How did you get into salt water tanks?????

gea0119 · 05/27/2008, 09:35 AM

What really got me back into salt water tanks was a quilt I saw called "rainbow reef " that had beautiful fish in it.I saw it on monday and on tuesday I was on craigslist looking for a tank.

FB · 05/27/2008, 09:38 AM

Bored with freshwater.

thabet_2 · 05/27/2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FB
Bored with freshwater.

same for me

plancton · 05/27/2008, 09:52 AM

Somehow I got linked to a nano tank site, and I liked the look of them, I hadn't seen reef tanks, only fish only and I didn't know they were as fun and colorful, I hadn't seen big tanks with corals though and so I wanted a nano until I was told they bore you and most people want larger tanks right away, so I bought a 75gal custom made and started the adventure. Now I have a 175gal only 2 years after the last one.

Emoezekielsr5 · 05/27/2008, 10:02 AM

A few years ago, my buddy decided to stat a FWPT. After school, I would always look at his tank. A few days later, I was hooked, so I went on a LFS run with him with an idea of setting up a FWPT, but a quick glance at this one LFS reef tank got me hooked into reefing.

- NIck

blackthunda77 · 05/27/2008, 10:17 AM

Finding Nemo

Yea i said it! But im still here, going strong!!

SaltyMember · 05/27/2008, 10:52 AM

Just wanted to share my progression into this hobby.....
I had freshwater tanks as a kid. Got back into freshwater about 8 yrs ago when my 2 yo son came home with a goldfish he won at a carnival. Next thing you know I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank, then progressed to a planted 29 gallon but got bored with it. Started in saltwater with a 7 gallon minibow 6 yrs ago but wanted more. When, I finally moved into a single home I upgraded to an inwall 65gal reef and inwall 125 gal FOWLR in my basement. I am in it deep now....but it is a great hobby which I find really fun and rewarding despite the hard work at times and the occasional setbacks.

plancton · 05/27/2008, 11:56 AM

I heard its the biggest hobby in the world although i don't know if they are just refering to aquarium keeping in general.

The truth is...we want to play God with our little ecosystem

kar93 · 05/27/2008, 12:09 PM

Going to the LFS to get som freshwater fish and seing the marine section is what got me started.

snorvich · 05/27/2008, 12:11 PM

Diving. Once I realized how beautiful it was beneath the sea, I was hooked. First UW photography, then reef tanks. Just to think, I could have chosen a cheap hobby like home theater.

HumbleLobster · 05/27/2008, 01:02 PM

I didn't think that the lighting on my FO FW tank was bright enough for the aliens to see.

zooty · 05/27/2008, 01:49 PM

My wife had a 135 gallon tank when we started dating.

Man that's been an expensive date

plateboy3293 · 05/27/2008, 02:07 PM

Had freshwater tanks when I was 8, convinced my parents to start a reef tank 8 years later. So now I have 90 gallon system with stand that I got for free so that really helped me out. Some other equipment I got for free such as sump, fuge, pumps, korlias, sand, pc lighting but I upgraded since then to an aquapod. Thats basically why I was able to start a reef tank due to people moving and didn't want to take it with them.

Peter Eichler · 05/27/2008, 02:20 PM

I had always had a freshwater tank and my mom and I were at a LFS when I was about 11 and they had just started getting into saltwater. They certainly caught our eye and within a couple months I had a 35 gallon saltwater tank that was your typical setup with damsels, some feather dusters, an anemone, and a few pieces of florida live rock. The Damsels soon gave way to more expensive and exotic fish that had no business being in a 35 gallon tank... Within a year I had read just about everything I could get my hands on, including marine biology text books. The tanks continued to pile up and I continued to learn. After about 5 years we had over 1200 gallons worth of saltwater tanks and a dedicated fish room.

At that time I had been doing a lot of research on fish nutrition and the nutritional properties of various seafoods and I started making my own food because of all the tanks we had to feed. The tanks expanded even more and I started buying known problem feeders and fish with HLLE to test various foods and had some excellent results. My mom of course started bragging to various fish stores and they expressed interest in the food. The food sold very well and it was tough to keep up with demand. So, we ramped up production and the food was picked up be a couple different distributors in the midwest. By that time I had 4 different foods, one with various greens which was mostly comprised of various dried seaweeds from an asian food distributor. To toot my own horn, this wasn't something that was used in the hobby at the time and romaine lettuce was the norm.

