Not rich, not poor. I have accumulated my tanks and equipment over 12-13 years. I buy small fish, raise them up, and [hopefully/usually] keep them for years. I have invested many thousands of dollars into the hobby, but, as already mentioned, craigslist helps. Time is a large factor, too. A 150gal tank with a 8" aro, 3" dat, and school of seven 3" clown loaches might be nice, but if you take care of that setup for years, imagine how much more "exotic" it will look with all mature specimens at adult length. ie Invest time AND money.