Great video, Cam. How about a video on the natural progression and attrition of corals and fish in an epic tank like Magic Mountains? I’ve noticed the fish and corals have changed in Magic Mountains over the past few years.
That’s a great idea. The coral and fish population has changed immensely since our first video on magic mountains. We have a few big projects coming up in the near future, I might see if we can film something like this that details the natural evolution of the ecosystem. Cam
Personally i think its pretty accurate. As a matter of fact the customer probably was asking why so much, they said "Well mate, I'll make a video on it."
Loving this channel, this video helps me understand large reefs just a little bit more. I only have nano reefs for now and it's been fun and not super expensive. Still I love this hobby, can't see myself without a reef tank anymore.
Thank you so much for this video Cam! since I only have a nano reef and want to upgrade, this video really gives an awesome insight to how much I need to budget :)
Thanks Sam! I’d be interested on your thoughts regarding the electricy costs. I guessed $400 per quarter but I’ve never had the opportunity to work it out more accurately. Cam
@@GalleryAquaticaTV hey Cam, I thought you were probably being a little optimistic there, but that balanced out when you mentioned solar. You could break the power down into 2 categories really, constant use (wave makers, returns, skimmers, etc.) and partial use. 50/50 use like lights, heaters, and then thing like chillers I would say they're 25/75 or less. When you add up the power, I'd guesstimate a system like this (which is large!) would be using a fair chunk a day, probably somewhere around 35-45kw. Multiply that by your electricity charge (say 30c?) I reckon you'd be at just over $1k a quarter. But, is just my guess, nothing to say it is remotely accurate :P
Hi Ben, Initially the owner was not too interested in propagating the corals in this display though occasionally we prune pieces growing into others. That’s definitely a great way to offset the running costs, and plenty of hobbyists do this. We like to support home Fraggers and offer them to bring their frags in to trade in store all the time. Ania
We took him out. The tank was big enough but with all the coral I felt he was needing more space. We replaced him with a queen Angel that is half his size. Cam
How do you heat new water to match with the tank's water temperature? I see in your videos, you just pump new sea water from the truck sitting outside into the tank directly. I am confused.
The seawater we collect and sell is stored in large storage vessels in before it is pumped back into the truck to be sold. It is considered good practice to hold it for at least few days before use. We try to never have less than 20,000L in storage available at any one time and it’s Triton ICP-OES batch tested regularly for extra peace of mind. It’s surprisingly easy it maintain the correct temperature when the volumes are so large. If we ever needed to, we can heat the water prior to use by turning on a heater if it ever gets too cold in winter. Typically the sub tropical climate in Brisbane we experience here is relatively easy to manage though. Ania
While I have never had a tank quite this large, with my biggest tank being 6 feet wide, 5 feet deep and 2 feet tall that I got for free, I tried to go as "cheap" as possible using more off the shelf items like baking soda for alkalinity and pool versions of calcium chloride which worked fine (Triton didn't even exist at the time), but you still up your equipment game as that single Tunze, Jebao or whatever brand you go with pump that may work on a 60 gallon tank is not even close to sufficient here, and while I didn't have a particular deep tank to punch light through there still was 30 square feet that required coverage, and even though water is relatively cheap the salt to make salt water for water changes definitely adds up. Plus there's the electricity cost of heating that much water to a temperature well above that of ambient... while that tank was fun, ultimately I couldn't keep up with aiptasia and valonia in it and I decided to pass it on to the next vict er happy reefer. Now my I actually produce more electricity than I consume with my solar panels and I've never been more relaxed :) Bottom line, yeah even if you aren't paying for a custom tank or something like that they really do have a surprisingly high running cost.
Hi Prakash, Thanks for the comment, that’s a great question. We wouldn’t know the total setup cost though sorry because this tank was already built and set up before we got involved with its upgrade and regular maintenance. :)
Interesting. I’m not sure how the currencies compare, but I do feel we pay too much for some things. We probably save it back on other things like the cost of our natural seawater for example. Cam
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Great video Cam...puts costs into perspective somthing i have avoided...nice to see the angels in that stunner.
Good on you for the transparency.