Shortly after I started my own service company and was managing a LFS and teaching classes on saltwater classes. The rest is history, my involvement in the hobby has had peaks and valleys, but I've almost always had some involvment in the hobby to one degree or another. Though I must admit, it's far more fun when it's just a hobby and not your job...

Sorry, I know that a lot more than what you wanted, but I'm bored...

cloak · 05/27/2008, 03:05 PM

My parents had a saltwater tank in the late 70's, early 80's. UGF, plastic plants, lava rock.

tbar · 05/27/2008, 03:38 PM

My son wanted a 2.5 gal tank from a pet store that had a clown fish, sallylightfoot and feather duster. almost three years ago. Still have the clown but he is in his 4th upgraded tank know.

Longchamp · 05/27/2008, 03:47 PM

I think Nemo had something to do with it. I came upon a nice LFS that was also fairly inspiring

Mykel Obvious · 05/27/2008, 04:13 PM

I've been a critter keeper most of my life... turtles, newts, lizards, snakes and the like... I started hanging out in my LRS (Local Reptile Store) and the owner also sold freshwater and saltwater fish and corals... I couldn't stay away from the salties after I'd played with the snakes for the day... I've wanted a Gold Striped Maroon Clown ever since the first time I saw one, and all those way cool colors on the corals, yeah, I was hooked... I'm finally getting to where I can afford a tank and have the time to appreciate it as well

gea0119 · 05/29/2008, 12:32 PM

Peter Eichler, I was bored to thats why I post so many threads.Im not even 2 weeks into my new set up. I'm just passing the time everyday looking at everyones stories.I will be writing my own soon but as for now I just have water and rocks.The most exciting thing that has happened was I overloaded my cheap 5 plug outlet and everything shut off.As I was plugging and unplugging I spilled water and the plug started to smoke.I since then have purchased the proper outlet with timers.Oh Yes and I got into some aquascaping which I suck at.I spend 2 hours a day re arranging my rocks.yippie.

vanmo92 · 05/29/2008, 12:40 PM

Dont get me wrong, I love FW. But I was also bored with it. And really just wanted the colorful fish.

down and outman · 05/29/2008, 12:43 PM

Was given a 55 gal FW setup. My wife popped up and said "Let's do saltwater!" I jumped in and here I am 2 years later with a 90 and all the toys. I think she has grown to eat her words, she didn't realize what an obsession reefing can be. Worse than my guitars! Now I need...

down and outman · 05/29/2008, 12:46 PM

Finding Nemo helped a lot as well. 1st fish-clownfish!

mudskipper1 · 05/29/2008, 01:03 PM

I took care of my neighbors reef and immediately I wanted one. I read on RC for months and another friend hooked me up with a great start, and I went from there

skeletor121 · 05/29/2008, 01:28 PM

I would have to say college got me hooked. I studied Marine Environmental Science and learened a lot about Marine Bio (took some in HS as well). When I finally finished (wasn't allowed to have one at the Academy) and then moved away from AK (my first assignemnt), I ended up in FW. After doing my homework on SW I went straight to a 125 FOWLR (which ended up having some softies in it eventually). Moving caused me to sell off my tanks but I now have my 24 gallon nano up and running and will probably stick to that size tank until I stop moving around.

downhillbiker · 05/29/2008, 01:57 PM

did an adult video shoot with a large tank in background and decided to get one myself.

PS i really like the variety of crabs in my tank

05/27/2008, 09:35 AM	#1
gea0119 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.F.V.-LOS ANGELES,CA. Posts: 403	How did you get into salt water tanks????? What really got me back into salt water tanks was a quilt I saw called "rainbow reef " that had beautiful fish in it.I saw it on monday and on tuesday I was on craigslist looking for a tank. __________________ How Do Saltwater Fish Get High...SeaWeed Gea M. Current Tank Info: 26g 5/17/08 LS,LR,CPR Bak Pak Protein Skimmer,Fluval 205 Filter,45lbs LR/LS,#2/#1 Koralia Powerheads, 100w heater, 2 Coralife 55W Blue and White Lights.I have 1 Killer Clown Fish and 4 Fast Swimming Damsels to keep him Company

05/27/2008, 09:52 AM	#4
plancton Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,866	Somehow I got linked to a nano tank site, and I liked the look of them, I hadn't seen reef tanks, only fish only and I didn't know they were as fun and colorful, I hadn't seen big tanks with corals though and so I wanted a nano until I was told they bore you and most people want larger tanks right away, so I bought a 75gal custom made and started the adventure. Now I have a 175gal only 2 years after the last one. __________________ Hansel, he´s so hot right now...

