Please Stop Stating This Is An Expensive Hobby.

[Marquiseo]

Not according to the title of this thread.

Every reply in regards to this topic has been someone else's opinion just like I stated mine in the first post which includes the title. Try again.

 

[Diesel]

WOW, not liking where this thread is going.
IMO reading to this thread again most if not all stated their own opinion.
If that's not the case than this thread started out wrong from the get go and should be set into a simple poll.

"Is this Hobby expensive YES or NO?"

Now a my new opinion about this is (sorry if I be Negative to some) but this thread isn't helping anyone in this hobby for that reason I'm out.

 

[G_Sanab922]

I was just joking about the shirt... Lol


I think a private poll with an approximation of everyone's yearly salary would help to some degree.

Everyone has their way of doing this hobby. Some are the DIYers and some don't even want to be on here and just pay others to do everything. So yes, they will be paying a bunch more money than others.
This happens in EVERY hobby!

Déjà vu? Right? Lol

 

[that Reef Guy]

Selling for profit isn't available everywhere. The risks you run are getting fined or worse.. If they want to , they can make you get a aquaculture license if you sell a lot or other licenses depending on which agency.

Yes there is plenty of hobbyist who sell, but once they notice you aren't licensed and sell very very often (like a store basically) they can track you down and fine you. There's plenty of discussion of this on the local club threads.
Of course it isn't often that people are fined, but it does happen. So better save than sorry.

I've spoken to the Department of FL and they have advised me that I must have the proper licensing for profit.
Now others might not care but I don't want to put that risk on myself and family. I rather like doing things correctly.
This is why it varies from area to area.

I have never heard of that.

That is Crazy.

Do they raid Frag Swaps then and Line everybody up?

 

[that Reef Guy]

@thereefguy not everyone is like you and other hobbyist who have the time to look for deals and frag and sell.

We have to remember , there is a minimal percentage of hobbyist who actually use forums and do things themselves, like many of us here. . I find more people who pay people to maintain their aquarium and have one to just look at.

I know not everyone is like me.

I am just showing a way to keep costs down.

And if people are paying to have someone else take care of their tanks then obviously they have money and do not care about cost so they are not the people we are targeting in this thread.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Why are people still arguing over this?
It was said 162 posts ago that it's up to what the hobbiest WANTS to spend.
I think we can all agree on that. $5 for a 2 head candy cane frag or $150 for a single zoa polyp. It's up to you. No one will kill you if you choose the cheaper option, so the CHOICE is YOURS.
It was also said 155 posts ago that what classifies as "expensive" is purely subjective. I think something is expensive and you think it's cheap or vice versa. It doesn't mean either of us are right, it's just an opinion.
There is no right or wrong and we can all argue till the cows come home and get nowhere.
The fact is, it CAN be cheap and it CAN be expensive. Open your minds people, accept others opinions!

It kind of got of topic.

The OP was upset over people telling new people that are considering entering the Hobby that it was expensive.

Yes, it can get very expensive but you do not want to tell people outside the Hobby that.

It gives the Hobby a bad name and keeps people from entering the Hobby.

That does not advance the Hobby.

That is what this Thread is all about.

I think a lot of people did not read it in its entirety from the beginning.

 

[powdermonkey]

Man.....this hobby is expensive

 

[G_Sanab922]

I have never heard of that.

That is Crazy.

Do they raid Frag Swaps then and Line everybody up?

No they don't go that extreme lol. From what is known, they are more interested in the Craigslist ads.

There's plenty of discussions about this, thing is that the law is sort of vague on this. So there is nothing technical. But what is needed is an aquaculture license when growing and selling for profit. It's $150 a year, not that much but still an expense. Most just grow for a while. And sell a bunch at one time. Instead of selling constantly, like a store..

I know about this because I've researched and exchanged emails with the Dept of FL.
But since it's vague, it's not a huge thing. They just cherry pick the people who are more likely to do illegal activities, I would imagine.

Don't get me wrong, I do sell my frags , I'm with you there. But I don't do it often. I've seen some really bad cases down here where they do illegal activity on purpose, that's another level of course, but the consequences are bad. FWC doesn't play down here...

 

[choff]

I couldn't agree more that this hobby does not need to be expensive. Look what you can cobble together on a shoestring budget!

***** full disclosure, this is my tank circa 1991. I just graduated college and waiting tables. I worked on Saturdays at Petco in Cambridge on the fish platform for the discount. Don't ask about the lights. There is just so much wrong here.....

