Poll: How Long you been in the Hobby?

[coezy2]

51 and had a salt tank since I was 10 when my dad finally got tired of me playing in his and got a 30 long that I still have today. First tank ran with an under gravel filter and crushed coral!

 

[Zack K]

Handfull of months away from 18, kept a Fresh tank from the time I was 5 and had a salt tank by 8. Started paying 100% by myself at 14. Now here we are. Looking for a house over next 2 years to start my 525g drop off build. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/custom-525-gallon-drop-off-tank.350045/
-Zack, who hasn’t thought about this before

 

[BantyRooster97]

44 now, I put together my first saltwater tank in 1989, a 50g - a lion fish, a snowflake eel & an Emp Angel. The Emp only last about 6 months but the lion and eel lived for many years & even went off to college with me. I've had everything from those to sharks, groupers, angels, tangs, etc. Tanks from 50 - 180.

But I started my first reef tank this year, and man these are way more fun & difficult!

 

[braappn]

Here is my 40 breeder from 1999 when I was in high school. Been out ever since but fired up a new one this summer!

 

[hllywd]

I'm curious what the average age and number of years people have been enjoying this amazing hobby? Is the hobby enjoyed more by the younger people......20yr - 30yrs or us older folk 40yrs on up?

Ive been running SW tanks off and on since 2001 and learn something new each and every day!!

Spring 1985. 29 w/ crushed coral an under gravel filter, air powered lift tubes, and a 30W NO grow light. Obviously in this pic I’ve graduated to no name power heads!

 

[MtlReef25]

I'm 40 and had my first saltwater tank at the age of 12.... a while ago. That was a very basic 33g with undergravel filter and a skimmer with a woodstone bubble maker... Been a few years without any but back in business since 2001. Never get tired of it.

 

[dmh]

I’m 50 been in the hobby for 13 years. At one time I had 5 tanks. Now I have a 125 mixed reef, 29 gallon mixed and 165 predator.

 

[120reefkeeper]

19 years salty , before that 20 years freshwater.

 

[Mark Gray]

It's been so long I don't remember I think had my first tank 40 + ago lol

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Started in fresh water around 1974, salt water around 1985. I have gotten so lazy I have been thinking about getting out of it and start doing some traveling. Who knows might just redo current setup and still travel two weeks at a time.
64 years old

 

[Steven91]

Ive been in the salt hobby for a little less than a year though I've been keep fish for about 5 years, though sadly my fresh water tank might be crashing (fingers crossed its not)

 

[jasonrusso]

I'm 39, been doing it for about 4 1/2 years. I had a townhouse for 12 years and I said I wasn't found to start a track until I moved into a single family. I moved in August 2012 and had my first 75 gal in October. Upgraded 2 times and now I have a 210 fowler and a 32 reef.

 

[Humblefish]

Almost 40 years here. My dad is @Paul B's long-lost brother and had saltwater tanks all over the house. When I was 5 (yes, you read that right), he helped me setup my first 29 gal SW tank and then told me, "Learn how to take care of it yourself or you're going to lose it." I guess that was all the motivation I needed.

 

[LoneStarReef]

I’m 46 and was in this hobby in the early 2000’s for about 4 years. Then kids came along and I couldn’t keep up. Just getting back in to it and now my 12yo son is hooked too!!

 

[NowGlazeIT]

47 and a total of 23 days in the hobby

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[JimFuller]

Oh boy do I feel OLD
I am 66 Years old.
My first salt tank was in 1973. It had under gravel filters with crushed Oyster shells on the bottom in a 55 gallon Tank.
I have tanks running most of the years up until 2015. Due to a health issue, I had all my tanks torn down. In July 2017 I started to get back into the fun. I am running a 75 gallon tank and growing out for a move into a larger tank, while maintaining the 75 gallon. Once you get saltwater in your veins, it will always be there ;Happy

 

[ca1ore]

Over 20% that responded are 20 years plus. Surprising! Thought it'd be much lower than that.

 

[dallasg]

i am 40 and been reefing for 27yrs

 

[ikanayam]

12 Yrs...in and out. But thats the addiction...walk past a LFS with a saltwater section and I'm hooked again

 

[Murica]

26 and four years