Do You Think Reefing Should Be Exclusive And/Or Expensive?

[Reefer Matt]

Just a question on what I think are two mentalities toward reefing. Should reefing be affordable for anyone wanting to try? Or should it be expensive and perhaps exclusive to a select few? Your response is anonymous, but feel free to provide your point of view also.

 

[areefer01]

There is no "other" box to check.

My vote would be other or neither. Anyone entering the hobby should have a budget. Hobbies, regardless of type, should be considered discretionary income.

 

[saltytanked]

Really shouldn’t be expensive but hopefully we are going back to the older days when it was limited to a certain income bracket and IQ level…

 

[tzabor10]

The way it’s worded makes a difference. I had a 40 breeder since 2017. It was inexpensive but plain. Just broke it down to replace with something far more expensive. It’s far more interesting

 

[Reefer Matt]

There is no "other" box to check.

My vote would be other or neither. Anyone entering the hobby should have a budget. Hobbies, regardless of type, should be considered discretionary income.

Fixed! Thanks!

 

[areefer01]

Fixed! Thanks!

Sorry - didn't mean to sound like I was telling you what to do. Hope your day is well.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Sorry - didn't mean to sound like I was telling you what to do. Hope your day is well.

It’s cool, and I agree it should be an option. I know the term “expensive” is subjective, but I guess I mean “exclusive” with that. I’m doing pretty good! Hope you are too.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Really shouldn’t be expensive but hopefully we are going back to the older days when it was limited to a certain income bracket and IQ level…

Yeah, that’s exactly what the one choice is about. Also some believe that if we pay more for something, we appreciate and take care of it more.

 

[William Chiavetta]

I think expensive enough so that people wouldn't be just trying to have a "Nemo" sitting in their basement to die

 

[BeanAnimal]

.. never mind

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I want it to be expensive enough that people research before buying, but accessible enough that people can have a nice tank without having to pay 3 figures for corals. I think budget conscious options are great, and more than anything I hope that we as a community help one another to achieve goals while encouraging responsible/sustainable practices.

 

[apb03]

I think Reefing should be somewhat expensive. It's an intricate hobby with exotic animals from across the planet that requires quite a lot of equipment.

To use a car analogy, I think Reefing is roughly like owning a BMW or Mercedes, expensive but not prohibitively so, like a Ferrari. I don't expect reefing to be like a Toyota Corolla, though.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Really, there should be a pre-test to see if someone knows enough to handle the hobby. Lots of sectional tests to make sure that anyone looking to enter knows how NOT to kill livestock. Saying this, back in the 90s, I was this guy. And I STILL feel bad about it.

 

[rtparty]

The million dollar question.

On one hand, lives are at risk in this hobby and there is inherently a responsibility and stewardship that goes with that. Making it expensive makes people seriously think about it when they buy stuff.

On the other hand, make it too expensive and most never even look at it. “It’s a hobby for the rich.” End of story. When you really can get a good setup for a decent price. That takes knowledge though and many don’t even look into it because “it’s for the rich.”

Look at high end audio to see how the “expensive and exclusive” works out. Hint: it doesn’t.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have a huge conscience, and try to make reefing affordable to as many Reefers as possible in my area. But I do see how that can set them up for failure too. It’s the human factor. Most of us value things we save up to get, more than the $5 item we buy every day. If we lose a $5 item, we may not care. But if it was a $50 item, we might strive to do better. So I am conflicted myself sometimes.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I came across a post by someone who claimed to love their fish and then went on to describe how they had not purchased testing kits because they couldn’t afford it, how they added clownfish before understanding what a cycle was or how to cycle, etc etc etc. Some of the fish didn’t make it and then they went back and got more fish. I can choose to think “well maybe they would have purchased everything required if everything were less expensive” or I can choose to think “this person should have saved and waited to do the responsible thing and then bought everything required”.

Accessibility matters. Price point will always be a differentiating factor, that is the harsh reality of our society and there will be divides based on the size of our pocket books however this amazing hobby should be for all to enjoy. I would love to see sustainability efforts and communities like this one provide the opportunity for those without significant means to still be able to afford to be part of this hobby. All of us, no matter what our means, should be striving to do our very best for the amazing animals we are fortunate enough to keep in our glass cages.

 

[Formulator]

I think it can be as expensive as you make it. I’ve reefed successfully on both sides. My first reef fresh out of college was pieced together with an old 120g freshwater tank I found on Craigslist, a sheet of acrylic from home depot, a few bulkheads, PVC, and some used pumps. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears made it work great for far less than $1000 all-in. Livestock was built up slowly over time, buying a small piece once/month or so.

These days I have more money due to natural career progression and I can splurge on some of the more luxurious items, because I enjoy fiddling with all the tech and like the elements of automation that give me more time for my growing family. None of it is necessary though.

 

[Stevorino]

I have a huge conscience, and try to make reefing affordable to as many Reefers as possible in my area. But I do see how that can set them up for failure too. It’s the human factor. Most of us value things we save up to get, more than the $5 item we buy every day. If we lose a $5 item, we may not care. But if it was a $50 item, we might strive to do better. So I am conflicted myself sometimes.

This is exactly how I feel about it. The expense adds a barrier to entry, and puts some true skin in the game.

I also kiteboard. The cost of the kites and lessons restrict so many people from just going out and dangerously kiting on a whim. If you could buy a kite rig at Dic ks for $500, it's scary to think about how many kite deaths there would be.... and how many beaches would ban us.

I wonder how many google searches into 'reef tank cost' scares away those who are not truly interested.

I'll also add I don't think it is so expensive as to permanently dissuade those with a true passion. I bought my first setup for $400 used in a bad part of town lol.

 

[paragrouper]

I don’t not accept the premise that we can judge someone’s ability to successfully keep a reef system by the amount of disposable income they have. Further, I believe (pay attention, vendors) the marketplace is not well served by pricing out a significant portion of the addressable market.

 

[mattdg]

Having pets is expensive. I run a 120 gallon SPS dominant mixed reef and frag system. Okay, maybe my friends with dogs and cats, spend more than I do over the life of their animals. Even so, Reef Aquariums are an expensive endeavor.

Reef aquarium life support equipment has to be reliable. The companies that produce our equipment are very niche. Many based in the USA, paying USA employee salaries. That said, there is plenty of "cheap" gear available made in places where labor is undervalued and quality control nearly non existent. Yes, I realize there are some exceptions.

In my experience, cheap / low cost gear has to be replaced more often and requires increased diligence, left unchecked, will lead to expensive livestock loss and even danger to the reef keeper. Ask me how I know.. It can be done, but requires lots of time and experience. Time is money, even if your equipment is 75% cheaper to purchase new.

There are things that can be done to reduce the overall cost of reefing. Used equipment, reef clubs, free coral, smaller systems, less demanding species of fish / coral and inverts, some companies producing more affordable quality gear, leaving out unnecessary fancy equipment. Even then, keeping a reef will still be expensive, relative to the size of your system and compared to other hobbies, when you consider electricity, supplements, dry goods, food, inflation..

There is a reason why when I was just starting out in this hobby in the early 90's, people would always say.. "oh is that a saltwater aquarium? I hear those are really expensive" Why yes, they are and here is why.

I am trying to keep a coral reef in my living room.