Getting out of the hobby.

[Lance]

Anybody noticed how many people are shutting down their tanks and getting out of the hobby? Everyday it seems someone is selling off everything and getting out. I wonder if this trend is just here or everywhere.

[Leah]

Thought it was you too. It is one expensive hobby no doubt about it.

[globaldesigns]

Times are tough for alot of people, and this hobby isn't cheap. True hobbiests may have to leave for a bit, but you will find alot get back in when it allows.

It is sad to see someone go, but whoever you are, I wish you the best of luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

[lastlight]

Some will likely try and come back before they *really* should. I don't name names though.

[Lance]

Thought it was you too.


Nah, I'm a glutton for punishment. :lol:

[Lance]

Some will likely try and come back before they *really* should. I don't name names though.



:wink:

[banditpowdercoat]

I've often contemplated shutting down too, due to financial reason's. BUT, no one wants to buy my tanks LOL Well, they just dont wana come up here and get them.

[Skimmerking]

ya I know what you mean, I thought about shutting it down, just to move but then set back up again
NOT this guy is going to die REEFING.
\
My Dream is to go to everyones house to see their tanks. But there will somepeople that won't let me see their tank:sad: now that could be looked at as a STALKER.....

A CREEPER that loves SALT

[Leah]

P.M. who it is so I don't ever let them in, just in case. Creeper's scare me!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Yes, unfortunately, in hard economic times & with lots of life changes happening to people, reefing becomes an unaffordable luxury for some. Separations, divorces, lost jobs, moving, etc. can take a toll on reefers & their will/ability to stay with the addiction.

It seems to take people who are OCD or just plain stubborn to keep at it through good times & bad.

We did notice that while lots of people were at J&L this Boxing Day sales, the rush was over in the first hour & a half for livestock and most of the buyerrs were in the low hundreds range, rather than in the high hundreds like in past years.

[Bryan]

We did notice that while lots of people were at J&L this Boxing Day sales, the rush was over in the first hour & a half for livestock and most of the buyerrs were in the low hundreds range, rather than in the high hundreds like in past years.

But I bet their on-line sales were off the charts. think their server crashed a couple times.

[lastlight]

I think because this hobby is so addicitive...when ppl do get out they've already been desperately trying to keep it going well past the point where they should have gotten out. It's a hobby that drives us to spend even if it means neglecting something else.

[christyf5]

no one wants to buy my tanks LOL Well, they just dont wana come up here and get them.

LOL, thats pretty much kept me in the hobby as well :razz:

[Myka]

I think it's just that time of year. Early winter, and early summer. People seem to ditch at those times.

[Delphinus]

Lance you scared the ____ out of me with this title. I'm so relieved to hear it's just you asking why!!

If there's one thing I've noticed over the years though, is that people come and go in bursts. Probably as speculated the economic climate is a big driver currently, but it could also be coincidence.

[Aquattro]

Probably as speculated the economic climate is a big driver currently, but it could also be coincidence.

Or it could be that their damn corals keep dying! :) Seriously just about emptied my tank into the backyard yesterday -lol

[Lance]

Lance you scared the ____ out of me with this title. I'm so relieved to hear it's just you asking why!!


Sorry Tony. Didn't mean to scare the skimmate out of you. (I couldn't leave you big fella) Without Canreef I'd just be sitting in front of the TV petting the wife's beagle.............. *shudder*..........

[Lance]

Or it could be that their damn corals keep dying! :) Seriously just about emptied my tank into the backyard yesterday -lol


I saw this on FB Brad. I hope things turn around for you.

[banditpowdercoat]

Sorry Without Canreef I'd just be sitting in front of the TV petting the wife's beagle.............. *shudder*..........

So THAT's what the kids are calling it now a days :lol:

[Skimmerking]

Wow imagine if I got out of the hobby what in the heck could I be buying on a impulse other then skimmers. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I know HOOKERS And BLOW:biggrin::biggrin:

[Lance]

So THAT's what the kids are calling it now a days :lol:


No, you read it wrong: that was beagle not beaver. :mrgreen:

[Lance]

Wow imagine if I got out of the hobby what in the heck could I be buying on a impulse other then skimmers. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I know HOOKERS And BLOW:biggrin::biggrin:



Those aren't impulse buys Mike. That's serious purchasing!
And that's enough out of you. You just get back to your mountain.:lol:

[Leah]

No, you read it wrong: that was beagle not beaver. :mrgreen:

Come on Dan even I new that :redface::lol:

[Delphinus]

Go FOWLR or FWLACAG (fish with live rock and clams and gorgonians - that's MY tank right now!!! :lol:)

Good luck sorting it out..


