As a newbie, I find these words very comforting!People who enter this hobby never really actually leave. They always come back. Go and try a few goldfish and get bored. They come back.
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As a newbie, I find these words very comforting!People who enter this hobby never really actually leave. They always come back. Go and try a few goldfish and get bored. They come back.
I started (and continued) by buying from craigslist from people going out of this. The chipest wayI think it's very possible to start a reef cheaply and simply, however most of the time the knowledge required to do this is only acquired after starting a reef with a high degree of cost and complexity.
I think many people start as "lone wolves" with their only support being online resources, rather than friends or user groups. I myself started this way and I believe it contributed to a more expensive / costly tank initially as a lot of the advice you find focuses on individual component selection as opposed to the establishment of a "system". A lot of the advice this is available is challenging for a newbie to apply.
Many of the above "lone wolves" won't make it beyond their first tank to capitalise on all of their hard won experience due to the range of setbacks and frustrations that can be encountered during this learning experience. I would think that monetary cost wouldn't be as big a factor as we might think, as it's hard to believe anyone would really believe this is a hobby that could be enjoyed on a shoe string budget, especially for newbie's.
This reminds me of a very, very old thread on reefs.org back in 1999/2000. A guy had set up a really nice system 200+ gallon, spend maybe a grand on rocks alone. His post on the forum was "Why are they coming up?" His worms in the sandbed were coming up and dieing. He started to post pictures of his setup. Many folks noticed that he had BRASS fittings though out his plumbing. So copper was the culprit.I see some build threads where people spend piles of money on a nice big tank, all kind of dosers and the best Apex controller with all the bells and whistles but they have never kept a fish before and then they either get frustrated, realize it is not their thing or bored. Instead get your feet wet first with a 30-40 gallon tank, an HOB skimmer, heater, and power head, and a couple of clowns. Being out $200-$300 is better than. $5000 or more.
Share your luck, I have none with this hobby.Since my son won a goldfish from his school summer fair almost 24 yrs ago ( yes..the goldfish did indeed die ) I have had a tank in the house. From goldies to warm water tropicals to marine Ive always enjoyed the experience. I will readily admit to doing my tank ' on the cheap ' which certainly helped the bank balance...( no sump or dosers or ridiculously expensive lights or ridiculously expensive power heads..) simple always seemed best to me and so far it has worked. No cyano..no crashes...no white spot ( and as I write this I have fingers and a lot of other things crossed ). I think the more reliant you are with equipment and monitoring the more hassle you will have. This is supposed to be a nice relaxing hobby...hassle free ( most of the time ). Cheap of course is not always possible but as long as you aren't worried about the next buy and the one after that etc then this is a great hobby. I think some reefers are a bit full of themselves and definately go OTT.. and that can add pressure on the majority of reefers. If so and so has this and that and the other..well do I need them as well. Im writing this on my pc and over the top of the screen I can see my tank at the other end of the room...you can't see me but I'm smiling. Reefing = smiling...especially in this day and age.
As a final thought...just watched the BRS video on Hybrid method mistakes...most of the equipment on the video costs more than my car....who can afford all this stuff....O M G.
Millennials and Gen Zers have the patience of a 4 year old on a sugar-high
Great question! I agree with others. It is a tough hobby and expensive as well. I always say it is both the most frustrating (at times) and the most rewarding hobby out there IMO. It takes a lot to hang in there. I know over the years I have thought of selling it all on more than one occasion. When things are going well it is great, but in this hobby it doesn't take much for things to go down hill quick, hence the frustrating part. The key is to learn as much as you can, and when something happens pick yourself up and learn from it.I know it can get expensive, but I just upgraded to a IM 200 EXT (starting a build thread and then a hurricane came) and really enjoy each part so far. I have a 75 gallon and deal with all the frustrations.
I understand burn out and when a hobby just gets old, but I see often people selling gear or aquariums that seem pretty new. They state getting out of the hobby less than a year from getting something big or awesome. Is "cost" the number one reason people get out of the hobby? Does the sales forum and people leaving fluctuate with the economy or is it pretty constant on people departing the hobby?
Thank you for the knowledge it is just something I was wondering.
I prefer; attention span of a ferret on a double expresso, but that works
And yet twas a Zillennial (somewhere between Millennial and Gen Z) that was giving you copepod advice the other day , ok boomer.Millennials and Gen Zers have the patience of a 4 year old on a sugar-high
I know you are sounding a little offended but good luck when you do get into it. There a lot of people with short attention spans which is what the comments I am sure was about. I think in the youth you want something more instance. As you get older and more established you kind enjoy the slower things . Not saying you are not like that already. But my kids are a prime example. They want my aquarium to look like all the people's on here already.And yet twas a Zillennial (somewhere between Millennial and Gen Z) that was giving you copepod advice the other day , ok boomer.
Spent four years out of the hobby due to draconic rules on no fish tanks in college dorms, and rent off campus was too high. I could still come home for breaks to maintain my family’s 55, but there was hardly any active reefing for me. Even now, I’n just starting to dip my toes back in. I’m waiting for hiring freezes to end, so I can move out and get started on my system. I have the fish, the plan, and the money I saved over 5 years...I just need the apartment and the job!