This hobby is getting out of control with costs

[LPS Bum]

Yup its ridiculous and company's like Ecotech and world wide corals are to blame

No. The hobbyists who are willing to pay those prices are to blame. If no one is willing to pay $800 for a powerhead or $250 for a tiny Acro frag, the demand will plummet and the prices will drop. Simple economics.

In a capitalist society, I don't see how you can't fault an equipment manufacturer or a coral farmer for maximizing their profits if people are willing to pay those prices.

 

[Wildreefs]

To me the reason why the costs have gone up is the online, fad driven, champagne tastes with beer money wallet crowds that have become attracted. They spend everything they have upfront, don’t question the cost, than a year from now start a Facebook “business” and call themselves experts trying to recoup some of the money back. I’ve messaged many sellers on there, and although they don’t come out and say it, most of them have no clue about chemistry relationships or a Berlin system is. They will act like they know it all, and in reality have 2 years under there belt. With 100 percent turnover in the hobby annually, when that many “new” people come in and spend like a 21 year old does his first time at a casino, the prices are bound to go up .

There is a scantily clad dressed woman on Facebook who is always selling torches, and when I asked what parameters she’s keeps them at, she read me the info off the salt bucket . But somehow sells corals

 

[elm03]

I agree everything has gone up way too much. However nothing you buy has to be name brand to be successful. I can afford any of the top brand items yet never will. I have mo40s bought used and Jebaos are way better in my opinion they break and I can replace them 8 times before the cost of one name brand. Lighting I don’t care about dialing in all spectrums but noopsyche was cheap so I tried and they work. Yes anytime you go off brand there’sa chance it fails but overall you will end up saving money. Fish and corals on the other hand is due to us hobbyist buying at stupid prices if we stop they eventually will go down but I don’t foresee that happening any time soon.

I just got into the hobby so the current prices is all I know, but yes I agree. I literally will end up going broke lol. It’s worth it though, it makes me happy

 

[liddojunior]

Also a new salt water coming from 30 years of fresh, what I see is so many reefers are pushing the latest and greatest what ever. Your are made to fill what you have is junk and not worthy of salt water. I run into this ever time I try and coach a new reefer on More cost effective alternative items, like t5 lights using indoor grow fixtures. I have 250.00 dollars Total in my t5s over a 90 gal tank. Then someone will come on and tell the new reefer how that is not the best way to go, you need this led or that led . Just one example. Tell me what is wrong with indoor grow t5s. My 2 month old tank is attached

Yeah that’s my point. It feels like an equipment hobby and not a fish keeping/coral keeping hobby.
I don’t think there needs to be more budget mindset. But having these reliable brands making true entry level equipment with their quality and customer support. I don’t want to buy a Chinese light for cheap and there exist little customer support for me.
I want to see more entry level equipment that are made that basically children can use. The leading companies in the hobby shouldn’t cater to older people with tons of disposable money.
There’s nothing wrong with luxury items, but Im not seeing these same companies making entry level equipment. These companies are be responsible for helping the hobby. It would be great if there was a “radion xr15 beginner”. Limited features. You cant change the wavelengths or anything extra. You can dim and put a time schedule. It’s the same power as the pro lights but fraction of the cost. Basically like you’re a beginner you aren’t going to know how to tune wavelengths and we aren’t going to pretend you’ll learn. Just plug it in, and dim it if it’s too bright, and you’ll be able to keep corals alive. It’s only when they are more experience they should be thinking about paying $$$ for more customization. And now you’re like my extra $$$ let’s me make my corals glow and grow faster

 

[MichaelReefer]

I agree but disagree. You have to pay to play, just like any hobby. I mean, I am a gun enthusiast as well and have spent thousands on scopes, guns, etc etc. IF you want nice stuff, you generally gotta pay for it *shrug*. Dont get into an expensive hobby driving a honda but spend like you got a lambo.

 

[LPS Bum]

I agree but disagree. You have to pay to play, just like any hobby. I mean, I am a gun enthusiast as well and have spent thousands on scopes, guns, etc etc. IF you want nice stuff, you generally gotta pay for it *shrug*.

Agreed.

My Daniel Defense AR and EOTech red dot weren't cheap, but man are they nice...

 

[Kathy Floyd]

Has anyone bought eggs lately?

Refurbished or reconditioned isn't really cheap, either.

How about a pair of clownfish?

 

[Kathy Floyd]

I can buy an AI light new for $430 or used for $330-350.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I will say, I got my main stuff used back in 2003. High end Protein skimmer and Calcium reactor and sump and return pump. All still works great today. No issues really and it is so well made, should not need to ever really replace.

My chiller did just die after almost 16 years, so, hey, I will try fans and see before spending the grand on a new chiller.

I have noticed prices higher for everything. I needed a little upflow pump (Toms) and the last time I got one it was like maybe $20, now the cheapest are $50. Inflation is a wonderful thing. I mean, my income did not increase that much.

Tunze pumps are excellent and I have not noticed huge hikes there.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Agreed.

My Daniel Defense AR and EOTech red dot weren't cheap, but man are they nice...

Haha, like my M1A 22" and Leupold VX-6HD. Or the other 10 guns I have >.>

 

[DHill6]

Yup its ridiculous and company's like Ecotech and world wide corals are to

To me the reason why the costs have gone up is the online, fad driven, champagne tastes with beer money wallet crowds that have become attracted. They spend everything they have upfront, don’t question the cost, than a year from now start a Facebook “business” and call themselves experts trying to recoup some of the money back. I’ve messaged many sellers on there, and although they don’t come out and say it, most of them have no clue about chemistry relationships or a Berlin system is. They will act like they know it all, and in reality have 2 years under there belt. With 100 percent turnover in the hobby annually, when that many “new” people come in and spend like a 21 year old does his first time at a casino, the prices are bound to go up .

