does anyone else cringe when someone asks how much their setup costs?

shane91 · Nov 23, 2015

My other hobbies pay for this hobby

Wiz · Nov 23, 2015

The amount of money I have in it now is scary to think about. Frightening! But its starting to self sustane now. Between frags and macros I get about $100 a month to play with. Thats fantastic. And I have no room for more corals. So its all about upgrades now.

I love my tank so much. It takes all my spare time. At least an hour a day. 4-5 hours once a week. LolI used to fish.... lol

bsstover · Nov 23, 2015

Hello, my name is Brian. I am addicted to my reef tank. I am not yet clean as every time I say I will stop buying stuff somebody posts another picture of something that I must have.

I have spent enough on my tank this year to put a modest down payment on a new car (which my wife continually reminds me of (if only she knew how much I REALLY spent on stuff)).

I have multiple vendors ship on same day and just say that it's one purchase and they can only fit so much in one box.

I know the names of corals the way some people can rattle off football players names.

I try to justify that at least I'm not spending money on women, alcohol, and this addiction keeps me at home. To quickly be reminded I should spend it on these things (my wife, take her out for drinks more often, buy a vacation and get out of the house).

To the point, I do cringe a little when I think how much I've spent on this hobby. When people ask how much my setup cost, I reply that it is a hobby that I can make money on when I start selling frags. I just can't bring myself to fragging anything yet... I like watching it grow.

cheezybuda · Nov 23, 2015

Just think about golfing....now that can be an expensive hobby

evolved · Nov 23, 2015

Cringe? No, rather grin...

My standard answer:
"It's pretty much like buying a Corvette"

The anticipated, and usual response: "Used or new?" or "What year?"

To which you reply: "Yes"

dbl · Nov 23, 2015

I don't cringe either. I simply say..."If something happens to me, I just hope my wife doesn't sell everything for what I told her it cost me".

Hardridge · Nov 23, 2015

My wife use to Thk I was cheating because I am on my phone all the time until she realized it was either Craigslist or reef to reef haha my tank is my other woman

steve&mari · Nov 23, 2015

Hey now don't go bashing on us Harley Davidson owners lol. We have a very nice setup on a budget as well. It's all about finding deal in your budget.

We love the tank and enjoy spending time together going to swaps n traveling to fish stores. So it's a beautiful part of our lives together and as a family. Cost is like anything if it's worth it to us that's what matters not the thoughts of others.

trio91 · Nov 23, 2015

I just shake my head and tell ppl "you don't want to know"....and honestly for me, it's not only the current cost i factor in but also the costs of all the mistakes i made. all of the poor hobby related decisions i made....... for me, i substituted this hobby for casino night with the fellas....this hobby is waaaaaaaay cheaper by far

TheEngineer · Nov 23, 2015

I don't cringe, but I also don't tell people. I wish people would ask other questions than just how much it cost. There is so much more to it than the cost. Ask me how things work, ask me what it takes to keep it running... Asking how much it costs is rude IMO

It also follows the "If you have to ask..." rule

All Delight · Nov 23, 2015

hahaha. yeah seriously I don't even know how it's affordable

StikHedRon · Nov 23, 2015

Not really, I'm willing to share any costs with anyone. Pretty much you can look all the prices up online anymore and figure cost out yourself.

trio91 · Nov 23, 2015

i mean i think we all can agree that to some degree, even "outsiders looking in" can understand that most if not all of us have spent a pretty penny on setting up and maintaining a proper home reef aquarium so there's really no need to cringe per se....but overall i probably couldn't even put a solid dollar amount on my tank(s) (in total) from start to finish if somebody asked

BrianGriff · Nov 23, 2015

Yeah recently I estimated how much just for equipment I put in for my Fluval m40 (14 gallons), I figured out it was around $1000, including fish and stuff that has been through the tank....errr....1300+

erk · Nov 23, 2015

I stopped counting, but it's also difficult to count when most of your build is DIY. The hobby is expensive, but SCUBA was way more expensive. But I don't have kids yet, so my hobbies are my children.

Sewer Urchin · Nov 23, 2015

Yeah, but I got the tank for $50 bucks.... its all the other stuff that's killing me

WilRams · Nov 23, 2015

I got into this after selling my cars to buy a house. As a hobby to hold me off until I can get back into cars again. Wrong! I think I should have stuck to cars!

jbeards1 · Nov 23, 2015

I would ask because i am looking to build one. Not specifically, just a general idea.

underwaterdan · Nov 23, 2015

For my 150 I simply tell them a few hundred bucks. Since that's what my wife thinks I spent.....

jbeards1 · Nov 23, 2015

icecool2 said:
I don't cringe, but I also don't tell people. I wish people would ask other questions than just how much it cost. There is so much more to it than the cost. Ask me how things work, ask me what it takes to keep it running... Asking how much it costs is rude IMO

It also follows the "If you have to ask..." rule

I am new to reef keeping, my general question is what do i need for a proper setup. I am thinking 90 gallon for the tank.