The tank price is the starting number, not the complete-build number. A working reef also needs the right lighting, flow, filtration, temperature control, rock, sand, salt, water, testing and delivery plan. The exact mix changes with the REEFER package and the animals you intend to keep.
Choose a model below to compare the tank with the rest of the build. The calculator uses current site pricing where it is available. Before you order, our staff will confirm availability, the delivered quote and any equipment that is included with the exact configuration you selected.
See the REEFER MAX Peninsula in the room
A peninsula turns the aquarium into a three-sided centerpiece. Use the finder below to compare the exact footprint, system volume, package and supporting equipment.
Start with the size that fits your space
Choose the tank length in inches, then narrow by display gallons. Compare packages after you find the right footprint.
Display gallons are the aquarium only. System gallons include the sump. Dimensions are the display tank; allow additional room for access, plumbing and your chosen cabinet.
Your aquarium and matched equipment
The photos update with the aquarium package you choose.
| Line | What we would put on it | Cost |
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What belongs in a complete Red Sea REEFER budget
1. Tank and cabinet
Start with the exact model and package, not the family name alone. REEFER, REEFER Deluxe and REEFER MAX can share the same aquarium footprint while including different equipment. Confirm the cabinet finish, display volume, total system volume and everything included with that specific product before comparing prices.
2. Lighting
Lighting has to match the tank dimensions and the reef you want to keep. A soft-coral or fish-focused system does not need the same coverage as an SPS reef. Some packages include Red Sea lighting and some do not, so count only the fixtures that are still missing from the selected configuration.
3. Return pump and circulation
The return pump moves water through the sump. Circulation pumps move water through the display. They do different jobs, and a complete estimate needs both unless the selected package already includes them. The right amount depends on the tank, aquascape and livestock plan rather than gallons alone.
4. Filtration
Price the skimmer, mechanical filtration, media and any controller or monitoring equipment you actually plan to use. A fleece roller can reduce routine maintenance, but it should not be counted twice when it is already included in a package.
5. Heating and temperature control
Include the heater capacity, a reliable controller or backup shutoff, and cooling if the room requires it. Temperature equipment is easy to leave out of a tank-only comparison because it is rarely the part shown in the product photo.
6. Rock, sand, salt and testing
The first fill requires more than salt. Budget for rock, substrate if you want it, purified water, bacteria, salinity measurement and the tests needed during cycling. These are startup costs even when you already own some of the equipment.
7. Delivery and optional installation
REEFER systems ship by scheduled freight. Eligible tank orders to Florida, Texas and California receive one separate $200 Scheduled Freight Delivery charge. We do not ship tanks to Alaska or Hawaii. For other eligible continental U.S. destinations, delivery availability and cost must be confirmed before purchase. Planning support is available nationally; installation and on-site service remain local to Key West and the Florida Keys.
8. Livestock after cycling
Coral, fish and invertebrates belong in a separate budget after the aquarium is stable. Planning them early still matters because the livestock plan determines lighting, flow, filtration and the practical size of the system.
Red Sea first-livestock credit
After a qualifying Red Sea aquarium order has been delivered and you tell us the cycle is complete, we will email a one-time livestock credit:
- $75 when the qualifying aquarium subtotal is under $2,000.
- $100 when the qualifying aquarium subtotal is $2,000 through $4,000, inclusive.
- $150 when the qualifying aquarium subtotal is over $4,000.
The credit may be used only on coral, fish and invertebrates. It does not apply to dry goods, aquariums, equipment, gift cards, shipping or tax. The credit expires 180 days after issue, is limited to one credit per qualifying tank order and cannot be combined with another coupon.
REEFER, Deluxe or MAX
- REEFER G3 is the starting platform for buyers who already own equipment or want to choose each major component.
- REEFER Deluxe G3 adds a matched Red Sea lighting package. Compare it with the cost of sourcing the same coverage separately.
- REEFER MAX G3 adds more of the REEF-SPEC equipment package. Check the exact product listing so you know what is included and what the build still needs.
Run the same footprint through the calculator in each available package. That shows the meaningful difference: not which tank has the lowest sticker price, but which configuration leaves the fewest necessary items outside the box.
What it costs to operate after startup
Keep a separate monthly allowance for electricity, salt, food, filter media, test reagents, top-off water and replacement parts. A larger or more demanding reef generally uses more of each. The calculator gives you the purchase estimate; our complete saltwater-aquarium cost guide covers ongoing ownership in more detail.
Get the complete build checked before you buy
Not sure after you compare? Get a free one-on-one video sizing call with our reef team before you buy. We will review your room dimensions, access, reef goals, equipment, maintenance tolerance and complete-build budget.
Request a Free Sizing Call or call 305-850-9949.
Is a REEFER the right choice?
Not always. If the complete build does not fit your room or budget, it is better to find that out before the tank arrives. We sell multiple aquarium systems and will tell you when a smaller, larger or different configuration makes more sense.
Next: compare every REEFER G3 size side by side · use the REEFER Build Planner · aquarium installation and maintenance · browse Red Sea aquariums.