melypr1985
totally addicted
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You had me till right here. I applaud your post about being ready for the hobby. However; instead of advising people on how to plan around the fish they want. I think it's your obligation to advise them on planning around how much money they are looking to spend for start up. I saw where you said a 55 gallon is "pretty darn small". Maybe it is small for you. But I have kept a 60 gallon for over two years and you know what's not small. The bleeping price tag!! I've spent a lot of money! Most of it was me bargain shopping and I'm still in over my head financially! I can't imagine what you think is "big" ends up costing people. You must make like $100 dollars an hour at your job based on your perspective of "big and small" in the salt hobby.
This article wasn't meant to talk about price or how to afford the hobby. The whole thing is from a stocking perspective. There are a whole bunch of fish you can keep in a biocube and make it amazing! Most people get in because they want the big flashy stuff however, so that's where I advise they start.... at the fish. If a person can't afford the tank that is required to keep the fish they absolutely have to have, then it would be up to them to either find a new favorite fish or start saving. That's not what my article was about though, it was simply how to get the right fish together in the right tank. And yes, a 55 gallon is very small indeed when we are looking at getting tangs and angels or other large fish that just won't fit in there.
Oh and I don't make $100 an hour, but I consider my job priceless and would do it for less than what they do pay me. (just don't tell them that lol)