My reef costs $949.00 a year to run

[Paul B]

I figured out all of my 100 gallon reef tank costs, including electricity but not including any livestock because I can buy or not buy whatever I want and I do give away a lot of livestock when it gets too big.

Here is my costs, I know most people spend way more but that is their chioce.
These costs are yearly

ASW $120.00 I didn't figure in the NSW that I sometimes use
live blackworms $104 I feed live worms every day
Brine shrimp eggs $40.00 I hatch shrimp every day
Mysis $60.00
clams $25.00
fish oil $5.00
Ice melter for calcium $5.00
baking soda $5.00
Epsom salt $5.00
electricity $580.00

Total $949.00 for the year. Or $2.69 a day. Not to bad.

I figured my electricity costs 15 cents per KW/hr (I think)
So I figured my lights, and heater are on for 12 hours so I figured half of their power for the entire day. The 5 pumps that I use are on all day.
Total electricity costs me $580.00. My electric is actually cheaper because I have solar panels but I didn't figure that in.

My boat in comparism costs me over $10,000.00 with me doing all of the maintenance and if I don't need any parts, that includes gas,marina fees, insurance etc. So I figure this hobby is ten times cheaper.

I did forget resins so that is about another $60.00 a year

 

[cmantis]

Curious what kind of boat do you have?

 

[Paul B]

27' Sea Ray why?

The smaller one here

 

[cmantis]

Because I am jealous!

 

[dherrera83]

Hey ima need to borrow the small one sometime... lol

 

[Paul B]

Because I am jealous!

Good, I must be doing something right.

Hey ima need to borrow the small one sometime... lol

Good, because my closest friend owns the bigger one.

 

[guarda]

a thousand bucks for a 100 gallon, not bad. what's the cost to joy ratio?

 

[44santababy]

Now that my tank is stable, stocked, and in harmony i think i could run my 120gal reef tank for less than $1000 a year easily. I started in Oct. so i'll keep track starting this Oct. The initial setup, stocking, and finding balance is what cost me thousands. Now that the tank reached its happy place maintenance and costs have decreased drastically.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Wow that's cheap Paul!!! I need to go Green
My office tanks cost $450 just in electric a month!!!!!
I spend $100 just on salt a month........
Lipa thinks I was growing illegal stuff when I had all MH bulbs on 6 tanks!!!!

 

[shmibly]

"what's the cost to joy ratio?"
I lol'd

 

[Paul B]

I spend $100 just on salt a month........

I don't change much water and LEDs don't use much electric. I also taught my fish to cook so I save alot on meals.

 

[jrobbins]

wow, that really is low for electricity! what pumps are you using? heaters? also, in manhattan we are (or i am) closer to 19 or 20 cents per kWh.

 

[guarda]

My fish are lazy. Restaurant week is killing me.

 

[Paul B]

in manhattan we are (or i am) closer to 19 or 20 cents per kWh.

I am in Long Island and I guessed on the price of electric, I am to lazy to get an old electric bill to look it up so if it is 20 cents a KW/HR I will have to add $100.00 per year for electric.
I don't remember what pumps I am using, they are all over 20 years old, especially the older steam driven models. :shhh:

 

[Awibrandy]

I don't want to think about it!!:fishhit:

 

[Macropora]

Wow that's cheap Paul!!! I need to go Green
My office tanks cost $450 just in electric a month!!!!!
I spend $100 just on salt a month........
Lipa thinks I was growing illegal stuff when I had all MH bulbs on 6 tanks!!!!

You would be growing green if you were growing those "potted" plants, lol...

I'm about 1/2 where you are on electricity and salt each month.

 

[Macropora]

I don't change much water and LEDs don't use much electric. I also taught my fish to cook so I save alot on meals.

Great, they can make their own sushi and sashimi, lol...

 

[Paul B]

You would be growing green if you were growing those "potted" plants, lol...

I am very green due to my roof full of solar panels.

 

[Gabe]

I save by getting my cleaning crew from the long island sound. Hey Paul I still want to see those baby octopuses..

 

[Macropora]

I am very green due to my roof full of solar panels.

WOW!!! Very green indeed! How long have you had the solar panels and have they paid back from the initial setup?