What got you into reef keeping

[jason.kennedy.98478]

Captain Pickards fish tank on TNG with the lion fish in it

 

[racin2438]

Have had tank since teen yrs...bounced between fresh/salt a few times. ....but now back into Reef and we make our sumps, sands, we also started a Reef tank maintenance business and we have 12 great accounts we maintain and new customers waiting for open spots. Side money pays for a lot of hobby now. We have 2 frag tanks were we grow and sell frags which adds to pocketbook. ... :-)

 

[jeffrey holloway]

Did all the fresh and salt water tanks. Just needed a new challenge in my in the hobby.

 

[Sharvey103]

Always had freshwater tanks as a kid because one of our neighbors had a fish room in the 60's and bred many different freshwater fish. In 1987 I saw my first minireef and was hooked on the colors and diversity of life. I have been an avid diver since 1974 so the ocean always facinated me. In 1988 I set up my first salt water fish only tank and have had a least one ever since. My current obsession is a 300DD SPS dominant I just set up after a 265 failed (build thread coming) and a 43 gallon zoa tank. I can spend hours every day messing with the tanks or just studing them. Salt water tanks have always been the best stress releaver for me.

 

[Jimbo662]

I've had freshwater tanks for years. I found a great deal on a JBJ 28g set up and was planning to do a planted shrimp tank. After I got it home I began thinking that since it's already set up for saltwater I'd give that a shot and after doing some research I found the local reef club...that was over 4 yrs ago and I've never been happier with that decision!

 

[Bdog4u2]

My parents bred freshwater fish so I've always been around fish tanks so when I moved out on my own I set up a tank for my piranha but got bored of fish that just stared at me all day so when I moved again I set up a 55 gallon at my new house for the piranhas and turned their 45 gallon into a marine tank and got me a Picasso trigger. well he started eating any fish I put in with him except his buddy a blue damsel so I decided on get a bigger tank and next thing I know I have fish tanks everywhere, 10 of them. it's been almost 20 years since and I'm down to 3 tanks but still have a few of the first fish i bought going strong and I had to get rid of the trigger fish because he almost took my son's finger off. I'm hoping to move again n the next year to a bigger house so I can finally set up my dream tank

 

[revhtree]

I've talked about this before and it's still kinda embarrassing.

I don't have a degree in Marine Biology. I haven't kept a tank for 30 years. I didn't even sleep at a Holiday Inn last night.

I watched.....wait for it.....FINDING NEMO!

Well me and the wife watched Finding Nemo and she wanted a "Nemo" tank! HA! So you could kinda say that R2R got it's start from Finding Nemo.... :p

 

[mrsaltwaterguy]

My uncle had a giant saltwater tank when I was a kid, always wanted one after that. Eventually got into freshwater tanks during college as it was a pet that was generally allowed in the rentals. The lure of reef tanks quickly got to me once I was out of college and had a bit more to support the addiction.

 

[Gravityreefing]

I got in to saltwater hobby because when I was younger I worked in a pet store for 5 years n ended up having a bunch of tanks my favorite was a tank filled with peacock cichlids and frontosa's all in a 125 gallon and a planted 75 gallon. I did the freshwater thing for years and told myself one day when I can afford to have a saltwater tank I'd have one. So now I have one after a lot of researching on how things work. So here I am 43 years later[emoji33]

 

[Reefphd]

Armydogracing, thank you for your service sir. This is a great thread you started.

I always had freshwater fish growing up, but it wasn't until 1990, when I walked into a pet store near my house, that changed me forever. Inside were the most beautiful fish and soft corals I ever saw. So I decided to go straight to reef, not even FOWLR.

I had very little success at first, but kept at it. I read Albert Theils book and quickly realized I couldn't afford all of the equipment his book told me to buy.

Somehow I survived without a $800 UV sterilizer and other assorted reactors that cost thousands of dollars.

It was Sprung and Delbeeks first book that really changed my views on reef keeping.

I joined Reef Central when it opened in 1999.

I even traded corals with Revhtree years back.
Who knew he'd be a big Reef celebrity now?

I'm still learning and I'm amazed at how much the hobby changed in all these years. It turns out that reef tanks are a lot easier to keep than I first realized. Especially with all the options we have today.

 

[AXO]

I just woke up one day and wanted to try it. I thought it was the coolest thing that you could own a clown fish and just have it in your house. My first tank was a 5g and the clown I bought originally died during the cycle, because the pet shop told me I could set it up immedietly. Still feel bad for that little guy.

 

[Susan Bates]

Lost my son and need a hobbie to keep my mine busy,and also nemo

 

[Maritimer]

So very sorry for your loss, Susan . . .

I hope that your reef helps to bring you peace.

