What got you into the hobby?

[Liam's tank]

So long ago I had a buddy who had a 55g reef tank, just a couple softies, and a few clowns, a Starry blenny, some chromis, and a mandarin. I saw these and learned that I could just buy and grow corals and I went off the deep end and built my setup immediately. That one was a disaster, but im figuring it out now. Wondering what go everyone else into the hobby? Was it a public aquarium? Was it a family member? More specifically was it a specific fish or coral that you saw and in your mind, that one specimen justified jumping into the hobby?

I had freshwater tanks for almost 50 years but got out of the hobby about 10 years ago. Two years ago, my then 11 year old grandson just started crying one day because he is allergic to all pets, dogs, cats, birds... & is not allowed to have any pets. I told him we could start a fish tank together and it would be his. I wanted to do something really special for him & went down the saltwater rabbit hole. Here we are two years later with an absolutely beautiful reef tank & my grandson is so proud of it, & I'm so proud of him! He has learned so much, knows all the names & care requirements of all the coral & fish.

 

[EricR]

Free jellyfish tank and jellyfish got me started.
Sister-in-law (teacher) had one for her classroom that she never used,,, after years, somehow ended up in my garage.

My kids and I set it up, got the company to honor the old coupons for the jellyfish, and kept moon jellyfish for a little under 2 years.

After last jellyfish evaporated, decided to throw a chocolate chip star and a couple hermit crabs and snails in there.
From there -- transferred to rectangular tank,,, then some progressively larger tanks,,, until now I have a 40 gallon breeder soft coral tank.
*chocolate chip star was still going strong after a couple/few years but, alas (as everyone knows), those things can decimate corals (zoas in this case) so had to donate to my LFS

 

[Totlxtc]

Living in Hawaii as a kid

 

[ccole]

My dad had a reef all throughout my childhood that I loved. I was convinced I wanted to be a marine biologist. I even set up my own cold water biotope and volunteered at an aquarium for my senior project.


Now I have a 4 month old who likes sitting in his stroller and watching my reef. I hope he enjoys it as much as I did growing up.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

My last name is literally Fish.
I had no choice. It was my destiny.

 

[xXBlaznReaperXx]

So long ago I had a buddy who had a 55g reef tank, just a couple softies, and a few clowns, a Starry blenny, some chromis, and a mandarin. I saw these and learned that I could just buy and grow corals and I went off the deep end and built my setup immediately. That one was a disaster, but im figuring it out now. Wondering what go everyone else into the hobby? Was it a public aquarium? Was it a family member? More specifically was it a specific fish or coral that you saw and in your mind, that one specimen justified jumping into the hobby?

I had a 75g brackish tank with Columbian sharks (catfish) and when I moved i got a bad algae sheets that would not stop in that tank and I slowly converted it to full saltwater now I am 3 years in and have 3 tanks and 1 frag/qt tank

 

[jrawk1120]

There has always been a 10g tank in the house I grew up in. Just cheap little fish.

Moved away and got a 10g starter setup and then went to a 35 hexagon.

Then I needed invasive surgery that was going to have me cooped up for a few months so I needed something to do.

Got a 29g starter set and made it into a saltwater. Haven’t looked back.

 

[Uncle99]

Someone gave me a 20g package for my birthday in 1975.

…..and I said…..what am I going to do with that dumb thing….

Fast forward 40 years. Best hobby ever!

 

[reely989]

My wife bought me a small freshwater kit for my birthday one year and I started getting into that. I wanted a bigger setup for the house and she requested that if we were gonna get a big show tank that it be saltwater because she thought it would be prettier. It’s evolved into a 300 gallon reef

 

[kevgib67]

You did Mike, I wanted to be your friend!

 

[feelingfishy]

Not a what. Who got me into this hobby is a good question. My father had a fish tank from a very young age. I love my father and my family so learning more about aquariums is a good step to take.

 

[RedEyeReefer]

Knew a girl in high-school, her dad bred a lot freshwater angel fish for shops in the area. He got me into the hobby by giving me blemished fish he couldn't sell and would give me all his old Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazines to read. I was always intrigued at the saltwater fish selection and knew one day I would get a reef tank. Fast forward 20+ years, I bought a home and felt it was time to get a reef tank so I could finally enjoy all those fish I saw in the magazines as a teen. One trip to the LFS, and seeing coral, I didn't care about the fish anymore. Left with a tank that day and have been hooked ever since.

 

[jean19]

Ones of my auntie was a oyster/shell fish Breeder (don't know the name in America n ),when i was a kid i spend hours playing in her "farm" ,looking at the small animals in the seaweed,anémones,crabs.. that why i préfère a dsb. Lol watching all the small critères on the sand ,ground and stone .remind me of all the good Time i had ..

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

So long ago I had a buddy who had a 55g reef tank, just a couple softies, and a few clowns, a Starry blenny, some chromis, and a mandarin. I saw these and learned that I could just buy and grow corals and I went off the deep end and built my setup immediately. That one was a disaster, but im figuring it out now. Wondering what go everyone else into the hobby? Was it a public aquarium? Was it a family member? More specifically was it a specific fish or coral that you saw and in your mind, that one specimen justified jumping into the hobby?

I had too much money in my bank account and it was causing me to behave irrationally. Problem solved.