Let's talk about the good ol' days in reefing!

[19Mateo83]

I started in 2008, had a 75g mixed reef until 2013. I miss the $5.99/lb Fiji and Tonga rock and the awesome, crisp, halide lit sps systems at the LFS. If I could go back I would have stockpiled tons of the (super cheap back then) dry reef rock that was available at the time. It was the same price (if not cheaper), than marco rock is now and so much nicer. I also miss being able to buy directly from Marcorocks.com. It cut out the middle man and they would accommodate requests for specific size/shape rocks. It was a great time to be alive…

 

[Nano_Man]

1990
I started salt water when you bought a coral it was big and on a lump of live rock average price 45 -50 pounds what do you get now for that money . Canisters seemed to be the way to go then a few people had sumps and people.we’re talking about a new lighting system coming out soon t5s . But the basics have not really change but you still can go as fancy as you want or keep it basic . The problem with the reefing Hobby you can end up going down a rabbit hole and believe me it’s a long tunnel just keep things simple and keep your money in your pocket

 

[Roatan Reef]

I for one could not even imagine reefing 20+ years ago. It's so insane the changes that have happened...20 to 30+ years ago, wasn't most coral maricultured?.

How did you guys even do it??

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

I for one could not even imagine reefing 20+ years ago. It's so insane the changes that have happened...20 to 30+ years ago, wasn't most coral maricultured?.

How did you guys even do it??

All corals were collected from the reefs back then.

I’d say the no. 1 game changer for average hobbyists was when affordable RO / DI systems became available. Prior to that you mixed and topped off with tap or well water, maybe distilled if you had a smaller system. Results varied dramatically depending on the quality of your water source.

I’ve been fortunate to have access to clean NSW for most of my time in the hobby.

 

[Ordovician_Reef]

2000, 90 gallon with 130 gallons of refugia. Quickly expanded to include a 55, 40 and 250 all ganged together! USENET, LFS and making it up as I went along. MH lighting with very high electric bills to match.

 

[Roatan Reef]

All corals were collected from the reefs back then.

I’d say the no. 1 game changer for average hobbyists was when affordable RO / DI systems became available. Prior to that you mixed and topped off with tap or well water, maybe distilled if you had a smaller system. Results varied dramatically depending on the quality of your water source.

I’ve been fortunate to have access to clean NSW for most of my time in the hobby.

Yep, I've studied you old school dudes, still amazing what was accomplished!

Now a days we have LPS and SPS that have been Aquacultured for 20+ years and do great in tanks,,because of one or more maricultured frags that survived and was fragged 20 to 30+ years and fragged out from a mother colony. Thanks to all you old school dudes who put in the work...for us newbies!!

 

[Hot2na]

Started in 1975 .. there were no "reef" tanks then, UGF with coral gravel then..early 80's - dead coral skeletons as base rock with wet/dry (rotatating spray bars) , NO (normal output flo tubes for light, VHO came later),,saw some of the nicest bullet proof elegance coral back then ...90's..jaubert plenum , heavy skimming, metal halide lights,etc....now - overly technical ..ridiculous with everything on a "controller" , people show off the designer pvc pipes they plumb their systems with..This gen of reefers are a bunch of equipment junkies ,who want everything to be controlled with an app on their cell phone ...

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Rotating spray bars. Looked high tech but useless af really….

 

[Reefing102]

Oooh yea I forgot some things, others have brought up as well:

White light pics were the norm, not the exception
LiveAquaria’s divers den when Drs foster smith owned it
Colorful coral that didn’t require actinics to be colorful or bright
Hitchhikers were generally a welcome addition (provided they were good).
The integrity of people in the hobby. You generally didn’t have to worry about scammers because not everyone could set up an instant tank and be semi-successful

Now not to bring down the bad but there was also the heavy handed moderating of RC, the forum fights between RAG or Reefs.org

 

[UtahReefer]

