How do people afford this hobby!!!

[c_healy]

I'm over 3k on my 20gal nuvo including corals and fish if that makes you feel better

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Small tanks can still get expensive

 

[reefwiser]

There are many hobby’s that cost way more than an aquarium. I think the issue with an aquarium is that is right in front of the spouse. So the see all the equipment and livestock every day. Where as with golf or guns the goods are not right in front of them. So it is not so in the face. [emoji3]

 

[c_healy]

There are many hobby’s that cost way more than an aquarium. I think the issue with an aquarium is that is right in front of the spouse. So the see all the equipment and livestock every day. Where as with golf or guns the goods are not right in front of them. So it is not so in the face. [emoji3]

Indeed my fishing equipment makes what I spend on the reef tank look like a joke hah

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

HUGE startup costs for sure. I'm 11yrs in.....have all the equip I need but smthg breaks every 2yrs....so it never stops. I got a $500 Barracuda main pump that has 6 yrs on it. Im just waiting for that thing to just STOP working one day.

To depress you further.... I ran some #s for 2017.....and over the year counting electricity, water, salt, every little thing I could think of....just MAINTAINING what I had was about $1500 for that year.

Lump in throat...I know

You could start an aquarium maintenance business and right off alot of it. Just saying

 

[Dennis McGrath]

I've got a 13.5 gallon Nano and a 32 gallon Nano both purchased in the past 90 days. I've got a little over 2k in them so far.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Even with everything basically used I put $2000 so far into my 75g including livestock. It does rack up quick but man I do love my salt babies, makes it all worth it.

Yeah, my children of the sea. Anyone come between them and me. I'm like a momma bear with cubs. I see blood.

 

[KMench]

My tank is relatively new, so I think I can do a pretty good job recalling costs. I have a 75 G not reef ready tank and can basically itemize for you. Current equipment 3 AI Hydra 26's ($900), tank ($100), DIY stand (~$150), 30g sump (free), overflow box ($69), PVC plumbing ($30), Nyos Viper 3.0 return pump ($70), 2 Vortech MP 40's ($600), DIY mesh lids ($20), dry rock 100 lbs ($260), 80lbs of arag-alive sand ($100), Vertex Omega 150 skimmer ($300), Jebao Doser ($60), Hanna Checker for Alk ($50), Red Sea Test Kit ($40). Then after that basically add whatever livestock / corals you want to the costs. And salt! So ballpark 2,750 dollars for the tank and all equipment to get started for me. However, it was probably more really because I tried to start with cheap equipment and then ended up changing it out for nicer stuff anyway. I don't have an Apex or any of that fancy automation stuff which can also definitely increase your build cost.

 

[CMO]

When I stared my 165g tank I estimated it'd cost about 12k all in. In reality im probably in 20k on my tank to date including live stock and corals. Miscellaneous supplies, water production / storage and testing equipment can really add up (included in my all in tank cost). Eeek

 

[Dennis McGrath]

I'm also keeping my cost down with my setups in the fact that I'm old school. No ATO, or ANYTHING automated. I dose by hand and check everything myself. I don't trust computers (even though I work in the IT field), and I'm cheap.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

One company in 1990 had a desk top computer go bad. Was a million dollar repair. H20 from air conditioner ruin it. In server room

 

[Silverfish]

It’s good to recognize! Sounds like you were given good advice on the value of a dollar. Don’t forget to pay it forward!

 

[Rispa]

One company in 1990 had a desk top computer go bad. Was a million dollar repair. H20 from air conditioner ruin it. In server room

Wow, that's some perspective.

As for how I afford it, hubby takes care of his expenses and the house, I work part time and use that money to take care of me and enjoy whatever hobby I'm more focused on at the time.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

I also golf and just got all new clubs at club champion with a custom fit, the fit alone was 350 and I spent 4K on the new set custom shafts and everything to the tee, that’s why you see my old clubs on here for trade for coral or for sale
Pm me for more info on them or if interested lol

 

[Greybeard]

It's a hobby. By definition, that's an activity that consumes your discretionary funds and your free time. How much time? As much as you're willing to invest. How much money? Same answer.