Great video, Cam. How about a video on the natural progression and attrition of corals and fish in an epic tank like Magic Mountains? I’ve noticed the fish and corals have changed in Magic Mountains over the past few years.
That’s a great idea. The coral and fish population has changed immensely since our first video on magic mountains. We have a few big projects coming up in the near future, I might see if we can film something like this that details the natural evolution of the ecosystem. Cam
Personally i think its pretty accurate. As a matter of fact the customer probably was asking why so much, they said "Well mate, I'll make a video on it."
Great episode. I love this tank. One of my favorites on this channel.
Great tank. Well done!
What happened to the Naso elegans?
He needed more space. The coral was creating tight spots he was getting stuck in so we swapped him for the queen Angel. Cam
As always this reef tank is a master piece. Even those prices dont guarantee such incredible outcomes.
That is very true😊
Where's the big Naso you guys put in there?
He was getting stuck in the corners near the wall and stressing out. We swapped him out for the Queen Angel. Cam
Loving this channel, this video helps me understand large reefs just a little bit more. I only have nano reefs for now and it's been fun and not super expensive. Still I love this hobby, can't see myself without a reef tank anymore.
As always Cam a great video!
Thanks mate!
Thank you so much for this video Cam! since I only have a nano reef and want to upgrade, this video really gives an awesome insight to how much I need to budget :)
Thanks mate! I think it’s interesting looking at all the different costs, hopefully we didn’t put anyone off reefing😂 Cam
Brilliant! So interesting.
Awesome info here.
This is the long term goal.
I was thinking about starting a reeftank again after we moved to ar new home but on second thought, I’m definitely gonna do it.
Excellent decision! Welcome back!
What is that in the window at the bottom (green window) looks ike a huge crab claw moving
I was wondering the same thing.
I watched this video back to see what it was. I wish I could say it was a giant crab, but I’m sorry to say it’s just a plant moving in the breeze. Cam
Great topic and great video, well done team!
Thanks Sam! I’d be interested on your thoughts regarding the electricy costs. I guessed $400 per quarter but I’ve never had the opportunity to work it out more accurately. Cam
@@GalleryAquaticaTV hey Cam, I thought you were probably being a little optimistic there, but that balanced out when you mentioned solar. You could break the power down into 2 categories really, constant use (wave makers, returns, skimmers, etc.) and partial use. 50/50 use like lights, heaters, and then thing like chillers I would say they're 25/75 or less.
When you add up the power, I'd guesstimate a system like this (which is large!) would be using a fair chunk a day, probably somewhere around 35-45kw. Multiply that by your electricity charge (say 30c?) I reckon you'd be at just over $1k a quarter.
But, is just my guess, nothing to say it is remotely accurate :P
Electricity costs sound like a good topic for a video in itself😉
Minus the labor and 5000 for water changes move the decimal over one and it cost me 589 per year running cost.
I love Holacanthus ciliaris 😍 , wonderful tank .
Greetings from Italy .
Me too, it looks SO good in this tank😊 Cam
What a beautiful tank
Thanks Anne😊 Cam
Nicely done. Is there an out going cost, selling the frags? would drop the cost a bit.
Hi Ben,
Initially the owner was not too interested in propagating the corals in this display though occasionally we prune pieces growing into others. That’s definitely a great way to offset the running costs, and plenty of hobbyists do this. We like to support home Fraggers and offer them to bring their frags in to trade in store all the time.
Ania
rough! haha... great video, but that is why I service my own 350 gallon reef system..
Wheres the Naso?
We took him out. The tank was big enough but with all the coral I felt he was needing more space. We replaced him with a queen Angel that is half his size. Cam
Glass thickness plz
How do you heat new water to match with the tank's water temperature? I see in your videos, you just pump new sea water from the truck sitting outside into the tank directly. I am confused.
The seawater we collect and sell is stored in large storage vessels in before it is pumped back into the truck to be sold. It is considered good practice to hold it for at least few days before use. We try to never have less than 20,000L in storage available at any one time and it’s Triton ICP-OES batch tested regularly for extra peace of mind.
It’s surprisingly easy it maintain the correct temperature when the volumes are so large.