Started when I was 16, I'm 60 now (ouch!). There was a laps in the hobby for me when I went to college of course, but by my late 20's I was back at it again. I remember when LED's first entered the hobby and we were hanging PAR 38 bulbs above the tanks. Back then it was just pile up a bunch of live rock and let her rip!. Had some great tanks over the years. By my late 30's began with the Zeovit System and that really changed things for me. There was less "hit of miss" then and consistency became easier. I remember buying Yellow Tangs for about $35, large Angels Like Majestic's and Regal's for $70-$80. Things have changed, but change his a constant. We pay more for things now but we've learned so much over the years. If you're a true reefer you may step away now and then during your life, but something always pulls you back in.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I started in 2005, and got out in 2006. In that time, there was no BRS, R2R, FB, or YouTube. It was just me, my tank, and my LFS. (Other websites were there, but I didn't know about them at the time). I was lucky in the fact that I made a website for the only LFS in my county at the time, so I regularly learned from the owner. It wasn't 't until 2018 that I got back in, and everything was different and more expensive, but a lot easier.

 

[Timfish]

1987. John Burlesson was writting about using Phillips actinic T12 fluorescrnt bulbs to bring hout the flourescing protiens in corals

 

[Doctorgori]

1st 77 with clowns and a condy, 80’s fish only, 87-ish 1st Reef stuff with Jaubert style macro algae, TFH mags and a Berlin Skimmer with VHO’s (thx Kingsley)
and then the 90’s :$20 Euphyllias, $10 yellow tangs and Xmas tree worms
Then the “blue crew” took over with Radions and all the rage was to name drop “Dr Somebody” on AOL and show off a windex blue tank …those were the days

 

[mijan]

Started in 1993

Fiji Rock was 6.99/lb. Marshall Island Rock 8.99/lb. Also miss the Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine (FAMA). Fish prices were much better too, an Achilles Tang would set you back $69.

If there was one thing I could do over it would have to be keeping my Fiji Rock. I moved from NY to Vancouver and tossed all the rock out. If I was smart I should've bleached the rock and kept it in a plastic bin until I started up again. For the size of the pieces it was remarkably light weight due to its porousness.

 

[kevgib67]

Ah, the 90’s! I started in the mid 90’s. As mentioned, not a lot of info back then, mostly trial and error and advice from the lfs that as we know could be hit or miss. I skip the pricing as it has already been discussed. I could walk out of my LFS with beautiful, coralline covered rock with feather duster worms, sponges and all the other little creatures. No frag plugs back then, each coral came on a small piece of live rock increasing biodiversity. I used a canister filter, a way oversized protein skimmer and my lights were both white and actinic blue fluorescent, bumped up with a lot of compact fluorescents. No testing, weekly water changes. If things didn’t look right I increased my water changes.

 

[fish farmer]

I started in 2000....what was great about that time....a box of uncured Fiji rock from Flying Fish Express. It was the early days of online forums, but still had up to date books coming out, so the info was there.

Any changes I would make I made throughout my time in the hobby, but still running my current tank pretty much the same as I did 23 years ago. Light fish load, decent lighting, routine water changes, skimmer, macroalgae fuge, kalk and slow to make drastic changes.

 

[Troylee]

I for one could not even imagine reefing 20+ years ago. It's so insane the changes that have happened...20 to 30+ years ago, wasn't most coral maricultured?.

How did you guys even do it??

They were! That’s why lps and softies were a big thing and super cheap! Sps was for the elite reef keepers back then! Ora and Tyree were about the only ones growing aquacultured stuff and there was a list you put your name on and waited months to get a certain piece! Aaahhh the good old days haha! I’ve been in it for about 22 years myself with a break till about 8 months ago.

 

[Oldreefer44]

49 years.....Too many to list but the main thing is that I am now able to keep fish and corals alive for years even many considered difficult. What I would do differently is to concentrate on the basics, especially water quality, and resist all of the latest and greatest hardware which now takes up way too much space in my garage.

 

[The_Skrimp]

My first tank was in 2006. I bought Alphonso my first yellow tang for $14 dollars at petco. I think i remember my T5 fixture costing something like $36.

Everything at the LFS was a larger colony or descent sized frag. They had these awesome branching orange sponges for dirt cheep too.

Aside from that…. I think I find everything else about these days preferable to back then. There’s just no comparing it. Everything is easier and the technology has come a long way. Plus with reef clubs and online communities it’s easier to find answers and share coral and so much more.

 

[DanATL]

$20 yellow tangs. Nuff said