Hello,
As with everyone I love this hobby but I’m amazed at how many don’t research or only by the most expensive items. There are soooooo many companies out there, aquariums who are seeking beta testers and will donate or let you use their new equipment with little to no cost at all.
I had amazing luck by being affiliated with several aquariums, even ones that I don’t live close to. My current 240 tank runs as good, or nice as those who have spent tons of money. Yes I don’t have Ecotech, or hydras or even kessill, (all great products). But as a hobby, if it’s a true hobby then shouldn’t one be interested in doing research first?
An example is I use current usa items for my 240 and they are simply stunning. Before I came across current usa I was introduced into the fluval marine 2.0 leds. As many will laugh or go gosh (lol she may not know much), some of the larger aquariums use said lights and their tanks are beautiful.
My whole career in this hobby started from my freshman year in high school and I fell in love with it. At that time, I tried to learn and study as much as possible. When I purchased my first tank it was a 125 used from my lfs, which included everything (tank, sump, return, skimmer, wave makers, and heated for 300). It was in amazing condition, and I then went to aquariums to see what kind of tank I would want. After finding this gorgeous tank I fell in love with, and at the time I didn’t know, but it was a mixed reef had sps, lps and softies in it. I asked the main biologist what lights they used and they were fluvals. I explained to him what I was doing and he had two extras and gave them to me.
After setting my tank up, I actuslly couldn’t get the lights to even work, so I called fluval to get help on how to work them. With out questioning they sent me their newest version for free, as long as I sent the others back. So I was very greatful for meeting wonderful people, and by doing some research. Yes, lol people made fun of me and my lights but, my coral grew faster and better than my friends did who had radions.
Fast forward through the rest of college and my senior year of graduate school I found a three month old 240 for sale. My 125 was literally out growing itself and I wanted a larger tank. I ended up getting that tank with a sump and plumbing I think five hundred. Where it sat in my dinnng room for almost a year as I did research.
While in some of my labs and classes I volunteered at different aquariums, and or facilities and lfs shops. I was then able to test lots of different lights, equipment etc. in this sense I would reach out to virtually any company. One of them that I found extremely caring and helpful was Current usa. Their response was mind boggling and their gratitude was beyond anything I had seen.
My point being is we are all new to this hobby at some point. How expensive it is really is comes down soley on us as consumers. If one has done their research, they will usually know there isn’t much difference between brands. I mean let’s be honest, how many times have people actually adventured into local aquariums and asked to see what makes the tanks work? Most of them go to lfs where they run Ecotech or mh or who knows what. But I have seen more Chinese black boxes, current usa, mh and complete no name lights used in local aquariums than I have ever seen them run the name brand ones.
Most of the wave makers were ones from petco, some were hydor, others were jaebo, some gosh I have never heard of before. But a fancy name and pretty little box or style really doesn’t mean much, when something not as pretty and 1/3 the cost does the same thing.
When it comes to live rock etc there are always ways to find live rock or even dry rock. Again by doing research one can learn how to prevent pests going into their new tank. All the materials are here for us online and in the library or offer the marine biologist coffee or lunch and they will talk (till you fall asleep, yes I was one who fell asleep once, at least they knew it wasn’t on purpose). The same with live sand etc there are several ways to obtain this with out spending your life savings on it.
When it comes to fish and corals, one needs to have a game plan on what they want. Yes the biggest risk can be live stock because well simply it’s life we never know what can happen. But again the cost still is soley up to the consumer. All corals are pretty, as well as all fish as well (well maybe not all but you get the idea). Would I love to have a gem tang or a black long nosed tang of course. Yet, am I dying to spend 900 on either one, ahhhh lol well not really. One would be amazed on how many aquariums hey donated corals or fish all the time. Visit them and trade with aquariums (Yes have them get to know you first, spend time volunteer etc most are non profit). They get all kinds of neat things in and they do what they can to preserve them. But like any of us, their systems crash also. I have traded some of my small coral frags, for some of theirs. When one of their tanks crashed they called me asking me if I still had a piece of that coral. When you say yes it’s growing great, let me frag a piece off so you can restart your tank there, it goes along way and saves money.
Everyone one obviously can do what they want with their money, and there is no wrong way. Yet, if one puts the time in, they can a very nice system for maybe 1/3 or the cost. People that don’t have lots of money really can afford this hobby if they research it a little more.
Yes sorry I wrote a book didn’t mean to, if I was one who put you to sleep lol I’m soooo sorry.
Sincerely
Sarah
But to recapture your main point, I totally agree that if one is willing to put in the "time" and "research" into the hobby and not just dive in headfirst without any forethought, then yes! One can not only get good deals, use under the radar products AND still have better results than someone who throws money into the hobby rather than time and research.
