Inspiration

Umbriel

New member
Hi there. My name's Peter, and I'm hoping to become a member of CTARS.

Call this an introduction of sorts: while I've had a couple of tanks in the past (10 gallons and a BC14) and have tried a variety of different fish, I currently don't have a tank set up due to financial and place constraints. I am, however, trying to learn as much as I can from literature (and hopefully real people from the club) before I'm able to set up another tank, which will likely be much bigger than previous attempts.

But on to the point of this thread. Since I don't have a tank, I can only enjoy them in aquarium stores. So the other day, I visited Aquatic Wildlife in Manchester, and I was stunned by their variety of livestock. Particularly, they have a massive FOWLR built into a wall, and I spent some time watching the fish, which ranged in size from a cherub pygmy angel to a vlamingii tank.

It was fascinating watching all the various types of fish move about the tank, and I felt an appreciation for all of them--something which I haven't had in the past. I felt an urge to want to start up a tank again, try something new, though obviously I couldn't. I still fight over whether I want to try corals again or just give it up for an FOWLR. It's hard to resist wanting to learn more aobut fish and own different types when they're right in your face. I really felt my inner aquarist glow while watching all the fish, if that makes any sense.

So here's a question for CTARS people: what inspires you in the saltwater aquarium hobby? Certain tanks, fish, or corals? What makes you want to be a part of the hobby?

And, well, it's nice to meet you all, and I hope to do so in person at this month's meeting.
 
i think what inspires me is getting to know each tank. starting it from nothing and getting to know your livestock. corals inverts and fish alike all have personalities. things they like, things they dont, little kwirks and tendencies. it is fascinating to build a community and a family so to speak. to watch it grow into something so beautiful from your hard work and dedication. litterally blood sweat and tears go into this hobby sometimes but it is all worth it when fish pair and corals grow into massive colonies
 
Welcome Peter, and what inspires me? Childhood dreams, watching TV shows about oceans and reefs. My father's 55g when I was growing up (which was a bunch of tangs and things that should never have been kept together in a tank that small!). I always wanted to be a Marine Biologist but alas that's not how life took me.

Coral is what sucked me in at first, looking at things like Frogspawn, Acans, zoas. The coloration just amazed me. Now I'd say that I've become more familiar with coral the rare ones still capture me, but unique fish really is my draw.

Best of luck reefing - set up a tank!
 
The build I love it my wife hates it I hear this a lot what another skimmer but you just bought the one you have wait until I finally start buying LEDs haha she thinks 500 bucks for a skimmer is pricey
 
Welcome :) I get very inspired when I look at certain other RC member's matured tanks like Swannysons, Reefir's and the TOTM to name a few. I love this hobby b/c it's a challenge but extremely rewarding if you commit yourself to it.
 
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Hello Peter my name is Bob. For what inspired me to get into salt water aquariums I'm gonna combine what a few peoples inspirations. First and foremost I have been an aquarium guy since I was born because my parents have had aquariums since before I was a glimmer in their eyes. I guess its in my blood, lol. But for me the switch from fresh water to salt water started with the variety of color I could get from the fish. My first tank was a fowlr tank and I kept and loved that for almost 2 years before my lfs, the only salt water I visited for over a year besides petco (yuck!), started to stock more and more corals. Once they got a good stock of corals I really started to get a new ochre to try something new, so I bought a decent light and started with the softies and a few lps frags. After getting the hang of keeping parameters in check and dedicating more and more time to my husbandry skills I finally took the leap to sps. Since taking the leap to sps I have never looked back, and am happy to say that I now have a (fingers crossed)and thriving set of (mostly frags still but you get the idea) colored sticks in my tank and I will never go back. I think that deciding on a setup is all about personal preference and for me anyways, I grew to love corals more than fish. But that is just how I feel. There are many people here that would say the opposite but that is the beauty of individualism in my humble opinion. Good luck with whatever you choose do and we are all anxiously going to await a build thread filled with pics of your journey.
 
What inspires me about these tanks some might look at me funny...I'm obsessed with the movement...seeing the way the fish swim...the way LPS sway slowly in the current. It relaxes me to no end...to me its colors in motion....love it.

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Welcome to the board Peter.

What inspires me most is watching the tiniest of frags grow into a full colony. I also love to tinker with DIY projects and my reef tank is an easy place to experiment.

