This is my humble opinion. When I started in the hobby (2010) frags were sold on average for about $20. Now, they are at $40 minimum. And, by naming these with catchy marketing names, and calling them “high end” corals, price increase seems to be justified. In the last few years it has been blown out of proportion, and is across everything in the hobby… equipment, food, livestock, etc. Even “low end” corals are expensive. Still, to put it into perspective, so have most other hobbies. 😂 I “made my peace” with the fact that big companies are now driving the product and livestock commerce. So, I have a budget now and I don’t buy any corals online anymore. I am lucky to live in South Florida where, sometimes, you find good prices.
I can’t believe how many years you stuck with halides for. What a difference the appearance of your aquarium is now. The best thing you ever did imo. ❤
This hobby became a lot more mainstream which is why the prices are insane as well. It’s more about money than the animals now unfortunately. I went to Reefapalooza NY this year and literally left within 30 min that’s how bad the prices were.
I'm tired of people that make 6 figure salaries and sponsored buy all the top brands that are given stuff for free or at huge discount tell me 1000 bucks for 1 light isn't expensive..or 500 bucks for a top of the line skimmer isn't expensive. If ur trying to get people into the hobby.people that make 50k a year this is not how to do it
You know how in life we all complain about why things are the way they are until we understand there's a reason for it? Ya, costs within the hobby are just like that. The simplest explanation is we got into a premium hobby... not freshwater... not basket weaving. The inconvenient truth is that material costs in almost every industry have over doubled in just a 3yr window. Inputs = Outputs
Man Mark you should really consider getting Chris wood on your stream and talking to him about his trace and other products. You could use his trace elements and dose them all together. Then you can make adjustments based on your icp
Thank you! I've been waiting for someone to discuss this topic! $60 for fire shrimp / $50 Damsels at the LFS's in my area as an example. There's no imagination about increases from what I'm seeing....so not sure what Paletta is talking about.
Aquashella coral prices were very reasonable imo I've seen Dallas North Aquarium asking $200-400 for fungia plates that I saw for $50-80 at Aquashella.
The reality is (for the vast majority of us): this hobby is expensive. I do think it's possible to do this hobby on a small budget. But, you have to be willing to compromise on just about everything. Dollar-per-gallon sale tanks, pumps from the clearance rack in a box store, only the most common aquacultured fish like Chromis or Clowns, and the most basic of coral from a local swap. It can be done, but it's probably only suitable for a child or an absolute beginner. However, this is also an adult hobby. My fully-custom 210 gallon tank I'm currently building, with all the lights and pumps, still comes in cheaper than a new Harley-Davidson. Everything I've ever purchased for my aquarium hobby combined is still cheaper than rebuilding classic cars, or installing a full Koi pond, or buying a mid-ranger camper or travel trailer. It's how we talk about this hobby, and where people set there expectations which matter. We are keeping a sensitive marine ecosystem, in an expensive box, likely with high-end fixtures and pumps. That's going to have a high-cost. No one should come into this bobby expecting to have a shoe-string and duct tape budget. And if they are not ok with that, this probably isn't for them. Because you don't have to spend hundreds of thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars to have a really nice and successful tank. But, you will spend thousands of dollars. And that's expected. And even buying custom, I still have a budget. Mine is a 210 gallon because trying to do the same level of equipment on a custom 400 gallon would have broken my budget, and angered my spouse. As Marc said, if you can only buy one thing each week, that's fine. It's going to take me two or three years of slowly saving up and filling out equipment, before I can ever turn my new tank on. That's just working with a budget. Throw instant gratification out the window, make a plan, write a list, and work with it.
It’s hard to have a budget when the inflation is running at 7% or higher. When people lose jobs and recession hits hard then that’s when people stop the hobby.
What drives me nuts is your paying for aquarium parts for the same price as car parts that are made of metal vs plastics! so yeah it’s bad. Bulk Reef Supply is the biggest culprit of this.
Yes, they are, a frag Acropora for $650. I have seen stores in Canada with the same coral probably $90. Good example Fragboxtv channel. Got to that channel it is the best store I have seen with prices. The only bad part the can not send it to us in The USA
This is my humble opinion. When I started in the hobby (2010) frags were sold on average for about $20. Now, they are at $40 minimum. And, by naming these with catchy marketing names, and calling them “high end” corals, price increase seems to be justified.
In the last few years it has been blown out of proportion, and is across everything in the hobby… equipment, food, livestock, etc. Even “low end” corals are expensive.
