OT: Just how did you become Marine Aquarist? :)

[neutronics]

Just curious as to how we ever become marine hobbyists I hope everyone can share their stories here.
As for me, well, I was into freshwater cichlids and arowana for quite some time about a year ago June 2001. I just love these fast moving and colourful cichlids as well as the fierce-looking but graceful swimming arowanas
One day, I was driving around looking for freshwater fish shops with a friend until he decided to buy some marine fish (for his tank he says). Well, I've never been to a marine fish store at that time (there's only about 6 shops here...) and gosh <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> I was amazed at the colours and beauty of these fishes!
The rest was history. I started to ask my friend a few things about marine fishkeeping, read a number of marine books and checked out the rest of the marine shops around the country and eventually started on a marine tank
And I'm glad I did that!

 

[jim672]

neutronics,
Ditto
Jim

 

[jim27]

We used to live in Pacifica, which is really close to San Francisco, and I could see the beach from my house. Ever since I was like 6-7 I've always liked to go to the tide pools and look for crabs and fish and stuff like that. When I was 10 I was looking in this big pool(about 30 feet in length) and saw a leopard shark(probably about 2ftlong) swimming around in it. It was amazing, I had never seen a shark in the wild before. Thats what made me what to keep sharks, and finally last august I realised my dream.

 

[koiman6]

well it started when i made my first pond 7 years ago. I hadn't really done much with it or anything then after one winter our fish turned up dead. We headed to the store to get some more goldfish. That is when i saw my first koi. From that day on i was hooked. Last year I put in two more ponds and a fw aquarium. Then i saw my friends sw tank and got hooked once again and now i have ended up here. <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[corvettev12ttnos]

I always wanted a fish tank with some cool fish and then my uncle gave me all his stuff for his saltwater fish tank that he had and well that's it

 

[lionpicasso]

I got started in this hobby at a yard sale <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
The guy had a 75gal fowlr for sale and I bought it Now I'm hooked and want a BIGGER, BETTER tank.

 

[nacl-h2o]

I started in FW moved to planted FW. Then to SW then FOWLR then to Reef.

 

[cara]

My interest started when I was introduced to snorkeling. We would vacation in the Caribbean and chose our destinations with the best snorkeling. I fell in love with fish! My favourite sitings in the wild have been of rays, sharks, turtles, a school of blue tangs, a scorpion fish, an octopus and some huge porcupine fish! Then I figured why not bring a piece of paradise right into my home. I've been researching the hobby for over a year and I'm pretty close to buying my first tank but have been taking things slowly. I definitely have the patience but I still feel like I lack the confidence to dive into the hobby just yet. <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[tankstolove]

I started keeping my first aquarium when I was 10 years old after my science class took us to the Oregon coast on a field trip. I was instantly in love with the science.
I went to college as a marine biologist and my hobby turned into passion from there, I have done nothing else since then. I once had dreams of being the next big name marine biologist though I found they were not payed so much as I was told growing up and in college.
I have found that the aquarium industry will pay me much more and is a much simpiler on the family science than on going world travel.
Anyway now I dream of being the next big name in our industry, captive aquarium biology. By the way aquariums are much different than the open ocean as far as science is concerned. I believe that information given from a seasoned aquariust is far more useful then info given from a marine biologist specializing in the open ocean. Our hobby is truly only 20 years old in America and the most success has occured in the last 5 years. it is an exciting time for us and information is changing daily in the way to keep aquariums, so keep your eyes and ears open.
Good Keeping...

 

[shive]

ive always had a fw...heard horror tales bout sw..grew up and figured all the stuff i heard was old wives tales..when i see a sw tank,and its beauty,i figured it was one step closer to heaven on earth...so here i am..and very happy with it <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />

 

[fshhub]

got maried
hense the name
(my wifes hobby originally)
fsh=fish
hub=hubby

 

[demosthenes]

Well, last year in June, my brother was cleaning his room, and gave me his 20 gallon FW, w/ stand, light, and UGF, for $50. I went into cichlids, then wanted a SW tank after going to G&M, and read up on it. Then bought a 75 gallon in October '01, and have been in the tank since.

 

[bluefish]

Started out as my husbands hobby, he took up flying and the fish got passed to me!! I'm learning everyday and enjoying it. Please bare with me, I'm not too familiar with what is in my tank in terms of equipment!!

 

[lnarobbins]

off and on I've had fw tanks then 3 years ago I met my wife she worked at a LFS I saw some of the display tanks and asked her about it. the line worked and I got to go out with her. I had to follow up and get some SW fish then I went to andother store and got some salt. so after we moved in together I continued w/the saltwater aquarium and we both are enjoying it
now the daughter loves the fish so their is no stopping us from getting more and more
Alan

 

[manu]

i am 15 and my dad loves oscars, but i am the that clean the tank.
my dad works in the tele communications buisness and the guy he nows owns the largest SWF store in MN so i work there and just love them, i just got a 75 3days ago
it's SWEET

 

[katara]

As for myself, I had a freshwater tank for over 8 years till our devastating '94 earthquake when I swore no more tanks(it was a mess and we were badly injured by the broken tank glass as we tried to get out)..but after visiting ***** several times for my dog..I decided to go back and this time to plunge into saltwater..although everyone warned me against the costs and time consumation..I'm quite thrilled w/my new hobby.

 

[frankl15207]

Received a freshwater tank at 8. Saw a picture of a clownfish. Had to have it. I had a friend that bred angelfish as a hobby that opened a pet store when he "retired." He became a regional distributor. I helped out around the store in the summer and after school and was "rewarded" with things for the tank. Started to save my money and talked him into letting me setup and order saltwater fish when I was 13. That was in 1968. I really couldn't afford to do it, but muddled through simple tanks until I got a 'real job' after college. Outside of some pauses due to a spinal problem, I just never left it. I still enjoy looking at freshwater fish, but there was never any challenge or enjoyment in keeping them after that.
Now I am venturing into my first reef tank. So far so good.

 

[azocean709]

I was given a tank and the whole sump set up and everything that had a snowflake eel in it...said he had to drive to far and it wouldnt live<he was moving> so after caring for the eel for a while, i found this website and started reading this and that...now im a full blown addict!that was almost 3 yrs ago. i got the tank...now i have a nice little reef setup. I love it. and thanks to this site and the people that are here, I have learned so much of what and what not to do...THANKS GUYS AND GALS!!
Scott
Florida.

 

[my way]

Like you I had Chiclids and a Silver Arrowanna, then I saw a Clown Trigger one day, so I set up a 40 long I had laying around, did some research, set it up and that was it.

 

[space_geek]

I owe it all to my brother in law....I actually wanted a marine tank since I was about 3. SERIOUSLY!! But I had a FW up until I was 7...then when I was 8...I took the plunge.