This is private...

JEREMY82 · Apr 9, 2019

I use to be super cool about it,now I dont want people in my home any more either does wife.One person tried sticking there hand in my frag tank have had some rude people over so that was enough for me. Now I only do meet ups.

Jerry greux · Apr 9, 2019

revhtree said:
Some people LOVE to entertain and have people over to their home at all times! Some people love to show off their reef tanks to others in the hobby. On the other hand there are those who are more private for various reasons. What about you?

When it comes to showing off your reef tank, to other reefers, at your house how private are you and why?

image via @IvanW

I like to show my tank because it keeps the police from wondering what I'm growing. I had a undercover officer pretending to be with the electric co. Question the usage of electricity. At the time I had 2 450w metal halide on my 300 gallon in L.A. I was only 22 and I told my wife I would never get out of the hobby. Now I'm in Oregon and 18 officers live in my one way in one way out neighbor hood. I really don't want to go through the hassle of looking like that one guy they need to keep an eye on like 25 years ago in L.A....but I do take pride in my reef tank and I am from the U.S. virgin islands, believe me little ones will get a quick clout to the head if I sense something fishy going on around my aquarium. I keep an eye on my system when visitors come over. I like to explain things and hopefully encourage them to get one themselves. Its a sense of pride after 20 plus years of learning,trial n error,ups n downs and the enjoyment.

MrObscura · Apr 9, 2019

I'm a hermetic loner, so...

Salty Lemon · Apr 9, 2019

spyder813 said:
I don't have any other reefers that I know locally but a few freshwater fish keeper friends.

I'm in the same boat as @spyder813 . I wish I had a close friend or two who were in the hobby. I recently joined a local reef/frag club, but I really don't know anyone yet.

ccombs · Apr 9, 2019

4FordFamily said:
People can come check out my tanks but I am not overly social outside of here or work in general — I try to have several people come at a time. I can host local meets without issue.

The lack of social behavior is more because of how I have to be more extroverted at work. Lots of team dynamics, clients, etc. My clients are very difficult to interact with, I do well with them but it’s still exhausting (my clients have homes $1,000,000 to $20,000,000). Between managing people, clients, team members — anyone that works in corporate America can probably understand how taxing it is, even if you are a clear extrovert.

I actually sit somewhere right on the fence between an introvert and extrovert. I’m comfortable with either. However, I “recharge” 60% of the time with being alone at home with family or close friends. This makes me think I’m slightly leaned introverted. The Myers Briggs test and results indicated just how uncommon it is to be split like that. If I am couped up for long periods of time I need social interaction to recharge. Really odd and many of my professors said that’s almost unheard of. Who knows.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand:

I like to talk to other hobbyists and show off my tank, I also have limited time to do so. My wife and I are almost never together with our work schedules so it’s usualy me and two kids 5 and 3. This makes it difficult sometimes. Weekends it’s just me and the kids 2-3 weekends per month. As much of a blessing as that is it makes social events difficult!

So, another obligatory “it depends” answer.

I am in the exact same boat. I have to pretend to be an extrovert at work with exhausting clients. My tank is in my bedroom so I invite people in to see if I know them well, but that is about it.

Slim64684 · Apr 9, 2019

Reef tank is right beside my bed. I really don't want every Tom dick and harry in my bedroom.

homer1475 · Apr 9, 2019

lolgranny said:
Haha exactly how it is over here. My 400g is in the living room and even though my house is 300’ off the street everyone sees in the 14’ window. I use to get “you growing weed over there or what??”

ROFL......

Funny you mention this. My tank is in my living room, and my house living room windows are street height(I sit down off the road). I had the cops knocking on my door one day because someone called them as they thought I was growing weed. Invited the cops in and told them they could smoke any one of the fish they could catch. They had a good laugh and wished me a good day.

d2mini · Apr 9, 2019

Mi casa es su casa when it comes to my tanks.

ReefWithCare · Apr 9, 2019

It's in the a study area as an accent to the room. It's mostly there to enhance the mood. I don't want to get an apex and other high tech equipment and flex custom PVC hybrid sumps and my parameter monitoring on my ipad. That's really not my thing.

It's an accent to my home and all the fish have names. The setup is simple and the livestock easy to care for.

