimate I'm into this new hobby for a cool $250.

 

vicvega Beware... That was basically what I started with and now my planted tank is a black hole for money

 

I just realized, I switched the money sink called smoking for tank supplies... Tank supplies are the healthier alternative.

 

vicvega Beware... That was basically what I started with and now my planted tank is a black hole for money

lol. I heard somewhere fish keeping is expensive to get your foot in the door but upkeep is pretty cheap and eventually you only need to buy food and/or new fish.

 

I just realized, I switched the money sink called smoking for tank supplies... Tank supplies are the healthier alternative.

I justified my quoting smoking 5 months ago to buying my 210gallon tank. I’d be better off if I had stuck with with the ciggies hahaha

now, if I didn’t drink - I’d own an internationally renowned aquarium where I could charge an entry fee.

 

lol. I heard somewhere fish keeping is expensive to get your foot in the door but upkeep is pretty cheap and eventually you only need to buy food and/or new fish.

Agree, I paid most of what I spent by now within the first two months. Since then rarely exceeding 20,- a month including food, water, electricity.

I justified my quoting smoking 5 months ago to buying my 210gallon tank. I’d be better off if I had stuck with with the ciggies hahaha

now, if I didn’t drink - I’d own an internationally renowned aquarium where I could charge an entry fee.

I'm dry for 12 years now, I just quit smoking two weeks ago (and the way it looks by now I think I quit it for good). I saved over 40,- bucks on tobacco alone and don't even know what tank stuff to invest it in.

 

I really don't worry about cost. I figure if I really want it, I'm going to get it. Over the last 5 yrs, I have spent between $2000 and $3000. That's RODI unit, food, 55g, 2-10g's, Fish, décor, and everything else I have forgotten. It might be more, but not less. I try to get new tanks at a reasonable price. I worry about tanks failing. I love the hobby. My fish love me. I know this because when I sit in my chair that I permanently place in front of my aquarium. So anyone can sit and be at ease. The fish always are happy to see me. They swim close to where I am and beg for food.

 

I am 15 months without a cigarette and this little nifty app tells me I have saved $3,520.14 in that time frame. I need to spend my money on something.

 

I just realized, I switched the money sink called smoking for tank supplies... Tank supplies are the healthier alternative.

That's a good way to look at it. If you think fish are expensive, try treating lung cancer.

 

We have obligatory insurance. We don't pay ourselves. But I don't even want to get to that point to have it treated.

 

More than I should have, not as much as I'd like.

 

I know I'm over the 1000 easily, so I just hope I never went over 2000. Haha I think I'm better off not knowing to be honest. I'm just talking about since I bought this 26 gallon tank with all new stuff for it and my 3 gallon. If I included my whole life it's over 5000.

 

About a month and a half in the game and I would estimate I'm into this new hobby for a cool $250.

I'm sorry to say this is, it's just the BEGINNING

 

I have no idea off the top of my head. But way less than I spend on my horses lol!

 

I'm wondering if over my time in the hobby I have spent more than 5K in food for the fish.
IIRC the king of DIY said he spends 500$ per month (or was it week?). He can break 5K by Thanksgiving.
Then I consider the people who have said they have 4-600 tanks

 

I'm wondering if over my time in the hobby I have spent more than 5K in food for the fish.
IIRC the king of DIY said he spends 500$ per month (or was it week?). He can break 5K by Thanksgiving.
Then I consider the people who have said they have 4-600 tanks

He's also.pulling in a couple hundred grand a year and gets to write off all his products and even the building he has them in, What a world youtube is..

 

I’m betting an easy thousand in just the last year. That’s just mostly aquascaping materials and lighting. The hobby was so much cheaper when I stuck to fake plants and gravel

 

I just realized, I switched the money sink called smoking for tank supplies... Tank supplies are the healthier alternative.

Better for your health atleast.

 

Pffft I bought a new motorcycle to celebrate quiting smoking. It lasted a month. Not the bike I still have that.

 

Multiple thousands of dollars I try not to look at the big picture lol. Large tanks=big money

 

I’m betting an easy thousand in just the last year. That’s just mostly aquascaping materials and lighting. The hobby was so much cheaper when I stuck to fake plants and gravel 23]

Wisteria is cheaper than plastic. Buy one and soon every tank in your house will be full of it.

 

Wisteria is cheaper than plastic. Buy one and soon every tank in your house will be full of it.

Unless it is in my tank. lol

 

I don't wanna think about it