Setting up a Nano-Reef Part 1: The Cost of Setting up a Nano-Reef

Cost of Supplies for a 10-gallon Nano-Reef
10-gallon glass aquarium $12
Hood $10
Light bulbs for hood $24 minimum (2 @ $12 each. I paid more like $32 for mine)
Filter $15
Power head $15
Heater $15
Sand $10
Live rock $50 (10# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
Salt $10-12 (for a box that treats 25 gallons)
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket (Dedicated to AQUARIUM USE ONLY)$5
Thermometer $2
Hydrometer $10
Test kit (For pH, nitrite, and nitrate)$10
Ammonia test kit $10
Protein skimmer (BioCube skimmer)$30
A protein skimmer is not absolutely needed but it is useful.
Total (without skimmer): $203
Total (with skimmer): $233

Cost of a BioCube 8 Setup
BioCube8 $138
Heater $15
Sand $10
Live rock $40 (8# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
Salt $10-12 for a box that treats 25 gallons
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket (Dedicated to AQUARIUM USE ONLY)$5
Thermometer $2
Hydrometer $10
Test kit (For pH, nitrite, and nitrate)$10
Ammonia test kit $10
Protein skimmer (Optional) $30

Total (without skimmer): $255
Total (with skimmer): $285
Note about BioCube 8: It appears that Oceanic may have stopped making the 8 gallon BioCube. However, they still make the 14 gallon and the 29 gallon (not covered in this blog post).


Cost of a BioCube 14 Setup
BioCube 14 $169
Heater $15
Sand $10
Live rock $70 (14# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
Salt $10-12 for a box that treats 25 gallons
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket (Dedicated to AQUARIUM USE ONLY)$5
Thermometer $2
Hydrometer $10
Test kit (For pH, nitrite, and nitrate)$10
Ammonia test kit $10
Protein skimmer (optional) $30

Total (without skimmer): $316
Total (with skimmer): $346

All three of these systems will let you grow any soft coral and most LPS corals (large polyp stony) but NOT SPS. If you are NOT interested in growing any stony corals (LPS or SPS) than you can go with a Nano Cube 6-gallon which is slightly cheaper than the other all in one systems (not cheaper than the 10-gallon though). Price of setting one up is below…

Cost of a Nano Cube 6 Setup
Nano Cube 6 $120
Heater $15
Sand $10
Live rock $30 (6# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
Salt $10-12
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket (Dedicated to AQUARIUM USE ONLY)$5
Thermometer $2
Hydrometer $10
Test kit (For pH, nitrite, and nitrate)$10
Ammonia test kit $10
Protein skimmer (optional) $30

Total (without skimmer): $227
Total (with skimmer): $257

If you are willing to go all out and spend a lot of money, and are a beginner, the tanks listed below would be a better choice for a beginner reef (because they contain everything you need). All of these can support soft coral, LPS, and SPS as well as some clams.

Cost of a RedSea Max 130D (34 gallon system)
RedSea Max 130D: $850
Live Rock $190 (34# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket $5
(Dedicated to AQUARIUM USE ONLY)

Total cost (with skimmer because it comes with system): $1,050

Cost of a RedSea Max 250 (65 gallon system)
RedSea Max 250 $1,650
Live Rock $325 (65# at $5 a pound. May be more or less)
De-chlorinator $5
5-gallon bucket $5

Total cost (with skimmer because it comes with system): $1,985

Keep in mind, these are the MINIMUM costs associated with having a reef tank. The cost of keeping the tank up won’t be as high as setting it up but is still expensive.