Has your hobby become a bad habit?

[NanaReefer]

How much do you compromise just to keep your aquarium going? Are you reefing above & beyond your means? Is that upgrade way more then you can afford but you just can't stop yourself? Utilities shut off during your new upgrade? Do you worry where your next bucket of salt will come from?
I'm curious

 

[Mike J.]

I just knew this would be interesting. The conditions you mentioned certainly would make it a "bad habit."

A thought comes to mind - How many times have you heard - "They shouldn't own that horse or dog if they can't afford to take care of it"? A lot of dogs or horses get put down because owners can't afford the Vet.

I've certainly think about getting a real large aquarium, but hopefully I won't unless I can afford that luxury.

 

[mike007]

Not that bad but i do spend more than i should. lol

 

[TruRacr314x]

I consider mine more of an addiction than a bad habit! :wink:

 

[NanaReefer]

Come guys!! You still haven't answered any of the questions?
Give me just ONE thing you've gone without for the sake of your reef.
Me? I've had the same tires on my Jeep for 12yrs because every tax return I spend most of the money on my reef.

My son was driving home from work at 12:30am, temp was -7 and my Jeep blew a tire.

 

[harryball69]

its a real addiction and a bad habit and its a disorder .. haha

 

[NeverlosT]

I try to keep my spending in check, but I work hard to be able to blow money on this hobby. It does pain me when I see folks whose cars are broken down and who are skipping meals but are plopping down cash for a pricey acro. Then again, to each their own I suppose!

What does really bug me is when someone starts a stellar (baller) build thread and some uncouth individual has to ask "How much did you spend?!?!". That is like walking up to a stranger and asking him how his lady is in the sack. It is rude and is likely to make everyone uncomfortable.

 

[Eienna]

When you can no longer take care of your responsibilities, then it becomes bad.

 

[PaulKreider]

I have a serious spending problem, probably the reason i'm going to have to sell my tank. 6grandish on a tank at 19years old, kind of out of my budget.

 

[tyler1503]

Come guys!! You still haven't answered any of the questions?
Give me just ONE thing you've gone without for the sake of your reef.
Me? I've had the same tires on my Jeep for 12yrs because every tax return I spend most of the money on my reef.

My son was driving home from work at 12:30am, temp was -7 and my Jeep blew a tire.

Ill answer
Yes, I do go without water changes far too often. I'm constantly putting them off so I can eat haha.
And yes, when that quarterly power bill comes in, I just know I'll have to pick up extra shifts at work!
And yes, I do pick up extra shifts just so I can pay for that new fish I've been eyeing!
And yes, this upgrade I'm planning is out of the budget, but I'll just have to work my butt off to pay for it.
And no, I wouldn't say it's become a bad habit. Nothing this fun or innocent could be bad!

 

[JMSKI333]

It sounds like a lot of us are in denial.

I rememeber when I was 19 (23 now) and I spend 6k+ on my reef. I think I would throw up if I knew what the number is now. I am pretty good about paying bills first but I do find that if my bills are paid and I have $100 left, it is for sure being spent on my tanks. Since I got my tank I have been unable to save any sort of money.

One tip I've learned though is when I am doing well finanacially, I stock up on the essentials. I.E. I'll buy like three buckets of salt, 3 gallons of Kalk, 3 gallons of charcoal, fish food etc. That way when I am low on cash, I will be at least able to keep the tank healthy.

 

[bitumenman]

I'm constantly hearing it from the wife. No, no, no, we can't afford that right now, wait till next payday,. I've been at this for a few years and I'm allmost fully set-up to install a 180gal

 

[will2629]

yes I agree I go above and beyond 1 nano turned Into a 60 cube and a 60 frag I do spend a little too much sometimes but its the only thing I do persay hobby wise I don't put a bill or health before my tank ,all in all I enjoy it and wouldn't trade it for anything else

 

[Zero Nitrates]

But it sure is fun!

 

[BENT STIX]

In the past year, I set up a 40g tank. That wasn't enough so I bought a 120g tank with all the bells and whistles. I took the 40g down and was satisfied for a little while. Then I set the 40 back up and had 2 tanks running. Then I picked up a nuvo 8g. Three tanks deep and it wasn't enough. Down came the 120. Up went a 300g. Here I am with a 300g, 40g, and an 8g. I love the fish and coral but the gadgets are my weakness. I love new "things" from apex to dosing pumps. If it plugs in and does something, I want it. I have never and will never go without things I need because of the aquarium but, no big vacation plans or new cars are in the works.

 

[Connie]

I don't go without, however; when I think about all the money invested into my reef, I could have done a lot with it, like... remodel the master bathroom or the kitchen....lol I do spend too much on it, but I just can't help it. It's a vicious circle too because after I buy a bunch of stuff for the tank, I contemplate getting out of the hobby because it's too much work and no one in the family gives a rat's patooty about it but me...then the next thing ya know, I'm buying something else...

 

[Scooter90254]

When I was running 300 gallons it was getting pricey. I have means to support it but it was a lot of work and expensive just to maintain. Buying things for the tank is fun. Just paying for the electric bill and supplies is not. I much more satisfied with the hobby now that I down sized.

 

[Bubbles_B]

of course...

 

[navila06]

I needed new tires on my car but bought a skimmer, and a vortech pump instead.

 

[chefb_5]

When reading what every body had to say i would have to agree with JMSKI and the rest! i to suffer from no one else gives a rats booty about it as much as i would like them to lol. My set- up has all the major things a successful reefer needs, but that was when life was good and jobs weren't so hard to get. I'm glade that you posted this now when I do run into some money def will be stocking up on salt and stuff to dose.