bottomless pit that's what a reeftank is or where to get the best cup of coffee

[bignose]

I said to my self it only costs alot to start the system... dear God was I wrong! Just forget the past and move forward that's what I do.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

I just keep telling the wife that this is the last item I need to buy for awhile, but I when I say it every week-end I'm afraid she's catching on to me!

Dont fret. She is getting even.
Check the bags in the trunk of her car, the shelf above her clothing in that tiny walk in closet that if full with stuff, and the back of her bedroom drawersl. You will find lots of receipts.
Keep them for the day when she starts complaining about how much you spend on the tank.

[BlueAbyss]

Sorry to hear this, man... how big is the tank?

For posterity (and since I'm home on a Saturday night), quick tally of what I've spent on my 10 gallon... I don't include the tank, heater, or HOB filters here...

70W ballast - $25
Noma fixture - $35 (DIYed my own MH light)
14K bulb - $25
Wire, tools, electrical tape, connectors - $60
Bucket of Instant Ocean - $100 (waaaay overpriced, tell me about it... I won't forget this one for a long time)
Live rock - $60
Seachem Sand - $40
Test Kits - $100
Refractometer - $45...

The list goes on, and I won't tally what I've spent Cause honestly, I don't wanna know And I haven't even started stocking the tank yet... that's just the equipment and basic stuff I bought to do a very low tech 10 gallon.

I knew this was going to be expensive when I got into it... I feel your pain man. At least I knew what I was doing when I started, I can see now how expensive (and painful) a mistake could be. Precious little comfort... but even unstocked my tank brings me a certain amount of joy.

Perhaps you could offer your wife some consolation... take her snorkelling on a shallow reef somewhere warm in the middle of winter? Then when she sees your tank, it could then conjure up warm memories of a winter vacation with her family. Everybody wins

[carnut]

Trying having a his and her tank. It starts off innocent, Oh honey just a small tank. Three upgrades later and she has a 150 and he got a 300. two people who say oh just one more and we;ll stop for a while

Don't know if we work for the bank or the fish!!!

[Dez]

It's sad when you build a house around a fish tank. That was one stipulation while we we building a house was there had to be the perfect place for a fish tank. We had most of the equipment from our previous fish tanks but I'm still a couple of thousand into the tank so far and I don't even have water in the tank. But my mentality now is - this is all part of the "start up" costs. Once the tank is running it'll just be electricity and food that we'll be spending on the tank

[Navarchus]

Well,
I have a very simple philosophy how to handle this situation….

[Doug]

Love the head in the sand.

Actually its not anymore expensive than most other hobbies/recreation thingys. My boys snow machine equipment is much more. My boat and fishing equipment used to be a lot more. Crap, I use to sepnd more on the cash bowling circuit without much return.

I think its all just relative.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya, try juggling Reefs, Snow machines, Muscle car's AND a family on a measly Electricians salary. Good thing I don't drink Starbuck's. I couldnt afford that HAHAHA

[Leah]

No comment!!! hehehe! Have a good day salt addicts and don't think to much!!

[Skimmerking]

WOW I have spent that on skimmers alone LOL

i think that i have a problem