How do people afford this hobby!!!

[joqubr]

i am at $5K in a 90 gallon, plus sump, also i am a beginner, so some of the funds have gone to mistakes, i am still investing (pouring in) - as i am about to go deeper into the coral phase of my tank
also my purchases have been on the higher quality/price of things based on advice that i plan to be in it for the "long haul"

worth is so far - except that my situation has many residential viewers who have tried to help without instruction (good hearts bad results)

 

[lafayettereefer]

I work my butt off and usually buy used equipment since I learned from previous tanks that not everything has to be brand new. I drove 6.5 hrs to pick up my current 120gal for $750 and sold off most of the equipment. I ended up getting a free tank, stand and sump with an extra 400 in my pocket once it was all said and done. The deals will come around you just have to be patient

 

[Forsaken77]

The one thing with this hobby is, while it's an expensive price of admission, once you got the stuff... you got it. You don't need to buy it again for the most part. Your gear should last a long time. Just because something new comes out doesn't make your gear obsolete. Just food, salt, maybe some filtration media and meds, are the only things you'll need to stay stocked up on.

The good thing is that it's easier to get into this hobby cheaply as well. If you want to buy all Chinese equipment, you can. You can get all brand new equipment from Jebao/Jecod, Bubble Magus, and Skimz that will cover everything you need to be up and running, while saving thousands doing it.

The one thing that overwhelmed me when I got back into the hobby 5 years ago, after a 20 year hiatus, was the amount of different equipment available to do the same function.

Just the endless amount of skimmers available is enough to make someone crazy.

So aside of the tank and stand, the hobby can be gotten into for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Quality equipment is another argument, but just getting equipment can be done cheaply if you know what to look for.

 

[Kremis]

I am 16, and I havent had to actually spend money made from my job on my tanks in about a year (however, I dont pay for electricity). After initial setup, I propogate corals and sell them to other reefers in order to cover tank expenses. it allows me to pay for things like fish food, new fish/coral, etc.

i also trade in corals to my LFS for store credit which pays for things like frag plugs, glue, putty, and fish.

I am able to pay for everything now just from propagating zoanthids and other corals. I can then trade for higher $$ corals, grow those out, and eventually sell as well. Basically, I worked my way up from less expensive corals to more expensive ones. I have made about $1800 this year so far (not counting LFS trades or trading coral to other reefers) and 80% of it went back into buying more corals for the tank as well as paying for expenses.

I also will buy good deals, for example I bought 2 bounce mushrooms for $100. I fragged up one and sold the frags for $25, $15, and $65. That paid for buying the original one, so there was no cost to me there.

Almost all of my current fish were paid for by store credit, as well as the majority of the supplies I have right now.

One of the best ways to save money with coral in the hobby is to buy small. it will grow eventually.

 

[mike werner]

Sorry, about that:(, I was just trying to show that things are expensive because of corporations and people willing to spend the money. I was hoping to show a link between our reef hobby compared to others. I really tried to stay all the way on topic (oh look a bunny rabbit).
oh that was not directed at you sarah.seems we all got off topic a little.i always enjoy your responces no matter what they are.i am a fan.
I just think we could do more in our hobby if there wasn’t so much price gouging. Others could experience it to start and others could do more with it, including me. But from reading these posts, the one thing that is concsistent is that unless you spend a couple of thousand dollars, you can not even get started in this hobby.

@Genomecop ummm that’s a fun one for Lounge (I can start it) but doesn’t coffee wake you up? How does it make you sleepy lol? What the heck:)

Also @WVNed yes I do wanna see the crocs, haven’t seen them in years, and vintage cars are always neat.

Promise I’m still on topic lol

 

[Sarah24!]

@mike werner lol I couldn’t see your post lol. You made me look all over and wasn’t to be found :(

 

[mike werner]

some how I mixed it in with your response.read your post in my last post and you'll see it starting at bunny rabbit.

 

[Matthew Frost]

Hello,

First huge huge apology but I have to ask and since this was posted I need to ask. My older brother left these rc cars to me along with I think 7 more than are not even built yet. But I don’t know anything about them, and should I even keep them? They have never been ran, they brand brand new. He told me they all run from one controller now that I have somewhere. Just not sure what I should do with them. I can provide more pics also. Thanks and sorry I just went off topic Urgh I’m so bad at this.

