Aquarium Costs | Saltwater Aquarium | Marine Aquarium | Freshwater Aquarium | Electricity Costs | Pr
Aquarium Costs - Total Costs for Freshwater and Saltwater/Marine Aquariums, Including Electricity Costs
- 1.One-time costs of an aquarium: The initial setup
- 1.1Purchasing Costs for the Aquarium Tank
- 1.2Cost of the stand
- 1.3Costs for Pump & Filter
- 1.4Cost of Lighting
- 1.5Plant Prices at a Glance
- 1.6Cost of the Substrate
- 1.7Costs for Decorations
- 1.8Costs for the inhabitants: Prices for fish & other aquatic animals
- 2.Monthly & Annual Running Costs
- 2.1Electricity Costs for an Aquarium
- 2.2Water Costs for an Aquarium
- 2.3Costs for Aquarium Supplies
- 2.4Cost of fish food
- 3.Professional Aquarium: Cost Overview
- 4.Price Comparison: Saltwater Aquarium vs. Freshwater Aquarium
- 5.Energy-Efficient Aquarium – Complete Package from the Experts
- 6.Summary
Do you dream of having your own aquarium but aren't sure if you can afford to buy and maintain one? In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive overview of the initial and ongoing costs of an aquarium. There’s an aquarium to suit every budget, so you can relax and enjoy the underwater world right in your own home.
One-time costs of an aquarium: The initial setup
To get started with your new aquarium, you’ll first need the initial setup. This includes a suitable tank, the essential equipment, and, of course, the contents: from the substrate and decorations to the aquarium’s inhabitants.
Depending on whether you want to keep fish or do aquascaping with plants, the costs will vary. A saltwater aquarium is also significantly more expensive, as it requires much more equipment. A saltwater aquarium also requires more maintenance.
Below, we’ll show you what kind of expenses you should expect—and, of course, how you can save money on your initial setup.
Purchasing Costs for the Aquarium Tank
The cost of an aquarium tank varies greatly depending on the features and capacity you choose. Tanks on the market start at a capacity of 15 liters and go up to an astonishing 5,000 liters.
As a general rule: the larger the tank, the less maintenance it requires. While this may sound paradoxical, it’s actually true, since water quality tends to remain more stable in large tanks.
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For a small aquarium holding up to 60 liters—also known as a nano aquarium—you should budget between 50 and 200 euros, depending on the size and design. If the tank is larger, the cost is usually higher as well. A 100- or 120-liter aquarium is available as a set for about 250 to 350 euros.
Even larger aquariums with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters are usually available as a complete set with a cabinet, which can cost between 1,000 and 2,000 euros. You’ll face significantly higher costs with a 5,000-liter tank.
Everything You Need to Know About Complete Aquarium Sets
Cost of the stand
The stand for your aquarium must be very sturdy, as it will bear a heavy load. It’s practical if the stand has openings for cables and hoses and offers enough storage space for your accessories.
Plan on spending at least 150 euros for a high-quality stand. In our shop, we offer spacious stands that stand out for their modern design and practical magnetic dots.
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Costs for Pump & Filter
Installing a filter is essential for maintaining water quality. For smaller aquariums up to 150 liters, an internal filter is usually sufficient, and you can find them starting at 20 euros. For larger tanks, an external filter is recommended, which is available starting at around 60 euros.
To ensure the proper oxygen level, you’ll need a pump. Prices for these start as low as 15 euros.
You can also run an aquarium without a filter or heater. This works best with lots of plants and shrimp instead of fish. However, you’ll need to make sure you feed them very sparingly, use plenty of fine gravel as substrate, and change the water frequently.
Cost of Lighting
When it comes to lighting, you have a choice of different lamps. Fluorescent tubes and LEDs are common, and you can get both starting at 15 euros. Depending on the brand, wattage, and additional features, the purchase price can even exceed 100 euros.
Such expensive lights are only necessary for saltwater aquariums. For simpler freshwater aquariums, the more affordable standard models are sufficient. An additional timer is recommended to regulate lighting times. You can find one starting at 10 euros.
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Plant Prices at a Glance
Costs can vary depending on the type of plant. As a rule of thumb, however, you’ll pay about 5 euros per plant—regardless of whether they’re real or artificial.
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Make sure to include a balanced mix of plants in your aquarium. Water cups, sword plants, and Java fern are the most common types found in aquariums. You’re also welcome to opt for a complete plant set, which usually includes up to ten plants. In such a set, the individual plants are coordinated with one another, and the total cost is lower, at around 20 to 25 euros.
Cost of the Substrate
The substrate forms the foundation of your aquarium setup. Whether you choose gravel or sand, prices generally start at 2 euros per kilogram. The substrate should be laid to a depth of about 5 cm. For a standard 54-liter tank, you’ll need about 15 kg of substrate, bringing the total cost to at least 30 euros.
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Costs for Decorations
When it comes to decorative items, you can choose from beautiful rocks, caves, branches, or sculptures. You’re free to decide which elements to include in your aquarium. However, it’s important that the items are flat or rounded, because you certainly don’t want your pets to hurt themselves on them. Also, the openings of caves should be sized appropriately for the pets so they don’t get stuck inside.
You can buy many decorative items starting at just 5 euros. Depending on the size and material, however, a product can cost up to 50 euros.
Costs for the inhabitants: Prices for fish & other aquatic animals
When it comes to choosing aquarium inhabitants, there are countless possibilities. You can limit yourself to a single species or set up a community tank with various animals. It’s important to always take the needs of each individual species into account.
Be sure to check before buying whether the animals you’ve selected are compatible with one another!
