Who do you think leaves this hobby more, softy tanks, LPS-softy, SPS tanks or mixed

When I read/see people leaving this hobby, I see it's mostly SPS tank owners. I know people leave this hobby for many reasons, but most SPS tanks I see are high tech and most demanding. And I've seen so many softy tanks mixed with LPS be so low tech and much less demanding of a system. I wounder how many people dive into the SPS tanks not knowing the elevated cost and maintenance these tanks demand and then just leave. It just makes one think if some people are making things harder on themselves trying to make the "perfect" tank.

 

I tend to agree with you but I would go further to say it is the novice sps keeper that's leaving the hobby. People see these posts in reefkeeping magazine and other places and decide they want one of those beautiful sps tanks not realizing the time and patience it takes to keep SPS successfully. I don't really think it's the money or the fact that it's high tech because I have seen a lot of low tech sps tanks that work just fine. it just takes more work and patience. I have a buddy that had a 300 gallon sps tank that he dosed manually with 2 part and it was absolutely gorgeous. He ended up having to sell it due to a move but the tank was absolutely amazing. So I will say it is novice sps keepers.

 

Luckily for me, I don't like SPS that much! I really like LPS. I like watching corals move.

 

My tank is about as low tech as you can get and I have had very good success with my SPS until just recently going from my 40b to my 72 bow front. Lost my birdnest, but it was my fault.

 

I bet there's a lot of newb's that have fowlr or some lps that leave from which we never knew they even gave up. I wouldn't think there would be to many newb's starting out in an sps tank. I left the hobby for a few years & missed having a tank so much.

 

I would agree that burn out gets many and using the KISS principal whenever possible will help with that.

 

Algae issues or moving, IMO. That's why I left for a bit. SPS really isn't all that much more effort. The technology is unnecessary, but a cool toy to have.

 

I use the same equipment for my newly added sps that I had when I only had softys and lps. And my sps are growing like crazy. I don't think equipment has anything to do with it like just said "just a cool toy". There are many reasons people leave. Most of the time I think it is people don't know what they are getting into and the maintenance a successful reef takes. Just my personal opinion.

 

Yeah can I quote you on that for 3-4 years down the line?

Most new hobbyist leave out of frustration related to algae, money, dedication....

The reason you notice sps more is because they have a ton of expensive equipment to sell off and corals and they know to post for it.

Go to craigslist, look at cheap FW tanks vs Sps systems for sale.

 

Now that I'm not at work ill explain a little more what I was saying. I just recently started keeping sps. I have the same setup that I did when I only had softys and Lps. I would say that I do not have a cheap set up. I don't have a lot of bells and whistles. I don't have controllers or dosing pumps but I have the necessary equipment to have a successful reef and the dedication to keep up with it. I must say that I have been in the hobby for about 5 years before keeping my first sps.

I do agree with you on this.

Most new hobbyist leave out of frustration related to algae, money, dedication....