Am I imagining it or do a lot of people seem to be dropping

[Anonymous]

It generally takes 2 years to get semi-proficient at this hobby. Lots of people don't make it that far and give up. Most who make it to the 2 year mark are hooked for life

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http://butchmeader.com

 

[Anonymous]

My electric bill is about to go up 80%. I think I will be scaling back.

 

[Anonymous]

I also think that the bad economy (lots of layoffs recently) and energy crises (have you seen the cost of electricity in California?) have alot to do with it. This is a very expensive hobby. On the other hand, maybe they are just upgrading to larger tanks!

Brian

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Calling all Boston area reefers ! Join the club @
http://bostonreefers.homestead.com

 

[Anonymous]

Hey I'm still here. Maybe not popular but I am persistent.

 

[Anonymous]

I have noticed the same thing here in California. Lots more tanks for sale now..hmm...I've been wanting to start a FO tank but hesitant due to the elec. situation here..not that I can't afford it. Just feel bad because I will be hogging up more elec. than other people just for my hobby. I am telling you though, as soon as the situation resolved itself (1-2yrs.), I am going for it.

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http://www.tetrafuran.homestead.com/

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'd agree with all of the above. I really enjoy both of my reefs but admittedly don't spend the time (nor money) that I used to.
I think from the moment we undertake any hobby we're all essentially looking to achieve a balance in terms of maximizing what we get out of it while minimizing the effort we have to put in. I think this balancing act goes on constantly and can be greatly affected as we prioritize different things in our lives.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree , RH. After more than 1 1/2 years I have reached a point with my tanks where I'm not really dumping a lot of $$ in them any more except for electric costs. I even look for deals on food. Time spent in tank labor is minimal, too, in comparison to what it used to be. I do still get a tremendous amount of pleasure every day, though. I really want (and need to) upgrade to a larger tank as it is getting pretty crowded but the feeling is almost "Ugh!" at the thought of the $$, time, and energy (both mine and electrical

)an upgrade will consume. The lure of the "big" tank is still there, but sometimes I think about just doing an "only as large as I can get away with" tank - 135, 150...in order to save money and myself. hehehe! I just know I'll write someday saying I found a good deal on a 240 gallon monster and WHOOOPPPPPEEEEE, I'm settin' her up! I say this because, "My name is Laurie, and I am a reefaholic."

Laurie

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Laurie
_____________________

I came, I saw, I bought.

 

[Anonymous]

Group: "High, Laurie!"
Laurie, I took mine down a month or so ago. I'm glad I keep my aquarium though, as I'm trying to re-set up. I just can't stay. Guess thats my cue: "My name is Chris, and I, too, am a reefaholic."

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got ska?

 

[Anonymous]

One of the reasons I took my skimmer down was to try and save on electric costs.
It's getting crazy how much I get charged a month.
Our electric company, PECO (Pennsylvania Elecectric Company) just got caught in a money scandle. The top execs were stealing money for their own expenses. So what does our govt. due....approve a $145,000,000 loan to aid the company from their own mistakes. Every one in the city wanted PECO to be on an evaluation basis before they were given our tax money. Give them so much up front and see how they manage it, then give them the rest if they reorganize. But common sense never prevails and they got all the money. The company then says they need to raise rates to aid costs. GO figure.
Sometimes I think if I had saved all my money, I could have bought a Harley!

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The inmates are running the asylum!

 

[Anonymous]

I feel for you all but all I can say is Thank God I live in south Georgia. Electric is cheap, average electric is $70-$80 3 bedroom 2 bath with security lighting and lighted olympic size badmitten court, that we use. 4 tanks running. I dont think the thought ever enters our heads to turn off a light to keep down the bill. Well water that tests clean as whistle with a stable ph of 8.3 and its 2 hours to the atlantic and 2 hours to the gulf of mexico. I grew up on the Big island of Hawaii and I love this place soo much more. A perfect place to raise a reef

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Dave and Ivy
http://community.webtv.net/fishaholics/SMELLSLIKEFISH

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that once you've been in it for 2 years or more, you are hooked. I'm been a reefaddict for almost 6 years now, I've tore down, moved and setup more tanks then most people have done in their LIFETIME. I think I've prolly spent around 7-10 grand on this hobby and I love it. I personally don't like big tanks, I'll stick to my under 55 gallon tanks.

