CALCULATOR · COST
Reef tank build cost calculator
The short answer
Reef equipment runs from about $925 for a 20-gallon soft-coral AIO to $14,000+ for a 120-gallon SPS system. A 75-gallon mixed sump build lands around $3,700 budget, $5,000–6,700 mid, or $8,500–11,800 premium — equipment only, before live rock, sand and livestock.
The ReefRig Cost Method
Budget / mid / premium totals are the sum of real per-category reference prices for the gear a build needs — tank, light, flow, heat, filtration, chemistry. Livestock, rock and sand are extra.
A 75-gallon mixed reef costs about $3,700 budget, $5,000–6,700 mid, or $8,500–11,800 premium in equipment — rock and livestock extra.
Equipment cost by build
Totals sum real per-category reference prices for the gear each build needs — tank, lighting, flow, heating, filtration and water chemistry. Budget/mid/premium reflect the price tier of every part.
| Build | Budget | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 gal AIO · soft coral | $925–$1,350 | $2,175–$3,050 | $4,350–$6,000 |
| 20 gal AIO · mixed | $1,200–$1,700 | $2,650–$3,700 | $5,550–$7,375 |
| 40 gal AIO · mixed | $1,775–$3,225 | $3,050–$5,000 | $6,125–$8,375 |
| 75 gal sump · mixed | $3,700–$4,200 | $5,025–$6,650 | $8,550–$11,775 |
| 120 gal sump · SPS | $4,100–$5,125 | $5,775–$7,700 | $9,950–$14,350 |
Equipment only, from catalog reference prices verified 2026-07-03. Includes tank/stand, lighting, wavemakers, heating + controller, ATO, RO/DI, test kit and salt; sump builds add a return pump and skimmer; stony builds add dosing. Excludes live rock, sand, livestock, plumbing sundries and quarantine gear.
What drives the number
The two biggest levers are the tank system (an AIO skips the sump, overflow, return pump and full skimmer) and coral difficulty (SPS adds dosing, tighter light and controller automation). Everything else scales with water volume.
LIVE CALCULATOR
Estimate your build
Pick a size, tank type and coral difficulty for a budget / mid / premium equipment estimate — summed from real 2026 catalog reference prices, gear only.
Equipment only — tank, light, flow, heat, filtration and chemistry. Live rock, sand, livestock and plumbing sundries are extra. Prices from catalog reference data, verified 2026-07-03.