Weekly Discussion - What got you into this?

[Anonymous]

Weekly Discussion - What got you into this?

What got you started in this hobby and what keeps you in it?

About the RDO Weekly Discussion:
This discussion is meant to get at your experience and to share information that is in your head, so don't necessarily treat it as information gathering. State your opinion and, if available, use material, anecdotal or otherwise, that will back up your opinion.
Past weekly discussions will be archived in the archives.
If you have topics that you think would be helpful for the RDO community to discuss, please send me a pm or start your own thread! :mrgreen:

 

[Anonymous]

Because I am nuts and have nothing better to do with my money.

I have kept FW for decades and decided to venture into the SW world. I started with a 6 gallon tank and after 1 month went to a 46. Very addicting.

What keeps me going?
I guess its raising fish/corals and watching them grow. Also the challange of building an environment for them.

 

[Anonymous]

Coki Beach, St. Thomas.

Went on a snorkle tour and was hooked. Had FW tanks my entire life, but never Marine.
~wings~

 

[J.Howard]

Like wings8888 all it took was a snorkle in Hawaii.
Had FW and SW for years, then went totally salty. Good hobby to share with kids and adults...gives them a new perspective on protecting the oceans and reefs. Educating non-hobbyists is key and fun.

 

[Anonymous]

Good point, not to mention, it totally opens up your mind to what the ocean has in regard to diversity!
~wings~

 

[Ben1]

PETCO believe it or not. I walked in one 7 or 8 years ago and saw some salt water fish. I was told an in tank counter current lee's skimmer and an undergravel filter were all I needed to keep these great fish. I was even sold some rock salt to make the salt water up!

Of course when I went to a real salt water store I was amazed and got some good information that hooked me. Before that I spent years snorkeling and eventually diving the BVI and have always had a great love for the ocean. The only place a man can really find peace in this world.

 

[tangir1]

Trying to cure freshwater ich on black mollies by using saltwater treatment...

 

[Anonymous]

Learning that an octopus can be kept as a pet. I was always fascinated by them, but figured that SW tanks were just incredibly expensive. I set up a 25 gallon with the hopes of keeping one, but I was quickly drawn to fish and corals instead. I kept a few later, but I'm more drawn to a tank with hundreds of different species coexisting rather than a ceph with rocks.

At the time I started, $160 for an eclipse and $70 for live rock was A LOT of money...like I had to save up for months to afford it. Now I can stay in the hobby b/c I'm a bit more comfortable financially.

 

[Anonymous]

I have always enjoyed fishes, especially saltwater. When I went to investigate actually buying a saltwater tank and discovered that reefs could actually be kept, it was Katy bar the door. I would have paid double to get started, so long as the wife never found out. 8O

I love it.

I am working on a outdoor pond now too and am just as excited about that as I was setting up my first reef.

Louey

 

[EmilyB]

I was into cichlids when my husband decided he wanted to try a SW tank. He broke two sumps and basically dumped the hobby. I threw the few live rocks and damsels in a 10g and then the illness took over.

I enjoy working with my hobby, and keeping the tanks in primo condition is really rewarding to me.

I also LOVE spending money apparently. :roll:

 

[MarkO1]

Snorkling in Cozumel. It left such an impression that I told my then girlfriend (now wife) that I wanted to reproduce it in our living room. That was about 3 years ago. It's the only thing I haven't gotten bored with after a few days.

 

[jandree22]

Started FW tanks when I was about 14 or 15 because my older bro had them and got me interested. Kept with that for about 3 years. Then after comparing the coolness between FW and SW fish, I figured I'd have to give it a shot. I think I've been keeping SW since I was 17 and I'm now 20. (almost 21 :twisted: )

Anyhow... I have always tossed around the idea of starting up another FW tank with a schoal of neon tetras and other odds and ends, who knows...

 

[billyzbear]

Like 15 years ago I wanted to get into it and was told it was to hard and cost alot. Last year, the wife said she wanted a tank with goldfish or something in it. I took her to the LFS and she was hooked on SW. I said something like look you can keep these FW stuff or you can keep these SW stuff. Of course I'm the one that has to care for it.

 

[Anonymous]

My wife and I decided to go to get my daughter a slightly larger tank, like maybe a 2 gallon tank for her goldfish.

we came out with a 54 Corner bowfront

I stay in it because I find it relaxing to sit and watch fish swim around

Bryan

 

[silly34]

Done FW for a looong time and decided to take the plunge. That and I like the technical aspects of it all (equipment, setup, etc..) Also the ooohhh ahhh factor.

B.

 

[Anonymous]

Went to a LFS to get a new stand for my 29 gallon FWF tank, parrot ciclids died for no reason after 6 years. Was going to start over with a new breed.
I have always been facinated with reef aquariums, and luckly so is my wife.
Instead of a new stand, we bought a 90 gallon complete set up (used but amazingly clean) at a great price. THe 29 gallon is still on its old stand.

 

[Bobzarry]

I had a grammar school teacher who kept FW tanks in the class as a teaching aid. Since I already kept freshwater at home (my dad started me on them) I was chosen as the main "helper". One day the teacher decided he wanted to try to keep local SW critters, so he arranged a class trip to the shore. That did it for me. we came back with mainly hermits and snails, a small amount of sand and buckets of saltwater. Next trip out we caught an oyster cracker (toad fish). I figured that was the coolest thing I had ever seen. That weekend my dad took me to the shore and I started my own tank. Hard to believe that was 32 years ago.



Bob

 

[jandree22]

I stay in it because I find it relaxing to sit and watch fish swim around

You know, aquarium keeping actually is good for your health...studies have shown that watching aquarium fish for about 20 min. can actually lower your blood pressure. It's no wonder why so many doctors, dentists, and some hospitals have an aquarium in their offices. :wink:

 

[tangir1]

>... It's no wonder why so many doctors, dentists, and some hospitals have an aquarium in their offices....

I always thought it is to get us sick more when we watch it... so they can have more business... :?

 

[baseman]

About 25 Yrs ago I was at a friends house who had a 29g FW tank. I thought, that looks cool. Before I knew it I had 4 FW tanks. Many moves and lack of space later, I abandoned my my FW tanks.

About 12 yrs ago I set up a SW tank in a doctor's office where my wife was working. She left the office and someone took the tank over. (I haven't seen it since).

1 1/2 years ago I was talking to my wife about getting a SW tank. For my birthday, she took me took me to Inland Reef. I was going to get something small, 55g max. I walked out with a 75g, stand, canopy, skimmer, sand.......

I've had a few fatalities, some explained, some unexplained, but I've had overall success.