More than just a hobby, a money maker?

[User]

This is a poor analogy. Coral is not comparable with golf clubs.

what? you havent seen the new japanese self replicating nanomaterial golf clubs?

 

[Mark Gray]

I have a close friend that started an Aquarium maintenance business, bow he has LFS. And bow he is starting to grow out and frag coral.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

This is a poor analogy. Coral is not comparable with golf clubs.

But did you get the gist of his point?

 

[User]

But did you get the gist of his point?

sure

but the market is capitalist. if youre not profiting off of your high end acro purchase, and reaping the invested time and energy, you can be guarenteed one of the dudes you gave it to for $25 sure will. he might even put it in his tank first, before he flips it.

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

I said no, purely because I think once it becomes a job, I think I'll not enjoy it as a hobby anymore.

 

[Mhart032]

BRSTv did a video on this I believe - called the side hustle. Or maybe it was talked about in another video...

it was in the new tank build video when they were with Jeff from Vibrant.

 

[Doctorgori]

Yeah up until my LFS offered me 1/4 wholesale Price for my Hand raised marine fish ,,,

 

[NeverlosT]

there is a biiig difference between "making a few bucks here and there at shows slinging frags" and "making it your livelihood". Id wager 90% of the people at the shows have day jobs, or work in a LFS.

 

[Jerry Ebner]

It's my hobby when I get off work I want to look at my tank not feel like a job again. When I was just starting off in the working I did manage a freshwater fish store . But I do not want to do that again.

 

[Paul B]

It's a hobby for me but I have made some money at it. I have two aquarium related patents, one is the "Majano Wand" and another is a seahorse feeder. The Majano Wand is sold by Marine Depot. I don't own the company and don't want, anything to do with the company. I just get royalties as I didn't want the headaches but I still hold the patent.

The seahorse feeder used to be sold by "Brine Shrimp Direct" and after making thousands of them, I got tired and stopped. But they made some money.

I also made and shipped a few thousand of these to Marine Depot until I got tired of building them and my acrylic tube manufacturer moved to China.



I wrote a book that is doing fairly well. The "Avant -Garde Marine Aquarist" 100% of the profits from that go to Multiple Sclerosis research in my wife's name so I really can't count that as profit.

 

[nkyreef]

Never considered it as a business. 1) I have a difficult time selling $10 - 15 frags locally. 2) I see the amount of loss sometimes at several LFS and that would be heartbreaking. 3) I enjoy seeing the coral grow out in the tank naturally. 4) Shipping seems inevitable for the business to grow and that would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Anchorboy]

Growing coral frags is easy and fun. Selling them, packaging them and shipping them is a pain in the butt. I supply the LFS and do the occasional swap to help cover costs but no business for me.

 

[zromano]

I work for a real estate developer who has historically done a lot of retail shopping centers and is pushing into industrial now too. I’ve thought many times about how reef farms or reef shops could be integrated into our projects but haven’t found the right person or group. Think there’s definitely a profit to make from a massive scale farm, definitely high start up costs. But that business line, with some vertical integration in a retail space & online, would be achievable in my eyes. Love seeing all the thoughts here on the forum!

 

[JPergamo]

I've made some money to put back into my tank on the sale of frags and flipping items (Mostly putting together whole systems or piecing out bundled purchases). The main way I have jumped into the industry is through a different avenue, by starting and co-hosting a podcast. In the last two years, we have put out 104 episodes! Providing weekly episodes that usually run an hour or so and are full of great content. Check it out if you get a chance, great for commuting or to listen to while servicing your tank. The Reef News Network @ReefNewsNetwork

Certainly glad you chose this route. Keep up the awesome work, big fan here and have listened to every minute.

 

[Mical]

I considered it once - going full time in the hobby (maybe at BRS - they seem to always be hiring) but after some thought, it would take the enjoyment out of my tanks at home. My tanks at home bring me peace & take everyday stress away. Working in the hobby full time would more than likely make me neglect my tanks.

 

[ppatches24]

This is a poor analogy. Coral is not comparable with golf clubs.

No its not. its literally perfect.

 

[Evan28395950]

Sometimes if I want to buy another new coral or piece of equipment, I’ll frag corals to sell. But that’s about it

 

[mrpizzaface]

But did you get the gist of his point?

I think I did, and while I don’t think it was ill intentioned I am not sure if I understand why one would worry about how much another person would choose to sell coral fragments for. Surely the market will regulate the pricing.

 

[mrpizzaface]

No its not. its literally perfect.

Please elaborate on its literal perfection.

 

[JCOLE]

This is a poor analogy. Coral is not comparable with golf clubs.

I guess you aren't into Golf then? I got out of that hobby awhile ago but I know how expensive the hobby was and still is.

I used that analogy because once you purchase the clubs or a frag it is a done deal. Whether you dropped $1200 on a sweet set of Callaways or $350 on a "Rooty Tuity Fresh And Fruity" frag piece, the sale is done. The only investment you have in the corals are lighting, feeding, etc whatever it takes in growing the coral which should be part of the hobby and just what the expenses take to grow it. The same for Golf. After the clubs are purchased then you have the expenses of green fees, lunches, trips to get the course, etc. Again, all of that is part of the hobby of golf. Trying to get rich on corals because you can is anyone's choice, I get that. However. It is not good for the hobby to keep the coral prices jacked up so someone can make a quick buck.

This is for the hobbyist with a Display tank and a single frag tank(like myself) and not toward vendors. I understand vendors have overhead, costs, etc that goes into the business and it just is what it is.

Again, I am into it for the hobby and the experience of growing corals and meeting awesome people along the way. Just doesn't feel right to charge a fellow hobbyist $350 for a tiny nub of my colony I bought for the same price a year ago. But to each their own i guess.