Or it could be that their damn corals keep dying! :) Seriously just about emptied my tank into the backyard yesterday -lol

[lastlight]

Without Canreef I'd just be sitting in front of the TV petting the wife's beagle....

I'm SO hoping right now that you guys have a dog.

EDIT: I posted before scrolling down. Thanks for picking that one up Bandit =)

[Mrfish55]

When I saw the thread title I thought mayby you had Joan help you blow out the skimmer line again :eyebrows:

[Lance]

When I saw the thread title I thought mayby you had Joan help you blow out the skimmer line again :eyebrows:



:redface:

[lastlight]

when i saw the thread title i thought mayby you had joan help you blow out the skimmer line again :eyebrows:

no beagle for you!

[Lance]

no beagle for you!


Good! I'm kinda tired of her jumping on my lap and licking me.

[banditpowdercoat]

No, you read it wrong: that was beagle not beaver. :mrgreen:


Come on Dan even I new that :redface::lol:


Thought it was new slang so the 'rent's didn't catch on to what the kids were talking about :lol:

[Leah]

Good! I'm kinda tired of her jumping on my lap and licking me.
nevermind :redface:

[Tom R]

This hobby is not for the Faint of Heart.

It is a very expensive hobby. For the compulsive buyer there is always something new and exciting available every time you go to the LFS.

It is also an extremely difficult hobby. Just when you think your tank is doing well all hell seems to breakout. Even the most seasoned hobbies run into trouble from time to time.

Tom R

[banditpowdercoat]

nevermind :redface:

Come on Leah, Tell us what your really thinking :P

[Mr.nintendo]

I'm considering getting out of the hobby, not because of the price ( which is high and I have had my fair share of issues ) but because of the impact on the enviroment and issues with mass quantities of dead livestock.

I started the tank because I have a strong affinity for the ocean and it's beauty... I now question whether or not I can provide any money to an industry that is still so destructive. I'm probably one of the only ones in here hoping the stricter export bylaws go into effect quick.

I know I could buy locally propagated but regardless of my individual choices I still am required to support LFS and companies that may not feel the same way. It's a fun hobby and I certainly enjoy the work, but it's easy to understand in these times why people can't keep it up

[Lance]

This hobby is not for the Faint of Heart.

It is a very expensive hobby. For the compulsive buyer there is always something new and exciting available every time you go to the LFS.

It is also an extremely difficult hobby. Just when you think your tank is doing well all hell seems to breakout. Even the most seasoned hobbies run into trouble from time to time.

Tom R


Tom, I absolutely agree with you. IMO, if one can't afford it or doesn't have the time or patience it might be a good idea to leave it alone.

[PoonTang]

Good! I'm kinda tired of her jumping on my lap and licking me.

The Beagle or the Wife?

[Marlin65]

This hobby is not for the Faint of Heart.

It is a very expensive hobby. For the compulsive buyer there is always something new and exciting available every time you go to the LFS.

It is also an extremely difficult hobby. Just when you think your tank is doing well all hell seems to breakout. Even the most seasoned hobbies run into trouble from time to time.

Tom R

I have to agree with this as well it does costs a lot and I think most people get out as it is a lot of work to keep reefs running so they stays looking good.
That and it is hard to just go away somewhere for a few days.
The environmental issue does worry me somewhat but then I think it is people like us that might one day be able to save some part of the reef when it all dies off.

[Snappy]

I think about packing it in quite often but always seem to come to my senses. Like this week for example, murphy's law dictates that if I'm going to host a reef meet this weekend my corals need to get burned tips and turn brown.:twised::redface::twised:

[banditpowdercoat]

Brown. I thought they were supposed to look that way LOL

[my2rotties]

I thought you were getting out for a minute. Glad you are staying...

I thought to get out too with the way the economy has been. The tanks need constant cash flow and with so much other stuff to pay for the tank suffers. The tank needs money no matter how broke I am, and it starts getting old to have to drop a ton of cash for this and that and the other thing.

I am hanging in there... I adore all my fish.

Anybody noticed how many people are shutting down their tanks and getting out of the hobby? Everyday it seems someone is selling off everything and getting out. I wonder if this trend is just here or everywhere.

