How you started...

I wanna know how you got started in this hobby...

ill go first..
I was at a resturant across the street was a fish store...i always had animlas never had fish, so i bought a 20gal tank a cheap hob filter sum rock substrate and a couple rocks..and put 3 neon tetras in there and they all died...took them back in the fish store got sum tiger barbs and 3 1/2 years later i now take care of a 46gal a 29gal a 20gal (saltwater nanos) and is currently planning a 225 gallon tank>>

 

i have always loved fishing and we had a 30 gallon freshwater tank that i brought alot of the fish i caught home and sometimes put them in the tank. i have always loved the water and i just started my own saltwater tank.

 

Started with my son getting a betta fish...upgraded to a 10 gal fresh...then to a 55 salt and now with a 65...Trying to convince the wife for a 300

 

Hummmm,
I started in the early days, I'm guessing when I was about 5 or 6yrs old, I got my first FW tank. A 20gal. Man, I had a lot of fish go through that aquarium. In those days, there were no very knowledgeable LFS' in Trinidad, they just sold you what ever you wanted. I mixed guppies with African cichlids etc etc.
After those mistakes, I fell in love with oscars. Only had one at a time though, they only usually lasted 5 yrs or so and then I gave them away.
And then, for Christmas when I was about 16, my aunt made a huge mistake by giving me a saltwater book with lots of info and pictures. From then on I became largely interested in setting up a SW tank.
When I turned 18, I started working at one of the more reputable LFS. There, I gained more knowledge and did a lot of reading.
I bought my first SW tank a 50gal from my boss. Following that, dial-up became a thing of the past and I found 3 reef. Well, needless to say that was a big mistake on my part because 4-5 yrs later, I now have 10 SW aquariums, 2 of which are reefs. I have begun my marine business but only in a very small scale and I'm working on setting up and maintaining a large coral farm

 

My brother and I had fresh water tanks as kids. He graduated to fish only salt water tanks as an adult. I did as only "okay" but followed some lousy advice from my LFS. It survived, but it was not a "successful" tank.... more of a money pit. Hurricane Ike passed directly over my house. See previous of my posts to read the sad story... and it was sad.

Following Ike, when I went to rebuild, I stopped to think about what I REALLY wanted. The answer was basically a "Reef Tank of the Month" quality tank. I had figured out that my LFS was just selling and not advising. So I started searching the net. As you all know, I found tons of sites, tons of chat areas, tons of opinions. I found that 3reef had the unique combination of community and knowledge and doesn't sell anything directly although sponsors participate. Thus I chose 3reef as the foundation to build my Tank of the Month.

That is how I started... The timeframe for my goal is 5 years. I figure with this community's help and 5 years of patience, I'll get there on 3reef's shoulders.

Grateful for the help,
M

 

I've had FW my whole life..then I went away to school with my little 5 gallon eclipse gourami tank when my roommate said, "man..I figured you'd have a bada$$ aquarium..." The next day I went and got my 36, a bucket of salt, and a book.

 

Cool story of finding and following something you love. Good for you,

M

 

i had started with cichlids. but got out of it because was to busy with my boys sports. about 2 yrs ago ,my hot water let go. soaked the carpeting , which made me redo the basement. drycore as a subfloor and laminate. when the room was rearranged , had this open wall . sso figured id always wanted to do saltwater , did alot of research before starting, then took the plunge. still learning, but am so glad i took up this hobby. the entertainment, challenge and finding this great site to help along , has made it all worth while

guy

 

As a kid had a few FW tanks but nothing crazy.... about 3 years ago a co worker had a cool looking 75g reef with T-5s and a mated pair of clowns and rose bulb... I was hooked.... I run a 140g now and my wife's 29g biocube just sold my 92g... I also in the process have gotten my best bud into a 75g started.... I love this hobby

 

I started out with a goldfish won at the state fair. Then moved on to tropical fish. Stopped the hobby when I graduated. Then got back in about 12 years ago with FW again then went to planted tanks and then FO SW. Got out about 5 years ago. Got back in about 3 yeas ago with a FW planted. Then about a year and half ago got a SW tank and started to a few easy corals and then all of a sudden ended up with a reef.