Life Cycle of the Average Reefer
- Thread starter akabryanhall
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Wesley42079
Valuable Member
I am nearing my 2 year mark and Evette me I go to my lfs or reef forums, I am amazed at how much I need to learn. Also, seeing different setups a d corals keep me going.
I fell in love with aquariums when I was a teenager (I am now I my 30's). When my older brother came home with a 30 gallon aquarium and some Oscars, I was hooked. Many years later, I graduated to owning my own 180 gallon aquarium and kept African cichlids.
I look forward to the next 15 years in reefing and hopefully I can inspire my 5 year old to join me in this aquatic adventure.
I can't way
I fell in love with aquariums when I was a teenager (I am now I my 30's). When my older brother came home with a 30 gallon aquarium and some Oscars, I was hooked. Many years later, I graduated to owning my own 180 gallon aquarium and kept African cichlids.
I look forward to the next 15 years in reefing and hopefully I can inspire my 5 year old to join me in this aquatic adventure.
I can't way
Dave3112
2500 Club Member
It has been nearly 20 years for me. I am still amazed by my tank everyday. I won't say that it hasn't been hard to keep interested for that long because it has. I nearly gave it all up a few years ago when I could nothing but grow hair algae. Only to learn that in the California desert the only water you get is well water and need more than just a RO/DI to filter the water......Now I am back home in Alabama (well my tank is, I still travel LOL) and I have found the passion for my tanks that I had when I first started. I just hope that I don't have to move again. That would probably do me in too. While I was in the Navy I had to move every 2-3 years and that SUCKS!!
I agree with the OP about the lack of interesting corals going around now. I haven't seen one I really get excited over in a long time. Maybe I'm strange but my favorite coral in my tank is just a regular old Bali Green Slimer that was given to me by my LFS, and I have LOTS of corals....
I agree with the OP about the lack of interesting corals going around now. I haven't seen one I really get excited over in a long time. Maybe I'm strange but my favorite coral in my tank is just a regular old Bali Green Slimer that was given to me by my LFS, and I have LOTS of corals....
kass03
Well-Known Member
Its been over 30 years for me.
I started with SW fish when I was 16. Then set up my first reef a 55g 28 years ago and still have the same tank running with the same equipment pretty much. It has a HOB filter that had DLS in it but I removed it years ago so its basically a HOB sump. I would really like to get a new tank like a 75 but Im afraid of moving everything especially the sandbed.
My 150 is 16 years old and I have 2 nanos.
I also still have the first coral I ever purchased. A bubble coral Ive had for 28 years.
I think if its in your blood it never goes away.
Yes theres been many times in my life where Ive been busy and dont take care of the tanks as well as I should but I always go back to them and cant imagine not having any.
You guys dont know how easy you have it nowdays with all the forums to help you. When I started there was 1 LFS that had 1 10g tank with like 2 clowns in it and nobody really knew how to keep them. I learned alot from FAMA magazines as we had no internet.
kass
I started with SW fish when I was 16. Then set up my first reef a 55g 28 years ago and still have the same tank running with the same equipment pretty much. It has a HOB filter that had DLS in it but I removed it years ago so its basically a HOB sump. I would really like to get a new tank like a 75 but Im afraid of moving everything especially the sandbed.
My 150 is 16 years old and I have 2 nanos.
I also still have the first coral I ever purchased. A bubble coral Ive had for 28 years.
I think if its in your blood it never goes away.
Yes theres been many times in my life where Ive been busy and dont take care of the tanks as well as I should but I always go back to them and cant imagine not having any.
You guys dont know how easy you have it nowdays with all the forums to help you. When I started there was 1 LFS that had 1 10g tank with like 2 clowns in it and nobody really knew how to keep them. I learned alot from FAMA magazines as we had no internet.
kass
BroncosZOA
Active Member
Id say two years max, i think alot of people get money beaten out of the hobby. They dont have enough knowledge so they think the best equipment will do best. Once they get the tunzes and vortechs and LEDs and they still have alga and nitrate problems they get discouraged cause they spend all that money.
Im 30 ive been keeping a fish tank since i was 7. This is not a hobby for the impatient long term. TIme is what you need in this hobby and no one wants to give their tank the time.
Im 30 ive been keeping a fish tank since i was 7. This is not a hobby for the impatient long term. TIme is what you need in this hobby and no one wants to give their tank the time.
about 80% of people who start this hobby leave after 1 year or LESS, we are kinda the freaks and geeks 
have a mod count it up, how many people have joined in the last year and how many have not made a post in 9 months lol. I tend to see this trend, 1 year and out, 3 years and out, 7 years and out and then the rest of us. look at the tank breakdown sales... almost every one of them has in the post "been up 1,3,7 years".
have a mod count it up, how many people have joined in the last year and how many have not made a post in 9 months lol. I tend to see this trend, 1 year and out, 3 years and out, 7 years and out and then the rest of us. look at the tank breakdown sales... almost every one of them has in the post "been up 1,3,7 years".Fieroguy19
Community Member
So I have been in the hobby for 4 years now and I have seen plenty of people quit between 2-3 years usually due to the time or money involved in the hobby. There have been several times when I have considered quiting due to the continual maintenance that is required to keep things running. That and the stress when going on vacation, holidays, etc.
