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

[shakacuz]

2006-2009 with freshwater. 2021 with saltwater!

 

[Thetankdoctor]

Ugh...let's just say I saw star wars a new hope in the movie theater and came home and fed my fish....

 

[tharbin]

My first FOWCS (Fish Only With Coral Skeletons) was in 1974 or 5. My first MBWCS (Mixed Biome With Coral Skeletons) was in 1976 (feather dusters, anemones, gonis, fungia, bubbles and gorgonians). My first Reef (LPS dominate) was 1982 or 3.

 

[dantimdad]

Freshwater 1973. Saltwater 1989

 

[bpbonds]

First Saltwater 2006 been in the game since.

 

[Jubei2006]

Freshwater 1984, saltwater 2000, Reeftank 2003.

 

[Snoopy 67]

5/1/77 as a fish only for saltwater.
1967 as freshwater.

 

[albano]

FW since ‘56, SW since ‘73, reefs since ‘86…

 

[mindme]

2009ish, not sure exactly what date.

I've always loved and wanted a "fish tank", but never really got one for a variety of reasons. Family members had freshwater tanks growing up etc.

I did not realize there was such a thing as a "reef tank". I saw one on a youtube video, learned about the coral and I was hooked instantly.

 

[fish farmer]

Around 1980 or so my science teacher friend started unloading metal framed tanks on me along with 60's or 70's era fish keeping booklets.

I had a pirahna tank, of course...I was 11. Eventually upgrading to Oscars or native species.

My friend also helped me set up my first salt tank around 1981. 20 gallon high with UG filter and Aquaclear HOB. Some successes, some failures. Took it down and put freshwater fish in it though high school.

First successful SW FO was in 1990 -1992. 38 gallon with DIY trickle filter, UG filter, dead coral but seeded with some local beach rocks, I had lots of pods in this tank and had a mandarin doing very well.

Stepped away from home fish tanks until starting my first reef tank in 2000.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

So many similar reefing journeys. And even with its challenges, it’s never been better.

 

[snorklr]

bought a stainless 5 gallon "complete setup" from Woolworth in 1965...couple years later shrimp, hermits and killies from the canal behind my parents house in a molded plastic 10 gal...kept wild caught seahorses in a 20 long with an UG in about 1980...after that a blue devil and a gramma...90's wet dry,CFL's kenya trees etc...still have no idea what i'm doing but i'm too dumb to quit

 

[vetteguy53081]

1984

 

[Nburg's Reef]

My first saltwater tank was I think either late 2006 or early 2007,

I've had FW tanks as far back as I could remember. I had my first tank when I was 5... newts and guppies. No one told me you need lids for newts.

 

[mfinn]

I kept tide pool stuff at my grampa's cabin on Hood Canal in the 50's.
Did freshwater in the 60's, to the 90's.
Started a saltwater tank in 1980 but it didn't last long.
Moved around too much and starting and stopping didn't bode well.
Then in 1985 started a new flat back 35 gallon and been salty ever since

 

[DIYreefer]

My first sw tank was in '97, first reef was in '06. There has been at least one box of water with fish and corals in my house ever since.

 

[DIYreefer]

You should ask....

WHAT YEAR YOU PLAN TO QUIT THE HOBBY?

I'm sure a lot of spouses would sit up and listen

Never!

Wife wouldn't let me even if I wanted to.

 

[Gtinnel]

My first saltwater tank was in 1998(ish). It was a 55g tank which at the time I would’ve called a reef tank because I had a mushroom and some Xenia. I did have about a 10 year span where I didn’t have a tank because life got too busy.

 

[Bnichols124]

2013 I started my first reef

 

[rwreef]

2004 ish. This was my first reef tank.



And now..