Was it worth it in the end

[lastlight]

I was going to keep mine running as well until things got REALLY serious and it was my entire lifestyle and house I was downsizing.

If that's not your case keep it going. The startup costs are killer and the cost to let it run with vitals is minimal. Over the course of my last 3 tanks I've invested about $20,000 and made back MAYBE $6,000. Unless a person is forced into that...it hurts too much to do. It'd be bad enough if I'd been able to run and enjoy all 3 tanks!

[my2rotties]

Thanks Brett for the advise. Frank is still looking into your tile...it just has been sort of insane since we last spoke in PMs. I will remind him again for tomorrow to look into it again. Nobody was around over the holidays and now since the holidays are over, all hell has broken loose for anything and everything.

I am glad I posted this thread. I was afraid to since I did not want to be judged over having serious financial issues... I guess it happens to the best of us no matter how hard we have worked to try to stay ahead or break even.

Originally Posted by lastlight

I was going to keep mine running as well until things got REALLY serious and it was my entire lifestyle and house I was downsizing.

If that's not your case keep it going. The startup costs are killer and the cost to let it run with vitals is minimal. Over the course of my last 3 tanks I've invested about $20,000 and made back MAYBE $6,000. Unless a person is forced into that...it hurts too much to do. It'd be bad enough if I'd been able to run and enjoy all 3 tanks!

[lastlight]

Please don't worry about the tile. That was the old me.

The new me is just drywalling the stand and canopy and calling it a day. This new me also decided to go with koralias over the vortechs...i know! The new build is coming in WELL under the cost of just my last light (hey that's my username sweet). I feel good knowing I won't be so heavily invested this time.

And if it ever gets running...it'll be a small upgrade from the 68g I started off with. 68 -> 400 -> 225 -> 70. You can sorta see my magical gallonage for having livestock =)

And who's going to judge? Everyone has felt the economic strain I think. Good luck with whatever you choose. Even after loosing my shirt again...I feel great not having such a massive (physically and financially) symbol of my living outside my means in the middle of my livingroom.

[my2rotties]

Well Brett you say that now... have you started taping that drywall yet? We got our cards done and don;t need anything in return. I can get you the tile at wholesale and do not want anything out of it. Just for you to pay for it and pick it up if you change your mind.

I have had Koralia 700s for over a year, they are very reliable and to non tank people they don't even get brought up.

I went from a little tank that came with out house to the 260g... I had no clue it was so expensive, and if I did, I never would have done this hobby. Mind you, I think most people would be the same. I paid $500 for the tank and sump... did not think of all the plumbing, rocks... blah blah blah blah blah blah blah... to infinity...

Tony, if you ever kick out of this hobby, I will soon follow. Often I hang in there because of you.

Originally Posted by lastlight

Please don't worry about the tile. That was the old me.

The new me is just drywalling the stand and canopy and calling it a day. This new me also decided to go with koralias over the vortechs...i know! The new build is coming in WELL under the cost of just my last light (hey that's my username sweet). I feel good knowing I won't be so heavily invested this time.

And if it ever gets running...it'll be a small upgrade from the 68g I started off with. 68 -> 400 -> 225 -> 70. You can sorta see my magical gallonage for having livestock =)

And who's going to judge? Everyone has felt the economic strain I think. Good luck with whatever you choose. Even after loosing my shirt again...I feel great not having such a massive (physically and financially) symbol of my living outside my means in the middle of my livingroom.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya I'd keep it. I'm downsizing my other tanks, but keeping the 150g running bare min like you. It doesnt cost much at all to keep it running, like you said. Little food and salt. It's my Upgrading tendency's that cost the most LOL

If you get rid of it all, it will just cost that much more to get it all again when you come back. Keep the halides off, but don;t sell them. They will not wear out if they are off. Will save on power, and they will be ready when you get back into it. Like oyu said, it's bought and paid for now. Unless your downsizing homes, with no room, or are really financially in trouble that you need the few hundred dollars for food or whatnot, then it makes no sense to me to sell.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Yup, I agree with most of these comments about not selling at this point unless feeding/housing yourself becomes an issue.

You can sell off some of your extra equipment that you no longer need & use that towards upkeep costs.

In the past, it is usually when I no longer am able or have the interest in keeping my pets that I end up selling things off & sending my pets to a better home. This, however, does not sound like the case for you. You still get enjoyment out of your fishies, so hunker down, cut spending to a minimum, but maintain the tank. It may help keep your sanity.

Just my $.02.

Anthony

[my2rotties]

I am not going to lie, my situation is quite dire at the moment. I am still hanging in there. I never turned the halides on yesterday and left the T5s on. However my T5s are over a year old now and need to be replaced. The tank is not costing anything at the moment if you know what I mean, but it does need new T5s. I went through the entire system the other day and everything else is running properly. All my corals died over the summer (neglect and lack of funds, as well as flat worms). My fish all thrive and grow... and that is what matters the most to me in this hobby.

I guess if I started having issues with dying fish, I would pull the plug on this entire thing. That would be the last nail in the coffin so to speak.

I know I would NEVER recover a dime if I sold everything. I know my fish would be quite a score for someone, but I had already told Tony that I would GIVE him my Achilles of he wanted him. The fish are pets and I am not worried about recovering funds of any kind for them. I would sooner hand pick homes for the hard to keep fish and know they are happy and thriving some where else.

Thankfully it has not come to this just yet. My tank will be impossible to remove from the house on many levels... I don't want a disaster and tank shut down seem terrifying. I am very proud of my tank and the livestock, and am trying to hang in there. I just wanted to know if you all kicked yourself in the butt for ever selling out. I see it happen and then you guys start all over again.

I can honestly say I could never afford to do this again. This was my one and only shot. It started with a run down 44g and went to the 260g. I still wish I could have gone bigger sometimes...

Thanks everybody!!!

[fishoholic]

I can't imagine my house without my tanks I love my fish and the space the tanks sit in would be depressing to look at without them there. Even when I had the marine velvet outbreak I still wanted to keep my tanks, because I couldn't imagine life without them. Besides the little $$ we'd recoup from selling everything compaired to what we paid for it would so not be worth it.

If it means putting food on the table or buying a bucket of salt for the tank then yes (although horrible to think of) you should shut it down. However if there is anyway you can afford the salt and costs of power per month (which is about $70-100) then you should keep it. You love your fish and I think you would feel sad anytime you went into your office area and looked over and didn't see your beautiful tank sitting there.

[my2rotties]

Yes you are right... plus I like the sound of the tank, and when we have had blackout the house was way too silent without the sound of water running.

I guess I will have to buy cheap salt at Big Als for now...

Originally Posted by fishoholic

I can't imagine my house without my tanks I love my fish and the space the tanks sit in would be depressing to look at without them there. Even when I had the marine velvet outbreak I still wanted to keep my tanks, because I couldn't imagine life without them. Besides the little $$ we'd recoup from selling everything compaired to what we paid for it would so not be worth it.

If it means putting food on the table or buying a bucket of salt for the tank then yes (although horrible to think of) you should shut it down. However if there is anyway you can afford the salt and costs of power per month (which is about $70-100) then you should keep it. You love your fish and I think you would feel sad anytime you went into your office area and looked over and didn't see your beautiful tank sitting there.

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

Yes you are right... plus I like the sound of the tank, and when we have had blackout the house was way too silent without the sound of water running.

I guess I will have to buy cheap salt at Big Als for now...

What's wrong with IO?? LOL