Salt water aqaurium a costly hobby?

same here.

 

I spent a great bit of money due to
1. Inexperience and allround lack of knowledge
2. Impulse and hasty purchase.
3. Hasty actions due to my natrual/genetic inclination to having absolutely no patience.
4. Buying cheap equipment (not because I wanted to).

I always say, it's INITIALLY costly. The equipment will cost, especially lights and a skimmer, but that's hopefully a one time purchase.

I believe that
1. Futureproofing will take you a long way. Always buy equipment that will be overkill, rather than just adequate. There's always this feeling of wanting more or to go bigger, the tank being the cheapest piece of equipment you its the least of your worries.
2. EVERYTHING is overpriced, ESPECIALLY skimmers and reactors. It's pure rape.
3. Learn to do as much things on your own as you can. You can end up paying $500 for sump, but you can put one together for realistically no more than $45 and about 20-30 minutes of your time on a Saturday morning. Something like a skimmer you probably will find a lot of diffficulty making on your own, but something like a light fixture will probably be better suited to your needs and CHEAPER if you did it on your own.

 

+1 TO THAT GUY ABOVE!

i have done the exact same thing, and i am constantly kicking my self...

plan it out, research what it takes to do what you really want to do. better lighting is expensive but in the long run is something alot of ppl are always upgrading! dont start fast, go slow, make sure you have everything you need. in the long run you will be so happy with the outcome. again, research research, and at the end of the day, research some more.

 

You could always try to start smaller such as a Biocube 29. Even with the stand you can get a fairly good setup for $800 with tank, stand, LR, heater and for a couple hundred more you could get a decent skimmer that fits in the biocube and maybe even some clean up crew. Considering what comes with the tank it is a very good introduction to the hobby IMO.

 

It depends, Fish only tanks arnt much more expensive than freshwater, its when you get into live rock and coral it gets expensive.

 

LMAO! Yep, this one is definately my favorite description now..lol

:2thumbsup

 

This could be more true when going into this hobby with limited exp or paitience. I lost well over 1k in the first year buy not having the right stuff or experience. My wife told me many times to give up!

 

I'm a sailor by profession, sunglasses are very very important. I've been wearing cracked Ray-Bans since May, but my tank is SWEET!!!!!!!

 

Expensive is a relative thing. Just the basics are costly. Then all the bells and whistles, then all the bling bling..... then you have to stock, then you want to stock with high ends stuff.....I sort of have sticker shock. A lot of the stuff, say light ballasts, are nothing special.... but to a reefer.... well package it pretty and mark it up 300%. Even I have a hard time with some of the prices on some of the gear.

I bought a setup fro $750. I had it a year, and probably sank $3500 into it replacing everything. Actually I'm afraid to add it up.

But let's put this in perspective.... I mountain bike. First bick cost my $650 on sale. Most people thought I was nuts for paying that. Second bike was $1600. Next bike was $2200 on clearance (was $3500). The last bike I bought a frame, fork, and wheels for $3000 and moved my other stuff over to it. It was a $4500 bike.

Now mind you I was never rich when I was doing that, I just had priorities. Mt. Biking was one of them. People can easily drop 2 grand on a set of clubs and pay another 2 grand playing golf for a year. My co worker just dropped $2000 on a camera, then he dropped another $3500 on Phoptoshop. Don't even get me started on what I have, and still can, sink into my Jeeps.

So is salt water exspensive..... I don't think it is compared to other hobbies. As with all hobbies... the sky is the limit, or DIY budget. You can enjoy both.

 

not according to my wife ;D

(quote edited for correctness)

~Will.