Poll: How Long you been in the Hobby?

[Mrx7899]

I'm 37 started in freshwater when I was 10 switched to saltwater 4 years ago. I have a 38 gallon sps tank and a 50 cube lps tank and in the middle a collecting parts for a 210

 

[XNavyDiver]

I'm 52 and I answered the poll as 1 year. In reality I had a 75 reef tank back in the 90's when I was in college, but it's been so long and so much has changed, I decided that too much time had passed between tanks that I really have just a years worth on knowledge.

 

[Brian W]

2 years this March;Cat

 

[Scottsquatch]

21-31, but that does also include my time in freshwater. Probably 8 years salt experience.

 

[Ento-Reefer]

I am 50F and I have been keeping freshwater tanks since 7-8 grade... I got involved in the saltwater side in the early nineties so around 25-26 years for salt water. Many things have changed over the years. I remember my first reef tank was full of macro algae and mushroom corals and had 2 NO florescent bulbs for light.

 

[Cae]

I've had my tank since 2015 and I'm so old (43) that when someone asked me if I was a reefer I thought they were asking if I smoked pot!

 

[ThunderGoose]

Similar to @Ento-Reefer. I'm 49F, been keeping freshwater since 1977 [gasp 41 years!], I think I've had only one period of about a year without a tank since then. I've done FW, brackish, discus, African rift lake cichlids, killifish, planted tanks... But I've only had a reef tank for just over a year now so that's what I voted.

Currently have a RSR250 LPS dominant reef, a 10 gallon Caribbean biotope and a 120 gallon planted freshwater tank.

 

[jd371]

I'm 54 and always had an interest of having a saltwater tank, but never got around to getting one. In March of 2015 my dog passed away and it hit me hard so my sister invited me to go to the their Ski Lodge in the Poconos for the weekend. While there I caught an episode of the show Tanked and it sparked my interest again. I spent a few months researching which also helped get my mind off the passing of my dog and by August I was filling my 75g.

Fast forward 2.5 years and Bam!

 

[Amps Reef Life]

I've been in the saltwater hobby 4+ years now. Prior to that, I had some freshwater tanks. I'm 27 and I won't be leaving this hobby. I now own my first home and built a 180 into the wall . I've always kept a reef tank and when I have kids someday I look forward to teaching them about the hobby.

 

[GoVols]

51 / started in freshwater in 1976 and still don't know what I'm doing

 

[luisgo]

I am 61 and started in saltwater in 1990. Before I was in freshwater since I don't remember when! My first tank was a 55 gallon with undergravel filter!


Things stared to get better in 1998

 

[jasonwible]

4 years

 

[AJsReef]

Started keeping fish when I was 7 and have had just about everything since. Reef keeping specifically I've done for over 7 years now. Although I just recently got a 6 foot tank which has been a dream for me for as long as I can remember.

Of all the freshwater fish there's a few types I'm thinking about keeping again. The first being Discus a fish I did very well with quite a few years ago before an unfortunate even wiped them out and Plecos, specifically Bristlenose. They will always have a soft spot in my heart as they were the first fish I was able to breed and actually sell.

 

[Chuck Lawson]

My first tank was wood. And not even good wood.

The first saltwater tank I ever saw (late '60s maybe) was made out of wood, with the inside fiberglassed. It was at the local pet shop, and contained one domino damsel, one bleached coral head, and an UGF with an airstone that made a mist of amazingly small bubbles.

It was the coolest thing ever.

 

[Lasse]

51 / started in freshwater in 1976 and still don't know what I'm doing

Youngster! you need one more year and you will know

Sincerely Lasse - born 1950

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I am coming up on my 14th year in April. Haven't been without a tank since.

 

[Almoe]

Fresh water since high school but got my first 125 salt tank running last year! And I’m 47!

 

[Mal11224]

45 years young. I had a FOWLER a while back and gave it away because I was moving. Started with freshwater and and said why not try saltwater. Honestly, at the time, I was not ready. Didn't really understand how to maintain a healthy tank. Around 2004 or so. So, once I moved, I contemplated starting over and finally did it last year after doing hours of research and I'm glad I did it. I now have a freshwater tank with angels and discus and a reef tank that is doing well. It is a good thing that I don't mind the work

 

[AKay3600]

29 year old, got my first tank at 20. A simple 20L, had it for about a year but then went off to college for a few years. My current tank is 3 years old this month and yeah I would say I am usually the youngest person in my LFS.

 

[Susan Edwards]

15 by real birthdays, 61 by actual years (leap year baby <g>). So 62 next mo. Had freshwater on and off adulthood, last one in 2000--a hundred gal. 50 before that before it broke when hubby threw a dog bone and it smashed into the front of tank. Forgot about the one way before when I was single---prob. a 20 with mollies, guppies and sword tails---lots of baby swords.

Saltwater just over a year and have started on a second build--a 125 gal and already wish I'd gone larger but larger means more money.....