There is a scantily clad dressed woman on Facebook who is always selling torches, and when I asked what parameters she’s keeps them at, she read me the info off the salt bucket . But somehow sells corals

That’s funny and sad. She should know.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

If people keep buying them, they will keep making them. Cant understand how anyone can justify an $800 powerhead. I'll stick with my Nero 5s.

As if a $250 powerhead is any better...

 

[DHill6]

Yup its ridiculous and company's like Ecotech and world wide corals are to blame

Wait…I have purchased ecotech and tank is full of WWC. It was my choice and I got what I paid for. High Prices of everything today is high, including Reefing if you choose to buy certain items. It’s business.

 

[DHill6]

No. The hobbyists who are willing to pay those prices are to blame. If no one is willing to pay $800 for a powerhead or $250 for a tiny Acro frag, the demand will plummet and the prices will drop. Simple economics.

In a capitalist society, I don't see how you can't fault an equipment manufacturer or a coral farmer for maximizing their profits if people are willing to pay those prices.

I’m to blame, I bought those high priced items and I’m happy to have them..,
I wouldn’t bet on dropping prices anytime in the near future

 

[HomebroodExotics]

If it was your first day with a saltwater tank and you come to a forum you would think the hobby was about aquarium equipment instead of keeping fish and corals alive. You have a to have a completely clean sterile tank so you can show off all the expensive equipment you bought in order to be considered an expert, and then they dose nitrates and phosphates. It's comical when you step back and see it.

 

[MoMoTheMonster]

If you're going for just the necessities, you can do this hobby for cheap. You can get a standard, rimmed tank and stand at any pet store for a few hundred dollars. Add a HOB skimmer, AC powerheads, lights of your choice, heater, some rocks and sand, and you're probably checking in around $1,200 or so. Add a few fish of your choice, another few hundred. Add a $500 Battlebox, which will come with enough corals to stock almost any tank. Add some testing supplies and miscellaneous stuff, and you're probably right around $2,000. That would be an absolutely beautiful tank.

But this hobby isn't about necessities. This hobby really is by definition an exercise in excess. Nobody wants the $500 tank/stand combo from Petsmart. They want the latest $2,000 IM or Waterbox tank/stand. People don't want a HOB skimmer, they want a sump to hide the equipment. People don't want a handful of $80 Sicce powerheads, they want a handful of $600 Ecotechs. People don't want $700 of capable, dependable T5s, they want $3k of the latest-and-greatest Ecotech LEDs. People don't want to buy a box of reasonably priced, beautiful corals and watch they grow. They want the $200/polpy zoanthid flavor-of-the-day or $800 per 3/4" of WD or Homewrecker. And when the next trendy acro or zoa comes along, they want that too.

And that's not even including a controller, which I'm hearing is a necessity these days and probably almost thousands of dollars once you consider controller-connected devices like AWC pumps, dosing pumps, and automated testing device like the Trident.

If you want to do this hobby cheap, you can. I just don't think people actually want to do that.

I think you described my tank in the nobody wants section of your post

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its the consumer's fault for paying those stupid prices .

I wholeheartedly agree especially with coral. Everytime we dive on these live sales and run warehouses out of What was $549 and now $649 tridents units- our message is - we are ok with these prices and willing to pay that.

 

[liddojunior]

I agree but disagree. You have to pay to play, just like any hobby. I mean, I am a gun enthusiast as well and have spent thousands on scopes, guns, etc etc. IF you want nice stuff, you generally gotta pay for it *shrug*. Dont get into an expensive hobby driving a honda but spend like you got a lambo.

This isn’t a luxury rich persons hobby. It’s a hobby that families can enjoy and children should be able to participate in. Every hobby has a luxury end or part. The luxury equipment can stay expensive but the entry level should be affordable without being told to go to no customer support quality backed producers.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I wouldn't say "supply and demand" and "capitalism" are clever deflections. They're just reality. If enough hobbyists refuse to buy what they consider to be overpriced equipment, fish, and corals, then the demand will plummet and the prices will go with it.

Also, don't forget that inflated prices and surging demand drive innovation. Most of these advances in equipment technology have only come about because people are willing to pay for them. If hobbyists only wanted the cheapest pumps, filters and lights, the hobby wouldn't be seeing the technology advances.

I wish it was a cheaper hobby too (we all do), but so long as the market bears out these inflated prices, they will continue to stick around.

You missed my point, those were examples of how people like you can't help yourself to correct something someone said and then derail the conversation, just like I'm doing to reiterate my position, we are having a side conversation that will eventually take on a life of its own, and no longer are we trying to discuss how we can prevent this thread from becoming people "yelling at clouds" we debate silly ideas...

 

[AJsReef]

Social media effect, people "have" to have things they can't truly afford. Spiking demand for niche products. It's driven so many of my hobbies into ridiculously high prices. I'm curious to see how it maintains in the next few years.

The whiskey market is a prime example. The hype in the last 7 years or so has become unreal. What were $50 bottles now have "values" of $800+. Yet very few even drink what's inside of them. Instead, they place them on a shelf like some kind of trophy. When the original hype was how it tasted not how pretty it looked on your shelf.