My name is matt, and I am a reefaholic.

Buba

 

[Anonymous]

Hooked for life. Sometimes I wish I could drop out, in many ways my life would be a lot easier.
Dan

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My other car is a reef tank

 

[Anonymous]

Stick that kalk needle a little deeper in my arm, I'm in year 2. Luckily "my" big tank is someone elses, gotta like spending other people's money.....I can't wait to upgrade the lights!

 

[Anonymous]

IF I CAN'T AFOARD MY TANKS I WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER JOB. HYE MY NAME IS SHAD I'M A REEF WHAT???????

 

[Anonymous]

I wish you good luck in your search for The Big One, Laurie. I think you're definitely looking in the right places. If we ever finish our downstairs I've got dreams of upgrading my 75 to a 125 and sticking it in the wall.
If you're looking for a good and cost- effective food source, I highly recommend making your own. I posted a while back re this subject - do an archive search under "homemade food" and you should find it. If not let me know and I'll email you my "recipe."
This hobby is truly an endless search for deals - sometimes I think the toughest part of it is justifying the expense!
;> )

 

[Anonymous]

I am definitely not getting out of it. After 10 years...I think there is SW in my veins. I am about to branch out and build my own prop tank this summer. I always look in the classifide section for good deals, but all the really big tanks are in east baghdad and I don't want to pay shipping on that.

My name is Andy...and I am a reefaholic.

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MY REEF
Calcium Reactors
Protein Skimmers
<A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>

"I see", said the blind man to his deaf wife, as she was talking to her mute children.

 

[Anonymous]

Hooked. My kids, my students, my neighbors all ooh and ahh too much for me to leave it. Not to mention the enjoyment I get from it myself. Thankfully our electricity bills haven't shot up like CA's - yet.

The only place we can really fit the tank is an alcove in the front entrance, which mercifully limits us to the 29. That is, until some of the kids start moving out

My name is Wayne, and I yam what I yam - OK, I'll stop the denials - a reefaholic. There, I said it.

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As a scientist, Throckmorton realized that if he ever broke wind in the echo chamber he would never hear the end of it.

[This message has been edited by reefworm (edited 17 May 2001).]

 

[Anonymous]

I have been checking a lot of the classified boards lately looking for good prices on large used tanks. There seem to be a lot of people selling everything off and they don't indicate that they are upgrading, either. It just looks like they are leaving the hobby. Some of these are people who have been around for at least as long as I have. What's going on? Is there something I don't know about?

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Laurie
_____________________

I came, I saw, I bought.

 

[Anonymous]

This July marks the 1 year anniversary of my 72g Bowfront. As of today I now have a 20g mini-reef and 135g reef as well. Additionally, my son has his new 100g tank sitting in his room(reef bug contagion) and we've got a 112g custom clam tank sitting in the living room. These 2 additions are waiting for the stands to be completed. Will I make it past year 2? Hmmmmm...let me think about that one

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One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all, and in The Darkness bind them

Tahoereefs.com

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, it's so nice to know we're not alone <sob> lot's of emotions building up here.

I know I'm hooked for life - have 3 SW tanks and 1 FW going, am planning a larger reef tank, and would like to do a FOWLR using my current 75. I would like to combine my 2 smaller tanks so I would still just have 3 SW tanks. That's all I feel I can honestly manage well.

If anyone had told me 2 years ago that I wuold be running even 1 tank much less 3 I would have called them crazy! I know I'm in for the long haul - I can tell every time I start to drool while looking at the 180 Oceanic at the LFS. hehehe!

Laurie

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Laurie
_____________________

I came, I saw, I bought.