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What an aquarium costs to set up, by tank size
Full parts lists for popular freshwater and reef setups, each in Budget, Mid-range and Premium tiers. Totals are before tax, shipping and livestock, using store prices we checked by hand (Oct 19, 2026, Oct 24, 2026).
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| Setup | Budget | Mid-range | Premium | Mid-range /mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20-gallon long freshwater | $649 | $658 | $803 | $9.55 |
| 55-gallon freshwater | $985 | $1,008 | $1,147 | $11.35 |
| 55-gallon reef | $2,596 | $2,869 | $3,842 | $36.22 |
| 75-gallon freshwater | $1,157 | $1,157 | $1,319 | $15.61 |
| 75-gallon reef | $2,892 | $3,264 | $4,313 | $47.11 |
Each total is the sum of our estimated budgets: the median price across 2+ stores for an item that meets the requirement. Monthly figures are what the Mid-range list costs to run at 17¢ per kWh, before food.
Make it yours
The setup-cost planner has the same lists with every price editable, plus tax, shipping and a budget check. For what a tank costs once it's running, see costs per month by tank size.