Can anyone give me an estimate on a 75 gal reef tank?

the sky is the limit.. just like mattheuw1 said, my standards have changed SO much in the last year. Alot of it depends on how far you really want to take it, but the hobby is VERY addicting, and im never quite satisfied. If your looking to save a very large chunk of money just keep browsing craigslist untill a good deal comes up on a nice, used set-up. make sure what your buying isnt junk, make sure it all works, look up some of the equipment etc. You can save ALOT of money by going that route. good luck..

 

My $3055 quote is incomplete. I forgot my water movers. The Vortech MP40W is $400, and the 3 Koralias total about 150. Make that about $3600.

 

Pics from marlinman

Here is some pics of my old 65g to give you an idea. The first 3 are the tank in all it's glory. The last two showed a little of the bottom stand I built and you can see the 1/4" overlap all around. That's my old 120g that I was setting up to go where the 65g is.

 

just spent a couple minutes over at marinedepot.com pricing out a few things i need for my 75gal build thats already begun... im at $1980+Shipping haha ouch i need to find a better paying job

 

Haha, yeah, not the hobby to get into if you are not ready to spend money.

 

ReefSparky is right about everything except the lights. Hello lights has a 48" retrofit kit with 2 halide reflectors and bulbs and 2 t5 reflectors and bulbs for 500...so 1000 is a little high

 

I wouldn't but anything until I have $5000 sitting around. My 24 gallon cost $2000 by the end of year one.

 

Just take your time and take advantage of deals when you see them. This hobby isn't for impulse buyers without the extra cash laying around. It's taken me a couple months to get everything for my 75g, and I'm still not done. But I really haven't spent too much so far.

75g tank--found for free, $30 to have drilled
20g tank for fuge--found for free
10g tank for sump--$12
return pump on ebay--$45
(2) 24" 250w mh fixteures--$180 each
portein skimmer--$160
materials for stand and canopy--$80
plumbing materials--$50
powerheads--$90

Total so far--less than $850
Still haven't bought the sand, rock, or water and still no stock. But I don't think I've spent too much and it's close to being up and running. I'm sure you can easily spend $3000-$5000 and up, but there are definitly deals out there if you take your time and look around. I've been buying something else every paycheck. I think when it's all said and done I'll have less than $1500 invested in my 75.

 

i'll take this opportunity to make my tally (hope the wife doesn't see this)

ORIGINAL EQUIPLMENT
aga 75 gal tank + stand - $400
20 gal sump - $30
blueline pump - $200
asm skimmer - $200
overflow box - $150
LR - $400
sand - $60
bucket o salt - $40
hydrometer - $40
buckets - $15
heaters - $180
aqualifter - $10
testing stuff - $150
drilling - $25
pvc stuff - $150 (valves, bends, pipe, glue, cutter, bulkheads)
SUBTOTAL - $2050
This amount built a nice algae farm, so then...

20 gal fuge - $30
koralia - $60
pump for fuge - $100
rodi - $150
homemade rodi tank - $150
refill pump - $75
b-ionic 2part - $40
good lights - $400 (used from ebay)
fuge light - $200 (t5 in case it becomes a real tank someday)
fuge stand - $50
pvc stuff - $150 (valves, bends, pipe, glue, cutter, bulkheads)
phosban reactor - $30
phosban PH - $30
phosban - $30
carbon - $30
PH for mixing - $25

That totals $3450. (whew - i thought i had hit the 5 grand mark)
That's without fish & coral. I would ballpark stocking a 75gal at 300-500 bucks over the first few months.
Salt, additives, food you have to keep buying.

i don't know how anyone gets into this hobby! probably like me, most people start small (at first i got the 75, stand, and cheapo light for 400) then end up having to get more stuff to make their tank look as good as they want it too!

The biggest single expense is lights. CurrentUSA sells their refurbs on ebay, and that's how i got my deal there. Used/salvaged tank could save a bunch too.

Good luck!