Poll: TOTAL MONEY SPENT on Reefing

[flashsmith]

I turned 50 a year ago. I'm at the point where money means nothing and time is valuable. As long as I'm healthy I can always make money. Wish I would have learned this in my 20s. I don't even care what I spend within reason on this hobby. I enjoy it and that's all that matters. I've had it all and lost it all multiple times at this stage. Lol

 

[NoahLikesFish]

my tank:
20 gal: free
pondforse 2100 gph: 2$
hob: free
ato:45$
light relassy 300w:75$
sand fiji pink 40 lb: 30$
rocks: free cause most of it is oyster shells and dry rocks near the beach
fish and coral ~750

 

[Seamore2001]

I reckon I spent around $1.5K last year all in for my three reef tanks. But these tanks are up and running, so that's maintenance, replacing broken equipment, livestock, etc.. I may be off by $100 or $200 but that's in the ballpark.

Start-up costs can be killer, especially if it's a large display where you're adding new equipment and livestock. But once things are up and running, the costs even out.

OTOH, if I added up all I've spent since I started reefing in the late 90s, even having taken a decade break during the late 00s to mid teens, I have probably spent the equivalent of a Golf R or similar toy. So it goes, right?

 

[design.maddie]

My current tank (200xl) has been up and running for 2 years. When people ask the cost, I quote a total invested figure of +$6000.

 

[AJsReef]

Over the past decade, well over $10,000... For my own sanity and fear of the wife tabulating the true total, I stopped keeping track.

 

[Cincyreefer513]

I'm pretty cheap so used equipment is typically what I buy. I have, however, lucked into some really good equipment for incredibly low prices. Being new, I haven't spent "that much" yet, but I'm around $1200ish total including initial stocking. If I bought brand new I'd be looking around $24-2500.

 

[dakoop]

Where is the I choose not to answer option?

 

[fish farmer]

I've been in this hobby 22 years, not sure what my yearly cost is, but assuming I spend probably under $2000 on my first tank and current tank probably cost around that. Toss in upgrades over the years I think around $10,000.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Probably 3k to 4k. I splurged on lighting and skimmer and went cheaper on tank, then proceeded to arrogantly try to keep high end LPS for the first few months while I learned the hard way how to be better disciplined.

I think we shouldn't beat ourselves up though. I'm very glad I took the plunge and I'm a lifelong aquatic hobbyist because it brings me peace and happiness (when everything isn't a dumpster fire). Some hobbies can and are expensive -this happens to be one of them if you let it.

 

[Sean Clark]

I have a spreadsheet for tracking this... I try not to look at the bottom. Just adding up the consumable items like test kits would surprise a lot of people.

 

[czynot]

wife is watching..... so I spend 0.00 in the hobby.

 

[Andrew D]

your multiple choice options don't go high enough....

 

[MillennialReefer]

Started reefing 12 years ago, and that is only reefing, Im not even counting my other pets (reptiles and dog) or freshwater which has been for 20 years ... I`d rather not know . Lets just say with all that money spent I could have put a down payment on a nice house. But the heart wants what the heart wants.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I don't keep track. I'd probably quit the hobby if I did. Judging from the stupid prices I see on corals, there are a lot of reefers like me. And we really wouldn't want our significant others to think about it either. Maybe we should password protect this thread!

 

[landlubber]

10 grand isn't really that hard to spend if i'm honest. my 120 gallon tank requires 15 devices be plugged in, many of which are running continuously. it equals about $100 in electrical each month. 5 years in the hobby and you just spent $6000.
i would guess i'm closer to 20 grand

 

[paulgriffin971]

Is this for just one tank? My red sea 625 reefer is approaching $17,000 after two years. My little 170 max (45 gallon) is around $2,500 total. And that doesn't include $200 monthly for salt and food. Biggest cost shockers for me were never the tanks or inhabitants it is was the----wait for it-----FLOW and LIGHTING!!!

 

[mdb_talon]

I've saved every receipt for my 60 gallon cube and its over 10k, it doesn't look like it for sure. I started saving receipts for my 180 and I said nope, im not doing this again

Thats the approach i also started taking long ago. It dont help me to know how much it costs just takes some of the enjoyment out

 

[ReeferSamster]

Why did it stop at $10k. Lol. I've spent almost as much money on reefing as my house throughout the decades.

 

[trevorhiller]

I started using aquarimate to keep track and when I hit $2k and decided I don't want to know anymore lol

 

[jassermd]

Let's see... Well over $20k here.
Custom 280g w/ stand and hood, all the fixin's, including full Apex, DOS, and Trident.
Add a 40g breeder on the side, plus all the coral and fish.
Like flashsmith, I turned 50 and time is much more valuable than money. I've done stashed away what I need to... This hobby is my "happy place" and there is no price tag one can put on that.