If we ever needed to, we can heat the water prior to use by turning on a heater if it ever gets too cold in winter. Typically the sub tropical climate in Brisbane we experience here is relatively easy to manage though.
Ania
While I have never had a tank quite this large, with my biggest tank being 6 feet wide, 5 feet deep and 2 feet tall that I got for free, I tried to go as "cheap" as possible using more off the shelf items like baking soda for alkalinity and pool versions of calcium chloride which worked fine (Triton didn't even exist at the time), but you still up your equipment game as that single Tunze, Jebao or whatever brand you go with pump that may work on a 60 gallon tank is not even close to sufficient here, and while I didn't have a particular deep tank to punch light through there still was 30 square feet that required coverage, and even though water is relatively cheap the salt to make salt water for water changes definitely adds up. Plus there's the electricity cost of heating that much water to a temperature well above that of ambient... while that tank was fun, ultimately I couldn't keep up with aiptasia and valonia in it and I decided to pass it on to the next vict er happy reefer. Now my I actually produce more electricity than I consume with my solar panels and I've never been more relaxed :)
Bottom line, yeah even if you aren't paying for a custom tank or something like that they really do have a surprisingly high running cost.
Some good options for cutting costs here😊 Cam
Whoua beautiful 😍
Very in depth Cam. I'd of just said a butt ton and videoed the reef for half an hour 🤣
What was the total set up cost?
Hi Prakash,
Thanks for the comment, that’s a great question. We wouldn’t know the total setup cost though sorry because this tank was already built and set up before we got involved with its upgrade and regular maintenance. :)
Cor blimey!!
😮😮😮 wow. that’s quite expensive to maintain.
Can cut the costs in half if you do the maintenance yourself. And half again if you don’t do weekly water changes :)
Why not use a calcium reactor. Large up front cost but cheaper going forward
It certainly would have saved money, but the easy control of the doser was the main reason we stuck with that. Cam
Wow - definitely don't want to calculate mine ;D
Yeah, it’s not something I’d normally do, but I figured some people would be interested. Cam
Great transparency however, I could run that Reef on about 1/4 of the cost that you’re racking up on the customer.
Me too, but we’re a business and that extra cost translates to our margin on the job. Cam
@@GalleryAquaticaTV true that your right you’re in business to make a profit.
What the heck is in that window behind you the lower green one it looks like a giant crab
Omg i finally watched this back to see the crab! It definitely does look like a crab, but sadly it’s just a plant moving in the breeze😂 Cam
Prices on consumables arecrazy. Like 3x dutch prices. Rowa is 30/kg here. Floss 5-
Interesting. I’m not sure how the currencies compare, but I do feel we pay too much for some things. We probably save it back on other things like the cost of our natural seawater for example. Cam
for someone to just want an epic reef tank and do no works, 10k yearly in labour is reasonable, they probably have made enough cash to pay anyway.
20 shedloads
This is pretty close to the total we arrived at in the end😂 Cam
🇵🇱👍
Wesołych Świąt!
@@GalleryAquaticaTV dziękuję, wzajemnie :) wszystkiego dobrego !
You literaly can cut the cost in half if you do it yourself and not have this guy do it
It says so right in the video! :D
Not much, you don't need a skimmer and you don't have to do water changes either. Cheap lights above and you're done.
The amount you do or don’t water change certainly has a big effect on the running cost. Cam
This is just your experiences. There’s no right and wrong way of doing things in this hobby.
and this is how my dream was destroyed......I need a new job...anyone?!!!!!
:)
Weekly water changes and all that dosing. Jesus.
Yeah, hence the cost at the end being quite high😂 Cam
You will get a dislike from the owner for sure 😂
Lol, I wonder if he’s watched this video, he might prefer not to know😂 Cam
@@GalleryAquaticaTV I wouldn't like to see a cost video of my own tank either...😅
Great video thank you could you let us know how many ltrs in magic Mountain ⛰️ to compare to my tank
Cheers Tim
4000L :)
@Gallery Aquatica TV only 3000 bigger than mine I'm not worried now 😀have a great Christmas to you and your family keep up the good work