What keeps me going is the challenge of making my tank better and better and also seeing other great tanks and learning from others.
What keeps me going is the challenge of making my tank better and better and also seeing other great tanks and learning from others.
pciscott
Active Member
Jan 09 is when I found a tank of the month thread and I have been addicted ever since. I am building a large system that should be up and running by Christmas. I have three systems and have experienced one bad crash do to a faulty valve on a CA reactor and a tank sitter that was under qualified(Father in Law
The stress of vacation was the toughest part for me as my family takes several trips a year and while the family members are great at watching a dog a tank sitter is the only way to go. I have had ATO fail on vacation, skimmer floods, power outages and my tank sitters have saved me every time. I leave detailed notes and stickies where all water levels should be and I carry some spare parts on hand in case of emergency. I also have a great local maintenance shop on call if there is something they cant figure out(Age of Aquariums).
Loosing nice pieces is tough at times do to pests, parameters, or a rogue fish or crab. This is disappointing and to ease this I have learned to trade with local friends and even give frags to guys with nice systems knowing they will return the favor if I have a problem. I think many in the hobby look at coral with $ signs and forget if you give you will receive.
Maintenance time is tough on a family and when my 10 year old son told Grandma I liked fish tanks more than him I realized my obsessions. I now maintain the tanks when they are at school and try to get them involved in my hobby. They clean the glass and also have a section in the tank that is theirs. I check water parameters after they are in bed and try to stay off R2R unless they are not around. I am lucky that my wife enjoys and supports my hobby and we as a family have become very fishy
I see many come and go and I tell new people unless they have the money and the time fish only is the way to go. I have found a great group of friends in this hobby and I am pretty sure I am a lifer!
I still read the crazy for sale threads, but have enough coral to work out trades for what I want now most of the time, but I am still looking forward to Reefapalooza this weekend like Christmas
The stress of vacation was the toughest part for me as my family takes several trips a year and while the family members are great at watching a dog a tank sitter is the only way to go. I have had ATO fail on vacation, skimmer floods, power outages and my tank sitters have saved me every time. I leave detailed notes and stickies where all water levels should be and I carry some spare parts on hand in case of emergency. I also have a great local maintenance shop on call if there is something they cant figure out(Age of Aquariums).
Loosing nice pieces is tough at times do to pests, parameters, or a rogue fish or crab. This is disappointing and to ease this I have learned to trade with local friends and even give frags to guys with nice systems knowing they will return the favor if I have a problem. I think many in the hobby look at coral with $ signs and forget if you give you will receive.
Maintenance time is tough on a family and when my 10 year old son told Grandma I liked fish tanks more than him I realized my obsessions. I now maintain the tanks when they are at school and try to get them involved in my hobby. They clean the glass and also have a section in the tank that is theirs. I check water parameters after they are in bed and try to stay off R2R unless they are not around. I am lucky that my wife enjoys and supports my hobby and we as a family have become very fishy
I see many come and go and I tell new people unless they have the money and the time fish only is the way to go. I have found a great group of friends in this hobby and I am pretty sure I am a lifer!
I still read the crazy for sale threads, but have enough coral to work out trades for what I want now most of the time, but I am still looking forward to Reefapalooza this weekend like Christmas
sexycorals
Bringing Sexy BACK!!
Nice Scott !! Can't wait to see this huge new beast of urs!!
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
Im going on ten years...and when I started (I was twelve) there were rough moments. Now everything is completely stable and has been for years...all the little things I do every day are just routine and its somewhat like my daily mediation. I can still sit and watch my tank for hours.
I definitely think there is high turnover down at the base of the hobby though.
I definitely think there is high turnover down at the base of the hobby though.
stedfast82
Well-Known Member
6 years here and never will give it up
stuckinfoned2
New Member
I've been in 4 years, feel like im sorta just gettn started. keep getting bigger tanks about each year. first was a solona then a 180 now a 300. dont post much , i just read and suck in all the info on here, but i'll be floatn around for life.
TwistedTiger
Active Member
15 years reefing, did fresh water for years before that. I think the key to keeping it interesting is changing things up. I went from softies to lps to sps. I also added a frag tank. I've also experimented with just about every new fad out there always looking to perfect my hobbying. If its getting monotonous make a change, challenge yourself.
GrampaDon
Active Member
Had my first experience with 2 pairs of breading angels at 16 years old. That was 30something years ago. Mostly fresh water and planted tanks.
Now salt/reef for the last 8 years. Guess im a lifer 2
Now salt/reef for the last 8 years. Guess im a lifer 2