( and I do think this is an expensive hobby )

 

[thejuggernaut]

It kind of got of topic.

The OP was upset over people telling new people that are considering entering the Hobby that it was expensive.

Yes, it can get very expensive but you do not want to tell people outside the Hobby that.

It gives the Hobby a bad name and keeps people from entering the Hobby.

That does not advance the Hobby.

That is what this Thread is all about.

I think a lot of people did not read it in its entirety from the beginning.

I agree that seeing the prices on some of the higher end equipment would scare off allot of new reefers. My only concern is to give unknowing people unrealistic expectations, and then when they start getting into it, they need to spend 4 times what they were told to keep the animals happy and the tank looking like a work of art.

The last thing our hobby needs is new people getting into the hobby, buying a bunch of poor animals and not properly maintaining their tanks because they underestimated the running costs. For that reason alone I still think the old adage about boats and airplanes holds true. "Whatever you think it will cost, double it then add another 10%"

 

[Zippy]

I honestly don't think it's that bad contrasting to other hobbies I've had. Pratical example.. I used to fly rc helicopters and gas (unleaded engine) airplanes. Now just like this hobby, it's what you spend and what options you decide to go, but 2 helicopters(airframe, engine, electronics, exhaust) were 10 grand, then my radio was 3 grand. One airplane airframe complete was 4 grand, and I had 2 of them. So sitting on the ground, your looking at 21,000 easy. That's not considering fuel(30.00 a gallon and 9 flights on a gallon in the heli, 30.00 quart of oil(am soil Saber or redline) and 5.00 for 3 gallons of 93 octane for the airplane) , yearly membership dues, etc. Now these were nicely optioned models on the higher end, but that's the reality. I also did hydroponics and back then, it wasn't cheap.

My take after a few decades with hobbies, is that they are all expensive and honestly, in a way, money pits. But, and the thing that keeps me going, is that I can look back at how these things expanded my mind tremendously. You can't put a dollar sign on that. Just like love, friendship, and other things, money really, it's just money. It ebbs and flows for most people, and some sort of hobby for me, is constructive.

Once your at a certain level though with anything, the most dangerous thing, is that knowledge. You want to share and save others from making the same mistakes. Giving back.. Which is great, but in this and most things , doing something right isn't always cost effective. Every now and then you can save pennies, but even doing so, things just cost or add up. Yes it is truly as expensive as you want to make it, lol, but sooner or later, most are going to learn that themselves anyhow, and it is completely subjective.. To me, it's one of the cheapest hobbies I have ever had..

Well said, +1! This hobby has expanded my mind, educated me on the nuances of reefs, corals and all the movable life with it. As a kid I was told education costs money. It's true and worth every penny!

 

[Waters]

As I stated very early in this thread.....it is all relative. What is expensive to one may be pocket change to another.....which is why this thread will never end lol.

 

[d2mini]

This hobby is expensive. :wink:

 

[joshporksandwich]

It is expensive. If you want it to look good it cost money. But every hobby is the same.

 

[Chetrod]

Perhaps the manufacturers of Aquarium hobby supplies can simply lower the price of some of the materials needed to maintain a beautiful aquarium. 400+ for a wave maker plastic pump is a little excessive or 900 dollars for a skimmer seems a little high, even 1500 dollars for a coral that ranges in size from 1" to 2" is a little crazy. K.I.S.S.
Then we can all say it's not that expensive to be in this hobby. :smile:
Someone making 10k a year might not want to build a 500G aquarium.
Someone making 100K a year might be better suited to do so.
Stay with in a budget then it will be an attainable goal for everyone. :tongue:
I would love a 67 Camaro supped up with all the bells and whistles but I know I can only afford the plastic model sold at a hobby store.
It's all about preference and affordability.
If you tell someone new wanting to get in the hobby you tell them to get an aquarium, Inexpensive lights, an affordable skimmer and a sump or canister filter.
Start with that and upgrade as you go.
I've been building mine since 2002. Started with a 120 G aquarium $800, $800 stand, $60 lights, $250 skimmer, $150 Wet/Dry, $300 pump. $2360 just to start.
The beginning.......

Current.......

10 years in the making...... Scared to add up all the upgrades and lost fish, inverts, and corals along the way.
All hobbies can get expensive. It's the passion of the hobby that drives us. < This should be the title of this thread.




New Hobbiest.... Is this hobby expensive?
Veteran Hobbiest answer...... If your passionate about marine life then let your passion drive you. Start with an aquarium you can afford. I've been in it for 10 years. 35 if you count freshwater.

 

[rhino56]

It's important noobs understand they will be spending some money. Inadequate systems equals suffering animals.

all too common also, the majority of LFS visitors seems to want quick cheap answers for their problems also.

 

[Chetrod]

Another thought....

In the past we had higher wattage pumps, VHO, MH, the need for powerheads in numbers. All with the same issue. They all used up a lot of power in which made electric bills significantly higher.
The increase in popularity in the hobby has made electrical bills relevant in this hobby.
With new technology we now have LED's, DC powered return pumps, DC powered skimmer pumps, low wattage external pumps, DC powered wave makers and controllers.
All of which reduced energy costs by a third. Yes like all new technology its expensive in the beginning but the savings in the long haul is where it counts.
The use of RO/DI water and dosing pumps has reduced the need for massive water changes in turn reducing water bills.
In my experience living in FL my average bill before upgrades ran roughly around 350 a month. (That's a car payment for most) Now with the upgrades my bill on average is 219. That's a reduction of 131 bucks. Now if I can get my wife to do laundry once a week instead of everyday I'm sure we can cut down another third.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I agree that seeing the prices on some of the higher end equipment would scare off allot of new reefers. My only concern is to give unknowing people unrealistic expectations, and then when they start getting into it, they need to spend 4 times what they were told to keep the animals happy and the tank looking like a work of art.

The last thing our hobby needs is new people getting into the hobby, buying a bunch of poor animals and not properly maintaining their tanks because they underestimated the running costs. For that reason alone I still think the old adage about boats and airplanes holds true. "Whatever you think it will cost, double it then add another 10%"

I feel this is a valid point but it depends on how much of a cost they are hearing from people. Some may go super low and many super high but I think that most people will be honest and tell the truth.

I would rather have more people in the hobby even if they are spending more than they expected than less people.

Plus it can be an addiction.

Many people are very very casual and do not spend much on Coral.

But if the Addiction Bug sets in (And it did for me) you will spend waaaaaaaaaaaay more than expected.

I got all the equipment and was not shocked by the price but if I went back in time and told myself how much I would be spending on Coral (Pretty much everything I make after normal bills) I would be shocked.

Plus one tank led to two then three then for and now I am looking at a fifth tank (I didn't expect that) but it happened.

So initial setup can be factored in but once addiction comes into to play there is no way to realize what you will be spending then.

Then again some people buy xenia and cheap muchrooms and stop there.

I go to every Frag Swap and spend a ton, go to people's houses all the time buying a ton, participate in Live Sales, etc.

 

[that Reef Guy]

As I stated very early in this thread.....it is all relative. What is expensive to one may be pocket change to another.....which is why this thread will never end lol.

So True.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Perhaps the manufacturers of Aquarium hobby supplies can simply lower the price of some of the materials needed to maintain a beautiful aquarium. 400+ for a wave maker plastic pump is a little excessive or 900 dollars for a skimmer seems a little high, even 1500 dollars for a coral that ranges in size from 1" to 2" is a little crazy. K.I.S.S.
Then we can all say it's not that expensive to be in this hobby. :smile:
Someone making 10k a year might not want to build a 500G aquarium.
Someone making 100K a year might be better suited to do so.
Stay with in a budget then it will be an attainable goal for everyone. :tongue:
I would love a 67 Camaro supped up with all the bells and whistles but I know I can only afford the plastic model sold at a hobby store.
It's all about preference and affordability.
If you tell someone new wanting to get in the hobby you tell them to get an aquarium, Inexpensive lights, an affordable skimmer and a sump or canister filter.
Start with that and upgrade as you go.
I've been building mine since 2002. Started with a 120 G aquarium $800, $800 stand, $60 lights, $250 skimmer, $150 Wet/Dry, $300 pump. $2360 just to start.
The beginning.......

Current.......

10 years in the making...... Scared to add up all the upgrades and lost fish, inverts, and corals along the way.
All hobbies can get expensive. It's the passion of the hobby that drives us. < This should be the title of this thread.




New Hobbiest.... Is this hobby expensive?
Veteran Hobbiest answer...... If your passionate about marine life then let your passion drive you. Start with an aquarium you can afford. I've been in it for 10 years. 35 if you count freshwater.

Awesome way to explain it to a potential hobbyist.