What a realistic beginner reef budget looks like
Most successful beginner reef tanks land between $1,200 and $3,500 all-in, depending on tank size and whether you buy new or used gear.
Budget buckets to plan
- Tank, stand, and sump
- Lighting and flow
- RO/DI and salt mix
- Rock, sand, and test kits
- First livestock and quarantine setup
Calculator-first planning workflow
Before you buy gear, calculate true system size with the Tank Volume Calculator. Then estimate recurring costs with the Water Change Calculator and Salt Mix Calculator.
CTA: build your budget in-app
After running the tools, open /app/calc-tank-volume and /app/article in the ReefBay app to save your plan, track spend, and compare actual costs over time.
