Random thought(s) on the Reefkeeping Hobby

Johnny C

Johnny C

New member
I was talking to a friend yesterday and discussing this lovely hobby of ours. I have noticed that although we lack an 'official' reef club, we have a very strong (and ever-growing) group of hobbyists in the WNY area. Truth be told, I personally consider it a lifestyle and I feel like I probably won't ever go without some form of an aquarium again. In other areas of the country, it seems as though some people aren't into the natural aspect of it and really only want a pretty aquarium to decorate their home(s).

What are your guys/girls thoughts on this? I can't be the only person who feels this way! :)
 
Very much agree! I love being able to look at my tank and say yes, I did that! Then knowing there are people like Dan and Joe who have helped me setting up my tank. Im sure others as do I have moments of pulling there hair out but the good times are great!
 
Definately not the only one that feels that way... I thoroughly enjoy bringing nature into my home and the fact that this hobby is so interactive both with the tanks themselves and with our local group, what's not to love? And one of my favorite aspects of it is that no matter how long you do it, you never stop learning new things. Technology's always changing, new ways are being found to keep things alive that were previously taboo and there's just a constant ability to see another hobbyist's tank and come up with better ideas and dreams. Addicted? Oh heck yes! ;)
 
While this is my first foray into reef keeping it's not my first tank and certainly won't be the last.

Personally I want my tanks to be as natural as I can possibly make them, complete eco-systems. I want them to look good, to provide for the inhabitants and to be something that grows and evolves over time. Part of the enjoyment I have always found in keeping aquatic life has been finding that balance of natural vs mechanical/human systems.

I guess I'm far less of "this looks pretty" than I am "this is alive, growing and everything is happy"
 
New York state (and upstate NY in particular) has always been a hotbed for aquarists- freshwater and marine alike.
Guys like Matthew Wittenrich (originally from Erie County) are literally writing the book on breeding marines. It's cutting edge.
Many people in certain regions of the USA don't have an active aquarium club or access to a halfway decent LFS. It hurts them. I see websites such as RC being a big help for those folks. If they don't have access to the internet they're usually really hurting for knowledge.
 
I seen my first saltwater reef tank a few years back and said "I have to have one"!
For me it was the fish that drew me! To this day I still cant get over the personality on my tangs it's incredible! and the way they lie down for the night is just so cute! Just Now starting to get into coral a little more. For me it took me 3 tries to get things right and I was ready to throw in the towel! And if it was not for our active members I may have done so! So Yeah I think there is always more to learn and think ill always feel like a newbie haha
But yeah I agree it is a life style and a commitment for sure! "as Far as people putting pretty aquariams in the home to decorate" I go back to "If you dont have any thing nice to say dont say it at all! haha For me I think my value dropped after putting that huge hole in my wall ,but to me It's priceless :)
 
i've had fish friends since i was 5. My favorite show growing up was The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau...and because of my love of the water, my dad sunk a huge pool in our backyard. I loved being underwater so much that i learned to hold my breath for a very long time...made my parents very worried. Our vacations turned from camping in the woods to Key West shortly after we went to Italy when I was 9 and they couldn't keep me out of the mediterranean. I feel in love with the life under the water....I would dream of swimming all the time...my first tank was a FW planted cube in my very first apartment when i was 18. I've always had an aquarium since then. The 55g was purchased as a temporary house for my son's Iguana who passed...and not wanting to go that route again..i finally decided it was time for my dream...a saltwater tank...the rest is history...and the future. My dream is this...to have an art gallery of my own...with display tanks everywhere...and a studio in the middle of several of them so i can continue to draw inspiration from what I have always loved.
 
I am growing to love this hobby,although it is nice to achieve a nice show tank for people to enjoy looking at..

My favorite is taking a challenge of a small frag and turning into a show stopper coral,for my own plesure..sometimes you win..sometimes you lose..study more and try again :)

To me it seems like quite a achievement to keep marine bio-culture in our homes. the oceans of the world are really the last frontier and their is soo much we or really anyone does not know how a reef "works" to be some of the most populated and diverse echo-systems on this planet..
 
superkat said:
i've had fish friends since i was 5. My favorite show growing up was The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau...and because of my love of the water, my dad sunk a huge pool in our backyard. I loved being underwater so much that i learned to hold my breath for a very long time...made my parents very worried. Our vacations turned from camping in the woods to Key West shortly after we went to Italy when I was 9 and they couldn't keep me out of the mediterranean. I feel in love with the life under the water....I would dream of swimming all the time...my first tank was a FW planted cube in my very first apartment when i was 18. I've always had an aquarium since then. The 55g was purchased as a temporary house for my son's Iguana who passed...and not wanting to go that route again..i finally decided it was time for my dream...a saltwater tank...the rest is history...and the future. My dream is this...to have an art gallery of my own...with display tanks everywhere...and a studio in the middle of several of them so i can continue to draw inspiration from what I have always loved.
Click to expand...

Nice! I believe your on your way, Your art work is beautiful!
 
All I know is I waited over 10 years to have a reef aquarium again and no way Im giving it up.Rough start and a bit uneducated with how much things have changed since then but I've taken in much in the past few months of being here.

Newbie forever,:thumbsup:
 
I've had freshwater tanks for about 8 years - 12 at one time, the largest 150 gallons which housed mostly blood parrot cichlids. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever have a saltwater tank. Always thought it would be too difficult and too much work - I was never one for water testing in my freshwater tanks.

But thanks to craigslist and a very low price I figured I'd give it a try. Well it's over a year now and I have converted my 150 freshwater to saltwater - had it drilled and a 75 gallon sump in basement. I also have a 50 gallon corner saltwater tank. I absolutely love it.

I still don't test (I know, bad me) but I try to change the water at least every 2 weeks. Everything in my tank is looking good and growing so I must be doing something right`??!!???
 
I wish we had a local club that met occasionally - maybe every other month or so. Seems like the reefcrawl never happened and I would love for some experienced reefers to come over and take a look at my setups and give me some tips as to what I could do differently to make it better; or what I shouldn't be doing. I live in Alden about 15 minutes from ARC. If anyone would like to come over, send me a pm.

Or if anyone interested in starting a club, we could have the first meeting at my house. Thoughts, suggestions..............
 
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Aquarium hobby is a lifestyle. It has been a part of my family culture since before I was born. Its always a pleasure meeting and getting to know so many people who share the same interests.
 
I think much of the hobby thriving in our region is due to the weather. I know places like FL and Texas have thriving clubs but we NEED reef tanks here. The brightness, the color, the beauty in the dead of winter brings smiles and warm hearts.
 
Gary Majchrzak said:
New York state (and upstate NY in particular) has always been a hotbed for aquarists- freshwater and marine alike.
Guys like Matthew Wittenrich (originally from Erie County) are literally writing the book on breeding marines. It's cutting edge.
Many people in certain regions of the USA don't have an active aquarium club or access to a halfway decent LFS. It hurts them. I see websites such as RC being a big help for those folks. If they don't have access to the internet they're usually really hurting for knowledge.
Click to expand...


I see this at work almost daily when our friends from North of the border come down looking for better prices. The lack of knowledge and outdated technology in use (from less than friendly pricing) is quite staggering(I know this is not true for all but seems to be the vast majority I come in contact with). The ways their eyes light up when you can share good fresh information combined with newer technology is very rewarding.
 
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