It sort of feels like you posted your opinion and then attack anyone who has an opinion that's different than yours... You say that it's vital to spend top dollar on every aspect of your tank and if you don't you're putting the lives of your corals at risk. We shouldn't play "god" with our livestock, etc. but then also say that you started buying the expensive technology because you like it/enjoy it (not because it was what's best for your livestock).
The simple fact is the prices in this hobby are out of control and the only reason for the expensive prices is because people feel that it's not possible to run a reef tank without all the expensive gadgets. There is no reason that a powerhead should cost between $300 - $500. There's even less reason for a single light fixture to cost $800. Sure they might have slightly higher end LED's in them that can produce a bit higher PUR but if you have checked out the thread comparing some LED fixtures PUR to the sun, then you've seen that they produce considerably more than the sun (is that even necessary?). Oh and sorry, you can control them from your phone using an app, which has no bearing on the health or well being of your livestock. We are spending all this extra money to make the corals grow faster and produce more color than they do in nature (potentially). That makes me ask, is it necessary for their health and for them to thrive or is it necessary because we want our Walt Disney Acro to look better than the other guy on the forum? To me that's more selfish than it is required. I'll also ask this, do you keep your parameters anything above what the ocean parameters are for better growth? Keeping alk above 8 or calcium above 410? If you are then you aren't doing it for what the coral needs, you're doing it for yourself... period. That's like saying if you aren't giving your children growth hormones and steroids to grow faster+taller and be stronger than other children, you are a terrible parent.
