Why do you do it?

Thunderrap · Nov 5, 2020

I'm going to have to agree with @SAWFISH, I want to check almost all of those boxes. The wonder and natural beauty that comes from the ocean is a truly unique thing to be able to keep in your home. Along with that, it provides a challenge that most do not or will not try and can give a great sense of accomplishment when everything is going right. It can however provide some very difficult challenges when things aren't going right but that's the other great part about it, the struggle to figure out why the creatures you are providing for are not happy. While this is a great, albeit an expensive hobby, it is rewarding and satisfying to know that you're caring for animals that many people would be clueless about.

kpoj9 · Nov 5, 2020

Beyond the obvious reasons ie. love of the ocean, fish, challenges, etc. I find the hobby to be very therapeutic for reducing stress/aniexty in my life.

mcshams · Nov 5, 2020

Top reasons:
1. The ocean and it's life are absolutely amazing and dang near alien. We know more about space than we do about the degree of earth's ocean variety.

2. My first degree was marine biology. I picked marine biology because I got to go to the coast and work there during college.. seemed better than standard biology and loved it.

3. My wife wanted a saltwater tank forever, and once I learned enough to think we could do it without throwing money into a toilet, we moved forward. We still are throwing money at it however

NowasReef · Nov 5, 2020

Growing up in the midwest in a blue collar family our vacations were minimal and always close by-
Wisconsin Dells, Indiana Beach, Cedar Point/Sea World, along with the usual staycation attractions around the Chicago area. As an adult Ive been fortunate to visit numerous tropical locations and get in, and under, the water. Unfortunately this doesn't happen as often as I would like so i try and keep a piece of the water close by.
There's also no better way to decompress than to sit and watch the motion of a reef tank.
I don't think there's any specific demographic that this hobby caters to other than a person must have time, patience, and money. That in of itself probably limits quite a bit who is involved

Buckster · Nov 5, 2020

My first tank many years ago was a 180. I did not have the knowledge or money to have the system thrive properly. I am back into the hobby and again purchased a 180. I am semi-retired and can face the challenge with more knowledge and support than what was available years ago. I missed having the ocean in my living room so here I am again. The old tank could not support the growth of corals due to my failures and now it's great to see my leathers thriving after six months. Looking forward to the addition of LPS or SPS but I'm going to be patient.

H2OHenry · Nov 5, 2020

Voted for Other. I have three kids three and under. I recently got into it this last year so they can grow up seeing a glimpse of the ocean and learning to appreciate it.

ArtsyFish · Nov 5, 2020

I want to add to most of the reasons others have posted regarding this hobby. As an artist I love designing and tweaking the aqua scape as needed and putting all the colors and textures of coral colors together.
I am totally absorbed when taking care of my tank and find myself just staring at the wonder of it. Very de-stressing and relaxing.

burningmime · Nov 5, 2020

It's pretty.

Stang67 · Nov 5, 2020

1. Why do you think you were drawn to this hobby? I have kept freshwater tanks for a while. I got into Scuba and have been diving on vacations for the past 5 or so years. I had to have a tank in the house if only to remind me of the dives I have been on. It has helped my mood as well.

2. Does this hobby attract a specific type of person? If so who? Yes. Stubborn and willing to learn something complex and challenging. Also I think people do a lot of DIY so people that can create solutions to things.

3. What are some common traits that you think are innate in every reefer? Maybe not every reefer but the want to go just a bit bigger and get just a couple more fish coral etc. Its definitely addicting.

maceto · Nov 5, 2020

love of the ocean, fish, challenges, technology, etc. This hobby to me is therapeutic reducing stress and keep my head out of work. It just makes me happy.

stephen wyard · Nov 5, 2020

I love the ocean and the importance that it is the begining of all life.To have a pieace of it is breath taking.

James M · Nov 5, 2020

I like wasting money but I also wanted another hobby

Greg Goby · Nov 5, 2020

I agree with most of the check boxes. There is an immense amount of potential for continued learning and discovery with reefing. That, in combination with the nearly infinite varieties of possibilities with tank setups, breeds, etc. keeps my curiosity strong and my mind from wavering due to a lack of interest/goals over time.

MT. Reefer · Nov 5, 2020

My wife and I first snorkeled on Kawaii on our honeymoon back in 1978 and I just loved watching all the colors of the fish. Nothing like freshwater could ever be. So in the 80's I tried keeping Saltwater for a couple of years but was a miserable failure. Since then we have kept snorkeling around the Caribbean and Hawaii and I tried saltwater again about 7 years ago. Now, primarily with the help of people on R2R I have learned enough to be dangerous. But honestly, I know for a fact that I probably would have dropped out without help from you experienced people and that's why I have been a PARTNER MEMBER for the last few years. The knowledge I get from this site is well worth that small investment.
And, the Caribbean is a heck of a long way from NW MONTANA!

Reefing_addiction · Nov 5, 2020

I do it for the hobby and because I have an addictive personality.

Mr_Knightley · Nov 5, 2020

I'm kind of a mixed bag here, nearly all of these boxed apply to me! I first got into the hobby as a kid after watching Blue Planet's Coral Reef episode. I fell in love with it completely and was fascinated by the CGI coral growth simulation (that I thought was real at the time)! I had been watching that episode nearly every day, until one day my mother called me outside to meet someone. I made my way outside, and my mother introduced me to the man who had just finished roofing our house. She then explained to me that he grew corals, just like in the documentary! I was instantly infatuated, and after he left I asked my mother if I could grow corals too. We then ordered an acrylic dome tank (called the BIOBubble) and it sat for nearly three years before I made a move to actually set it up. By then, my young mind was starting to think about money, and I had set of a frag tank to manage my expected loads of frags I would be making (spoiler: I didn't make any).

At this point in my journey, The monetary value of the tank is still very important to me, and part of my goal is to start making some cash back from it. Since my first tank though, I've come to see the beauty and complexity of the marine designs and have fallen in love with the biology and biodiversity of it all. I hope to begin selling corals locally here in the next few years once my reef is grown in a bit more and my ultimate goal is to do this trade for a living at some point. But for now, the complex beauty of it all is far more than enough of a reason for me.

Jax15 · Nov 5, 2020

That was hard to pick 2! I got into it after seeing another reef, and just KNEW this was something I liked. But really it's:

Love of animals + chemistry + tinkering/DIY + gadgets + art + learning. Is that not a winning combination?

Pistol Peet · Nov 5, 2020

I love the diversity of life in the oceans reefs. All the fish, the inverts and of course allll the stunning coral

Sayn3ver · Nov 5, 2020

I love the biology of aquarium keeping. Nature is crazy, creative and adaptive.

My "other" selection explanation is that within that biology is natural beauty. The beauty of the individual organisms and then the beauty of the ecosystem/biosystem as a whole.

There is also the human artistic part that involves for many, woodworking to build the stand, equipment and viewing room etc and the aquascaping involved with arranging the hardscape and coral.

There is also a sort of beauty in "farming/growing" just as there is with food production...maybe a little idealistic and romanticized but still. It's similar to the satisfaction of maintaining a nice deep green lush lawn, especially after a cut and you are just standing there looking at this manicured patch of perfection.