Beginner reef aquarium budget: the real price, line by line
A first complete reef aquarium costs between 600 and 1,000 € for a 100 to 150 litre volume, dedicated LED lighting and synthetic sea salt included. That’s three to five times the budget of an equivalent freshwater tank, mainly because of the lighting and water flow that corals need.
Why does reef cost so much more than freshwater?
Three items explain the gap: full-spectrum LED lighting (150 to 400 €, versus 40 to 80 € in freshwater as detailed in our LED lighting guide), one or more powerheads to recreate the water movement of reefs (40 to 100 € each), and the seawater itself, mixed from synthetic salt at 25-40 € per 20 kg bag.
What does the basic setup cost, line by line?
- 100-150 litre tank with cabinet: 200 to 350 €.
- Reef LED lighting: 150 to 400 € depending on power.
- Powerhead: 40 to 100 €.
- Protein skimmer: 60 to 150 €, almost essential in reef tanks.
- Synthetic salt and hydrometer: 40 to 60 € to get started.
- Live rock: 8 to 15 € per kilo, plan on 1 kg per 8 to 10 litres.
How does the process differ from freshwater?
Reef tanks need a longer maturation period (6 to 10 weeks versus 4 to 6 in freshwater) and extra parameters to track: salinity, calcium, KH. If budget or available time are tight, our comparison freshwater or saltwater helps you decide before investing.
Can you reduce this starting budget?
Yes, by starting with a 60-litre nano-reef (400 to 550 € all included) or buying the skimmer and lighting second-hand, two items that hold their resale value well. Find all our detailed budgets on the fishkeeping hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reef aquarium expensive to run monthly?
Expect 15 to 30 € a month in electricity (lighting and pumps) and synthetic salt for water changes, not counting the gradual purchase of corals.
Do you need a protein skimmer from day one?
Strongly recommended from the first tank: it removes organic waste before it breaks down, a role no standard filter fills as well in saltwater.
Can an existing freshwater tank be converted to reef?
Technically yes for the tank itself, but you’ll need to change the lighting and add flow and a skimmer: in practice the cost ends up close to a fresh project.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Fishkeeping universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.