gregcardita
New member
5 days old and the cycling is going strong.....the waiting game continues.
How old is your current reef tank?
- Thread starter seamonster124
- Start date
Spartanman22
New member
Coming up on three years but it was an upgrade from a 1.5 year old system. I've had a tank continuously for the past 8 years the systems just keep evolving and growing!
seamonster124
New member
So it looks like if you don't give up in 2-3 years, then you're in it for the long run
slief
RC Sponsor
I've had my current display for over 20 years and it's been setup at my new home since June of 1997 so 18 years since the last move. Most of my live rock is in excess of 20 years in my possession. I'm proud to say that not only do I grow coral but I also grow rock in my tank. My rocks are literally growing as is the bare bottom sections of my tank which literally have home grown rocks growing off the bottom that are inches tall.
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bundybear1981
New member
Current tank is around 2 yrs old after moving towns and doing an upgrade. Will be setting up a bigger tank before long (its currently being built) The rock is around 5 yrs old.
joshky
Acros & Wrasses
Pretty much. I've had a saltwater tank since the beginning of 2012, but my longest running tank was one year old. I fear I'll probably upgrade again in another year or so. :lmao:
seamonster124
New member
I'm on a mission to keep my existing tank for at least 5 years!
Nano sapiens
New member
7+ years (12g Nano)
Ron Reefman
Active member
Let's just look at big round numbers, OK?
Roughly 20 people with tanks in 0-6 mths, 6-12 mths, 1-2 yrs and 2-3 yrs. Only 10 in a longer 3-5 yrs segment and only 20 in the 5 or more yrs.
It kind of confirms the idea that the hobby brings in lots of new people (40 tanks under 1 year old), then some leave the hobby (20 tanks in each of the next 2 years), then more leave (only 5 tanks in years 3 & 4). And who knows what to say about the 20 tanks in the 5 yrs and more group. Just how many years do they cover?
This is just the kind of thing that keep so many LFS in business. And a constaint supply of used equipment on Craigslist!
Roughly 20 people with tanks in 0-6 mths, 6-12 mths, 1-2 yrs and 2-3 yrs. Only 10 in a longer 3-5 yrs segment and only 20 in the 5 or more yrs.
It kind of confirms the idea that the hobby brings in lots of new people (40 tanks under 1 year old), then some leave the hobby (20 tanks in each of the next 2 years), then more leave (only 5 tanks in years 3 & 4). And who knows what to say about the 20 tanks in the 5 yrs and more group. Just how many years do they cover?
This is just the kind of thing that keep so many LFS in business. And a constaint supply of used equipment on Craigslist!
g_langley
New member
Current tank 3 months.
The 3 year statistic is interesting, to be sure there are many reasons why hobbyists leave, either out of their own choice or a situation arises which prevents them from keeping the setup.
I think a lot of folks don't really know what they are getting into and get put off with the money outlay, maintenance time required, livestock deaths and algae issues, so they bail out sooner or later. I dread to think about the condition of some of these tanks in their final moments. Certainly, some of the stuff I've seen on auction sites is pretty dismal when they are knocking out their complete setup and supply pictures.
It's in a different league to keeping a "regular" pet, for instance a cat. Mine wakes me up at 5am for feeding, pukes over the floor and craps in the toilet to annoy me. But he doesn't come with anything like the stress we are sometimes faced with a reef tank.
The 3 year statistic is interesting, to be sure there are many reasons why hobbyists leave, either out of their own choice or a situation arises which prevents them from keeping the setup.
I think a lot of folks don't really know what they are getting into and get put off with the money outlay, maintenance time required, livestock deaths and algae issues, so they bail out sooner or later. I dread to think about the condition of some of these tanks in their final moments. Certainly, some of the stuff I've seen on auction sites is pretty dismal when they are knocking out their complete setup and supply pictures.
It's in a different league to keeping a "regular" pet, for instance a cat. Mine wakes me up at 5am for feeding, pukes over the floor and craps in the toilet to annoy me. But he doesn't come with anything like the stress we are sometimes faced with a reef tank.
seamonster124
New member
My guess is loads of people leave the hobby but they are not here to vote now. They stop using the forum when the tank gets put away.
Roccus
New member
F.W.I.W...I've been keeping ( and breeding ) fresh water fish for over 50 years. My oldest FW tank is 15+ years... I have 3rd generation Angel fish in there that I spawned and raise myself....I only mention it because it is pertinent to how long I've had my reef tank...I started my Reef tank a little over 2 years ago when I paid off my house... I added a sea horse tank a year latter... 2 months ago I upgraded my S.H. tank to a larger tank and made the former S.H. tank a invert tank..my point is..not everyone bails on the hobby after a years time... I just got the permits required to "gut" my upstairs "fish room" and add sinks, water and ventilation to the room... it will be on it's own electrical panel as well... when completed the 75 will go up there with the 3 other tanks... the new 150 will reside in the foyer where my 75 mixed now lives...I wont be exiting this hobby anytime soon...unless they remove me from the house... feet first!
lpsouth1978
New member
My current tank is just over 6 months old. However that is because we decided to do a small upgrade from the 3g pico (4 years old) to the current 300g system.:wildone:
seamonster124
New member
Hard to analyze these results.....with a huge number of hobbyists who quit not being around to vote.
seamonster124
New member
anyone else care to vote?
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