What's Your History in the Hobby?
- Thread starter griss
- Start date
Thanks, you just brought back a good/traumatic memory with that phrase. When I was little my Dad and I swam out to the swimming dock in the middle of the cove at the Lake of the Ozarks. I was in arm floats. He took off my arm floats and tossed me off the dock. I learned to swim fast
lol, wet dry days
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Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
Yep, still talking about the tank.
She still holds interest in me & vice versa.
She still holds interest in me & vice versa.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
You call the wife "the tank"? Wow braver than me....
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
NO WAY JOSE!!
Besides she watches her weight.
Besides she watches her weight.
Hong Kong
Well-known member
Even if i written well about my return after 30 years there is also some sweet water experience
with some guppies in late 80'.
As i lived all my childhood in time of Yugoslavia town Pula (now is under Croatia) on the coast of one of the most beautifull sea in Mediteranean
Adriatic sea (Jadransko more) and playing as children with half legs in sea with all crabs, smal fishes and fishing frequently love to the sea never
can be forgoten...
Than I transfered in Italy where I started my first Marine in 1995 read about in my first post please.
After few years 2005 in Slovenia purchased a second Marine Acrylic see photo but work called to
Dubai and Abu Dhabi and plan was stopped...if I remember well in 2005 this costed me 3500 Euro
than 2 years ago I asked again producer in Germany for similar one he put akward price 5000 Euro than
i send him to hell and ordered in Italy for not even 1000 Euro new acrylic that now assembling
1,5 mm Acrylic 130 cm long x 75 cm height x 60 cm wide.
here is some photos and many others you can find in my first post here.
First marine glass Sera original with stand in Italy 1995 + Arcadia MHi 150 W pendant + 2 neon Marine blue+ Iwaki 2 pumps
+ Askoll Tronic 2 pumps
2005 Second one Acrylic
And new one Acrylic renovating windows and waiting to be placed on top of this wall
where i need to add some 30 cm bricks for half wal that missing to be nice support.
of course concrete and some metal inside to keep together support under the aquarium
as Im on 11 floor and insurance is must. as you can see wall covered with towel will be
place for aquarium. Sunshine light ect I dont have issue as glass is 3-ple Stop sol, e-low
and if will be algae will add some curtains.
with some guppies in late 80'.
As i lived all my childhood in time of Yugoslavia town Pula (now is under Croatia) on the coast of one of the most beautifull sea in Mediteranean
Adriatic sea (Jadransko more) and playing as children with half legs in sea with all crabs, smal fishes and fishing frequently love to the sea never
can be forgoten...
Than I transfered in Italy where I started my first Marine in 1995 read about in my first post please.
After few years 2005 in Slovenia purchased a second Marine Acrylic see photo but work called to
Dubai and Abu Dhabi and plan was stopped...if I remember well in 2005 this costed me 3500 Euro
than 2 years ago I asked again producer in Germany for similar one he put akward price 5000 Euro than
i send him to hell and ordered in Italy for not even 1000 Euro new acrylic that now assembling
1,5 mm Acrylic 130 cm long x 75 cm height x 60 cm wide.
here is some photos and many others you can find in my first post here.
First marine glass Sera original with stand in Italy 1995 + Arcadia MHi 150 W pendant + 2 neon Marine blue+ Iwaki 2 pumps
+ Askoll Tronic 2 pumps
2005 Second one Acrylic
And new one Acrylic renovating windows and waiting to be placed on top of this wall
where i need to add some 30 cm bricks for half wal that missing to be nice support.
of course concrete and some metal inside to keep together support under the aquarium
as Im on 11 floor and insurance is must. as you can see wall covered with towel will be
place for aquarium. Sunshine light ect I dont have issue as glass is 3-ple Stop sol, e-low
and if will be algae will add some curtains.
nasek718
Premium Member
Started with freshwater at 15. Went to college at 17 and left takes alone until 8 yrs later when I started a 55 gallon FW tank. Told myself if anything died I’d switch to SW. So 2 months later my spotted Pleco died and the next day I became a SW tank owner. Fast forward to Father’s Day 2004 I got a 125. Then it turned into a 180 drilled. 2 yrs later I started a maintenance and setup company and lost track on personal tanks. I’ve build everything from nanos to large shark tanks.
shred5
Premium Member
Can’t wait to see your build.
