Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to have a fish geek experience that really made me sit back and think about this crazy hobby of ours in a whole new light. I attended a meeting of a local club in Duluth, MN (Yeah, in February! It was a bit colder than L.A. in February...LOL), and got to stay at the home of a dedicated hobbyist- My Pal Matthew Pederson- and his very serious fish room! What was that I wrote, a fish room? You got it. A room filled with dozens of aquariums of varying sizes (freshwater and saltwater!), dedicated to the study, care, breeding- and sheer “joy†of fish keeping.
Not Matt's fish room, but a cool one!
Fish rooms used to be a lot more common in the hobby. Serious hobbyists thought nothing of filling their basements, garages, and extra bedrooms with lots and lots of aquariums. It seems that in the last few years, the fish room has gone the way of the VCR- a once pervasive device that seemed to just fade away . Unlike the VCR, technology did not force the idea of a fishroom into retirement. Rather, technology has benefitted the hobby immensely, making it easier than ever before for a hobbyist to create his or her own little “nerve center†to practice the state of the art in aquarium keeping with several aquariums.
One of UC's 6 30' long coral raceways. Do we qualify as "MTS" nerds?
Yet, for some reason, the multiple- aquarium fish room has become a thing of the past…or has it? With all of the new focus on marine fish breeding, it seems like we’re starting to see a resurgence of sorts. Dedicated marine hobbyists are devoting entire rooms to their obsession, and are pushing the state of the art forward every day. Guys like Tal Sweet, who inspires every day with his breeding efforts in his small, yet growing multi-tank set up. When he’s not blogging the latest and greatest, Reef Builders Senior Editor Jake Adams spends a good part of his day messing around with his many aquariums. And there are hundreds of other dedicated hobbyists out there with cool setups.
One of Jake's "Eco Reef" systems. Serious eye candy...
Sure, given factors like economic uncertainty, time pressures, and other commitments, today’s hobbyist is more pressed than ever to find time for his or her hobby, even for one aquarium, let alone a dozen or more. Yet, there is something about this hobby that makes it so hard to stop at just one aquarium, isn’t it?
What we only half-jokingly refer to as “Multiple Tank Syndromeâ€- the addiction to the hobby that gives us the urge to set up more aquariums-is alive, well, and very real!
Some people collect souvenir shot glasses, coins, or house cats.
We collect aquariums. And fish. And coral. And all of the junk that goes with 'em.
Cool.
It seems that with every dedicated hobbyist, there is the desire to expand or horizons, to try new things, learn about one more coral, etc. And that requires just one more aquarium…or perhaps a few more! It requires the need to expand, explore, and experiment.
To this I say- Go for it! Don’t fight the urge to get that next aquarium. Not only are you giving yourself something that you will enjoy immensely, you might just be able to try something altogether new, break new ground, or better yet-inspire others to persue their aquatic dreams. Maybe you don’t have the room or finances for a true “fish roomâ€, but fueling your passion with another aquarium is a good start!
As a child growing up in a “fish geek†household, seeing my dad’s many tanks virtually cemented my destiny that someday I’d be deeply involved in the aquarium field. Who knows what kid might be inspired to entire the marine science field as a result of a visit to your fish room? I mean, virtually every household has more than one car, so why not more than one aquarium? It's a good thing...Well, at the very least, it’s good for the aquarium industry! (Sorry, couldn't resist that one...LOL)
I’ll say it again. “Fish roomâ€. A place of magic. A place of wonder. A place of awe. A laboratory. A retreat. A launch pad for dreams. I dedicate this post to all of you out there who practice the art of aquarium keeping each and every day. You are the very essence of the hobby- the living, breathing soul of our passion. I say it again: If the muse strikes, don’t fight it. Why stop at one?
If one is good, 26 must be better, right?
Who has a "fish room" going? Who's contemplating setting up one? Or at least, who admits to having "Multiple Tank Syndrome?"
My advice to you if you don't:
Set up another aquarium! And, I know this website where you can get really cool livestock…
:tongue:
Until next time,
Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
Not Matt's fish room, but a cool one!
Fish rooms used to be a lot more common in the hobby. Serious hobbyists thought nothing of filling their basements, garages, and extra bedrooms with lots and lots of aquariums. It seems that in the last few years, the fish room has gone the way of the VCR- a once pervasive device that seemed to just fade away . Unlike the VCR, technology did not force the idea of a fishroom into retirement. Rather, technology has benefitted the hobby immensely, making it easier than ever before for a hobbyist to create his or her own little “nerve center†to practice the state of the art in aquarium keeping with several aquariums.
One of UC's 6 30' long coral raceways. Do we qualify as "MTS" nerds?
Yet, for some reason, the multiple- aquarium fish room has become a thing of the past…or has it? With all of the new focus on marine fish breeding, it seems like we’re starting to see a resurgence of sorts. Dedicated marine hobbyists are devoting entire rooms to their obsession, and are pushing the state of the art forward every day. Guys like Tal Sweet, who inspires every day with his breeding efforts in his small, yet growing multi-tank set up. When he’s not blogging the latest and greatest, Reef Builders Senior Editor Jake Adams spends a good part of his day messing around with his many aquariums. And there are hundreds of other dedicated hobbyists out there with cool setups.
One of Jake's "Eco Reef" systems. Serious eye candy...
Sure, given factors like economic uncertainty, time pressures, and other commitments, today’s hobbyist is more pressed than ever to find time for his or her hobby, even for one aquarium, let alone a dozen or more. Yet, there is something about this hobby that makes it so hard to stop at just one aquarium, isn’t it?
What we only half-jokingly refer to as “Multiple Tank Syndromeâ€- the addiction to the hobby that gives us the urge to set up more aquariums-is alive, well, and very real!
Some people collect souvenir shot glasses, coins, or house cats.
We collect aquariums. And fish. And coral. And all of the junk that goes with 'em.
Cool.
It seems that with every dedicated hobbyist, there is the desire to expand or horizons, to try new things, learn about one more coral, etc. And that requires just one more aquarium…or perhaps a few more! It requires the need to expand, explore, and experiment.
To this I say- Go for it! Don’t fight the urge to get that next aquarium. Not only are you giving yourself something that you will enjoy immensely, you might just be able to try something altogether new, break new ground, or better yet-inspire others to persue their aquatic dreams. Maybe you don’t have the room or finances for a true “fish roomâ€, but fueling your passion with another aquarium is a good start!
As a child growing up in a “fish geek†household, seeing my dad’s many tanks virtually cemented my destiny that someday I’d be deeply involved in the aquarium field. Who knows what kid might be inspired to entire the marine science field as a result of a visit to your fish room? I mean, virtually every household has more than one car, so why not more than one aquarium? It's a good thing...Well, at the very least, it’s good for the aquarium industry! (Sorry, couldn't resist that one...LOL)
I’ll say it again. “Fish roomâ€. A place of magic. A place of wonder. A place of awe. A laboratory. A retreat. A launch pad for dreams. I dedicate this post to all of you out there who practice the art of aquarium keeping each and every day. You are the very essence of the hobby- the living, breathing soul of our passion. I say it again: If the muse strikes, don’t fight it. Why stop at one?
If one is good, 26 must be better, right?
Who has a "fish room" going? Who's contemplating setting up one? Or at least, who admits to having "Multiple Tank Syndrome?"
My advice to you if you don't:
Set up another aquarium! And, I know this website where you can get really cool livestock…
:tongue:
Until next time,
Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
