Why do so many people leave the hobby?

[X-37B]

Because it looks so easy, and can be, but for most its not.
You have to be into the hobby for it to work and not just want a reef in your living room.

 

[lilgrounchuck]

I have a lot of hobbies. I’m on, or have been on forums for many of them (well, at least since I found out these forums were a thing) Getting in and getting out is common. If you think the number of reefers getting in and getting out is crazy, take up golfing. Not only is the attrition rate much higher, that hobby (or sport if that’s your bag) can easily be exponentially more expensive than keeping a reef.

 

[Punchanello]

Sure it's expensive, but it's also very difficult. Instant and/or long term success is rare and it comes with many, often expensive, failures along the way. Unless you got in to it for the challenge, knowing full well it would be difficult I struggle to see why you would stay in the hobby long term.

 

[Admann]

Reasons people leave the reef hobby are:
1, the high cost of many things
2, the wife is jelly of even small amounts of time from her
3, hair algae ( I don’t have it but it does suck )
4, the wife
5, the wife

Mostly #2

 

[ReefReadyYouTube]

I will never leave the hobby. I may have to sell/part out a tank when I move and start over fresh, but I will always find reefing as my biggest hobby.

 

[Silverfish]

Exhaustion.....plain simple exhaustion.