Oh yeah retail. I sometimes forget that people pay those outrageous prices for little name brand packaging.

Ya, it's ridiculous :) I acquired a small jar somewhere, the sticker on it was near $20. Maybe half a pound??

People always seem to complain about how expensive this hobby is, but then make no attempt to keep the costs down. There is often alternate bulk chems available and lightly used equipment, trading coral etc. Sometimes I think that the cost causes people to leave the hobby when it really doesn't have to be that way.

Trading in this hobby is a beautiful thing :). Any hobby can be cheap or very expensive.

This forum has been really great for me in that department especially. I have purchased my led lighting, skimmer, heaters, gyre pump, phosban reactor, apex controller, and dosing pumps all from Canreef members. I now only buy coral frags from other members and hope to start trading one day. This is just the stuff that you can put a $ value to....I wouldn't know how to price all the advice, ideas and hints that I have received and read:biggrin: and all the fantastic people I have met on the way.

Bryce

I dunno, I think stores are pretty awesome.

I think stores and the people on this site are amazing. there is help where ever you turn.

I think I like them both, the stores for the once in awhile latest product, sometimes knowledgeable staff, and things such as salt and fish.
This board has all the info a reefer needs, sometimes friendly people:wink:
all the trades and purchases of coral, fish, and used equipment.

and just for the record I'm not saying don't use kalk, you just have to be careful with it outside and inside the tank. I have switched like many others have either to upgrade to reactors, two part regiments, dossers and such. I actually dose a homemade mix of baked baking soda and bulk calcium chloride(thanks to a link off of canreef) and prefer that over some overpriced name brand mix.

Reef On All!:biggrin: