What got you into keeping a reef tank?

BarbH · May 11, 2012

Was curious to hear from others what was it that got you interested in keeping a reef tank? Was it someone else that you knew that had one and you became interested? Maybe a trip to an aquarium? Seeing a setup at the lfs? When was it that the bug first bit you?

For me the first time I remember thinking that it would be neat to keep a reef tank was seeing one that was set up at one of the movie theaters that I use to go to when living in the Lansing area. The tank was full of corals, softies I believe. I remember looking at that anytime I would go to the movies and think how beautiful it looked. At that time I thought it would be too difficult to setup a sw tank. But the bug bit me and researching and thinking about it on and off I had finally took the dive.

Loki · May 11, 2012

When I was a kid and I would go with my grandma to the "beauty shop" to get her hair done. I would always go down to the pet store. They had this porcupine puffer that would follow my finger against the glass. I went down there all the time and loved that puffer

so when I got my house I wanted to have a puffer. Got it! And then it progressed into corals

swannyson7 · May 11, 2012

I grew up with freshwater tanks evolving from goldfish to tropical community, to cichlids, to discus and a planted tank in high school. I set up an unsuccessful 55g marine FOWLR in high school and then got out of the hobby for a couple years as life got in the way. When I was in the Army, I shared a room with Gar732 while I was stationed at West Point and we set up a 20L with a few damsels. He had kept reef tanks in the past and taught me the basics, pointing me to a couple forums for reefing information. He even gave me my first SeaClone protein skimmer & PC light fixture and the rest is history....

Reef Breeders · May 11, 2012

I saw some cool fish on national geographic, and that got me to set up a saltwater tank. I had been doing freshwater for years.

uall8up · May 11, 2012

I have had freshwater in the past and LOVED it. From a betta bowl to the biggest aquarium, I love watching fish!!! I decided that since the hubby will be at his job for a few years, and we are no longer going to be traveling, that I would try a SW tank. I love the work involved and the satisfaction of a beautiful tank and happy fish and corals!!! I am still in the beginning stages and I learn something new everyday!!!

Ace25 · May 11, 2012

I grew up near the beach in California and used to hang out at the tide pools growing up. Then I got into High School and there was one teacher (PE teacher of all things) that was extremely into marine biology and had dozens of "tanks" (concrete boxes on the floor) that housed things like sharks. I am a computer guy and in the late 80's I was asked to make an old IBM PS/2 computer be able to monitor the tanks for pH and temp. That was when I really got interested and bitten by the SW bug. For the first 10+ years I was into SW Predator tanks but in 2000 I got into corals/reef tanks and been hooked ever since.

This is the aquarium at my old High School now.. quite an upgrade from when I went there.
Cabrillo High School Aquarium

swannyson7 · May 11, 2012

Wow! I wish I went to high school there!

Rockadile · May 11, 2012

Walked into a LFS I never been too before for some rocks for my cichlid tank and after seeing their saltwater tank I quickly went to work on research and never looked back.
3 years later I am now the president of GIRS

BarbH · May 11, 2012

Ace25 said:
I grew up near the beach in California and used to hang out at the tide pools growing up. Then I got into High School and there was one teacher (PE teacher of all things) that was extremely into marine biology and had dozens of "tanks" (concrete boxes on the floor) that housed things like sharks. I am a computer guy and in the late 80's I was asked to make an old IBM PS/2 computer be able to monitor the tanks for pH and temp. That was when I really got interested and bitten by the SW bug. For the first 10+ years I was into SW Predator tanks but in 2000 I got into corals/reef tanks and been hooked ever since.

This is the aquarium at my old High School now.. quite an upgrade from when I went there.
Cabrillo High School Aquarium

Wow, really cool with what they are doing, and getting younger people involved.

Really enjoying hearing others stories :bounce:

Zeither18 · May 11, 2012

I used to always have a small freshwater tank as a little tyke with the family. When I was 16 I got my first tank on my own because my family stopped keeping fish for some reason. When I was going to get fish for the freshwater, as I was taught back the. To start with hardy fish to cycle and came home with a bucket of salt mix and sand instead. I think I just wanted something different. I started with 2 damsels and i failed them and ran out of patience,never had one until 13 yrs later. I purchased a 220 gal box and am still pushing along. Although this new tank syndrome stuff stinks. Been two months now and still have no doubts. I live it and go with the flow

usfpaul82 · May 11, 2012

I also grew up in a house of freshwater tanks. I remember being younger and going to buy some fish with my dad and saw your typical anemone and clownfish pair. I stared for hours at the clownfish "playing" around in the anemone. From then on I knew I would have saltwater tanks when I got old enough. My dad is strictly fresh, doesn't know much about salt and I am the salt head

saltwaternoob · May 11, 2012

The Monterey bay Aquarium did it for me, that and seeing my little daughters face when she was little.