I miss Geo, great guy and great friend. I know he moved to Florida and bought a donut shop but lost touch. Have you kept in touch with him?
Funny, back in the old chat days, I’d always get confused because my family always called me Geo and he and I would be chatting at the same time
I miss the old IRC chat days. I always wonder if Epon and Phil are still there sometimes.
T Diddy
Happy to be here
It’s funny you mention that. To everyone’s amazement, the owner of the LFS where I worked didn’t have any personal aquatic pets at home. The display tanks at the store were his playground.
ethangoldbergg
New member
I've started when I was a little boy around the age of 9-10. My dad bought me a betta in a fish bowl and I remember I was soo amazed by its color. Then I hooked up with the aquariums and started to get into the hobby as I grow up. Then I build many aquariums containing tetras, chiclids and goldfishes. I am also writing few of my experiences on a blog called Fish'n Care. Feel free to check!
Paul B
Premium Member
Yes, but like all old timer, successful reefers, He was very good at it and never quarantined. I guess he forgot to teach you that secret.
He was also a Patriot and not just an Old Timer.
I tried, Paul. I did exactly as he did, but my fish kept getting ich, velvet, etc. while his were perfectly fine. We bought fish from the same LFS, fed the same foods, same setup & filtration, etc. What can I say? Luck is a real thing, and luck is just not on my side. I learned that if I wanted healthy fish I would have to do it the hard way via quarantine. That is when I started having success, and my fish lived 10-15 years.Yes, but like all old timer, successful reefers, He was very good at it and never quarantined. I guess he forgot to teach you that secret.
He was also a Patriot and not just an Old Timer.
NanoReefWanabe
Active member
Remember back to the eighties when my parents had an inwall display of five different tanks...135g in the center with 2 40s above and 2 40s below..all fresh water.. they are all planted tanks too full co2 system, was heaven... fast forward to 2021, graduated university, found the soon to be misses, bought a quaint little house, and remembered, man I used to love fish... started some googling, found reefcentral...never looked back.
Bought a 20g tank and a 15g tank...built a stand, drilled some holes in the glass, wired up an HQI light and bam. Just like that was addicted to mixed reef tanks...que up 2004, lots of trials, loads of errors, bountiful tribulations led to the sump exploding, flooding the bedroom, and my now wife's bitter resentment of the hobby...sold what I could, scrapped my pride and whatever else was left of the setup...
2007, in secret, off to the garage, a new plan is born. Born is my 5g Pico tank...man was she ticked, but grew to admire it...12 years later still going strong this little Pico, global 'catastrophe' emerges...2020 shear boredom, locked up, locked out. The gears start spinning again...I need something bigger..
Pet stores are essential...sick...I find my new 35g cube, custom build everything for it from sump to stand, lights and plumbing...I know have a much more enjoyable tank, just waiting for the next ah ha moment that leads to another tank...
Bought a 20g tank and a 15g tank...built a stand, drilled some holes in the glass, wired up an HQI light and bam. Just like that was addicted to mixed reef tanks...que up 2004, lots of trials, loads of errors, bountiful tribulations led to the sump exploding, flooding the bedroom, and my now wife's bitter resentment of the hobby...sold what I could, scrapped my pride and whatever else was left of the setup...
2007, in secret, off to the garage, a new plan is born. Born is my 5g Pico tank...man was she ticked, but grew to admire it...12 years later still going strong this little Pico, global 'catastrophe' emerges...2020 shear boredom, locked up, locked out. The gears start spinning again...I need something bigger..