[Skimmerking]

nevermind :redface:


it's ok Lance she uses that alot NEVERMIND :mrgreen:

[Leah]

Really :twised:

[Skimmerking]

ROLMAO leah is in a bad mood

[Leah]

Why lol!!!!!

[Pier Pressure]

I am in the process of getting out of the hobby as we speak. I have sold my fish and corals and am blacking out my tank to kill off the hair algae growth. I am getting out for four reasons: (1) $$$ it costs a fortune; (2) too much time and effort is required; (3) tired of fighting algae and other such nuisance stuff; and (4) I, too, do not want to spend money on something that is depleting natural coral reefs. I still enjoy hanging out on the forum and seeing everyone's beautiful tanks and creatures but after I sell what I have left I cannot see getting back into it being in my future.

[whatcaneyedo]

I havent really noticed too many people getting out of the hobby where I live. The big change is that not many people are getting into it. Back in 2006 I think there were 4 people setting up tanks over 200gal in PG and I think only 1 person has done that since. Many of the people around here who have been getting out of the hobby are those who just recently tried to rush into it without taking enough time to let things mature or researching enough.

For two of the six years that I've had a reef tank I've been a student living under the poverty line with little free time. So sometimes I have a tough time believing that people cant afford or dont have time for this hobby. Maybe they cant afford a 100+ gallon tank but nanos are relatively inexpensive and dont require a lot of time.

[Pier Pressure]

Well, whatcaneyedo I simply listed my reasons for leaving the hobby. Any reef tank is a commitment of time and money and once you lose interest you might as well get out of it.
I actually got a DVD set for Christmas (Undersea Explorer) and it is horrible how people rape the natural reefs for a profit. I don't want to contribute to that whatsoever.

[Pier Pressure]

Another thing - we should have researched more before we got into salt. We were big into freshwater and did very well at it. When we got into reefs we were too willing to take advice at the stores - causing us to buy creatures we could not possibly maintain and then watching them die. That really took a lot of the fun out of it for me. We have of course gotten smarter about it but I truly lost enthusiasm within the first year.

[Mr.nintendo]

Well, whatcaneyedo I simply listed my reasons for leaving the hobby. Any reef tank is a commitment of time and money and once you lose interest you might as well get out of it.
I actually got a DVD set for Christmas (Undersea Explorer) and it is horrible how people rape the natural reefs for a profit. I don't want to contribute to that whatsoever.


It's shocking the methods and destruction used... not to mention people buying set-ups and not having the full drive and commitment necessary to care for their tank. Fish and reptiles are treated like disposible pets by some people and it feeds this industry, hence why even with me taking the utmost care of my tank I have trouble supporting any suppliers or LFS

[Pier Pressure]

I sure hear you on that. I made sure all of my fish and corals had a good home. They moved from my little 28 gallon into a 120 gallon set up so that probably feels like the ocean to them by comparison!

[whatcaneyedo]

That is something I can definitally understand. If you're not 100% into keeping a saltwater tank then its really not worth it. I vividly remember every single specimen that I've killed and if it wasnt for the fact that I've become much better at keeping things alive I certainly wouldnt be in the hobby anymore either. Fortunitally I often have a lot of free time between jobs to read and play with my tanks.

[StirCrazy]

I think it's just that time of year. Early winter, and early summer. People seem to ditch at those times.

I find around christmas and mid to end summer.. the christmas cycle is when people realize how much there tanks are costing them as they don't have much left over to buy what they wanted to.. and the summer one is after the heat waves come and there are big die offs.. then you have to decide to start again or quit.

has happened every year for the last 9 or 10 that I have been watching.

Steve

[freezetyle]

A CREEPER that loves SALT

Perhaps a Salt Creep (get the reference?:mrgreen:) would be a better term?

[Skimmerking]

ya i get it man good one :biggrin:

[Leah]

I sometimes wonder what I would do without all the work and effort I put into my tanks!
Oh and the freedom!

[lorenz0]

Personally once you get by the start up costs its golden and worth keeping. I tried to get a nano thinking i could budget it in with school. yep that didn't work out lol. But i have thought about shutting down the 60gal and than i relapse about how its not worth shutting down. For the money you get back, its more a "why did i do that" than anything

I know of people who have followed me into certain hobbies and it really comes down to the love of it. It keeps me sain.

[Dez]

I agree with Lorenzo in terms of start up costs. When we had about 600 gallons of water in our condo the only real cost after the tanks were stocked was electricity. The frag sales pretty much covered the running cost of the tank as corals grew.

