You spend a ton of time managing the system. It's a closed, dependant ecosystem. Routine water changes (no idea what a 25# bag of Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean goes for these days) are a pita. Trickle filter, protien skimmer, ozone and lights all add to the cost. It's a highly dedicated hobby. Also a very rewarding one.
I had an agressive tank (60G) when I first got married. Blue Spot Grouper, Lion Fish, snow Flake Eel, etc. We loved it but travel and then a move put into storage. Never revived it.
For relaxation, nothing beat it. Martin Moes book is your bible.
Very nice system! Do you have redundant power supply? It's a concern in Michigan - Ilost a whole tank once from a three day outage.
Mark
