When did you start reefing?

[Kellie in CA]

2003ish

 

[Scott Campbell]

My first saltwater tank was in 1975. First fish was an Orbic Bat. Which was a very poor choice. The fish quickly outgrew the 100 gallon tank and started eating other fish.

Just the first of many poor decisions.

 

[OrchidMiss]

I started in mid 80’s about 85 but started keeping marine fish in 1972

I started in '84.
Oh wait... reefing!
Started my current setups almost 2 years ago.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

I started reefing in good ol' 2014, at the age of 8, with a "BioBubble" all in one acrylic dome tank. Needless to say, it was a nightmare. Within a month, I had a 24g IM reef set up in our basement with a BTA and many other poor-choice first livestock. fast forward 8 years, two disastrous tank failures and I'm here at tank number 4, a PA 125g rimless tank that's been up and running like a dream for the past 2 years. I'm glad I started when I did, but I wouldn't recommend starting that early to anyone else! Looking back, it was a NIGHTMARE xD But through it all, I've grown a lot and have a happy, successful reef!

 

[Jedi1199]

My first attempt at SW was back in 1990-91. I had a successful fish only tank back then for a while. As a younger man, who had the patience of an excited hummingbird, I made change after change to that tank. I made an attempt at adding inverts in 91 and quickly lost every single one I added. Back then, there was no internet and LFS employees were more interested in moving product than if it lived or died.

Ran FW tanks for the next 30 years and started my current SW journey about 14 months ago.

 

[Streetcred]

24 years ... communication via 'bulletin boards', rudimentary websites, blowin' through a straw into the water constituted a skimmer ! A lot has changed ... we begged, borrowed and appropriated equipment from other industries ... hydroponic lamps and reflectors, analogue switches, etc.

Yep, we've learned a lot

 

[X-37B]

Late 80's and still at it.

 

[Sean Clark]

I assume this is in years. Just remember: it's not the years, it's the mileage.

What if you are old, high mileage, and have a skecthey service record?

 

[tigre44]

Coral 17-18 yrs Fish 25+. Lesson learned there are no shortcuts

 

[blaxsun]

What if you are old, high mileage, and have a skecthey service record?

Then we'll focus on the journey!

 

[Jedi1199]

What if you are old, high mileage, and have a skecthey service record?

Then you focus on the advice that we have learned through bitter experience. IMO an old reefer, who has had a ton of failure is worth more than a newbie who has never seen a disaster.

 

[Aqua62]

I started in 1988 with 55 gallon fish only tank. You learn quickly about tank chemistry when your tank is taken over by grape caulerpa. It was a much more simpler time and full of DIY projects.

 

[flyfisher2]

Saltwater, 1985. Reefing 1996. Still learning and trying to remember what I did learn. That's the hardest part.
Keeping it simple is the most difficult aspect these days. Reefing is basic. It's been turned into a rocket science by some. In my opinion it's not. It's a challenge to your devotion, patience, and perseverance. I see setups which remind me of old aquariums back in the day. They look awesome!
Today we are more concerned with what's under the hood than what's in the tank. Times have changed. I guess it's a status symbol. Kinda like the big porous rock on your front lawn. The bigger the rock...

 

[Snoopy 67]

Have to search the brain cells -----
Started Fresh after I married ( had as a kid @ home) in1964. Moved up as the kids grew & bought a house.
The 125 got sold for a 220 & set up FO on the salty side in'77. That tank later on had a leak & was replaced & sold in 2011. Moved & now have a 250 mixed reef.
So - 58 years.

 

[Sean Clark]

Have to search the brain cells -----
Started Fresh after I married ( had as a kid @ home) in1964. Moved up as the kids grew & bought a house.
The 125 got sold for a 220 & set up FO on the salty side in'77. That tank later on had a leak & was replaced & sold in 2011. Moved & now have a 250 mixed reef.
So - 58 years.

 

[BaghdadBean]

In the late 80’s I saw an article about the Berlin method. It all went downhill from there.

 

[flyingscampi]

what tank do you have? ive also got a 15 gallon nano!

It's a Dennerle 60 litre nano cube with a Eheim cannister filter. A freshwater setup used for marine... I must update my build thread (link in my panel.) I haven't been too adventurous but everything is stable and there are no more uglies.

 

[Lyss]

Why no option for 1-2?

 

[MillennialReefer]

Started reefing in High School with about 5 years experience in freshwater and discuss breeding. The problem was I was in the middle east and we had access to all animals directly from the red sea...as a beginner it was amazing however, I had no skillset in reefing. Currently, I have the experience just not as much accessibility (I do technically lol) Just not as quick and inexpensive as when I was younger.

 

[i cant think]

Is it bad I don’t actually remember how many years I’ve been in this hobby? It’s been minimum of 5 years but I’ve had a reef tank for longer than that…