How do people afford this hobby!!!

[Harrison Gordon]

Wow! Where I'm from there don't seem to be as many reefers......hard to find secondhand equipment nearby online
Still got my sump 1/3 price from the LFS used, the tank $100 off with scratch, and a ton of stuff cheap from home Depot like plumbing.

Total cost for my 75 somehow made it to a little under 3k.......no idea how!

I agree, im getting a 225 rimless with stand, 2mp40s, 2 4ft8blubs TC5, zero edge sump and a lot more for 500 bucks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I agree, im getting a 225 rimless with stand, 2mp40s, 2 4ft8blubs TC5, zero edge sump and a lot more for 500 bucks.

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HUH?? Got a Pic ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Me... owed to overtime at work

 

[Jose Berry]

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HUH?? Got a Pic ?

I pick it up this weekend and will post pictures. I’m excited to go and pick it up. Although the circumstances suck for the seller. Hurricane Florence left his house uninhabitable. He has to move ASAP and that being said the tank set up went for dirt cheap. Another thing about huge tanks is they don’t sell as quickly in the public market some times and for people who search for them typically they are expensive AF. I got lucky and searched a few adds only to find a person who knew of the add and hoocked me up.

I will post the add up though to what I was texted.

 

[Bob Weigant]

I feel for the guy who had to give it up but congrats to you for being able to pick it up

 

[Jose Berry]

I feel for the guy who had to give it up but congrats to you for being able to pick it up

I’m excited although he said the tanks in decent shape this will be a year long project of getting it ready. I found out it’s acrylic and has things I wouldn’t approve of. This being said I am going to build a custom stand and re finish the entire tank. I’ll post pictures when I get the tankthursday night.

 

[Jose Berry]

Can’t get it Thursday but will be getting it Friday. He did manage to send pictures.....I am stupid excited to pick this tank up.

I will start a new thread on the build of this tank too so stay tuned for that.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I can’t really afford to do it the way that I really want to. So instead, I just have people who have a lot more money than I do pay me to do it for them.

Kinda cheating the system a little.

 

[gnubbs]

Well, I travel a LOT for work, so my system is a bit crazy for it's size. 10g Waterbox AIO with LPS and some SPS. This is a recent upgrade from my 4g with basically the same equipment.

Maxspect light. MP10. Tunze Skimmer. Apex to control everything including a feeder. Two part dosing. ATO. Way overkill on filtration.

Probably $2k for a 10g tank... I am traveling at least a few days every week, so love being able to check in on things remotely and know that when I get home there won't be any surprises.

As to how I afford it... I buy everything used, which helps. I DIY a lot. And i take my time with stocking - maybe one coral a month.

 

[vipete1985]

Let’s be honest....If you don’t spend the money here on the hobby you are going to spend it somewhere else...Every guy who works his butt off needs a good hobby to relax his mind. Some of his even have to deal with wives and kids.....we need an escape...we need something to take our mind and put it away from every day drama...There is no price for my peace of mind...I don’t even bother trying to figure out the money involved...Corals die and you buy more, filters and media become depleted, salt is used up new equipment comes out and you buy it, electricity costs and time spent testing parameters and problem solving issues....Hey man as long as you enjoy it just keep on reefing

 

[Gonzo74]

I think I have spent over $10,000 in the last 3 months getting back into the Hobby after 4 years away from it. I don't mind spending the money, but when I did not have as much money over 4 years ago, it seemed to be easier. I feel like the more expensive I go, the more complications. I should have stuck to cheap and simple....

 

[erk]

I don't count. I don't want to count. If I counted, then it would be a job, not a hobby. I'm not an accountant nor will I get reimbursed for my expenditures. Therefore, I will continue to spend on the hobby I enjoy and always look for "deals" on the things I like. Honestly, I've probably spent less on reefing than I have on photography. Not too sure because, again, I don't keep count. And a perk to not counting; the wife never truly knows how much you spent.

 

[Gonzo74]

I don't count. I don't want to count. If I counted, then it would be a job, not a hobby. I'm not an accountant nor will I get reimbursed for my expenditures. Therefore, I will continue to spend on the hobby I enjoy and always look for "deals" on the things I like. Honestly, I've probably spent less on reefing than I have on photography. Not too sure because, again, I don't keep count. And a perk to not counting; the wife never truly knows how much you spent.

Yeah, I should stop counting. Lucky for me, my wife spends as much as I do on the tank. I like the science behind it and she likes to aquascape.