How much ($ and time) you spent on this hobby?

[cwtan12]

Lost track already. I think with the equipments in my storeroom and accessories in my shelves, I can set up 10 more 4ft planted tanks. Just need to buy tanks and substrate only.

[luenny]

Can you really keep track of how much time and money you spend? I'm talking about money as in electricity bills increase because of the lights, filters, CO2, etc, and money for equipments, sand, food, tanks, fishes, etc. And water bills because of water changes. And time, how the heck do you keep track of how much time you spend for the fishes? Does seating in front of your tank and staring at the fishes when you're free count as time for them?? I guess we've all spend way too much time and money in this but then again, this is what a hobby is about. Ask anybody who's passionate about their hobby the same question and they'll probably tell you the same answer.

[oblivion]

2 words... too much..

this sums it all up doesnt it?

[gummynut]

i think that i have invested a fair bit too. As the tanks go bigger, more $$$ being pumped in too. i try to create a stress free environment for my fishes but end us stressing myself with the bills.

but what i have spent is definitely less than those exotic shrimps, plecos and apistos lovers. However, they get returns from trading their spawns.

what about those who are interested in fishes & photography?? People who show pictures of fishes that make me drool uncontrollably.

[aquarius]

In my early days of fish keeping, i don't spend much cos was still in school. Later when working, started to have more tanks, buy more equipments and fishes. As the hobby progresses (with more experience and confidence) and later with alot of new and exotic fishes (more expensive as well) started coming into LFSes, that's it liao..... My expenses just sky-rocketed!!!

With fishes like plecos, tropheus and other hard-to-come-by fishes comes more expensive food because now don't want to buy cheapo brands and risks getting these expensive fishes sick. Oh and not forgetting branded filters as well....

I don't keep track of how much i spend on the hobby and there are many occasions when i ever wondered how come draw so much money for expenses for the week but seems like the money just disapear?? Then when sit down and think hard than realise i bought some plecos or fish food a few days back.

[Burnz]

Hmm... this is a good chance to reflect on how much i splurged on my current 3ft. I'm ready to face reality. So here it goes...an estimate base cost w/o water/electricity + time and travel cost.

Tank - $50
Filter - $75
Light + Replacement Lamps- $60
DIY Fan - $15
CO2 - $150

Lapis - $30
Base Fert - $20
Liquid Fert and Water Conditioners - $70
Hardscape - $120
Plants - $100
Fish - $40
Shrimps - $15

Fish feed - $20

ooo.. $765 ... and still going up! More than i imagined actually.
(to be honest doesnt feel like that much when shopping for stuff)

[900801]

If the fish is nice what is money

[illumnae]

i fully agree 900801 =)

[zoombee]

spent alot ...i have already lost track of the amount but i am pretty sure its near or over 10grand

[Ah_ZhaN]

No doubt that I've spent a lot of time and money over these fish-keeping years.

But in comparison, I feel that I've spent more time than money instead.

[valice]

spent alot ...i have already lost track of the amount but i am pretty sure its near or over 10grand

$10k???!!!
What did you buy?!

[xaine]

Haven't spent too much on money.
But time, that's plentiful.
Especially for a planted tank, alot of time and effort spent in caring for plants, tying of moss to wood and mesh (that's quite a task). Weekly waterchange. Feeding and staring at those creatures everyday.

[zoombee]

last time into arowanas and exotic odd balls.

[jason6142004]

Actually the question i raised was quite general and difficult to quantify in some ways. Things like monies spent on fishes and equipment are easily tallied, but the time and efforts spent on scaping the tanks, curing a sick fish,
looking for a nice driftwood, hatching BBS.. can be quite substantial.

The reason i asked because i'm coming from the background of a PC hardware enthusiast. I know that this hobby can burned and killed .

So far, i only spent about less than 150 dollars on everything. But some symptoms showing up, like every morning i sure go and see whether any shrimps or fish "go up the lorry".

i am also a PC hardware enthusiast. and i adapted things i learned in the PC world into the water world.. but so far no accidents.. time? unknown... spent lots of time cycling to fish farms in Lim Chu Kang to cycling all the way to C328, going online to learn more.. spending lots of $$ + killing lots of fauna by accident as a result of rushing into this hobby

[Justikanz]

$10k???!!!
What did you buy?!

I think he might be referring to a grand total amount... I think I definitely had spent much more than $10k on this fish hobby and related stuff... I had bought 4 fish tank+cabinet sets, tens of stand alone fish tanks, countless fish and shrimps, plants, lots and lots of fish magazines and books, fish food, nets, filters, air pumps, CO2 tanks and associated equipment, transport fee to get these stuff and travelling to farms and shops far away...

Hmm... now, $10k seems like an under-estimate... Since I started serious fish keeping in 1994 or so...

[exotic_idiot]

I'm a total newbie in this fish keeping hobby. After looking through quite a lot of posts in this forum, arofanatic, guppy forum and etc, just can't help wondering how much time and money you all put into this fish keeping? I mean tank, filters, medication, fertilizers, food, pipes, Co2, lighting cost, also not to mention rare type of aquatic plants. All these are not really cheap, fishes seems to be the cheapest.

( not to compare money or whatever, just to see how addicted all the bros and sisters are )

Of course at the end of the day, when you see your planted tank blossomed into something wonderful and admirable, your fishes grown up and bred, all efforts are not wasted.

Hi bro mobile, i think we can't really count how much time or how much $$$ we spend on this hobby. But we loves it!!! So let's don't be so calculative about everything. Have more $$$ get better fishes better things if no $$$ also can keep fish... It's for anybody everybody old or young, short or tall... Let's just enjoy this hobby instead of arguing how much time how much $$$ we spend..

[cwtan12]

I think it all depends on yourselves. Some people spent $20 only and they are enjoying and some spent more than $20k and they are also enjoying. It all depends on how much you want to spend to achieve the satisfaction you want.. I don't know how much I have spent but I think should be more than 20k since 2003 excluding the utility bills of $350-400 each month. Luckily I am taking a break with 0 fish now.

[aquarius]

I think it all depends on yourselves. Some people spent $20 only and they are enjoying and some spent more than $20k and they are also enjoying. It all depends on how much you want to spend to achieve the satisfaction you want.. I don't know how much I have spent but I think should be more than 20k since 2003 excluding the utility bills of $350-400 each month. Luckily I am taking a break with 0 fish now.

I'm suprised at your self control considering that since you're in the forum, you'll probably read and see pics of all the beautiful apistos and setups and discussions on fish keeping, don't you feel ichy to make a comeback???

You can lower your cost somewhat by keeping things simple like going low-tech in planted setups, not having chillers, keeping fresh water instead of salt water etc etc......

[catohcat]

(to be honest doesnt feel like that much when shopping for stuff)

Cant agree more ... sad to say

[pepe2403]

i dare not think about the cost involved in this hobby. Would have easily break the 5 figure barrier. But i have to say that the satisfaction, joy and sweet memories have very much justified the amount of time and money spent. Not to forget all the wonderful friends we get to know when we are in the hobby.
I would say all of the above are priceless to me.