Mass Reefing Exodus?

[ErikVR]

Lol I think most people see a BRS video of a tank that probably has a 10k+ price tag and a team of 10 people maintaining it and compare their tank to that which both isn't fair and can be disheartening.

Great point. The tanks that we want take lots money, experience and time to grow and maintain. Most people will never get there.

 

[Troylee]

Lol I think most people see a BRS video of a tank that probably has a 10k+ price tag and a team of 10 people maintaining it and compare their tank to that which both isn't fair and can be disheartening.

Nah… I have Very large tank and it’s sparkly clean and not an ounce of algae in it besides corraline! I spend 10min a day at best cleaning the glass and releasing the mulm in the zeo reactor. It’s not hard as everyone makes it.

 

[MarsReefer]

I mean my tank costs over $100 a month just to run without adding anything to it. In a time when layoffs are everywhere, food costs have exploded, and money is tight that's a big ask for a lot of people.

I love my tank and even I look at it sometimes and say, is this really worth $100/mo of enjoyment?

 

[KandAReefs]

Anyone else noticing a lot of people leaving the hobby lately?

No more free covid money, inflation and the lack of instant gratification that younger people are conditioned to today. The hobby has also priced many people out years ago people traded frags or just gave them away now everyone and there brother is trying to get $50 a frag.

 

[shakacuz]

No more free covid money, inflation and the lack of instant gratification that younger people are conditioned to today. The hobby has also priced many people out years ago people traded frags or just gave them away now everyone and there brother is trying to get $50 a frag.

i think this brings up a good point, too. perhaps those also getting out of the hobby are hobbyists turning vendors? the market is saturated with the same corals, or colors, so perhaps people are also leaving due to there being too many competitors or like-minded folks just looking to be in the hobby to make money.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I think a lot of people are actually back to work on location now too. Working long shifts certainly takes away the reefing time. I just don’t do anything with my family (who are older now) so I just go to work and reef when I get home. Nothing else.

 

[KandAReefs]

I heard a fish store owner once say something like this - "If you want to have a million dollars after opening a fish store, start with 2 milmillion.

I have had 2 LFS go out of business in the last year or two. I'm lucky to live in Central Florida and have many options but nothing within an hour drive (with traffic). Online selling has killed most of them and now ever hobbyist is now a potential vendor.

 

[Brandont21]

Nah… I have Very large tank and it’s sparkly clean and not an ounce of algae in it besides corraline! I spend 10min a day at best cleaning the glass and releasing the mulm in the zeo reactor. It’s not hard as everyone makes it.

How old is your tank? Most people never make it past the first year, which is by far the worst year of reefing. Things become much easier after that milestone

 

[Troylee]

How old is your tank? Most people never make it past the first year, which is by far the worst year of reefing. Things become much easier after that milestone

8 months… never seen a spec of algae besides the dusting on the glass… it’s bacteria driven and the best way to go in my opinion.

 

[KandAReefs]

i think this brings up a good point, too. perhaps those also getting out of the hobby are hobbyists turning vendors? the market is saturated with the same corals, or colors, so perhaps people are also leaving due to there being too many competitors or like-minded folks just looking to be in the hobby to make money.

The community has very much changed as well. I have been reefing for 20 years and my dad had a reef tank 20 years before that so I have seen this community grow tremendously. Bit I remember we used to have local reefing clubs that would get together at each others homes and trade frags and just talk tanks. The internet has changed this and a lot for the good as the information is so much better. But we have lost the connection with others in the hobby. It's all about min max and how can I make $ from everything. I have seen it in this forum you used to see people giving things away or trade them. Now it is sell sell sell. It's just the change in the times.

 

[KandAReefs]

8 months… never seen a spec of algae besides the dusting on the glass… it’s bacteria driven and the best way to go in my opinion.

Beautiful tank.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

The community has very much changed as well. I have been reefing for 20 years and my dad had a reef tank 20 years before that so I have seen this community grow tremendously. Bit I remember we used to have local reefing clubs that would get together at each others homes and trade frags and just talk tanks. The internet has changed this and a lot for the good as the information is so much better. But we have lost the connection with others in the hobby. It's all about min max and how can I make $ from everything. I have seen it in this forum you used to see people giving things away or trade them. Now it is sell sell sell. It's just the change in the times.

Yeah, I tried many times to start a local club. Always an excuse to not show up. I think some people get into reefing because it is expensive. It becomes a trophy for them to validate their social status. Sorta like buying that corvette at middle age.

 

[KrisReef]

No more free covid money, inflation and the lack of instant gratification that younger people are conditioned to today. The hobby has also priced many people out years ago people traded frags or just gave them away now everyone and there brother is trying to get $50 a frag.

I bought 4 x $30. frags from a nice guy at a LFS that is on my route home (50 miles from my house) this week. He has almost zero fishes in the store and the frag racks are getting baren. Other than a few zoa's most of the colony spots in the store are empty and it reminds me of how stores looked when Indo shut down.

When the last LFS closes, PetCo will still be around to supply fish and corals to the few that want them as well as provide 300 kinds of dog and cat foods for the approved pets that people can have.

I've listened to the tales of how live rock harvesting, reef fish netting, and Climate Tides and currents are all killing the reefs of the planet and it seems to be aimed at a future without pets. First they came for the fish, next your dogs and cats, lizards and snakes, all evil will be eliminated via government fiat.

Soon everyone will be happy to be a Free Range Chicken farmer.

 

[shakacuz]

Yeah, I tried many times to start a local club.

that's where i am at now. i started the EPRA group so people could go back to those days where we could go to each others houses and talk tank and trade frags regardless of price or lineage. due to the economy and personal finances of every person, its difficult. my LFS has dwindled in quality and traffic and it forces me to wait for fragswaps or events like RAPNY just to meet likeminded people. which is still great in its own way, but the desire is to keep things local and not have to drive too far.

 

[KrisReef]

Relax folks, it’s not as bad as it looks.

Check out this post from someone bucking the trend

Hello - New reefer in town

What’s up everyone! I’m Marcus! I am brand new to the salt water game! I’ve had my tank about 3 weeks ! I am basically a nubile baby so I’ll be bothering a lot of you with many questions

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BetterJake]

I just looked at an article that mentioned dog shelters getting overcrowded as well, with a lot of dogs going back from families that adopted during lockdowns. I imagine it's part of people just not having the time/money anymore. Reefing is a hard hobby and has a high turnover regardless.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Yeah, I tried many times to start a local club. Always an excuse to not show up. I think some people get into reefing because it is expensive. It becomes a trophy for them to validate their social status. Sorta like buying that corvette at middle age.

Yeah it's rough. Related side note if you're a reefer in Central NC I'm happy to do some frag sharing! Got maybe a dozen baby toadstools I'd happily part with

 

[Naekuh]

I agree about the cost being absolute horrendous. Fish are pricey, corals have funny names and are stupidly expensive for the good ones.
Maintenance is costly.

I see more people doing freshwater shrimp tanks lately, growing neocardina and cardina shrimps tho.

I think it's also easier selling a 30 dollar bee shrimp that's a semi cull vs breaking off that coral that's become weed in your tank.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Definitely a mass exodus in my area. Even vendors are closing up shop. I guess it’s a good time to buy equipment.

 

[acro-ed]

I’ve noticed a decline lately. It’s already been said, times are tough for a lot of folks and this hobby is a pure excess and is the first thing to go when you are trying to balance a budget. It'll swing back eventually.

-Ed