When did you start reefing?

[Jbell370]

1984....under gravel filter, floating hydrometer, bleached coral skeletons, air stones, shop lights....Yellow tang with sea horses and a lion fish.....of course damsels as they always survived.

 

[homer1475]

Started with FOWLR back in the early 90's, started "reefing" in the early 00's

 

[rmorris_14]

My first tank was in 2000 while still in highschool. My tank crashed during a vacation break in college and I never started back up again. About a year ago my oldest son started asking for a pet. We negotiated to a clown fish. Since I had previous experience, it didn't seem intimating. I had no idea I would go this deep back into the hobby. But here I am.

Back in it since November of 2021

 

[MONTANTK]

I’ve been doing it for over 10 years. I started when I was in middle school around 2010 or 2011

 

[sfin52]

I wanna see a rough spread of what kind of reefers are active in the community and when they joined. (years)

This is two different questions. How long have you been in sw and how long have you been on this forum.

 

[sfin52]

Started mid October 2014

A couple weeks ago

 

[rtparty]

Late 2005, early 2006.

I know this is cliche or corny but I truly miss the hobby from that era. It was just better in so many ways. It was a hobby first and business second for 99% of us. Now I don't know who is just trying to get likes and grow their channels while not providing anything useful to the hobby.

Okay, get off my lawn now! Old man rant over

 

[gwainrig]

Started my first saltwater tank in 1978. Converted a 55 gal with undergravel filter. How things have changed..

 

[SlugSnorter]

This is two different questions. How long have you been in sw and how long have you been on this forum.

no I mean I want to know when people started keeping SW, which also shows whats the largest group on this forum at the moment

 

[sfin52]

no I mean I want to know when people started keeping SW, which also shows whats the largest group on this forum at the moment

I'm sorry I miss reading you post

 

[Utubereefer]

I had goldfish when I was a kid but my mom had to pull em outta the toy box and put em back in the tank after I was done playing with them…
Started research in Fall of 2016… Started my first saltwater tank in 2017

 

[Doctorgori]

77 1st saltwater fish
87 1st inverts with liverock
92 1st “modern” style reef with VHO & skimmer
edit add, anyone from Phx/ Vegas back in the 90’s ?

 

[Mirkus]

21 years…. First tank was 7 gallon mini bow. I was inspired by some dude that created a page for his tank.

 

[jft]

1983 for reefs after reading Peter Wilkens and Befriending Albert thiel

 

[Zach B]

I started keeping marine tanks in 2004 after keeping several freshwater tanks for a few years. I have had a tank or 2 ever since & don't plan on stopping anytime soon. A good portion of my liverock has been in those same tanks for over 16 years

 

[tripdad]

Started with Fowler in 1983. Been deranged ever since,

 

[dvgyfresh]

On my second year , I fear this is a life long hobby lol

 

[blazn]

Wow, currently the most popular response by far is 25+ years, with 20-25 the second. That surprises me, as I had assumed the majority would be less. It's been 31 years since I added my first saltwater tank (fowlr), to go along with an existing freshwater tank. I started with a 10 gallon freshwater tank as a kid, 46 years ago. After maintaining both salt & fresh tanks for a couple years, I dropped fresh and have stayed only salty ever since. I only moved from fowlr to reef about 8 years ago and I'll never look back!

 

[mfinn]

Started my first warm water saltwater tank in 1985.
I did keep tide pool stuff from Hood Canal one summer back in 1962.

 

[glennf]

I have been a reefing addict since 2004 without interuption.

I learned not to overcomplicate equipment, but focus on the biochemical processes of the tank
My motto for equipment is: less is more.

Simple Automation is nice, because they eliminate the boring daily chores.