PapaDragon · Apr 9, 2019

It’s weird. Normally I don’t want anyone at my house. My family calls me a hermit, but if you show any interest in saltwater aquariums or chess I can hardly wait to get you over. I absolutely love talking about my tank.

Dirty_Birdy · Apr 9, 2019

I had a solid 6+ months where my tank was "on the fritz" so to speak and I didn't like showing any fellow reefers my unhealthy tank. For the most part, I enjoy showing off my tank to other reefers, just as long as it's not too dirty ;Dead. It's fun to see their reactions and bounce ideas off a fellow salt water enthusiast. It's very satisfying to have another person in the hobby to be thoroughly impressed with your system, as apposed to a "normy" (non-hobbyist) who is easily impressed by all the bright glowing coral and exotic fish.
"Wait, so your saying your tank decorations are alive? What's a coral?"
"Oh, you have a Nemo! Cool!"
and my favorite....
"how much do you think you've spent on this all together?"

Much more fun showing off my reef to a fellow reefer!

vetteguy53081 · Apr 9, 2019

Heck, ive had the UPS man , a plumber, furniture delivery person and others ask to take pics. I have no problem with that.
I just hosted a group get-together in February and Nice turnout and sharing tanks with members. Many showed up to my delight

Mastiffsrule · Apr 9, 2019

No one sees my tank. I have no friends

bigcheese · Apr 9, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Heck, ive had the UPS man , a plumber, furniture delivery person and others ask to take pics.

My regular UPS guy *is* a reefer. Every equipment/livestock delivery is a conversation.

Rcpilot · Apr 9, 2019

I don't let people in my house if I don't know them REALLY well.

Really well means - I've know you for at least 3--5 years and you've proven multiple times to have the same political interests as me, morals and values, ethics etc..

I just don't trust people anymore. I've been far too nice in the past and had too much stuff stolen from me. You let some stranger into your house, turn your back, and they're casing the place for guns, electronics and jewelry.

Old, jaded and curmudgeonly I guess.

JDnKY · Apr 9, 2019

The only other reefer that’s seen my tank, in person, is my son. He’s been around since setup and started his own tank a few months after I did. My tank is in a sitting room off the master bedroom so anyone that sees it is invited into the room. Family has all seen it and a few friends but that’s it.

Salty Lemon · Apr 9, 2019

While they aren't reefers, my one son frequently gets irritated with his friends when they are over (always kids in the house), because they like to sit in front of the tank and watch the fish, shrimp, etc. He sees it every day and doesn't understand all the fascination. My new tank is starting to come around. So if I had reefer friends, I'd love to have someone come over to chat about it. Maybe get some tips. My husband and I are former actors (he was a comedian) in our youth -- definitely not private about having people over.

Bob Weigant · Apr 9, 2019

Outside of our club most of my friends ( and wifes ) never seen a reef tank. They love it until the money conversation starts

ZipAdeeZoa · Apr 9, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
No one sees my tank. I have no friends

Beat me to it;Hilarious

I'm hard to explain socially. I'm trusting and since I live in smaller part of Canada its pretty safe to be that way. I mean I guess I'm much more equipped to than most but not because I worry about, just because... I like knives... I don't really know why...

My girlfriends business is Birdy boarding so there are often strangers in the house dropping off or picking up their parrot at whatever time of the day so I know she would be ok with it. Some of her customers ask to see my animals (she does birds I mostly keep the things that would eat them;Hilarious) and as long as they aren't scared of snakes, tarantulas and skinks they are more than welcome to look around, ask questions and meet some of my animals as long as I'm there. I'm fine with people being in the reptile room without me but the only person I ever want to pry my king snake off of is myself.

If I had any friends I'd love to show it to them and answer they're questions and perhaps once my tank is out the uglies and I start stocking the corals it would be really nice to have some reefers over but at thee moment very few people know I have reef tank.

I really enjoy educating people about animals any chance I get wether its one person standing in my reptile room or thirty strangers asking me questions about the snake I just caught I always bring the same level of energy to the conversation and enjoy it all the same. If any of you live in Nova Scotia give me a shout and I'll be happy to have you over! Just a heads up though my tank is mid uglies and the only thing in it is single hermit crab

Sippiku · Apr 9, 2019

I don't have any reefer friends but I have family which keep freshwater fish. I enjoy showing people my tank and I will usually tell them to come look at it with me lol