Operating Costs

[jadefox]

Okay...I'll preface this by saying that I know there is no good answer and obvioulsy every system is different, but I'm interested in what people think.

What percentage of the intial start-up costs (minus livestock) will you spend per year for:

A: A FOWLR Set-Up

B: An Invert Set-Up

C: A Full-Blown Reef Set-Up

[ScruffyRubicon]

Sorry, just way to many variables for this. Maybe give some more info. Tank size would be a great start but much more info would be needed to fairly guesstimate your question.

[protege]

Not sure I exactly understand the question.....

[Harry_Y]

More than I care to admit

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon

Sorry, just way to many variables for this. Maybe give some more info. Tank size would be a great start but much more info would be needed to fairly guesstimate your question.

I'm not trying to figure the cost for any one particular set-up (that's what makes it so hard), I'm interested in trying to establish a range--a ballpark figure useful for the complete noob to quantify the costs of this hobby. We do it with all sorts of other expenses all the time during the budgeting process, right? Building, cars, etc.

For example, I have heard it often repeated that $10-$15 per gallon is a good starting point for estmating the intitial equipment cost of a FOWLR system, whereas a reef tank is more in the $20-$25 range.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by protege

Not sure I exactly understand the question.....

Think of it this way, when I move, I can calculate my cost of living expenses before I have bought a new house, new car, etc. When I build a house, I can calculate my expenses based on square foot before I even contract with an architect. When I buy a car, I can estimate how much that car will cost me per year without knowing how fuel prices or my driving habits might change. This is not an exact science.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by Harry_Y

More than I care to admit

lol

[protege]

Not sure that it is that easy. Depends a lot on the quality of equipment and what equipment you get.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by jadefox

Okay...I'll preface this by saying that I know there is no good answer and obvioulsy every system is different, but I'm interested in what people think.

What percentage of the intial start-up costs (minus livestock) will you spend per year for:

A: A FOWLR Set-Up

B: An Invert Set-Up

C: A Full-Blown Reef Set-Up

I FAILED TO MENTION THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR A PERCENT OF THE PER GALLON START-UP COST. In other words, if my reef tank cost $25 per gallon to set-up, how much does it costs me per month per gallon to operate the system, and what percent of 25 is that?

[Harry_Y]

I'm already past the $25.00 per gal on my new tank
and I haven't even put any livestock in yet.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Are you looking at electric costs? Supplements? Carbon? Phosban reactor? Calcium Reactor? Different equipment needs different things. Still gonna need some sort of equipment list.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by protege

Not sure that it is that easy. Depends a lot on the quality of equipment and what equipment you get.

Well sure it does (depends on the quality of equipment, that is), in the same way that the house you had thought you could build to code for $60,000 ended up costing you $100,000 because of upgrades and bells and whistles. Regardless, the truthiness is that you could have built it to code for closer to $60,000.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon

Are you looking at electric costs? Supplements? Carbon? Phosban reactor? Calcium Reactor? Different equipment needs different things. Still gonna need some sort of equipment list.

I'm looking for the operating costs of the basic set-up. For a FOWLR system, that's going to include a protein skimmer but probably not a calc reator. For a reef tank its going to probably include both.

HAsn't anyone budgeted their tank or kept track of their expenses? lol

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by jadefox

I'm looking for the operating costs of the basic set-up. For a FOWLR system, that's going to include a protein skimmer but probably not a calc reator. For a reef tank its going to probably include both.

HAsn't anyone budgeted their tank or kept track of their expenses? lol

I'm afraid to add it up. I might have to shut it down.

Since electric costs vary widely by area, that part of it would be difficult at best to figure. Here in St. Louis, Missouri, electric costs are drastically lower than those just across the river in Illinois.

Protein skimmer is going to just use electricity. A phosban reactor is going to go through media. Carbon use depends on your use. Calcium reactor will also vary widely in how much media you use based on your corals use.

Types of lighting based on your corals will also vary how much electricity will be used.

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by ScruffyRubicon

I'm afraid to add it up. I might have to shut it down.

I know how that feels....