~Bruce

 

[DED65]

I've had a freshwater tank for about 30 years. I always thought about saltwater. but thought it was too expensive to run (I was right!). I started researching on a cold winter day and I bought a 40 gallon Nuvo. I should have went bigger because after that I bought a 120 gallon Nuvo and had to set up a separate Seahorse tank. I have always loved animals and providing for them and on it goes...

Sorry for your loss Susan, my mom lost a son (my big brother) and she was never the same again. I do hope you find peace, keep your mind busy and keep going in this cool hobby!

 

[MaiReef]

I've had a freshwater tank for about 30 years. I always thought about saltwater. but thought it was too expensive to run (I was right!).

+1 on all of that.

What really did it, is when I snorkeled on a mini reef and chased around a barracuda. Not smart I know, but I was out there all day and got really burnt and maybe had a few too many Goombay smashes, but then I just waited until I wanted to be broke because of the hobby. Plus my brother exploded into the planted tank hobby after I gave him my 46 bow tank(8 tanks at his house now..god bless his finance), so I thought ... hey I want to make my one tank more fun. Hence the reef. I still want a huge goldfish tank though. The wife loves goldfish, but too much $ goes into the reef.

 

[miohippus]

I have always loved animals, when I was a teen I had some beta fish. After I got married we got a 29 gallon fresh water tank. We have had fish ever since. I always wanted marine fish because they are more interesting than fresh water fish but thought it would be to hard from all the books I had read. Now my youngest wants to be a marine biologist so I decided to "dive in" so far all I have been able to grow is alge but have not give up yet hopefully one day I will have a beautiful reef tank.

 

[LDH]

What got me into reef keeping

So I'll start this is a brief reason why I did and Im not very good with telling stories always short and to the point lol

I joined the Army in 99 11B hooah (lol) in 2002 I was deployed to Afghanistan upon returning in Nov of 2002 we had a brief break then was deployed to Kuwait until we went into Iraq in March then returned home in Aug of 03.

When I got home I didnt deal with things very well and consumed myself with alcohol, fighting, ect. I was eventually diagnosed with PTSD and a TBI and they medically discharged me in 04.

I continued counseling at the VA for a couple years but decided to stop going cause I felt like it did nothing for me and all they wanted to do was put me on meds. About the only thing that counseling gave me was the counselor said that we should pick a meticulous hobby to help keep our mind off of things.

After some thought I decided on the saltwater hobby. Ive always had a love for the ocean and my go to stress reliever was surfing or just being in the water.

So in 2004 I set up my first 29g reef tank and man I always was messing with something (still do) it definitely helped with a lot of my demons by just keeping my mind busy ect

Today I have a 300DD with a 95g sump and a 60g frag tank all plumbed together.

Im curious to hear your stories and if there are any vets that got into the hobby for the same reasons I did or anyone elses story about what got you into the hobby

I am not a vet but similar situation. I am a police officer and 6 years ago a man ambushed me while on duty and stabbed me in the neck trying to kill me. I was diagnosed with ptsd and everything I tried for therapy wasn't working. My therapist became frustrated with me as I said it wasn't helping and she asked if I liked any part of it. I told her I liked the waiting room as it had a fish tank and she told me to get my own.
I did and it has been my saving grace ever since. I can't believe a 55 gallon box of water had helped me so immensely but I am so grateful for it.

Cheers to you brother and thank you for your service.

 

[Duke4Life]

I have always been fascinated by sharks ever since I saw Jaws as a young kid. Moved to Tampa and fell in love with groupers. I moved and got out for over 10 years but was always looking until 1 of my best friends gave me a 125g tank with sump. After a year of it sitting I finally set it up and got back in because I wanted an eel. The past year and almost a half my love for eels, wrasses, and this hobby have only grown. My wife calls me obssessed with eels but that's just where my passion is.

 

[Harleybronco67]

I've been into salt for 25 years(fish only for 20) went to the Bahamas and went diving and figured I'd give it a try so started with some coral with no idea on how to care for them, and killed over 1000 worth, I've been successfully keeping 4 reef tanks now for 5 years

 

[Julian Bastidas]

Thank you for your service, And yes, there's no better therapy then this hobby. Also

Originally I got into reefing keeping in 2003 and had various tanks until 2011, I did it because I loved the ocean and all it's life, I still do. I was absent from reefing for 5 years, still had the itch for it tho. In 2015 I was diagnosed with a rare, incurable chronic illness, I kept working until the start of 2016 until my illness progressed and I had to quit. That's when I decided to get into reefing again, I'm home all the time so I look at it everyday. Having a reef aquarium keeps me distracted, is a major stress relief and I have the time to enjoy it. I will never be able to snorkel or dive the reef ever again so this is the closest I can get.