Originally Posted by
Murph
I can understand where you are coming from kablamo. The cost prohibitive nature of this hobby is discouraging people and leaving them out on one of the most interesting and relaxing hobby's there is. I have not met one person that looks at a nice marine set up and says yuk I would never want one of those in my house but when they hear what the initial investment would be to start one they quickly walk away.
IMO the problem is that most LFS try to go for the kill at the beginning rather than propagate a long term customer. That combined with the staggering profit margin they attempt to take on certain items in the hobby and the pushing of useless "gadgets" may make them some money in the beginning but is nothing compared to what they could have made over a period of years if they get there customer introduced for a smaller initial investment and that customer stays in the hobby.
Fist off it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to get started in this hobby. If I were the LFS here is how things would work.
Ok Mr. Managahandle so you want to start a sw aquarium. Over here we have a 75 gallon tank with ug filter plates 80 pounds of cc a few inexpensive air pumps and some tubing and a bottle of Amquel and some salt mix. (yes I know no one here likes UG filters but IMO this is the easiest way to get a large biological filter established and the tank will initially be fo anyway)
Initial investment some where around $320
Explain the nitrogen cycle to him and tell him to go home set up the aquarium and come back next weekend. The following weekend sell him some egg crating for the top and start him on his lighting. Just a few CPF in simple shop fixtures he can place directly on top of the egg crating. Week two investment $45 dollars. Tell him to come back next weekend.
By week three Mr. Manogahandle will most likely come back full of his own ideas about what he needs next and viola you have a life long customer. Be honest about what he really needs and doesn't need and on week four give him a couple of damsels gratis Most likely you will see MR. Managahandle each weekend afterward as he slowly turns his aquarium into a real reef system with out turning him away the first week with a $1000 dollar price tag just to get started.
Just my two cents.
Makes sense to me!
Kablamo, I've been looking for other Okies on here and now you are leaving
Hope you come back again and atleast visit. Good luck with the cichlids. My brother wants to get those.
