How much have you spent...

[Todesengel]

I am curious to know, how much everybody has spent on their hobby. This is a hobby, just like any other adult with a hobby, they are usually expensive... If your scared to say how much you spend on your hobby, maybe you should rethink what your spending your money on...

I spend aroud $10k a year on motorcycle equipment, and I am just a weekend track nut. I'm not afraid to say it, its a really expensive hobby that I enjoy. Reefs are also another really expensive hobby that I have recently gotten into.

I have a 29g and a 10g tank. I have spent around $1700 combined for both of them. This includes, equipment, and live stock. Now obviously, there are people with huge reef tanks, and people with really small reef tanks. So I suspect there will be quite the spectrum on peoples budgets. If your not scared to show it, post up the size of your tank and check the poll!

Thanks!!

[celano]

If I add it all up its around $2500 but I'm sure theres things I've forgotten about over the past year or so. Like replacement bulbs, new ro/di filters ect... Reallistically its probably closer to $2800 to $3000.
The tanks a standard 75g reef ready AGA with stand+canopy.

[Nereaga]

I have probably spent close to $2500 on my 55g reef tank. I am now transfering all of that to a 75g with more live rock and a sump. I have spent $600 on gathering supplies already and I still need a Euro Reef skimmer and a return pump and all the plumbing. Ill let you know....

This in ONE EXPENSIVE hobby.... I love it!

[broke1]

Way over $10,000 is about the best answer I can give anymore, I honestly don't know after that.

[Todesengel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11066298#post11066298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by broke1
Way over $10,000 is about the best answer I can give anymore, I honestly don't know after that.

LOL, Thats where the screen name comes from right? haha

[schigara]

Well over $5000.

What sucks is, when you go to sell. Anyone in the "BIZ" can command $7-9 per pound for live rock but when you go to sell, it's a buyers market baby, you will be lucky to get $3-4 per pound and this is not like a car that depreciates because of wear and tear..........or maybe the same thinking applies? Hum, just maybe it does. Do people actually consider a 100,000 plus year old rock used because a hobbyist has had it in their tank for a few months/years?

I have seen Halide setups sell for 20% of retail because they were used for 2 months???????????? (unfortunately not where I live)

[CRUZING2000]

ON MY 50 GAL. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WITH CHANGING FISH AND CORALS IV SPENT WELL OVER 6,000 PLUSE UPGRADES AND NEW LIGHTINING SYSTEM BUT LOOKS AWSOME

[Iguana79]

I have about 7k Spent on both my tanks. I did the newb thing and went to my LFS for all my equipment :( Now I'm buying equipment that is SUPPOSE to be for a tank my size. My Seahorse tank is coming along good. But that is because I learned from my mistake with my Reef tank.

Ohh well Live & Learn!

[flyyyguy]

kind of like any other true addict, I have no idea how much money I have actually spent on my addiction, nor would I tell if I did

[uscharalph]

I don't want to know! LOL!!!

[Island Hopper]

Closer to 5000, but I've been lucky. The 125 was free for the moving it out of the house from the people I got it from. The 150 was bought right. It was sitting empty in a basement not bing used. My start up cost were less than had I had to by all new. But then I probably have close to 500 in my 12 gal. over the last 3 yrs. I think I'm like Uscharalph and really don't want to know.

[spooda420]

I cant say for sure, but I'd say $8-9000 or so. Just in rocks, and skimmers is $3000... Lesson in that is buy a quality skimmer first and save the hassles and re-buying something....

[siropa]

like flyyyguy, I have no idea. Honestly I see no reason to keep track at this point either. I enjoy the hobby and it's going to get money spent on it, regardless of the overall total.

[nmywrx]

I'm with uscharalph. What you don't know want hurt you.