05/27/2008, 11:56 AM	#8
plancton Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,866	I heard its the biggest hobby in the world although i don't know if they are just refering to aquarium keeping in general. The truth is...we want to play God with our little ecosystem __________________ Hansel, he´s so hot right now...

05/27/2008, 12:11 PM	#10
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Diving. Once I realized how beautiful it was beneath the sea, I was hooked. First UW photography, then reef tanks. Just to think, I could have chosen a cheap hobby like home theater. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

05/27/2008, 02:07 PM	#13
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Had freshwater tanks when I was 8, convinced my parents to start a reef tank 8 years later. So now I have 90 gallon system with stand that I got for free so that really helped me out. Some other equipment I got for free such as sump, fuge, pumps, korlias, sand, pc lighting but I upgraded since then to an aquapod. Thats basically why I was able to start a reef tank due to people moving and didn't want to take it with them. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

05/27/2008, 09:38 AM	#2
FB Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Georgetown, ON Posts: 1,305	Bored with freshwater.

05/27/2008, 10:02 AM	#5
Emoezekielsr5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 445	A few years ago, my buddy decided to stat a FWPT. After school, I would always look at his tank. A few days later, I was hooked, so I went on a LFS run with him with an idea of setting up a FWPT, but a quick glance at this one LFS reef tank got me hooked into reefing. - NIck

05/27/2008, 10:17 AM	#6
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	Finding Nemo Yea i said it! But im still here, going strong!!

05/27/2008, 10:52 AM	#7
SaltyMember Premium Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 1,355	Just wanted to share my progression into this hobby..... I had freshwater tanks as a kid. Got back into freshwater about 8 yrs ago when my 2 yo son came home with a goldfish he won at a carnival. Next thing you know I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank, then progressed to a planted 29 gallon but got bored with it. Started in saltwater with a 7 gallon minibow 6 yrs ago but wanted more. When, I finally moved into a single home I upgraded to an inwall 65gal reef and inwall 125 gal FOWLR in my basement. I am in it deep now....but it is a great hobby which I find really fun and rewarding despite the hard work at times and the occasional setbacks.

05/27/2008, 12:09 PM	#9
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Going to the LFS to get som freshwater fish and seing the marine section is what got me started.

05/27/2008, 01:02 PM	#11
HumbleLobster Should be Quarantined Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 432	I didn't think that the lighting on my FO FW tank was bright enough for the aliens to see.

05/27/2008, 01:49 PM	#12
zooty Fish Warden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 694	My wife had a 135 gallon tank when we started dating. Man that's been an expensive date

05/27/2008, 02:20 PM	#14
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	I had always had a freshwater tank and my mom and I were at a LFS when I was about 11 and they had just started getting into saltwater. They certainly caught our eye and within a couple months I had a 35 gallon saltwater tank that was your typical setup with damsels, some feather dusters, an anemone, and a few pieces of florida live rock. The Damsels soon gave way to more expensive and exotic fish that had no business being in a 35 gallon tank... Within a year I had read just about everything I could get my hands on, including marine biology text books. The tanks continued to pile up and I continued to learn. After about 5 years we had over 1200 gallons worth of saltwater tanks and a dedicated fish room. At that time I had been doing a lot of research on fish nutrition and the nutritional properties of various seafoods and I started making my own food because of all the tanks we had to feed. The tanks expanded even more and I started buying known problem feeders and fish with HLLE to test various foods and had some excellent results. My mom of course started bragging to various fish stores and they expressed interest in the food. The food sold very well and it was tough to keep up with demand. So, we ramped up production and the food was picked up be a couple different distributors in the midwest. By that time I had 4 different foods, one with various greens which was mostly comprised of various dried seaweeds from an asian food distributor. To toot my own horn, this wasn't something that was used in the hobby at the time and romaine lettuce was the norm. Shortly after I started my own service company and was managing a LFS and teaching classes on saltwater classes. The rest is history, my involvement in the hobby has had peaks and valleys, but I've almost always had some involvment in the hobby to one degree or another. Though I must admit, it's far more fun when it's just a hobby and not your job... Sorry, I know that a lot more than what you wanted, but I'm bored... __________________ April 2015 TOTM

05/27/2008, 03:05 PM	#15
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	My parents had a saltwater tank in the late 70's, early 80's. UGF, plastic plants, lava rock.

