What started it all

[the claw]

I was just reading some testimonials from a bunch of "experts" and it dawned on me that over 3/4 of them got started in this hobby because they won a goldfish at a fair. I got started in this hobby because of my mothers love for freshwater tanks, and she had them before I was born. I inherited those tanks, and from there came into the marine world. I did win a goldfish, but I had a tank at home to put him in. I was wondering how everyone else got addicted to this life?

 

[reefnut]

Well mine is a pretty boring story but here goes. My wife and I talked about owning fish for a long time. We were in our LFS and her and the kids fell in love with the brightly colored fish in the SW tanks. I too liked them over fresh water so we thought we would get one... How hard could they be???? Right .
Well the more I learned the more I wanted to know. It wasn't to long before we started getting some Low Light corals. And from there, like they say, the rest is history.
I love this hobby, the challenge, the effort, the beauty, everything about it. I made A LOT of mistakes and am still making some... That's why this board is such a great place. We can share knowledge and share mistakes and help one another to achieve perfection in our tanks... I think that's what all serious hobbyist are reaching for... The perfect little ecosystem. Although we will never be able to recreate nature, we can come close.

 

[birdy]

I have pretty much always had freshwater tanks since I was a kid, I started working in a LFS during college and they had a pretty good saltwater dept. I guess I got the bug then, but I didn't set up my first tank until I got married and had to sell my horse so we could buy a house. My husband said since I sold my horse I could set up a saltwater tank.

 

[teatime]

LOL We threw our mom a 70 year birthday party with a Hawian theme. All the tables had little glass bowls with gold fish in them, the little kids got to take them home. I ended up taking care of my daughters gold fish and just HAD to get a bigger tank. Then I just HAD to get a bigger tank. I decided to try a sw tank with my old 20 gal. a year and a half ago, I have been lost ever since. My hubby wont let me get a bigger tank so I am waiting paitently for my fw fish to pass on so I can put the fw fish in the smaller tank and get the 45 gal one for a bigger reef.

 

[the claw]

Wow Birdy, which do you think is a more expensive hobby, horses or fishkeeping?

 

[beth]

I got a goldfish from the dime store when I was a kid. Kept 3 FWs while at college, then about 14 yrs ago adventured in to SW. Made all the mistakes one could possibly have made. Not many books back then, and certainly not the internet.
Now here I am and I know everything!
Or wishing I did....

 

[naturelover]

Had freshwater since I was kid until 3yrs ago, Freshwater fish are expensive where I was born (Sri Lanka) , After I came to USA I started looking into saltwater and now I am into this hobby and ofcourse addicted.

 

[wrassecal]

I never had a goldfish I had turtle once...we got into it because my husband liked the "lipstick" tang at Red Lobster , so his daughter did us the great favor of getting him a 55gal with stand and Emperor 400, NO lighting for Christmas...we were clueless....so was she. Well one and half years, thousands of dollars, thousands of posts, thousands of hours of research, thousands of hours of enjoyment, and what seems like thousands of mistakes later we have a 135 gal reef.....and are planning on putting the 55 in our new bedroom We did pay her back though when a friend moved to Hawaii last year we wanted his live rock so we got the whole 55 gal setup and gave her everything but the rock. She's hooked now too!

 

[the claw]

Another fish story just dawned on me. I remember now when I first noticed my moms tanks. My brother and I were wrestling, and he accidently (so he claims) shoved my head through the bottom tank in her display. Water, fish, and blue gravel spilled all over our olive green carpet. Mother was screaming, and we were trying to salvage the fish into big painted glass bowls in the bathtub. She had a huge plecostomus that she wanted to get rid of, so she stuck it into the toilet to flush. Well it latched onto the side of the toilet and wouldn't go down. It was followed by screams and obsenity's (she doesn't swear). I think it was at that time that I thought what a COOL hobby this was. The tank was a matched set with the stainless steal chrome sides. Don't see many of them around anymore either.

 

[flamingkingofhe]

my cousin had a bearded dragon (lizard) in a 30 g. tank and got sick of it one day so he gave it to me and after about a year i got sick of it and just one day decided to start a freshwater tank using the lizard tank and upgraded to a 55 3 months later and after about a year i got interested in salt and converted over and 5 years later here i am

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by Beth
I got a goldfish from the dime store when I was a kid.
A Dime Store? WOW, tell us more about what things were like when you were a kid Beth
Just kidding Mi~Lady Just Kidding

 

[jonthefb]

i think that in a previous life i was a fish.....but seriously i was pretty much rased on fw tanks....we had a 75 ever since i can remember, then the natural progression to saltwater and to reef took over and here i am!
great stuff!
good luck
jon

 

[thomas712]

Jonthefb - Where have you been man, We (I) miss you around here.
Thomas

 

[nm reef]

My saltwater hobby started due to my loving but rather innocent wife. I have always kept a small freshwater system...sometimes Oscars...last I had convicts. Well I always said I wanted to try a saltwater reef...and she liked the way the corals/fish looked.
Long story short...for Christams 1999 she gives me a new 55 gal display with stand and says "It must be set up as a saltwater system"...so I came here and asked the first of many questions..."How do you mix the salt and water to get it right?"
Been over 30 months since I put water in that Christmas gift and my wife loves it. But...she is just now beginning to fully understand just how expensive that Christmas gift really was!!
By the way ... I no longer keep any freshwater stuff...and I'm hooked on marine systems permanently!!

 

[wrassecal]

Those darn Christmas presents from well meaning realitives

 

[jarvis]

I always had a freshwater tank when I was a kid with that trusty UGF. Then as a temporary moment of insanity I decided I wanted a reef tank. Thousands of $$'s later hear I sit. Its filling up pretty fast, but I know that it will never be complete If there ever comes a time that I do fill it up time for a bigger tank with bang guy size refigium

 

[daisy]

I wanted a fish tank in high school, but my parents said no because I had a cat. About a week later, she ran away. A week after that, I asked again for a fishtank and they gave in. It was fw. (miraculously, after two months' absence, the cat came back and was around for another eight years)
Had fw tanks through college and grad school, but started longing for sw while breeding fw angels. How much harder than breeding angels could keeping sw possibly be? I found out.
But every mistake is worth it when I look into my tank and see life everywhere. I really wish so many fish had not died in my educational journey, though.
I will say this, though -- I never want another sw fish to whom I have to feed other live fish. Broke my heart.

 

[poiboy]

sssoooooooooooo tired of freshwater.

 

[justinx]

I wanted a lizard and the GF said no . . . hence an aquarium was born.

 

[m.rogers]

it would have to be my uncle that got me started. we would go over his house and in his basement he had like 20 to 30 fw tanks and 3 or 4 sw tanks that would not last that long. but you name it and in fw he had it. he gave me my first large tank (55gal.) i had like 3 fw 10gal. tanks at the ages of 10. have had at lest one tank ever after then about alittle over a year ago i tried sw and am hooked i have know more fw just sw. now i am working on my 3 year old son he just loves the tank.
mike