How did you get into reefing

[JedClampett]

Me personally, I got into it because I've always had a love for chemistry, I'm 15 but I plan on doing something with that in college. That combined with my trips to Florida reefs and realizing that would be awesome to have in my room. My mom was also a big part of my decision to get into it, because she's had a freshwater tanks for her whole life, and I grew up learning about that. We would always go to Petco and pick out fish. I still have my albino pleco in the tank, and that's been in there for years. I decided that I wanted to do fish myself, but I don't like being a follower so I decided to do saltwater, plus it's cooler. I teach my mom about saltwater now, and we still go to the lfs together since they do both fresh and saltwater

 

[JedClampett]

Who else has some good stories on why they got started in the hobby

 

[Ja-reefer]

I had always liked fish tanks. But never pulled the trigger on one. Then one day I walked into my LFS, started talking with the owner, and ended up getting a job there at the store(lucky me). Then I dove head first into all things reef haha

 

[RareEarthCorals]

Tide pools @ Crandon Park in the rocks all over Key Biscayne during the 70's. I cant tell you how many crabs, starfish, sea horses and urchins I collected. My childhood was flipflops and suntan lotion. Every summer my parent enrolled me in Beach Babies, and when I got older it was Marine Biology at the Miami Seaquarium.

 

[JedClampett]

I had always liked fish tanks. But never pulled the trigger on one. Then one day I walked into my LFS, started talking with the owner, and ended up getting a job there at the store(lucky me). Then I dove head first into all things reef haha

Haha I'm an impulse buyer too sometimes

 

[JedClampett]

Tide pools @ Crandon Park in the rocks all over Key Biscayne during the 70's. I cant tell you how many crabs, starfish, sea horses and urchins I collected. My childhood was flipflops and suntan lotion. Every summer my parent enrolled me in Beach Babies, and when I got older it was Marine Biology at the Miami Seaquarium.

Sounds great, I wish I grew up on the beach. I would be snorkeling every day

 

[RareEarthCorals]

I also worked for the Florida Freshwater Game Commission hunting gators in my twenties. I have been all over the state.

 

[Humblefish]

My dad was already in the hobby, so at the young age of 5 he helped me setup my very first SW tank (29 gal). He did most of the work early on, but I caught on quickly. At around age 8 or 9 I setup a 6ft "Florida tank" that was housed on our back patio. Everything in the tank - fish, corals, inverts, sand, rock - was taken from Pensacola - Panama City area. My understand is if you tried to do this today you might receive a long prison sentence.

 

[booth2010]

My dad was already in the hobby, so at the young age of 5 he helped me setup my very first SW tank (29 gal). He did most of the work early on, but I caught on quickly. At around age 8 or 9 I setup a 6ft "Florida tank" that was housed on our back patio. Everything in the tank - fish, corals, inverts, sand, rock - was taken from Pensacola - Panama City area. My understand is if you tried to do this today you might receive a long prison sentence.

Only if ya get caught

 

[brandon429]

when I was 15 I tried to keep guppies alive and most died, im amazed at how far aquarium science has progressed for young people. I remember asking a LFS owner in the 80s about saltwater tanks and he told me if I didn't have a thousand dollars to not even try. lucky for the animals of that era I did not have one thousand dollars.

 

[JedClampett]

My dad was already in the hobby, so at the young age of 5 he helped me setup my very first SW tank (29 gal). He did most of the work early on, but I caught on quickly. At around age 8 or 9 I setup a 6ft "Florida tank" that was housed on our back patio. Everything in the tank - fish, corals, inverts, sand, rock - was taken from Pensacola - Panama City area. My understand is if you tried to do this today you might receive a long prison sentence.

Wow at 5, that's amazing.

 

[JedClampett]

when I was 15 I tried to keep guppies alive and most died, im amazed at how far aquarium science has progressed for young people. I remember asking a LFS owner in the 80s about saltwater tanks and he told me if I didn't have a thousand dollars to not even try. lucky for the animals of that era I did not have one thousand dollars.

Yea it's nice how technology has improved, I don't think anyone had a nano tank in the 80s

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Nobody will believe me lol. Even though I DO NOT watch it anymore, these guys got my wife and I into it.

I just had that light bulb go off in my head 4 years ago and we went to Barnes and Noble the next day to buy literature on the hobby.

After 6 months of reading and getting a grasp, we started the process.

 

[JedClampett]

Hahah I watched that show when it first came out and I remember how bad I wanted some of those awesome tanks

 

[brandon429]

RMS I like them just fine and TiVo up all their shows lol. I don't get any other form of tv based reef tank fare so ill take em.

 

[JedClampett]

I still wonder how they get tanks up in a day with fish and coral already in it

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Ironically, I never had an interest until I bought my first house that came with a FOWLR. After that, I was hooked.

I sold the house and moved. so I got out of the hobby for about 10 years until I came into possession of a free 135 gallon reef ready tank (which is going to be anything but free ). Now, I'm trying to catch up on all of the technology changes that have occurred over the last 10 years.

 

[Geno]

I got into Reefing because I don't do cats or dogs. Fish are not easier. But different. I love nature and animals. But there is something special about marine animals. Their beauty. Their prestige. They are magestic and unique. You have to respect any reefer! They truly own passion for nature and its prosperity. I salute all of you. Keep hope alive!!

 

[Ahruk]

After 3 catastrophic freshwater tank crashes, drenching myself in water trying to do water changes and countless dead goldfish growing up I swore I would never EVER have a tank... Not really sure I ended up here...

 

[Zechirian]

I was 21, married and had two kids. I had a couple fresh water tanks growing up but my wife bought me a 10g acrylic all in one and i said what the heck lets do saltwater. Started off two two blue damsels, within 6 months i had 4 tanks setup in the house. Super duper ghetto fabulous and still didn't really understand it. Could only afford one skimmer at the time and learned a ton. Had to tear them all down when we moved to Florida.

Fast forward 15 years, 3 more kids and lots of research (and earning potential) later i finally started up again and absolutely LOVE how far the hobby has come. The availability of information of the internet has helped a TON! The kids are now old enough to enjoy it and each have adopted their own fish in the tank to keep an eye on and make sure they are in good health.