Coral Tank Setup Cost Guide: Equipment & Livestock Budget

Coral keeping is one of the most equipment-intensive areas of marine aquariums. However, with proper budget planning, you can create a beautiful coral tank while avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Tank & Equipment Costs

• 60 cm tank set (with sump): 50,000–80,000 yen
• 90 cm tank set (with sump): 80,000–150,000 yen
• Main pump (circulation): 15,000–30,000 yen
• Flow pumps (wavemakers): 10,000–40,000 yen (1–2 units needed)
• Protein skimmer: 15,000–100,000 yen (size-dependent)

The protein skimmer is the cornerstone of coral husbandry. This is where you should not cut corners.

Lighting Options & Costs

• Entry-level: 20,000–40,000 yen (suitable for soft corals)
• Mid-range: 40,000–80,000 yen (suitable for LPS corals)
• High-end: 80,000–150,000 yen (essential for SPS corals)

Beginners should start with soft corals and entry-level lighting and upgrade as they gain experience.

Live Rock & Water Quality Equipment

• Live rock: 1,500–3,000 yen per kg (5–8 kg needed for a 60 cm tank)
• Substrate (coral sand): 1,500–2,500 yen per 5 kg
• RO/DI water purifier: 15,000–30,000 yen
• Water test kits: 5,000–10,000 yen
• Aquarium chiller: 30,000–80,000 yen (essential in summer)
• Auto top-off system (ATO): 10,000–25,000 yen

Chillers are expensive but virtually essential in Japan, where summer water temperatures exceeding 30°C significantly increase coral bleaching risk.

Livestock Budget

Soft Corals (beginner level): Star polyps 1,500–3,000 yen, Leather corals 2,000–5,000 yen, Zoanthids 1,500–5,000 yen

LPS Corals (intermediate): Brain corals 3,000–10,000 yen, Hammer corals 5,000–15,000 yen

SPS Corals (advanced): Various Acropora species 5,000–30,000 yen

Start with 3–5 soft coral species totaling 10,000–20,000 yen, and consider LPS after successfully maintaining them for 3+ months.

Total Initial Cost Summary

60 cm tank (soft coral focus): Equipment ~150,000–250,000 yen + livestock ~15,000–30,000 yen = total ~165,000–280,000 yen

90 cm tank (LPS + soft coral): Equipment ~250,000–450,000 yen + livestock ~30,000–60,000 yen = total ~280,000–510,000 yen

Monthly running costs for a 60 cm tank average approximately 5,000–8,000 yen. Learning coral fragging techniques can also help reduce livestock costs.

Find Corals on Bri-Choku

Bri-Choku offers carefully cultivated corals from breeders at fair prices. Browse the coral category to find frag-grown and aquacultured specimens.