Pet stores are essential...sick...I find my new 35g cube, custom build everything for it from sump to stand, lights and plumbing...I know have a much more enjoyable tank, just waiting for the next ah ha moment that leads to another tank...
Welcome back to the hobby
ClarkiiGriswald
New member
Been in the hobby as long as I can remember. I might have been 4 or 5 yo when I first started, now 36 (Wow!) In and out of the hobby over the years. Got really into the hobby with my first saltwater tank at 15 yo. It was great because my parents said, "You're on your own with this one." Meaning financially and work wise. It was good cuz I was in charge! Special note: I was allowed anything without legs or that slithered as pets and that left me with fish. My first choice of having a dog was off the table.
1st tank: Had a betta in a 10 gallon when I was 4 or 5 yo named Shalabebe (pronounced Shah-la-bee-bee) lol.
2nd tank: 6 gallon hex with small fish I don't remember at 6 yo (1994).
3rd tank: There may have been one before this, but I don't remember, so I will say this is my 3rd tank here. 10 gallon with 3 Giant Danios at 14 yo (2003).
4th tank: 65 gallon reef at 16 yo (2005). This was a big step into the hobby and I loved it!
5th tank: 20 gallon reef at 26 (2014).
6th tank: 40 gallon brackish at 35 (2023)
7th tank: 20 gallon anemone tank at 36 (2024) simultaneously with the 6th tank. Currently setting up. Nothing living in it yet.
That's all folks!
1st tank: Had a betta in a 10 gallon when I was 4 or 5 yo named Shalabebe (pronounced Shah-la-bee-bee) lol.
2nd tank: 6 gallon hex with small fish I don't remember at 6 yo (1994).
3rd tank: There may have been one before this, but I don't remember, so I will say this is my 3rd tank here. 10 gallon with 3 Giant Danios at 14 yo (2003).
4th tank: 65 gallon reef at 16 yo (2005). This was a big step into the hobby and I loved it!
5th tank: 20 gallon reef at 26 (2014).
6th tank: 40 gallon brackish at 35 (2023)
7th tank: 20 gallon anemone tank at 36 (2024) simultaneously with the 6th tank. Currently setting up. Nothing living in it yet.
That's all folks!
young_reefer
Member
Wow! This is such a cool thread. I just got back into RC after a “few” years offline. It’s great to read/see these types of threads, especially everyone sharing their story.
Me, I was a “late bloomer” lol. I got into the hobby some 15+ years ago, by chance. A good friend of mine was about to get married and his soon-to-be-bride did not like aquariums, or so he told me at the time. But the reality was that he had neglected his 72g bow-front aquarium. He had a few fish (a Vlamingi and a pair of clownfish), some 80 lb of live rock and a few critters. But, I loved it. I bought it (back in 2010) for $75, all in. I kept it for a couple of years until we moved overseas for work.
Then in 2016 we came back and I took it upon myself to setup the cheapest reef tank I could afford. I bought a 75g fresh water setup during one of Petsmart dollar per gallon sale. Got the tank drilled (was a collaboration with a long time FMAS member) and bought an external overflow. Although it was not quite the crash course (I researched for over 6 months before pulling the trigger on the project), I quickly found I had a lot to learn. But, this tank gave me the most satisfaction and taught me a lot about discipline, ingenuity and love for the hobby. This tank allowed me to make mistakes and to grow my knowledge of the hobby. The tank was a light mixed reef with mostly soft corals and anemones. And a few fish, of course.
I sold that tank a few years later (around 2018 to a co-worker who wanted to get into the hobby) and bought a used Red Sea Reefer 525XL. I was thrilled to upgrade from my 75g, homemade tank, to a bigger setup. One day, I read another RC’s member add about Black Widow Anemones. I was hooked. I bought like 3-4 medium size anemones from him and placed them in my tank. It was an amazing experience seeing them multiply… I believe I had about 25 anemones at some point. Not a lot of fish (blue hippo, yellow tang, pair of clownfish, trigger fish, sailfin tang, blue-green chromis) with lots of live rock.
