How many of you guys frag corals for a profit?

[BrianPlankis]

Minimizing costs is essential to turning a profit, or at least getting closer to breaking even.

If you haven't bought your lights yet, I would advise against PC lights for propping. Sure the fixtures are cheap, but if you are going for growth PC bulbs only last about 6 months and in the last couple of months their output is reduced.

I would keep an eye out for a retro VHO or T5 setup on the cheap. The T5s consume less electricity for the same equivalent wattage and their bulbs can last up to 18 months.

I plan on setting up my prop system 3-5 years from now and I just found a great deal on 2 used icecap440 ballasts that I'll use to run T5s over my prop setup. Take a long term approach and find good deals on used equipment that uses low electricity and you'll be on your way to keeping your costs extremely low.

Brian

 

[Willie_6]

Tagging along on this one. So far this is pretty disheartening. I too was hoping to make some money off of corals. No I would not plan on retiring anytimne soon, but the wife would feel better about the money I spend on the hobby if I could lessen the financial burdan.

I will say that it is difficult to believe that there is no money in this. We have a LFS that up until about 6 months ago was mainly a coral store. They had a very small selection of fish. They are in the process of adding tanks to have more fish. Ofcourse they do dry goods as well. Sure they have a store front that brings in regular customers, but they also have rent and tank maintenance about 15x what we would have in our basement. Talk about electricity, generators, huge cal reactors,etc. How do LFS make a profit? When you compare thier expenses to ours, it is minimal. Isn't this a micro-LFS afterall? I see people on here selling corals for $1000+.

Keep in mind this is just wishful thinking on my part. I really think there has to be some money in it.

 

[BrianPlankis]

Willie,

I think you can make money at it, but it takes time, planning and an excellent business plan if you go larger. Right now I'm just propping in my main tank which definitely is not the way to go, setting up a separate frag tank or rubbermaid tub the only way of hoping to make a profit.

My wife also likes me to find ways to recoup some of my costs and I frag mushrooms and zoas to help out. Our club does a frag swap 4 times a year and I am able to sell usually 8-10 mushroom frags at $5 each and 5-10 zoa frags for an average of $8 each, so I come out with $130 cash. I then use that money to buy frags I want or to buy salt, bulbs or whatever for the tank. That helps the wife feel better about things

Brian

 

[cj_basser]

I already have just about everything I would need to set up the prop tanks...minus the larger tank. So my costs aren't going to be significantly higher...I have a 175w MH..wich would be perfect for a shallow tank that I am looking at. I also have a large stand that I would use. Remember, I have been in this hobby for 4 years now.....I have tons of extra pumps and what not, so really, my only cost would be the tank and extra corals that I would propagate and sell.

As I stated above, This is not going to be my only income..just as a little supplimant....and I am in this just because I love fragging and this hobby.

 

[Ohioreef1700]

coral prop

coral prop

heres my 2 sense on the situation. i have several larger rubbermaid tub that I propagate out of for profit. It not only supports my costly reefing addiction but it also put extra money in my pocket. honestly if you are not going to invest several thousand in getting it setup( properly lighted ect..) then i wouldn't even bother you cant grow and keep constant stock in those tanks unless you have a good wholesaler who is keeping your tanks stocked constantly. If you are interested in doing it then i would be glad to help i do live in Ohio and travel to all of the frag swaps in the area.

 

[organism]

If you are interested in doing it then i would be glad to help i do live in Ohio and travel to all of the frag swaps in the area.

That might be a little tricky seeing as how you bumped a thread that is literally over a decade old.

Good to see the advice I gave back then hasn't changed though.

 

[hatfielj]

Lol! This thread is ancient. How did you even find it?

 

[organism]

It's got no banned people in it either that's crazy for a thread this old

 

[sde1500]

Ha was just about to reply to someone on this and noticed the date. Talk about raising the dead.

 

[Tonii87]

heres my 2 sense on the situation. i have several larger rubbermaid tub that I propagate out of for profit. It not only supports my costly reefing addiction but it also put extra money in my pocket. honestly if you are not going to invest several thousand in getting it setup( properly lighted ect..) then i wouldn't even bother you cant grow and keep constant stock in those tanks unless you have a good wholesaler who is keeping your tanks stocked constantly. If you are interested in doing it then i would be glad to help i do live in Ohio and travel to all of the frag swaps in the area.

Ohioreef1799,
Could really use your help. I live in a small town without a LFS. The closest LFS is about 3 hours away. I would like to propagate some corals so that I could trade or even sale to others in my town. It will only be a hobby but I'm very interested. If you could give me some advice on how to set up the system. I don't plan on keeping anything too crazy would like to start with some zoas and some softies. I would appreciate any help thanks.

 

[cpllongjk]

To the OP...

I just recently started a very small sps propagation business. My total system volume is roughly 60 gallons. As several of these people said previously it is going to be hard turning a profit of rare sps, which is what I am going to do. What I am doing is growing out my display and frag tank with colonies and only clipping as needed. It will take roughly a year or more to let everything grow from frags to colonies.

From what I am seeing online, don't worry about buying high priced sps now as the prices will go down after you buy them from people selling them. I would buy colorful sps with the hopes of selling the frags for 25-50 dollars a frag. Of course you can sell the "IN" frags at the time for more money but as others have said frags go in and out of popularity.

Mainly my business is to keep my hobby going and as supplemental income. I dont expect to get rich off it.