Prices for fish vary widely. They range from just a few euros for a small ornamental fish to around 30 euros for saltwater animals like clownfish. For large and special animals, such as a catfish, you’ll pay between 50 and 150 euros.
You can beautifully complement your fish collection with small shrimp, which usually cost just a few euros. Corals are a great eye-catcher in a saltwater aquarium. On average, you’ll pay about 20 to 30 euros per coral, though there are differences between the more affordable soft corals and the more expensive, brightly colored stony corals (LPS corals). For very special species, you should budget about 100 euros per piece.
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If you’re looking for a cute tank mate, the axolotl is sure to win you over. You’ll pay only about 25 to 30 euros for one. Jellyfish are also popular aquarium pets—but they have specific requirements, so your aquarium needs to be well-equipped. Depending on the species, jellyfish cost between 20 and 50 euros.
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There are countless species of animals you can add to your aquarium. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can transform your aquarium into a vibrant reflection of nature.
Monthly & Annual Running Costs
An aquarium involves more than just the initial purchase costs. The water needs to be changed, the equipment must always run smoothly, and the animals need food. In the long term, this means there are monthly running costs that you’ll need to cover. How are these costs broken down?
Electricity Costs for an Aquarium
The biggest expense is clearly the electricity used to run the aquarium. The heater, lighting, and filter in a medium-sized aquarium consume an average of about 0.9 to 1.5 kWh per day.
At a rate of 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, your monthly electricity expenses will amount to about 10 to 18 euros. For larger tanks, the costs are usually even higher, since the equipment needs to be more powerful overall.
Wie lange muss ich mein Aquarium beleuchten? | Aquarium Basics
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Water Costs for an Aquarium
Although you need to change the water in your aquarium regularly and it may seem like you’re using a lot of water at first glance, the costs are fortunately very low. With a weekly water change of 50 percent, you’ll use an average of about 100 to 150 liters per month, assuming the aquarium is a standard medium size. Since water is very inexpensive, the cost here amounts to only about 1 to 2 euros per month.
As a rule of thumb, you should change about one-third of the water every two weeks. This prevents too many pollutants from accumulating and algae from getting out of control in the aquarium
Costs for Aquarium Supplies
To keep the aquarium hygienically clean, you should clean it regularly and add fertilizer so that your plants receive the essential nutrients. So make sure to refill the tank’s CO2 tank regularly. You can use water test kits to check the water parameters at any time. These cost between 15 and 30 euros.
Cost of fish food
The more fish you keep in your aquarium, the more food you’ll need. Depending on the brand, you can expect to spend about 10 to 15 euros per year—which works out to just under one euro per month. Making your own fish food doesn’t necessarily save you money, but it gives you a much better idea of what your fish are eating. Making your own fish food isn’t that hard at all!
Fish Food Brands Put to the Test
Professional Aquarium: Cost Overview
If you’re planning to set up a large aquarium with a capacity of more than 500 liters, you should seek extensive advice and may even need to consult a structural engineer. That’s because 500 or even over 1,000 liters of water weigh quite a bit. Since the aquarium is usually only a few square meters in size, this weight is concentrated on just that one spot.
A structural engineer can use your home’s blueprints to determine whether such a large aquarium is feasible given the local conditions or whether you should opt for a smaller tank instead.
Price Comparison: Saltwater Aquarium vs. Freshwater Aquarium
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Before buying an aquarium, you’re probably wondering whether to go with a saltwater or freshwater aquarium. Both greatly enhance your home and are unique in their own way. Maybe you’re unsure and just want to base your decision on the cost?
Prices for saltwater aquariums are generally higher than for freshwater aquariums. This is due to both the equipment required and the maintenance of the tank. That’s because, in addition to a heater, lighting, filter system, and filter pump, a saltwater aquarium also requires a circulation pump, a protein skimmer, a reverse osmosis system for osmosis water, a salinity meter, and water test kits. You’ll also need special marine salt.
It’s more cost-effective to buy a complete aquarium kit. This saves you the trouble of putting together all the individual components yourself. Often, a complete kit is actually more affordable.
While prices for a medium-sized freshwater aquarium starter kit start at around 150 euros, you should expect to pay an additional 50 to 100 euros for a saltwater aquarium starter kit of the same size. There’s no upper limit to the prices. Generally speaking, though, even when buying a complete set, the freshwater aquarium is the more affordable option.
Rule of thumb: The larger the tank, the more worthwhile a complete set becomes.
Energy-Efficient Aquarium – Complete Package from the Experts
To keep electricity costs as low as possible, you can opt for a complete package that includes energy-efficient components. The goal should be to keep the heat inside the aquarium and prevent it from escaping. This is achieved primarily through a built-in back panel in the tank and a sealed cover, which reduces evaporation.
In addition, you can opt for LEDs. While these lights are slightly more expensive to purchase, they are very energy-efficient in the long run. The lighting doesn’t need to be on all day. Even with a fish tank, you can turn off the light for a few hours around noon. A timer is recommended for this.
With our aquariums in the online shop, you’ll be perfectly equipped. The aquarium covers keep the heat inside the tank, allowing you to save electricity with ease. The covers can be completely removed for feeding and tank maintenance, so you can work undisturbed.
Not sure which set is right for you? Feel free to contact us—our experts are here to answer all your questions!
Summary
Setting up a fully equipped aquarium requires a significant financial investment. Exactly how much depends on the size and features of the aquarium. Generally, the majority of costs are incurred during the initial setup. Once the initial equipment is purchased, the comparatively low ongoing costs are no longer an issue.
While nano-aquariums are available for under 100 euros, prices for larger aquariums usually start at 150 euros and can go up to several thousand. Depending on your budget, you’re sure to find the right aquarium for you.