You can pick up a used system... lots of them around, with the exceptionally large failure rate in this hobby... fairly cheap. I've seen 40 to 60 gallon tanks, complete setups, for a few hundred bucks. Fill it from a cheap RO system, what, a hundred bucks? and budget salt... and stock it with <$20 fishes, and cheap or free frags from a local reefing club. Use food grade chems for dosing... It is possible, with a little effort, to keep the costs reasonable.

Or not. I did a fully custom tank, custom stand, reasonably high end equipment... and yeah, it cost me a bundle.

Neither of those paths will insure success. A successful tank is most likely the result of a knowledgeable, conscientious reefkeeper. Throwing money at it doesn't always help, unless you can afford to go all the way down that path, and hire a knowledgeable reefkeeper to maintain your tank for you. I've seen nice looking tanks that have under $500 invested in them. I've seen disasters that cost ten times that much.

Expensive: It's a hobby. My other hobby relates to firearms... believe me, you can invest just as much in that hobby as you can in reefing. Same is true with any hobby, really. Ask a serious golfer how much money is in their bag. Talk to a fisherman about the rig he drags to the lake on the weekend. Anybody who's hobby relates to vehicles... collecting, racing, etc. is going to figure reefing is a bargain. Huh. Talk to someone trying to get their sport pilot license I'd guess you could find people that spend as much as I have on my reef on tools for woodworking, maybe even sewing.

That's what hobbies are for.

 

[Silverfish]

Well there is a common theme to these posts regardless of cost and that’s pride. You can really feel it coming through.

 

[vector824]

There are many hobby’s that cost way more than an aquarium. I think the issue with an aquarium is that is right in front of the spouse. So the see all the equipment and livestock every day. Where as with golf or guns the goods are not right in front of them. So it is not so in the face. [emoji3]

Yeah I agree with this. Out of sight out of mind. The whole point of a saltwater tank is to LOOK at it. Yesterday my wife said "you've been looking at that tank all day!" I replied back, "That's what it's FOR!" ;Facepalm

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I also golf and just got all new clubs at club champion with a custom fit, the fit alone was 350 and I spent 4K on the new set custom shafts and everything to the tee, that’s why you see my old clubs on here for trade for coral or for sale
Pm me for more info on them or if interested lol

I use to sell nitrogen dipped clubs when that technology was new. 1992? Dealt with people all over country. I have bad back no golfing now

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Everything is expensive if you go buy the best stuff possible. I mean look at ladies purses, some can cost 20 dollars and others 2400 or more for a dumb purse. Saltwater tanks can be extremely expensive, but they can also be as cheap as the next hobby. I don’t have I think over 2500 for my 240 tank and it does simply amazing. Remeber to buy what just works and is reliable. Lots of the name brand stuff aka Radion, hydra apex, among some and lots of others I’m missing have lots of problems. There is a reason they use customers as beta testers.

I have been very very blessed by Current Usa who has donated a lot of their new equipment to me try and use. With that said in blunt honesty it’s by far the best I have used and or beta tested. With that said I’m not a super techy girl, I barley know how to use my iPhone (I have only had it two days). Remeber if something costs 900 dollars there is always something that costs 150 that is just as good as the 900, except the name. If name is what concerns you then lol Just paint your favorite brand name on it.

 

[doughboy]

this is a you gotta be made of money kind of hobby.
to make things worse, when you quit, unless you got real lucky, you'll get pennies for what you spent. to make it even worse, this can also become one of the most stressful hobbies when you start dealing with issues like gha, aiptasia, etc. and you have to worry about power outage, vacation sitter, etc.
there are many hobbies that don't cost much and no stress. reading, crossword puzzle, play chess, etc.