THE YEAR YOU STARTED THE HOBBY????? And yes fish and bell bottoms are still cool!

[Sean Clark]

This thread is making me feel young... My first tank was 1996ish and was a hot mess.

 

[Reefing102]

First freshwater…1995 or so (I’m a 90s baby soo yea)

First saltwater June 2003…prior to that I can honestly say I never once thought about saltwater fish keeping even being a thing. Finding Nemo got me started in the hobby, I was just smart enough to do some research first lol

 

[Jbell370]

But was my parents watching me spill water all over floor

 

[Daniel@R2R]

The late “60s”!!!!! My present day squad!

Haha! Awesome!

 

[LPS Bum]

Freshwater: 1999. Saltwater: 2001

Real Fiji live rock was plentiful and yellow tangs were $19.99 (in SoCal at least).

 

[MtnDewMan]

Wow, don't remember the year I got into the hobby, probably 1980 or so for freshwater, around 1999 for saltwater. Here was my tank at it's prime in 2002. Took 20 years off and am now starting my nano tank.

Oct 2002 TOTM

 

[rknapp]

First freshwater was sometime in the 60’s as a child. Big pause in the 70’s then back to 30 gal freshwater for my kids in the 80’s. My start into reefing came in 1995, with a 90 gallon tank at the encouragement of my wife as a birthday present. As others have said, in retrospect it was a hot mess. For instance, actually just filled that tank up with a hose from the sink, yikes. Little did my wife know what she started. Now 2+ years into a total restart in a new 160, that has had it challenges but wouldn’t give it up for anything. Oh, and my wife is still 100% behind me in the hobby although she thinks I am completely crazy for the investment in time and money and for keeping at it this past 26+ years.

 

[Naso110]

Freshwater in 88'. Saitwater 90' reef 91' first DIY sump and my Phillips actinic 03 with the "ultimate" Triton bulbs 30w each if I remember correctly. lol. WOW how far we've come.

 

[mfinn]

Wow, don't remember the year I got into the hobby, probably 1980 or so for freshwater, around 1999 for saltwater. Here was my tank at it's prime in 2002. Took 20 years off and am now starting my nano tank.

Oct 2002 TOTM

I recognize that name.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I started a fresh water tank when I was maybe 10 years old in late 60's. It was a five gallon metal framed tank with a Creek Chub in it. Mean little thing. Killed everything else I put in the tank. In like 1975 I started a 20 gallon SW Tank- UG filter... crushed coral.... a box of IO... and two Percula Clowns.