Then, during COVID, my wife wanted - like many people did - to remodel our kitchen and living room into an open floor space. While designing the space, I got to thinking about the new (at the time) Red Sea Reefer XXL750 V3, which I’ve seen a couple of times at my LFS. We “compromised”… she got her dream kitchen and living room. I got my (up until then) dream reef tank. So, in early 2020, I bought it!
Fast forward almost six years later, I am still in love with my setup. It’s not the biggest tank out there. It’s not small either. It’s perfect. And, it fits the 6 foot wall I made sure we designed around remodeling. lol
And in late 2020, I bought a Red Sea Reefer 200XL as a Christmas present (I wanted to do a peaceful community reef) which I took down a year later and gifted to a good friend. Although, I do spend time over his place helping him with it.
I have been offline for a few years, but not gone from the hobby. Life has been busy and lots has happened. But, I’m grateful God has given me the opportunity to enjoy this hobby.
Happy Reefing!
Me, I was a “late bloomer” lol. I got into the hobby some 15+ years ago, by chance. A good friend of mine was about to get married and his soon-to-be-bride did not like aquariums, or so he told me at the time. But the reality was that he had neglected his 72g bow-front aquarium. He had a few fish (a Vlamingi and a pair of clownfish), some 80 lb of live rock and a few critters. But, I loved it. I bought it (back in 2010) for $75, all in. I kept it for a couple of years until we moved overseas for work.
Then in 2016 we came back and I took it upon myself to setup the cheapest reef tank I could afford. I bought a 75g fresh water setup during one of Petsmart dollar per gallon sale. Got the tank drilled (was a collaboration with a long time FMAS member) and bought an external overflow. Although it was not quite the crash course (I researched for over 6 months before pulling the trigger on the project), I quickly found I had a lot to learn. But, this tank gave me the most satisfaction and taught me a lot about discipline, ingenuity and love for the hobby. This tank allowed me to make mistakes and to grow my knowledge of the hobby. The tank was a light mixed reef with mostly soft corals and anemones. And a few fish, of course.
I sold that tank a few years later (around 2018 to a co-worker who wanted to get into the hobby) and bought a used Red Sea Reefer 525XL. I was thrilled to upgrade from my 75g, homemade tank, to a bigger setup. One day, I read another RC’s member add about Black Widow Anemones. I was hooked. I bought like 3-4 medium size anemones from him and placed them in my tank. It was an amazing experience seeing them multiply… I believe I had about 25 anemones at some point. Not a lot of fish (blue hippo, yellow tang, pair of clownfish, trigger fish, sailfin tang, blue-green chromis) with lots of live rock.
Then, during COVID, my wife wanted - like many people did - to remodel our kitchen and living room into an open floor space. While designing the space, I got to thinking about the new (at the time) Red Sea Reefer XXL750 V3, which I’ve seen a couple of times at my LFS. We “compromised”… she got her dream kitchen and living room. I got my (up until then) dream reef tank. So, in early 2020, I bought it!
Fast forward almost six years later, I am still in love with my setup. It’s not the biggest tank out there. It’s not small either. It’s perfect. And, it fits the 6 foot wall I made sure we designed around remodeling. lol
And in late 2020, I bought a Red Sea Reefer 200XL as a Christmas present (I wanted to do a peaceful community reef) which I took down a year later and gifted to a good friend. Although, I do spend time over his place helping him with it.
I have been offline for a few years, but not gone from the hobby. Life has been busy and lots has happened. But, I’m grateful God has given me the opportunity to enjoy this hobby.
Happy Reefing!
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Welcome back to RC. Glad to hear you're still in the hobby and enjoying it.