[temec_luver]

im just getting my big tank started its going to be a transfer from a nano... on this big tank ive spent about 350... on the tank stand canopy plumbing and return pump and sump

[LooklikeME]

Rule#1.
DONT TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU SPEND ON YOUR TANK on RC!!(My girl friend know my screen name)LOL

[Chibils]

I'm not done setting up my 90G yet, but I've spent right around $1000. I put $1000-2000, since I'm not done yet, but I'm in between.

[Ehaze]

about 6k over 5 years

[LobsterOfJustice]

Over 10,000.

Biggest equipment purchases were calcium reactor and tunzes, each of those purchases was about $700. Various other smaller things that cost a few hundred include RODI, skimmer, lights, rock, tank+stand, plumbing (it adds up...). The small misc stuff is what really gets you after a few years though. A few 1000 is livestock as well.

[sherm71tank]

I've been in the "hobby" since 95'. Tanks from 30 gal - 150 gal and I have easily spent over $10,000. I need to find that guy who got me into this!!!!

[Kaos]

If we go by total time in the hobby, I have probably spent between $5-10,000 (over the last 5yrs.). I have about $1,500 tied up in my 10gal. and my new 20L system will be about $3,000 total when I'm done.

[aoeBombcat]

Hahhaa, I just upgraded to a 40 gal w/ a 40 gal sump. I think I already spend over 1500. Not include $400 fish and more on Coral. I think I spend over 1000 on my 20 gal.... Not include the electricity bills, salt, and other etc....

I would say over $4000 for this hobby this year!!

[corals b 4 bills]

Some of my equipment I bought off Craigs List or ebay but if I had to replace it or duplicate it for someone else it would be between 15 and 16 thousand, that includes rock, sand, corals and fish. (within two years).

[pdfb55]

so far on the 120 oceainc tech project i've spent about 7500 and not even any water in it yet!

[kraash]

I don't an exact dollar amount, but I could vote 3 times on the $10000 choice lol

[cristhiam]

I just pulled quicken !!!!! almost 7K since 1999, that not including cash side :) I should of just put that in mutual funds lol. nah....

[saltwater4life1]

500+ setting up my 20g last year and i'm upgrading to a 55g I've already spent 300+ on lights and stuff for the canopy... Total about 1k and i'm a 15 year old high school student with no job! I don't know how I've gotten as far as i have.
My birthday is next week so hopefully that will pay for the rest of the stuff i need...

[samb]

About $2500 on my 60g since I started in July. This doesn't include fish, corals, food, water. Albeit, I probably wasted several hundred dollars on equipment that my the LFS sold me when I started that I have since replaced (powerheads, lighting system)

In most hobbies, there is a diminishing curve, but as I continue my journey in this hobby, and keep learning more and more from experienced RCers, my spending has not leveled off as I'm continually looking to create the most hospitable environment for my 'pets'.

Initially, I did not understand the fascination with corals vs. fish. After adding a couple of 'token' softies, I'm now hooked on the beauty and the individual characteristics of these fascinating life forms. In the last 3 weeks, I've spent $800 on corals alone (thankfully my focus in on leathers, and LPS, I'll stay away from SPS so I don't go bankrupt.)

I do love this hobby/addiction and am completely HOOKED !

[Absint Reefer]

been in the hobby for 15 years worked at a wholesale distributor for 7 years and lfs for 1 year most of all my checks went to fish stuff other then that I bought a car and college

[spleify]

This is my 5th year in the hobby, and I stopped adding it up after the first 3 months.
I kept every receipt for everything I bought. One day I thought it would be "neat" to add up the receipts, to my fright I realized I spent over $3000 already. So after I got up off the floor and caught my breath, I threw away the file, and have never kept another one since.
Now when I go to a LFS I don't even take the receipt. My favorite LFS that I buy the majority of my corals and live stock from, know how I am and they don't even tell me what the total is, I just give them my debit card, they charge it, and throw the receipt away for me.
The worst part about this is, I got started in the hobby from a friend of mine that had an old 55 "just sitting" in his basement, and I can "have it for free" if I just "get it out of his way". How many of you have heard that one before?
I think if I ever get in a fight with someone, I am going to give them a "free" fish tank. That will teach them to mess with me.
In conclusion I have probably spent over 10 grand easy. But I love it and no regrets.

