Broke

[footbagger311]

So how many other people have gone in the red doing this hobby?

This is the first time I've had no money in my checking account since before I joined the military. I don't get paid until the 15 and I have no food. Lame.

 

[Capt_Cully]

2 words: Frag tank!

Pay for your addiction by supplying others

 

[footbagger311]

when i get more money to start having things to frag, i guess i could do that. is there reasonable money in it?

 

[Capt_Cully]

I look on the propagated corals for sale forum and people seem to do alright. I mean it's $20 here $50 there until you build up a really nice collection of harder to aquire corals. Then the price goes up. Takes time.

I'm just starting to think about one now that some stuff has grown out. Just enough to keep the tank runnin.

 

[Khandurian]

You mean theres other colors of pens? I heard rumors of a black pen, but it seems to be a mystical creature that keeps eluding me. You know, like the loch ness monster!

I do agree with everyone else, once your original tank gets large, then it's frag time.

 

[footbagger311]

i just bought a 125 gallon and i can't set it up yet because i have no money and i probably won't be able to do anything with it until the end of the month.

 

[ToxicPoison]

No offense, but I'd strongly suggest you build up a "reef account" before you go any further. Equipment in this hobby is sadly, very expensive. You can save money by buying used equipment, but it still adds up. If you try to buy everything as you can afford it, you're just going to drive yourself batty.

You could also go the cheap route and buy not-so-good equipment, but again..I think that will just frustrate you more.

Thats just my opinion, and it might not count for much.

 

[Capt_Cully]

You got the bug bad my friend. I subscribe to the one tank at a time philosophy. Although......I have everything to set up a 70 gallon Oceanic tech tank, but haven't. I don't wanna incurr extra costs right now. And there's too much fun stuff to do during the summer to be responsible for 2 tanks. I'm sure the first rainy day I get I'll put it together.

Maybe we could make a couple of bucks by opening a Reef Rehab. I know they already have it for Reefer.......so no one try and drop that joke.....

 

[footbagger311]

I want to save up money, but I can't help myself from spending it when I have it.

 

[footbagger311]

I am trying to sell my other tanks but nobody is biting.

 

[neotracer075]

LOL...

LOL...

I only have tank/stand, skimmer and lights so far. Still gotta build the sump for the skimmer... heh. No RO/DI, plumbing, overflow, substrate, LR, salt mix, test kit, refractometer, other misc. stuff! Just keep plugging away like I am and you will get there.

I know how you feel... the anticipation is killing me and all I am doing is looking at an empty tank right now!

-neotracer

 

[Capt_Cully]

Summertime's a bad time. Everyone wants to be out doing stuff. Wintertime is a seller's market. Especially up here in the northeast. Cabin fever's a little easier to take when there's a little bit o' heaven in your house.

 

[footbagger311]

my new tank doesn't have any holes drilled in it but has an in-tank overflow box that siphons over the top. does this type work well?

 

[tbittner]

Buying the tank is the least expensive part....

 

[Capt_Cully]

Truer words have n'er been spoken. When I decided to start a tank, I ran out and bought a RR tank. It took 18 months before I finally had everything to start the tank. Power heads here, light bulbs there. Skimmer, Light fixture, ballast, Live Rock, heaters, return pump.............$$$$$$$$$$

 

[tbittner]

I paid $500 for my 450g tank, used of course.

I have well over $10,000 into it now and I finally have some snails and crabs in it. :lol:

But I bought two Solaris' so there is $6,500 right there. In the long run, they will save me a LOT of money in the monthly expense of operating the tank. No light bulb changes, and WAY less electric usage, no heat added to the water eliminating the need for a chiller, etc.

So keep that in mind when you're making decisions on equipment. Think long term expense too.

 

[fareforce]

I am pushing $4000-$5000 on my 75 gallon, and it doesn't even have water in it yet.. lol

 

[Capt_Cully]

I don't wanna even guess how much I've spent in equipment, livestock and operating costs.

I'm certainly not about to put it in writing. My wife surfs the site from time to time and I don't wanna incriminate myself......or be forced to fork over $900 for a Fendi purse she has her eye on :love2:

 

[footbagger311]

I've only been doing this hobby since about December and I've probably dropped close to $2000.

 

[Twz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12485458#post12485458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ToxicPoison
No offense, but I'd strongly suggest you build up a "reef account" before you go any further. Equipment in this hobby is sadly, very expensive. You can save money by buying used equipment, but it still adds up. If you try to buy everything as you can afford it, you're just going to drive yourself batty.

You could also go the cheap route and buy not-so-good equipment, but again..I think that will just frustrate you more.

Thats just my opinion, and it might not count for much.

I have to say I find it will be cheaper in the long run to just buy the best equiptment