05/27/2008, 03:38 PM	#16
tbar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SE Virginia Posts: 452	My son wanted a 2.5 gal tank from a pet store that had a clown fish, sallylightfoot and feather duster. almost three years ago. Still have the clown but he is in his 4th upgraded tank know. __________________ I have done a 5 gal water change (about 17%) every week since week one. Hopefully having this posted here will motivate me enough to keep doing so. Current Tank Info: 33L, Two 36" 24 watt Marineland LED's, Tunze 9002 Skimmer, 2 Koralia 1's, pico hob filter for carbon.

05/27/2008, 03:47 PM	#17
Longchamp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 341	I think Nemo had something to do with it. I came upon a nice LFS that was also fairly inspiring

05/27/2008, 04:13 PM	#18
Mykel Obvious Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Huntsvegas, Alabama Posts: 907	I've been a critter keeper most of my life... turtles, newts, lizards, snakes and the like... I started hanging out in my LRS (Local Reptile Store) and the owner also sold freshwater and saltwater fish and corals... I couldn't stay away from the salties after I'd played with the snakes for the day... I've wanted a Gold Striped Maroon Clown ever since the first time I saw one, and all those way cool colors on the corals, yeah, I was hooked... I'm finally getting to where I can afford a tank and have the time to appreciate it as well __________________ Mykel Obvious - "I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer." Brendan Behan Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef

05/29/2008, 12:32 PM	#19
gea0119 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.F.V.-LOS ANGELES,CA. Posts: 403	Peter Eichler, I was bored to thats why I post so many threads.Im not even 2 weeks into my new set up. I'm just passing the time everyday looking at everyones stories.I will be writing my own soon but as for now I just have water and rocks.The most exciting thing that has happened was I overloaded my cheap 5 plug outlet and everything shut off.As I was plugging and unplugging I spilled water and the plug started to smoke.I since then have purchased the proper outlet with timers.Oh Yes and I got into some aquascaping which I suck at.I spend 2 hours a day re arranging my rocks.yippie. __________________ How Do Saltwater Fish Get High...SeaWeed Gea M. Current Tank Info: 26g 5/17/08 LS,LR,CPR Bak Pak Protein Skimmer,Fluval 205 Filter,45lbs LR/LS,#2/#1 Koralia Powerheads, 100w heater, 2 Coralife 55W Blue and White Lights.I have 1 Killer Clown Fish and 4 Fast Swimming Damsels to keep him Company

05/29/2008, 12:40 PM	#20
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	Dont get me wrong, I love FW. But I was also bored with it. And really just wanted the colorful fish. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

05/29/2008, 12:43 PM	#21
down and outman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 480	Was given a 55 gal FW setup. My wife popped up and said "Let's do saltwater!" I jumped in and here I am 2 years later with a 90 and all the toys. I think she has grown to eat her words, she didn't realize what an obsession reefing can be. Worse than my guitars! Now I need... __________________ " There you go, Lad. Keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles..." Moody Blues (Thanks Homegrown for keeping me straight!) Current Tank Info: 90Gal AGA, 25 g sump, Mag 7, Koralia 4's

05/29/2008, 12:46 PM	#22
down and outman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 480	Finding Nemo helped a lot as well. 1st fish-clownfish! __________________ " There you go, Lad. Keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles..." Moody Blues (Thanks Homegrown for keeping me straight!) Current Tank Info: 90Gal AGA, 25 g sump, Mag 7, Koralia 4's

05/29/2008, 01:03 PM	#23
mudskipper1 Trust Me I'm an Engineer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 1,085	I took care of my neighbors reef and immediately I wanted one. I read on RC for months and another friend hooked me up with a great start, and I went from there __________________ -Eric kazyakphoto.zenfolio.com Current Tank Info: 11 gallon DIY acrylic cube and 20L displays plumbed to a single sump, Kessil, Onyx, MP10, RKL

05/29/2008, 01:28 PM	#24
skeletor121 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 126	I would have to say college got me hooked. I studied Marine Environmental Science and learened a lot about Marine Bio (took some in HS as well). When I finally finished (wasn't allowed to have one at the Academy) and then moved away from AK (my first assignemnt), I ended up in FW. After doing my homework on SW I went straight to a 125 FOWLR (which ended up having some softies in it eventually). Moving caused me to sell off my tanks but I now have my 24 gallon nano up and running and will probably stick to that size tank until I stop moving around. __________________ -Scott Marriage: "Yeah, we're both all in but she's freerolling for half." -Phil Gordon Current Tank Info: 60 gallon (plus sump) FOWLR, 30 Gallon reef, 55 gallon african cichlid

05/29/2008, 01:57 PM	#25
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	did an adult video shoot with a large tank in background and decided to get one myself. PS i really like the variety of crabs in my tank __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump