Aquarium setup-cost planner
What it costs to set up a tank, and what that same setup costs to run each month. Pick a tank and a tier, then edit any price.
More sizes (75-gallon freshwater and reef) are coming soon.
Disclosure: Links to AquaticMotiv are affiliate links, marked "Affiliate link". If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Every other store link is a plain link that earns us nothing. Commissions never affect which products we pick, how stores are ordered or our estimates. Details.
Leave both blank to skip. Tax is applied to the items only, not to shipping. Use the rate where you live; we don't preset one.
Excludes livestock, coral, shipping and tax unless you add them above. Estimated budgets are our typical price for an item that meets the requirement: the median of the store listings we checked. Retailer listings (under Compare) are actual store prices with the date we checked them.
Your list
Edit any estimated budget| Item | What it needs to be | Pick | Estimated budget | W | Listings |
|---|
Monthly cost to run this setup
. . Food isn't included.
Not included
- Fish, coral, plants and cleanup crew
- Food, décor and light mounts
- Shipping and sales tax
- Electrical work, a GFCI outlet or a surge strip
Buying used? Used tanks, stands and lights can save a lot. Check tanks for leaks and scratches and stands for water damage, and test pumps and heaters before you rely on them. We don't price used gear.
Before you add fish
- Cycle the tank first. It usually takes several weeks.
- Test ammonia and nitrite until both read zero and nitrate starts to rise.
- Add livestock slowly. This planner gives no stocking advice.
How we size each item, and where prices come from
How we choose: performance, reliability, value and fit for the tank, without regard to brand. Budget is the cheapest reliable option that meets the requirement. Mid-range is the best balance. Premium must add a real gain, or it reuses the Mid-range pick and says so. Credible reports of serious problems can rule an item out. Required items (safety and the basics a tank needs to run) can't be removed.