Collector or Decorator?

[drainbamage]

Well, which one are you?

I'd call a collector someone who's interested in the individual animal/pieces (pieces being live corals and whatnot) beyond the complete picture: e.g. a zoa collector with a wide variety but often on unsightly frag discs or in a 'frag' tank, or a "collection" scattered throughout many tanks.

Opposite is a decorator, who while very appreciative of the animals/pieces, is more interested in how the entire tank looks over the pieces in it.


Please note I'm not talking about named pieces in regards to either of these, just variety I suppose (a collector doesn't have to be obsessed with getting fancy/named/high end stuff, just interested in a variety, nor does the decorator have to discard the fancy/named/high end pieces in his/her tank, just be more appreciative of the whole tank.)


For myself, I'm a collector and have been throughout all my hobbies. I definitley appreciate a nicely put together tank/terrarium, and while my main tank is more or less "nicely" aquascaped, my collection grew and I set up two additional tanks that have no attempt at decorating whatsoever. Just sort of functional tanks more than anything.

 

[clowns101]

Im a collector by all means.

I dont want Button Polyps in my tank,I dont want a toad stool on my tank,or xeina,I want quality,rare,cool,mind boggling corals that blow minds!

I appreciate the animal for what it is,but I dont want somthing that grows fast like button polyps in my tank cause you cant get rid of them,if I had BGM frags for sale at $50 an eye,they will literally grow wing and fly out the door.

BUt,I guess it depends on how people look at me,some people will tell me "It must be nice to throw away money like that",honestly,Im not throwing away my money,its what I want,a guy told me he thinks I spent to much on my 125 reef,at the total price of around $2,000 Im happy with it,if its cool and I like it,I will have it,and denpending on if I can get rid of it,I will get it to.I like exotic colored stuff,and rare stuff,the money I spend to some people is money Im wasting,but Im happy,and it will sell if I ever have to sell it.

Thats what I am!

 

[Myteemouse]

HA my 125 reef was 4000 before livestock .. I hear ya .. some people think I'm crazy for spending big money on corals and tanks..
"to each there own"

 

[clowns101]

HA my 125 reef was 4000 before livestock .. I hear ya .. some people think I'm crazy for spending big money on corals and tanks..
"to each there own"

LOL,Im not done yet....LOL,I have it running with coral,but I need more equiptment still...LOL

And yes,the best comment for people who say we are crazying for buying $400 coral is "each to their own"

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Decorator for me. But I like to get the nicest I can to do the decorating. My tank looks like poo right now though! :(

 

[Speg]

I start as a decorator...I end up buying too many coral and making a mess....I ultimately become a collector.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

I've got to say decorator. My goal, at the end of the day is to have a reef that looks natural with no frag plugs showing. Unfortunately my tank is still very young and I'm waiting for it to mature. Like Austin, I'm not going to throw xenia or sand polyps in my tank because they just out compete other, more colorful things for space. Hopefully it'll turn out just how I want it in the end.

 

[skinz78]

I say no preference, but then again I think I am both but in very different aspects.

If it was just clams, I would say I am a collector as I have some rare one's.

But when it comes to fish and corals, I buy what ever looks good to me and more importantly is cheap!

 

[KLR]

Collector here!!

Just to get to the point..............

My 66gal is almost completly frags,lol.which was the plan anyways!!

 

[Troylee]

Just became a collector a few months ago... Well a serious one anyways... Before it was more of a he who dies with the most corals wins kinda thing... Rofl...;)