Why do YOU love the hobby?

My dad was one of the "early aquarists" back in the days of iron-framed tank frames that were sealed with black putty, piston-type air pumps, and a SW tank was actually made specially (the glass extended above the frame so the iron frame wouldn't rust and drop into the tank), so I've been around aquariums for over 50 years. He had somewhere upwards of 30 FW and 1 SW setups running. He also did aquarium maintenance on the side. So, as you can see, I've been around it all my life.

Add to that where I live (coastal so. CA), and my love for the ocean, I was doomed from the start!

THEN, many years later, I met Renee (we both kept SH and reefs back then), who also has the same passion, so it was a perfect match!

 

i was raised near water (florida) and its always fascinated me, I kept many freshwater tanks, but nothing complicated as i was anywhere from 3-8. up until i was 15, i didnt know saltwater aquariums were doable by anyone other than aquariums and such.

 

I completely agree. The ocean episodes are and always have been my favorite as well. I need to see if some more are going to be on TV soon

 

i definitely understand how being near to the ocean can have a great influence on us getting into the hobby Or even one snorkel/diving trip. For me, everytime I go the images of the coral stay engraved in my mind. Now I can look at corals any time of the day

 

looking up reefs in Hawaii found Steve Hurlocks 1200 gallon reef, that's how I found the hobby. I like the hobby because I can keep interesting creatures found in one of the most diverse habitats in the world (or the most diverse habitat in the world)

 

My dad was big into FW aquariums when I was a kid and I made countless trips to the petstores and helped with aquairum maintenance all the time. I even had my little rocker I would pull over in front of the main tank to just sit and stare at it constantly.

I was lucky enough to have small 10gallon FW setups in my bedroom throughout my childhood that I would pick out the fish for and by high school had a 55gallon in my room. Went to college and couldnt do without and started with a 1gallon destop tank, then a 5gallon, then sicne we were not aloud anything larger than 5 gallons had a 20gallon tote on my desktop. As soon as I graduated I couldnt help but upgrade and bought a 26gallon FW tank which I setup as planted and after a little nudge from the wife decided to attempt SW after wanting to for so many years but being agraif of the expense and maintenance. Alost 6 months ago my 46gallon reef was born and I can not wait to upgrade Wife tells me Im addicted and obsessed, I couldnt agree more lol.

As for coralline, I agree some people have a longing to be one with the ocean. I lvoed nature sicne a kid and watched every show possible on the ocean as well as read every book I could get my hands on about the ocean and fish. I still think working at a publci aquarium would be a dream job to just spend all day with the aquariums and being so hands on.