what made you fall in love with reefing?

[reefkprz]

ok random question what made you fall in love with reefing?
for me..
I was walking through a pet store looking for a new reptile to add to my collection and I saw an algae blenny bipping around a tank, just all over, I walked over to the tank to get a better look at him and he swam right up to the front of the tank and looked me dead in the eyes and I knew I had to have one.. I asked what kind of fish it was they told me and I went months thinking it was called an algae bunny.

(the clerk must have had a cold)..
now I have one and he eats right out of my fingers. I love this hobby/sport/proffesion/stress reliever called reef keeping.

 

[alyssia]

The beauty of the fish and coral made me fall in love with it.

 

[tx reef]

I got into reef keeping after getting bored with my fish only system and saw some really nice shrooms at the LFS. I am now shelling out $100 a piece for really nice SPS frags.
What got me into saltwater was the hated movie Finding Nemo.

 

[monalisa]

I'm a scuba diver. My very first ocean dives were in Aruba...hindsight, not the best coral reef diving, but they were my first ocean dives. On one of the dives I noticed a teeny-tiny trunk fish and an equally small trigger fish playing on some coral. That's when I decided that I wanted something like this in my home...I want to take care of them...Love it. I have that dive ear-marked in my log book.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[anonome]

Falling in love with reefkeeping.....hmmm. It had to be when I saw a true blown out reef tank in a pet store and thought I can do this to. How hard can it be? This type of fish keeping is the icing on the cake, it just finishes the many steps that lead me here. Freshwater for years, then a salt tank with fish only and replica coral....you know the kind that are painted colors that coral doesn't even come in. :thinking: Then fish with live rock. Many years later my Ohhhh. Coming home and admiring it after a long hard day....priceless. I think it really nabbed me in the butt when my first rock with mushrooms actually split, to where I had mushrooms all over the tank. Then I knew I could venture onto something else.
Very good question, I actually didn't realize the progression until I thought about it. It kind of consumes you without your realizing it. :happyfish

 

[puffer32]

My brother raises african ciclids, and he talked me into starting a tank with some of his off springs. I really enjoyed them, but while looking at ciclids one day I happened across a reef tank at the lfs and I decided to try it. Within a yr I had 6 tanks, all salt but the ciclid tank, kept that one so I wouldn't hurt my brothers feelings. I am at a different place in my life, and have only 2 tanks now, but both are reefs. :happyfish

 

[catawaba]

I must be a dork. I love the biology, chemistry, and math. How awesome is it that all these different things work together to maintain life? :thinking:

 

[ninjamini]

I like the way that corals sway in the current.

 

[dragonboy]

The great colors and variety of species.

 

[1journeyman]

Always loved the ocean... tried a tank back in the late 80's when all I had was a LFS to guide me.... so that failed.
Studied about the ocean and reefs all through college, but after my trip to Australia; seeing an amazing reef exhibit in the Sydney Aquarium, and diving... hooked me for life.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by ninjamini
I like the way that corals sway in the current.

Me too!

 

[sharkbait9]

Back in 1983-84 my science teacher had saltwater tanks running. All day long i could sit in class and watch the fish and these three " rock" looking thing that turned out to be coral. My eyes had set on a wonder of pure enjoyment that even as a kid i knew i want to have.
Present day 2006 still have my 55 gallon tank that has birthed other tanks that i just came seem to get enough of.

 

[adesimone1]

We started an aquarium for our Grandson Tyler. We went to a pet shop one day with the baby he was 9 months at the time. He just wanted out of my arms so he could touch the fishy's. So we decided to start a tank for him. As soon as he came in the house his eyes would light right up and smile. Our last trip to the fish store was on a saturday. He was just turning 11 months that following Wednesday. We lost him on Thursday August 3rd to asymptomatic pnuemonia. We now have the reef tank and a freshwater tank in memory of our little Angel Tyler. That is a picture of our little boy.
We started an aquarium for his parents too.

 

[dejaco]

Reefing? Okay after years of freshwater culminating in keeping and breeding solely Discus I needed a break! Reefing allows one to continue to study current publications, tech reports on products, discussion with other reefers,
practice chemistry, keep up math skills, use the computer for journal and parameter entries, compare charts and graphs of our system to published text, every now and then have my duaghter ask to help so we will sit and go over the computer and actually apply math skills, plan and research our next system, AND above all else sit as a family and relax and watch the tank like it's a TV. Actually make up stories or scenarios about the occupants of the system. It's a labor of love that requires both passion and planning but the rewards are priceless.

 

[jrthomas40]

i have always been captivated by the ocean and all its life so as a kid i decided i wanted to be a marine biologist so i go my BS in marine biology, working on my masters in fisheries biology and plan on getting my phD in Aquaculture....so you could say i have always been in love with the water and it all started with a trip to the baltimore aquaium and the live dolphin show

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by adesimone1
We started an aquarium for our Grandson Tyler. We went to a pet shop one day with the baby he was 9 months at the time. He just wanted out of my arms so he could touch the fishy's. So we decided to start a tank for him. As soon as he came in the house his eyes would light right up and smile. Our last trip to the fish store was on a saturday. He was just turning 11 months that following Wednesday. We lost him on Thursday August 3rd to asymptomatic pnuemonia. We now have the reef tank and a freshwater tank in memory of our little Angel Tyler. That is a picture of our little boy.
We started an aquarium for his parents too.
wow... didn't expect that... so sorry for your loss.

 

[adesimone1]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
wow... didn't expect that... so sorry for your loss.
We will never get over losing our Sweet Angel.

 

[rbrockm1]

how i became to love this hobby is the fact that not one tank will be the same as the next. So many choice. and the colors of the underwater world

 

[reefkprz]

here is a pic of my blenny lounging on my starry toadstool leather. must be one comfortable couch he's on it all the time.

 

[1journeyman]

Awesome pic.