Still, to put it into perspective, so have most other hobbies. 😂
I “made my peace” with the fact that big companies are now driving the product and livestock commerce. So, I have a budget now and I don’t buy any corals online anymore. I am lucky to live in South Florida where, sometimes, you find good prices.
I can’t believe how many years you stuck with halides for. What a difference the appearance of your aquarium is now. The best thing you ever did imo. ❤
This hobby became a lot more mainstream which is why the prices are insane as well. It’s more about money than the animals now unfortunately. I went to Reefapalooza NY this year and literally left within 30 min that’s how bad the prices were.
Things are too expensive but only about 2-3 dozen people are actually making real money in this industry...
I recognize that little orange cooler you pulled out during your setup timelapse. :)
Oh yeah! I’ve had a couple of those for many years. Rod’s Food 🥰
I'm tired of people that make 6 figure salaries and sponsored buy all the top brands that are given stuff for free or at huge discount tell me 1000 bucks for 1 light isn't expensive..or 500 bucks for a top of the line skimmer isn't expensive. If ur trying to get people into the hobby.people that make 50k a year this is not how to do it
You know how in life we all complain about why things are the way they are until we understand there's a reason for it?
Ya, costs within the hobby are just like that. The simplest explanation is we got into a premium hobby... not freshwater... not basket weaving.
The inconvenient truth is that material costs in almost every industry have over doubled in just a 3yr window. Inputs = Outputs
Man Mark you should really consider getting Chris wood on your stream and talking to him about his trace and other products. You could use his trace elements and dose them all together. Then you can make adjustments based on your icp
Thank you! I've been waiting for someone to discuss this topic! $60 for fire shrimp / $50 Damsels at the LFS's in my area as an example. There's no imagination about increases from what I'm seeing....so not sure what Paletta is talking about.
A watt is a watt power company charges the same, led or halide.
Aquashella coral prices were very reasonable imo
I've seen Dallas North Aquarium asking $200-400 for fungia plates that I saw for $50-80 at Aquashella.
Any 10 year MP60s for sale lol? I have 2 10 or so years old MP40 but they wernt ran the entire 10 years.
Mike P said the hobby prices has only risen by 5%? Ha I would love to see where he pulled those numbers from!
Price of aquariums AND the poor length of the warranties is ridiculous.
The reality is (for the vast majority of us): this hobby is expensive.
I do think it's possible to do this hobby on a small budget. But, you have to be willing to compromise on just about everything. Dollar-per-gallon sale tanks, pumps from the clearance rack in a box store, only the most common aquacultured fish like Chromis or Clowns, and the most basic of coral from a local swap. It can be done, but it's probably only suitable for a child or an absolute beginner.
However, this is also an adult hobby. My fully-custom 210 gallon tank I'm currently building, with all the lights and pumps, still comes in cheaper than a new Harley-Davidson. Everything I've ever purchased for my aquarium hobby combined is still cheaper than rebuilding classic cars, or installing a full Koi pond, or buying a mid-ranger camper or travel trailer.
It's how we talk about this hobby, and where people set there expectations which matter. We are keeping a sensitive marine ecosystem, in an expensive box, likely with high-end fixtures and pumps. That's going to have a high-cost. No one should come into this bobby expecting to have a shoe-string and duct tape budget. And if they are not ok with that, this probably isn't for them.
Because you don't have to spend hundreds of thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars to have a really nice and successful tank. But, you will spend thousands of dollars. And that's expected.
And even buying custom, I still have a budget. Mine is a 210 gallon because trying to do the same level of equipment on a custom 400 gallon would have broken my budget, and angered my spouse. As Marc said, if you can only buy one thing each week, that's fine. It's going to take me two or three years of slowly saving up and filling out equipment, before I can ever turn my new tank on. That's just working with a budget. Throw instant gratification out the window, make a plan, write a list, and work with it.
It’s hard to have a budget when the inflation is running at 7% or higher. When people lose jobs and recession hits hard then that’s when people stop the hobby.
What drives me nuts is your paying for aquarium parts for the same price as car parts that are made of metal vs plastics! so yeah it’s bad. Bulk Reef Supply is the biggest culprit of this.
Yes, they are, a frag Acropora for $650. I have seen stores in Canada with the same coral probably $90. Good example Fragboxtv channel. Got to that channel it is the best store I have seen with prices. The only bad part the can not send it to us in The USA
The price of aquariums themselves have gotten ridiculous.
MARCNA sounds great!
Long are the days when Chinese equipment was necessarily worse than western counterparts.
It became too much and I got out.
My 3.5 year old Noopsyches are $200/ea and I haven’t had any repairs required yet. Just sayin…😂
k😊😊😊