why do you do it...for the kids, living art, science experiment...?

[RioReefr]

Admittedly, I got into this hobby because I liked the vibrant yellow color of the Yellow Tang and I thought that it would look "cool" in my living room. For me, my tank is a piece of "living art" -- it is the first thing people see when they walk into my living room and has made a good conversation topic. Its allowed me to create my own little world and feels like good when I see signs of new life. Because I work at home, I am also looking at it quite often so I want it to look good.

I am not being critical of others, but can't imagine putting this in my basement with all kinds of hoses, wires going all over the place (looking like a fire-trap waiting to happen). I know marriage/kids changes a man's life where he has to put his toys "out-of-the-way". (I am not married for this reason)....one little stain of water on her precious carpet could make her go ballistic that is not worth the argument. Then there are kids whose curiosity generally leads to things breaking (also why I have no children), etc. etc.

So, what makes you want to do it?

[homer1475]

Love the science behind it. The fish and corals are a nice bonus.

My tank is in my living room where I can see it, its a piece of living furniture. But my wife likes the tank also so she puts up with the eventual water on the carpet, occasional spill, taking over the sink to clean the ATS, etc, etc.

I can't imagine hiding my tank in the basement where only I can see it.

[PitViper]

I did not for my kids. My son was kept asking if we could have one since we had the tank just sitting around. So I bit the bullet so to speak and now 2-3 months later my kids still love it my wife is hooked and I’m screwed because I want bigger. But my kids really love it. My daughter helps me feed the fish and change the water. So all around we all enjoy it.


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[phenom5]

I love the ocean.
I live in Arizona.
I can't afford to travel to the ocean every weekend.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

[FaithKlim]

It's my life escape. My parents recently passed away, and this hobby allows to to escape into hours of endless research, tank watching, trips to LFS etc.
I've been wanting to set up a mixed reef tank for years. This family situation made me realize there's no better time for me than right now. The tank brings me much needed joy...

[Gorgok]

Seemed like a good idea at the time. vOv

I also really like making things, new things, whenever possible. I've made quite a few things because of the tank... Any excuse to make things is good.

[cincyjim]

The wife wanted a saltwater tank so you know the deal. I love the challenge of keeping the environment for saltwater as well. That said... it is my serenity!!!

[64Ivy]

Selected both 'escape' and 'bored' options. But there's also the 'challenge' factor which may outweigh them both. Depends on whether or not I had my coffee.

[Dmorty217]

Originally Posted by 64ivy

selected both 'escape' and 'bored' options. But there's also the 'challenge' factor which may outweigh them both. Depends on whether or not i had my coffee.

+1

[top shelf]

My love of fish started at a very young age and is one of my earliest memories. My grandmother started me a goldfish tank when I was about 4 or 5 and was something we did together, unfortunately she passed away a few years later but it's something that has always stuck with me. A reef tank has just been the natural progression of that. I fell in love with the ocean and all it's beautiful colors and like someone else said can't afford to go to the ocean all the time so next best thing. Plus I enjoy the challenge.

[mcgyvr]

Fish make far less mess than a unicorn... So naturally I went with fish..

[soulpatch]

Originally Posted by homer1475

I can't imagine hiding my tank in the basement where only I can see it.

See I am semi the opposite. I actually Like that my tank is in my man cave where really only I venture. My wife will pass it and my daughter comes down to play with me or help on the tank constantly so we still share it but for the most part it is my escape.

If the work day was super stressful I can retreat to my basement and work on the tank or just sit and watch it. It is also in view of my backyard patio set so I can sit out with a cigar in the twilight and watch the tank through my sliding glass door.


As for why I started it I wanted the challenge. I had done high end planted tanks already and helped my dad with his FOWLR. I just wanted to tinker with new things so got into a reef.

It goes through periods of time where I question shutting it down and periods where I spend every free moment working or staring at it.

[d2mini]

Because I enjoy it. There is no one reason that explains that.

[Fredfish]

The science, the art, the escape. That sort of covers it.

This is the closest I can come to creating an ecosystem in my livingroom. There is a beauty to the way things interact and change over time.

My kids, on the other hand, just loved giving fish names like Bannana Bob and Fang.

[NO3]

Other

I teach them the Art and Science of...

Laundry,
Cleaning the house and
Cuttting the grass

....so theyre not lost-brats acting like babies when they go to college

LOL

[alton]

I like spending my kid’s inheritance? I had aquariums as a kid, and now I am a big kid with more money. I love spending time with my fish and corals, better than sitting next to the wife on the couch watching TV every night. Man I am getting cranky in my old age! And I am glad she doesn't know about my fish websites.

[Hitch08]

Cause mcgyvr told me that there are tons of reef tank groupies.

[mrsixstrings12]

Definitely science aspect. I was majoring in biology, hoping to transfer somewhere specifically for marine biology, but college wasn't for me. Ended up with a saltwater tank to scratch the itch, so to say.

[Chicagoreef2016]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Because I enjoy it. There is no one reason that explains that.

This...

[Misled]

Back in the mid 80's, I had a 120 FOWBOCH, (fish only with bleached out coral heads). I met a guy working at my LFS that was going to marine biology school. He came by and ran a diatom filter on my tank and checked things out every once and a while. Things were starting out here around that time. Live rock started coming in and soft and lps corals were beginning to show up. I dove in head first. We didn't have much info to work with, but things progressed pretty quickly. Somewhere in the middle, I dropped out for a couple years, but just couldn't go without a reef in my living room.

The guy at the LFS was Anthony Calfo. It's his fault. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

[travis32]

This is a great question, as I'm in the process of starting my largest creation ever. A cusotm 330 gallon reef aquarium with bean animal overflow, and a way to quickly do water changes and much much more.. . I enjoy the science, the flow of water, the fish, the corals, the growth of the corals, and seeing the ocean. In North Dakota, the state that contains the geographic center of North America, there is no getting to the ocean without a roughly 2000 mile trip in any direction.

Ultimately, because I'm allergic to cats, dogs, I hate cleaning up dog poop and hate cat litter boxes. And I found scientific clinical evidence of reef tanks actually decreasing blood pressure, relaxing heart rates, and having a calming effect on the brain. My step son is ADHD, and has high anxiety, so, it will be extremely healthy for him, myself, and my wife. It'll be in the basement, unfortunately, but the basement contains our theater room and bar, so it'll be in a location we have a lot of people over for movies, games, etc. I'm excited for it and both happy and sad that it's in the basement.

[Salty Waffles]

A few reasons for me, in order....

#1 The fascination of having a mini biotope teaming with dozens if not hundreds of different kinds of life. Everywhere you look there is something interesting to look at.

#2 Calming and relaxation

#3 The science and education aspect

#4 A way to get over my mild phobia of some sea dwelling creatures of various types. lol

[Tastee]

Originally Posted by top shelf

My love of fish started at a very young age and is one of my earliest memories. My grandmother started me a goldfish tank when I was about 4 or 5 and was something we did together, unfortunately she passed away a few years later but it's something that has always stuck with me. A reef tank has just been the natural progression of that. I fell in love with the ocean and all it's beautiful colors and like someone else said can't afford to go to the ocean all the time so next best thing. Plus I enjoy the challenge.

I am in a similar place. Not due to a Grandmother, but I kept FW fish as a very young teenager and have kept them ever since (I am now 50). I also spent my childhood on the water and will never live anywhere that is not on or at least near the coast.

My SW tank is now 6 months old and as in your case is a natural progression. I still also have a small FW tank but my SW one will be the focus from now on.