AquariumCalcs: Fin & Figures — for the fish aficionado
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Tank Setup Cost Planner

Rough budget range for a new aquarium setup based on size and type.

Your setup
What you're buying

Reef setups cost more for a real reason

Reef tanks need stronger lighting, flow, and often protein skimming to keep corals and inverts alive -- equipment freshwater tanks simply don't need, which is most of the cost gap.

How this calculator works

This gives a rough per-gallon cost range for the core equipment of a new setup: tank and stand, filtration, heater, lighting, substrate, and basic decor. It does not include livestock, ongoing consumables (food, test kits, water conditioner), or specialty equipment like a protein skimmer upgrade or CO2 system -- those vary too much by specific choices to estimate generically.

Where these numbers come from

Rough per-gallon cost ranges reflect typical new-equipment pricing patterns in the aquarium hobby as of this writing. Prices vary significantly by brand, retailer, and region, and used equipment can cost dramatically less -- treat this as a planning starting point, not a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does this estimate include the fish themselves?

No -- this covers equipment only (tank, filter, heater, lighting, substrate, basic decor). Livestock cost varies too widely by species and quantity to estimate generically.

Why is a reef setup so much more expensive per gallon than freshwater?

Reef tanks generally need stronger (and pricier) lighting to support coral photosynthesis, more powerful flow, and often protein skimming -- equipment a basic freshwater setup doesn't require.

Can I spend less than this estimate?

Often yes, especially buying used equipment or starting with a smaller, simpler setup -- this is a rough planning range for new equipment, not a floor.

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