REEFKEEPER10 · May 12, 2012

For me it was a LFS that opened that I had never been too. I went into see what kind of FW fish they had and found a beautiful discus tank, then a cichlids tank, then a tank full of German rams and angelfish that was planted. I looked over an seen these beautiful blue fish swimming over white sand. I ask about it and they said it was a blue devil damsel fish. Ask how hard was it to keep. I was told that it was very hardy and it could be kept in a small tank. I ask how small the told me as little as 1g. Being I fresh water for a while I ask about cycling. I get told all it take is a bag of live sand, about one pound of live rock and some saltwater. Then you can put the fish in. So home I went with my first marine fish. Well got it setup and everything went fine. About a month later I was back at the fish store. I found a goby that was down right gorgeous and a so called electric scallop. Got them home floated then then turn then loose. Next day I didn't see my goby so I figure it was shy. A week later still no gobie and the scallop was mia so I take a butter knive and search the sand no luck. I reach in pick up the rock nothing. I searched every where and found not a thing. Till this day I have no clue because I never even found the scallops shell and I have moved seen then. A month later I broke down my 29g planted tank took to a place called aquatic critter and got it drilled for a sump. Did all my on research and cycle it with my damsel not a good idea. Needless to say lesson learned. The damsel lived in my sump until a crash three years later. So this is what you can do with a little research and little money. This picture has not been enhanced at all. My new tank doesnt compare. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did before the crash.

BarbH · May 12, 2012

saltwaternoob said:
The Monterey bay Aquarium did it for me, that and seeing my little daughters face when she was little.

That is one place that I would like to visit one day, years back my dad was out in Monterery Bay for a work and took my mom out there for vacation. The pictures of the area were just beautiful.

REEFKEEPER10 said:
For me it was a LFS that opened that I had never been too. I went into see what kind of FW fish they had and found a beautiful discus tank, then a cichlids tank, then a tank full of German rams and angelfish that was planted. I looked over an seen these beautiful blue fish swimming over white sand. I ask about it and they said it was a blue devil damsel fish. Ask how hard was it to keep. I was told that it was very hardy and it could be kept in a small tank. I ask how small the told me as little as 1g. Being I fresh water for a while I ask about cycling. I get told all it take is a bag of live sand, about one pound of live rock and some saltwater. Then you can put the fish in. So home I went with my first marine fish. Well got it setup and everything went fine. About a month later I was back at the fish store. I found a goby that was down right gorgeous and a so called electric scallop. Got them home floated then then turn then loose. Next day I didn't see my goby so I figure it was shy. A week later still no gobie and the scallop was mia so I take a butter knive and search the sand no luck. I reach in pick up the rock nothing. I searched every where and found not a thing. Till this day I have no clue because I never even found the scallops shell and I have moved seen then. A month later I broke down my 29g planted tank took to a place called aquatic critter and got it drilled for a sump. Did all my on research and cycle it with my damsel not a good idea. Needless to say lesson learned. The damsel lived in my sump until a crash three years later. So this is what you can do with a little research and little money. This picture has not been enhanced at all. My new tank doesnt compare. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did before the crash.

Very nice, it reminds me of being told that I could keep 5 fw angels in a 5 gallon tank. Learned very quickly the importance of doing your own research.

revhtree · May 12, 2012

This is quite embarrassing being that I own R2R but I have never kept any aquarium at all until......Finding Nemo.....yep i said it. Me and the wife watched the movie and we decided right then and there that we were going to do a Nemo tank, Sea Turtle and all! LOL!

frugner · May 12, 2012

i grew up wanting a tank, any tank, but the parents wouldnt foot the bill. many years later i had a goldfish in a bowl and within 6 months of that i had my first sw tank. within 2 months of that i had corals... now i have a 55gal FOWLR, 75 gal Reef, and a 55gal planted freshwater.

mallorieGgator · May 12, 2012

Idiocy

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

BarbH · May 12, 2012

revhtree said:
This is quite embarrassing being that I own R2R but I have never kept any aquarium at all until......Finding Nemo.....yep i said it. Me and the wife watched the movie and we decided right then and there that we were going to do a Nemo tank, Sea Turtle and all! LOL!

I am sure that "finding nemo " is responsible for getting quite a few people in the hobby, some just won't admit it

Sent from my SCH-R720 using Tapatalk 2