Operating costs and Breaking Points

[jimfish98]

Working to control expenses and start up on two systems over the last almost three years has added up. Now that I am well stocked, if I looked at bare costs, nearly $2k a year between salt, water, electricity, food, additives, testing, and such to keep those two systems running. Talks of inflation, tariffs, consumption tax has me thinking of setting a breaking point where the cost gets to be too much to justify. I work from home in an office with these tanks 8-10 hours a day weekdays so the cost is ok given how much I see, enjoy, and interact with them. Great to have something within a few feet of the desk to tinker with during down times at work too. At a certain cost though, I am going to think I can do something fun with a lot less, just not sure of how much more basic costs have to increase before I hit that point.

Anyone else know their bare bones operating costs and set a breaking point?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I've never owned a large dog, but I see the price of these giant bags of dog food in the pest stores and think, 'MAN, these things must eat like a horse!' Then I become thankful I own saltwater fish, by comparison. ;)

 

[Troy V]

I found a great way to mitigate your costs is to sell to your LFS for store credit or preferably cash. You said your tank is "well stocked". If you have a lot of fast growing beginner coral like Xenia, Clove Polyps, Mushrooms ect. These coral can be used to make some extra $$. Easily an extra few hundred a month once you've found your groove. At one point my system was generating 2-4k a month. This is where having a good relationship with your LFS can pay dividends.