[dwd5813]

so far i have spent close to 300 bucks, but i am nowhere near ready to put water in my tank.
2 tunze 6025 = ~120
40 breeder tank ~90
25 lbs of ecorox ~ 64+shipping

future purchases will shoot me well past a thousand, but hopefully less than two.

[cutegecko3]

I always kept track of everything i spent including salt mixes,test kits,water filters and the whole nine yards.but after the first year i stopped and its been four years since then.to be honest i couldnt give an exact price on just the sps i currently have.i would probabily turn green if i figured it up anyways.

[morphlingman]

Once you hit $10,000+ you lose track. All I know is my wife screams about our hydo bill ($600+ a month).

[MIKE ALERS]

300 on tank,200 on lights,400 on livestock....the smile on my face every time a stare at my tank.....PRICELESS:D

[Steve 926]

Probably not enough yet to satisfy the "Itch" of this Hobby /addiction. I did purchase a Solaris for my present display & that was cheap compared to all of the other items combined.

NO regrets, life is about enjoying & sharing things. I enjoy learning the responsibility of keeping a reef, & I get great comfort & serenity out of just gazing into it at times.

Steve 926
:smokin:

[corals b 4 bills]

I'm confused I thought we were talking about how much money our current tank cost us not how much we spent in this hobby all together! Hey I'm on my second future ex-wife I can't start adding this up because if she were to see how much money I spent she would probably say something stupid like I should have paid for a higher education or bought a second home or put away for my retirement......geez sometimes women can be retarded.:p

[xtm]

I was afraid someone would post a thread someday asking how much I've spent altogether... I stopped counting long time ago! :lol:

Now that you got me to think.. definitely more than 10K easy. (not laughing anymore) :( Everytime I order, for example at MD - It has to be more than 175 so I get free shipping.. then it easily jumps to 200.. and I order there like 3x a month just for supplies! :eek2:

I rarely buy frags.. usually colonies. I just counted all my SPS colonies and there are 31!! At $50 each (average) I've already spent 1550...

plus chiller, RK2, skimmer, tank, fish, Tunze, metal halides, DIY's here and there..... all add up.. lol :lol:

[flyyyguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11072828#post11072828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corals b 4 bills
I'm on my second future ex-wife


:lol:

[nattydread]

You guys are too hard on yourself!! You only live once.

My 120 tech was a divorce present to myself. I figure everyone else has had a chance to spend my money, lawyers and all, so why not me?

Plus i dont have to pay for those $200 salon jobs once a month anymore!!!

I could actually have justified a 1000 gal systyem. In time.

[Mr31415]

Out of curiosity - who has spent between:

$10 000 - $ 20 000

$20 000 - $ 30 000

$30 000 - $ 40 000

$40 000 - $ 50 000

$ 50 000+

[steve the plumb]

I have spent 10 k on my 300 with no fish.The fish are extra!!Now will we have to include what we lost? and how much have I lost in the past is another story a good 5 k for sure I lost almost everything on my 150 when I had a kalk disaster while I was on vacation that was a good 3k in livestock.Now I am starting all over again.I have kept most of my bills(MOST) and I don't even want to add it.P.S. If my wife is around I get half price on fish and corals sometimes 3 for 1 :p

[IndyReefMan]

Well over $10,000... and worth every penny.

[Randy1]

Now that I'm a more experienced reef hobbyist I don't spend nearly what I did in the beginning. No more expensive powerheads, additives, high end salts..etc. I've found much cheaper and easier ways of maintaining my tank and you will to or you may not survive in this expensive hobby.

[aquarius77]

How much? Hard to say... Im not wealthy so i try to forget the more expensive purchases that i have made.

[OliverM3]

I would say 5 to 10 on the current setup.
who knows about how much over the course of the entire hobby.
Probably a nice little vacation homes worth.