There are many very knowledgeable people on this board and many more that attend the CTARS meetings - you picked a great place to learn :)
 
What inspires me...lol everyone else's tank. Mine is still in its infancy but I hope that one day it looks like the many people's tanks I love. I remember meeting reefir for the first time hanging out in his basement looking at his frag tank having the infamous debate between red and orange lol. (I still think he's color blind) and then he said come upstairs and check out my display tank. That's all it took I left his house and in about three weeks bought everything I thought I needed to get started. Needles to say I haven't stopped shopping yet but that's all it took was one look at a mature tank and said hey I want one of those too. I'm not ginna even start talking about Scott's thank cuz when I finally see that thing in person I'm gonna have to mortgage my house. Lol. Welcome
 
Thanks, everyone, for the kind welcome. I'm really looking forward to meeting
everyone (even though I'm a shy person despite my passion for saltwater aquariums) and learning more so that when I do start a tank, I'll make bettere decisions and have support.

Saltychick: This is one aspect of saltwater aquariums that fascinates me. Even though I had two tanks, nothing was ever stable enough to say that I actually had a "community". It's something I really want to try and experience with my next tank, whenever that happens.

BubbaBoBobBrain: Thanks for your story. I never really got into corals as much as others, though, when I started out, I tried my hand at some (and failed miserably). I think it was because my first tank didn't have good enough lighting, and with the second tank everything moved around too much. I'm hoping that I can have a more stable tank the next go around, though I think somebody would have to convince me to not be scared of corals again (hint hint!).

Right now, I can't start a tank due to the fact that I don't have the funds for it (and it's an expensive hobby for a poor graduate student) and after my last tank, my mom's basically outlawed any saltwater tanks in the house (she hates them, although she never complained about watching the fish swim around). So I'm waiting until the right moment comes for me to start another tank. And while it's hard to wait, it gives me more time to think and plan, like the debate I keep having with myself about trying a BC29 or a Red Sea Max (which would be double the size of my last tank), or should I just give in and start something really big (to me, as a beginner still), like a 75, 90, or even a 125 gallon tank.

BfishLpond78: I don't find that weird at all...in fact, I feel very similar. I love watching fish move and interact in a tank, whether it's slow and methodical or fast darting. So I understand what you mean. It's something that draws me into the hobby, too.

frankyrivera: I, too, feel very inspired by other's people's tanks. I love looking at display tanks in aquarium stores and thinking about how I'd replicate that or what I'd do differently. It truly makes me itch to go out and start a new tank, but for now, all I can do is plan.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the kind welcome. I'm really looking forward to meeting
everyone (even though I'm a shy person despite my passion for saltwater aquariums) and learning more so that when I do start a tank, I'll make bettere decisions and have support.

Saltychick: This is one aspect of saltwater aquariums that fascinates me. Even though I had two tanks, nothing was ever stable enough to say that I actually had a "community". It's something I really want to try and experience with my next tank, whenever that happens.

BubbaBoBobBrain: Thanks for your story. I never really got into corals as much as others, though, when I started out, I tried my hand at some (and failed miserably). I think it was because my first tank didn't have good enough lighting, and with the second tank everything moved around too much. I'm hoping that I can have a more stable tank the next go around, though I think somebody would have to convince me to not be scared of corals again (hint hint!).

Right now, I can't start a tank due to the fact that I don't have the funds for it (and it's an expensive hobby for a poor graduate student) and after my last tank, my mom's basically outlawed any saltwater tanks in the house (she hates them, although she never complained about watching the fish swim around). So I'm waiting until the right moment comes for me to start another tank.

BfishLpond78: I don't find that weird at all...in fact, I feel very similar. I love watching fish move and interact in a tank, whether it's slow and methodical or fast darting. So I understand what you mean. It's something that draws me into the hobby, too.

frankyrivera: I, too, feel very inspired by other's people's tanks. I love looking at display tanks in aquarium stores and thinking about how I'd replicate that or what I'd do differently. It truly makes me itch to go out and start a new tank, but for now, all I can do is plan.
 
Oh dear...somehow that posted twice. Sorry for the error; if a mod/admin could delete one of those posts, that'd be great!
 
watching a tank mature, and meeting people with nice tanks , and meeting people who are color blind ...

<a href="http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae18/Reefir/?action=view&current=bracketpark642.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/ae18/Reefir/bracketpark642.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae18/Reefir/Snapbucket/?action=view&current=4A53E32A-orig.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/ae18/Reefir/Snapbucket/4A53E32A-orig.jpg" border="0" alt="Uploaded with Snapbucket (Original)"></a>

:wavehand:
 
not the best pics but u get the point , the explosion of growth!! and trying to get all the nice high tech equipment. and trying to convince the wife that i NEED it ! all sorts of inspiration. it becomes sort of an addiction. the fish dont really do it for me , i do love them but i would never have a FOWLR. its all the preatty colors and the moonlight glow. wait till the frag show at mohegan sun , you will see plenty of inspiration there ! good luck , Happy Reefin'
 
Reefir: Your tank progression is wonderful and really inspirational. Maybe I will go to the show at Mohegan Sun, though as I'm tank-less, it might be a bad idea.
 
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