@rbarr110 sounds like a nice tank but what did you buy for 4K? Meaning what equipment did you go with?

What you have are some wonderful "vintage" RC cars. They may be worth something on e-bay to a collector but you're going to find that demographic pretty small. Its a shame too, I had a Blackfoot and a monster beetle just like the ones pictured. The Losi Hot Shot and the buggy next to it were top of the line buggies in the late eighties.

 

[User1]

I just strap a mattress on my back...wait, never mind. If truth be told the hobby doesn't have to be expensive. It just depends on your priorities and self discipline. This isn't just a reef keeping thing but with many things in life it follows a similar pattern. I have two children in college so it took me about 2 years to upgrade from a 40 to my 210 gallon with a lot of changes along the way. Tank even sat in the garage for 8 months before I could get some other items ready. I had time, no rush, figured it was the right way to go, and I am happy with how it turned out so far.

I mean do I wish I was able to do some things I originally wanted to like using live rock from Richard at TBS? You bet. However, couldn't swing the amount I wanted so ended up with dry Pukani. Works - just means it will take more time to mature. Back to having time, no rush, etc... Anyway - it isn't bad but then again back to that self discipline :D

 

[Sarah24!]

some how I mixed it in with your response.read your post in my last post and you'll see it starting at bunny rabbit.

@mike werner oh lol I see it now yay. Omg gosh I have an official fan, I’m sooo excited lol. But as much as you have made me blush, it’s one of the best compliments I have ever had so thank you so Much.

 

[mike werner]

@mike werner oh lol I see it now yay. Omg gosh I have an official fan, I’m sooo excited lol. But as much as you have made me blush, it’s one of the best compliments I have ever had so thank you so Much.

i'm glad to be the first official fan of the sarah24 fan club.i hope it does not come with any responsibilities.i hope those who read this (our) conversation take away one thing.COMPLIMENTS ARE FREE!they cost nothing to give but are priceless to those who receive them.everyone wants to be appreciated and a compliment is an easy way to do it.
thanks for helping to spread the love on r2r.

 

[Acorral]

Step 1: Have one succesful medium reef that grows lots of coral, even if you need credit to get it

Step 2: Sell frags and colonies to pay for your maintenance and electricity

Step 3: Save a little to put a frag tank

Step 4: Sell frags

Step 5: Upgrade your display/mother colony tank

Step 6: Repeat 4

 

[c_healy]

Here's a few mortgage payments from my main hobby if it makes you feel better lol...then there's the boat/fuel/terminal tackle.......aye aye aye

 

[Tiger-Paws]

Perhaps this article will show why marriage is not always a good idea.

My new wife wanted to live with me for free, even though she had $800,000 in the bank
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/m...-move-out-2018-06-14?mod=MW_story_top_stories

 

[Rakie]

Here's a few mortgage payments from my main hobby if it makes you feel better lol...then there's the boat/fuel/terminal tackle.......aye aye aye

That's not too bad. Wait until you get into custom wraps with hard to find blanks. Love my shikari 7'2" popping rod.. That blank alone was $600.

 

[c_healy]

That's not too bad. Wait until you get into custom wraps with hard to find blanks. Love my shikari 7'2" popping rod.. That blank alone was $600.

Oh I have got into custom wraps and made rods lol...usually go with Connelly for custom rods from tht. Pricey blank haha. I haven't even shown yall my saltwater fly fishing collection

 

[c_healy]

That's not too bad. Wait until you get into custom wraps with hard to find blanks. Love my shikari 7'2" popping rod.. That blank alone was $600.

I will say my shimano terez rods are some of my favorite though. But those and the customs stay inside and no one uses those but me.

 

[lafayettereefer]

I love my terez rod man. Such great quality and attention to detail. I have it paired with a stella and that combo is hard to beat

 

[c_healy]

I love my terez rod man. Such great quality and attention to detail. I have it paired with a stella and that combo is hard to beat

B

Indeed it is....just don't high stick it hah

 

[Jose Berry]

You can make the fish hobby be it fw or sw you can make it as expensive as you want or make it as cheap as you want , cheap to free tanks always listed on CL,FB etc also can find equipment to, may not be exactly what you want but may work for what you need.

I agree, im getting a 225 rimless with stand, 2mp40s, 2 4ft8blubs TC5, zero edge sump and a lot more for 500 bucks.