So sad so many people leaving...

I've been seeing that there are a lot of people leaving this hobby. Many say it's due to spending too much. I'm a low tech guy for tanks. Is it that many people are high tech with all their stuff running their tanks?

I know lights can suck you energy bills. And the water bills must be really high for people who have to pay for their water, due to having an RO/DI unit.

Just seeing all this is understandable, but sad and a little uninspiring. Almost making me think twice even though like I said, I like to be more low tech.

 

If your happy with a fairly simple soft coral tank, there is no reason you need to spend tons of money. I think a lot of people start with the attitude that they're going to build a massive TOTM and then get discouraged when they realize they've spent tons of money and are nowhere close. I tend to keep tanks simple and don't spend much and I've lasted a while. My latest build is more elaborate, but that's after several tanks and still nowhere near what a lot of people try to do from the start. It's all how you approach things, if your willing to live within your means, you can enjoy this hobby on a moderate budget, although certainly it will never be "cheap".

 

What you need to do is pay attention to sales and you don't need all the high tech ro/di water is nice not necessary. ATO and have the other crap. Just the other day I was ordering a Mag/Cal/Alk product then found out I can order the same from BRS and save what appears to be a ton of money. I will know for sure in a couple of months. The wow factor of this hobby is unmeasurable. my son feeds the flake everyday, He comes home from work goes in checks the tank feeds and goes on with his day, My wife goes in talks to the fish looks for new or cool stuff going on. The problem is to have the stuff you want or need cost money now and some things are hard to wait on. I say to myself every other day what were you thinking then I go look at my private reef. Anyone can have fish.

 

Totally agree with m2434!!

At first, I just wanted FreshWater fish. When I saw the colors of SaltWater inverts & fish, I changed my mind & went with salt.

Well, here I am 10yrs later. I got very 'hooked' even though I was still in school without much cash. And, this was a 110g tall tank.....so, you can imagine the expense. I literally 'beat it' to death trying to buy the latest high-tech gadgets & tank supplements rather than wait, read up, then make an educated selection.

Now, I've settled for quality & instead of keeping up with the next guy, your stuff lasts longer and you'll have a bit more cash in your pocket. I still have my first CoraLife Pro fixture complete with the 2 Power Compact bulbs & 2-150w MH's. Its not 'pretty' anymore like it used to be, but you should see my corals!! Also, I don't have 1 (one) LED fixture on any of my 3 tanks and my corals LOVE me!! Don't Lose Heart!! 8)

 

I just applied for a line of credit and it really exposed my finances. Its hard when this is an individuals hobby and i takes away from the families resources. It has put some stress on my relationship and im sure if i had a mortgage and kids i would be forced out, and that is the plan in the coming years. Its sad, but i understand why people have to leave.

 

I personally have seen everything I've put into my tank as a one time investment that saves tons of time in the long run. Dosing pumps, a controller, an ato...I expect to not replace any of it for a long time (if ever), but save me the headaches of doing that stuff manually. I'm never going to replace my lighting fixture, and the Vortechs are there for good. The maintenance on good quality equipment is much cheaper than replacing badly made stuff constantly, as I found out with the crazy price I would have paid for buying "cheap" $20 home depot timers every month to replace broken ones - that's why I got the RKL.

 

For me the start up is what nearly knocked me out of the hobby. I DIY nearly everything including my entire 55 gallon overflow system and ATO. DIY saves a ton and works just as well if not better than the high priced stuff out there. Now, unless I am buying fish or corals I rarely spend money on my tank. It takes care of itself.

 

I'm going to a private school and wanted to start a small tank. It is going pretty well but I did spend quite a bit on the start up. I do like to do any DIY projects if I can, depending on how much the supplies will cost me around here, sometimes its better to buy manufactured product than going out to buy parts to make it my self.

 

I found that's especially true with anything acrylic. It's crazy expensive to get everything you need to do it right.

 

There are a lot worse things you could spend your money on... let's just say at least reefing is a healthy habit. ;D

The one purchase I thought I was going overboard on for my tank was my calcium reactor... As a case in point to further blackraven's post above, it's actually made it so I don't have worry about dosing, cut down on long term expenses, and created a stable environment for my corals, so they grow much better... Seeing my SPS corals thrive means I'm not losing livestock that could add up in costs if I were... I'm so glad I made the purchase and don't regret it one bit.

Now, I'm going to touch on something personal for a second... I see so many folks here talking about hiding expenses from their spouse/ significant other... It's obvious that reefing becomes an addiction to us. I think it can drive some to financial trouble, and if you're already not good with managing your money, it can make things worse... My wife and I agree that any "extra" cash I make doing side jobs can go into my tank, as long as none from my FT job goes towards it... it helps keep the bills paid and leads to less arguments over spending money... I have actually thought before that maybe some reefers could use a support group to help control their habit/ addiction to reefing...