Hello,
I'm Damian aka Confuse. I've been out of the hobby since about 2018 after finishing grad school and getting a job. I recently decided to start up again after saltwater/coral videos started creeping up on my youtube feed the last year. My 150g LeeMar has been running empty for the majority of those years, but I've decided to go small and try to take a more economical approach to the hobby since I've noticed this hobby has gotten exponentially more expensive than the last time I was in it.
My current build is a Red Sea CUBE 18g with a Radion G4 XR15 Pro from one of my previous nano builds as well as most recycled equipment to keep the costs down. It sits next to my desk as opposed to in my den where I never spent much time at in the first place. I hope this motivates me to keep the tan running smoothly since I have to look at it everyday next to me.
My First Impressions Back (very limited and subjective):
1. Shit is expensive!! $40 for a skunk cleaner shrimp at the local LFS; Radions for $999!
2. Forums seem a bit less active; I know before I left Facebook groups were starting to increase in popularity
3. Smaller selections at LFS; been looking for a tailspot blenny for weeks at my local LFS and never see or can locate any; also noticed the selection of fish isn't as
large and some stock is being filled by freshwater
4. Diver's Den selection of fish suck! That's where I used to buy my expensive wrasses (RIP)
This is just very limited insight I have since I haven't ventured out there yet, but with the price of gas, I'm not looking forward to it like I used to, driving all over OC for one fish or a frag. I'm no spring chicken anymore, I guess.
Anyway, glad to see some old faces still around! Please feel free to give me some of your insights and any tips you may have to keep this hobby a little more affordable and sustainable.
Mandatory ugly fish tank shot. Ignore the diatoms, trying to get silicates down after not cleaning the live sand.
View attachment IMG_3137.jpeg
I'm Damian aka Confuse. I've been out of the hobby since about 2018 after finishing grad school and getting a job. I recently decided to start up again after saltwater/coral videos started creeping up on my youtube feed the last year. My 150g LeeMar has been running empty for the majority of those years, but I've decided to go small and try to take a more economical approach to the hobby since I've noticed this hobby has gotten exponentially more expensive than the last time I was in it.
My current build is a Red Sea CUBE 18g with a Radion G4 XR15 Pro from one of my previous nano builds as well as most recycled equipment to keep the costs down. It sits next to my desk as opposed to in my den where I never spent much time at in the first place. I hope this motivates me to keep the tan running smoothly since I have to look at it everyday next to me.
My First Impressions Back (very limited and subjective):
1. Shit is expensive!! $40 for a skunk cleaner shrimp at the local LFS; Radions for $999!
2. Forums seem a bit less active; I know before I left Facebook groups were starting to increase in popularity
3. Smaller selections at LFS; been looking for a tailspot blenny for weeks at my local LFS and never see or can locate any; also noticed the selection of fish isn't as
large and some stock is being filled by freshwater
4. Diver's Den selection of fish suck! That's where I used to buy my expensive wrasses (RIP)
This is just very limited insight I have since I haven't ventured out there yet, but with the price of gas, I'm not looking forward to it like I used to, driving all over OC for one fish or a frag. I'm no spring chicken anymore, I guess.
Anyway, glad to see some old faces still around! Please feel free to give me some of your insights and any tips you may have to keep this hobby a little more affordable and sustainable.
Mandatory ugly fish tank shot. Ignore the diatoms, trying to get silicates down after not cleaning the live sand.
View attachment IMG_3137.jpeg