I did find myself missing the hobby for the 4 1/2 years that I got out. I didn't plan on getting out but kids happened.

I'm glad to be back in now. I've spent a few thousand getting my new tank up and running (even using a lot of equipment that I had from before). But now I'm sitting back and watching everything grow and enjoying it. The major cost was the cabinetry and livestock, so those costs aren't recurring.

Using cheap china bulbs helps too for the halides. I am fine with the colours and growth that I'm getting so for now I'll stick with those bulbs.

[mark]

Dez, guess I could flip over to your build thread, but wondering what you're using for bulbs?

[Dez]

I really don't know what bulbs they are. They are from Marine Aquaria. I think you can get them for $60 or something like that. I bought a whole bunch (I think 6 of them - so 2 years worth since I like the color and they were cheap). I asked the owner for a little bit of a break since I bought so many. I've thought about trying those $20 from Ebay.

[kien]

My personal opinion is that I think a lot of people get into the hobby with really high expectations and then when those expectations aren't met, they are crushed, demoralized and get out. Just over the past couple of weeks I have had a couple of people PM me telling me that they are just getting into salt and want their tanks to look exactly like mine. That's all fine and wonderful and I'm flattered, but my tank didn't just happen over night. As others have stated here, there was a lot of time and money involved.

It is fine and great to set goals but they have to be realistic and manageable. Really no different than any other hobby or endevour. You can't expect to go to the gym for a couple of weeks and then come out looking like a model (unless you are already a model :P ). Again, time, money and a commitment are requirements.

The hobby is also what you want to make of it. It doesn't cost that much money to have a tank full of salt water, some rocks and a clown clown fish or two. Very low impact on the environment as well. Or you can spend more time and money if you so wish to get some corals and more exotic harder to keep fish. Ultimately the hobbyist has to decide where to draw the line right? Again, too often I see new hobbyist coming in and going full throttle to get that massive nice looking mixed reef with expensive hard to keep corals and fish. That should be something to strive for in the long term, rather than a starting point. That's not what new hobbyists usually want to hear though. :neutral: They want to hear how easy it all is. :lol:

Anyway, just my humble two pennies.

[Delphinus]

Possibly, but there are sometimes even positive "reasonings" to getting out too. The bottom line though, been at this long enough to see that it is cyclical and fairly bursty in nature. Just by coincidence alone, a number of people will get into the hobby and a number of people will get out. Sometimes it's burn out, sometimes it's just time to try something else or redirect the funds to something else. The reasons for getting out are as varied as the reasons for getting in.

[lastlight]

Just over the past couple of weeks I have had a couple of people PM me telling me that they are just getting into salt and want their tanks to look exactly like mine.

I said that in confidence man. Sheesh.

[lastlight]

Well said Tony I agree and offer up my past 2 builds as proof.

[kien]

Agreed too. And really, I think all reasons for getting out are positive reasons. If you want to get out for whatever reason, that's your Prerogative. You as the hobbyist has made this decision based on factors in your life, not that of other hobbyists. Others might not agree with your reasons, but ultimately it is your time and money, not ours. I don't think there are any bad reasons for getting out.

[Delphinus]

It's a good point. Although there are sometimes people are a little too hasty to sell off stuff and then look at buying some of it back. Done a bit of that myself. I had this halide pendent that I owned at least two times, (ie. in a non consecutive/non contiguous kind of manner). :lol:

[lorenz0]

Agreed too. And really, I think all reasons for getting out are positive reasons. If you want to get out for whatever reason, that's your Prerogative. You as the hobbyist has made this decision based on factors in your life, not that of other hobbyists. Others might not agree with your reasons, but ultimately it is your time and money, not ours. I don't think there are any bad reasons for getting out.

well said. I got out of drifting because the cost was exhausting almost all of my funds to the point where i didn't do anything with my life or go anywhere. Once i sold my car i picked up this hobby (which is ALOT cheaper) bought my bike, started buying things for around the house, paid off most of my debt (lol till i decided to go back to school).

But your second last point is very well said. Do it cause it's what you enjoy. No one elses opinion matters but your own, esspecially on forums. ramble stops before i start going way off topic

[Bloodasp]

If worse comes to worse and I have to leave the hobby for some reason I know I will come back eventually so the equipment stays but the livestock have to go (as much as I don't want to part with them)