What got you into this hobby and when did you start?

BobbyV · 06/22/2016, 01:15 PM

Thought this would be a fun thread to start within our local community.

I will start it off.

My story goes back to 2008, my girlfriend at the time (now wife) and I were at the local State Fair strolling around.

Like many others, I found myself playing the 10 pingpong balls for a $1 game to win a live gold fish.

I remember eventually winning 5 small gold fish which allows you trade into a jumbo gold fish.

So as you can imagine, I was standing there in the middle of the fair grounds holding a bag with a jumbo gold fish with no home to put him in.

On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought one of those $120 20 gallon all inclusive kits complete with silly ornaments. Like a "No fishing" sign.

This then got me into buying a 29 gallon bio cube, which then graduated to a 120 Oceanic Tech Tank to now a 300DD.

Thank you to those whom helped me along the way.

bwhit1406 · 06/22/2016, 01:37 PM

I kept various freshwater tanks as a child and teenager. We had a 55 gallon Oscar tank in the first home my wife and I shared. Now closed pet store by my house had saltwater fish and Coral that i use to drool over. Ended up buying a used 75 gallon setup from them for way more than what it was worth lol. Setup my first Saltwater tank when we moved into our new house. Awesome tank, learned alot, made all the rookie mistakes but it got me hooked.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

laserjim · 06/22/2016, 01:45 PM

I had to much money to spare . No worries now !

oblio · 06/22/2016, 01:59 PM

My wife bought me a 2 1/2 gallon tank with the silly colored rocks with a pair of clowns in it from the kiosk at the Brandon mall. I kept that tank for about 3 years and then my brother in law said he wanted his 90gallon salt tank gone. So I brought home this 90 gallon placed it on the floor in the living room about 5 years ago and the journey then began.
I lost one of those clowns, but the other is still hanging around. I had another friend get out of the hobby and I took his only fish, a clown and put him in the tank and they are pals. Funny thing is that clown is roughly 12 years old now. I have never torn down the tank, just worked thru all the learning curves and mistakes.
Eight years into this now, I want to thank all those in the community that have helped me also. Wouldn't have made it without the group. Today I have a healthy SPS tank that is on cruse control at this point. *knock on wood*

bwhit1406 · 06/22/2016, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserjim

I had to much money to spare . No worries now !

Well Said

nawilson89 · 06/22/2016, 02:33 PM

My grandmother had 2 oscars when i was little in NY. I kept goldies in 10g as a kid (yeah that was a mistake).

When I became an adult and lived on my own I started with freshwater and kept multiple tanks. Began breeding livebearers and some tetras.

Became very interested in inverts and the world of salt.

Dived in. Failed a bit. Tried again. Succeeded for a while. Started to like macro algae. Failed hard. Girlfriend got pregnant. Quit salt went back to fresh. missed the heck out of the fun of collecting in the gulf. Came back to salt, got some macro algae and two tanks in loving the heck out what i have.

Reeferman1019 · 06/22/2016, 02:51 PM

Been doing freshwater for about 20 years, all types of freshwater. Just started my first reef tank 2 months ago it's a 5 gallon nano and it's doing good so far. I'm learning about reef systems and I already want to upgrade to a bigger tank lol. Always wanted to do salt and just took the dive into it. Very fun hobby!

listen2bob · 06/22/2016, 03:55 PM

In 2003 I had an old friend live on the couch for a bit, in return he gave me his 30 tall reef tank. I was always diving and fishing before that and used my work knowledge to redesign his setup.

janes_mw · 06/22/2016, 04:03 PM

1984 - previously to this, had fresh water planted tanks which were beautiful. Then I saw a nice SW display (back then totally different than today). Bought a 90 gallon, put a glass corner over flow in it and used the good ole bio balls. Fish only but slowly progressed to a 180 in 1987 and did a reef tank. Back then, SPS was not even in the picture, mostly LPS and other softies. On and off since then with small to large reef tanks and every type of lighting and skimmers tried and ......

. Fast forward to today, 300 gallon SPS and fish mixed reef. Still love the hobby, but at 60, I am getting "tired"

Sadistic · 06/22/2016, 04:20 PM

The beauty of the marine world is inescapable.

I was lucky enough to grow up on the water here in pinellas. I have always been enthralled with the ocean and as long as I can remember I have been fishing and keeping some sort of tank. Of course the wonder of it keept me learning and wanting more. I will always be involved in this "hobby" in some way.
Hopefully we can all pass down the experience and conservation involved.

Great thread Bobby! And remember to give a hearty thanks to all that helped you open this door.

Specfishin · 06/22/2016, 04:53 PM

Little over a year ago, a friend told me it's fun to have a reef tank. A little over a year later I'm nearly broke, divorced , working two jobs and everything is dying because I have no time now. I also couldn't sell 3000$ worth of equipment for $300 bucks. 😜

Bu, seriously a co-worker has introduced this addiction and I believe my other half is coming around. Every package that comes, I just tell her I needed it to keep the already expensive livestock alive.😆 I also have several tanks laying around and more than enough equipment for several, but yet I find myself snatching things up haha. "Great hobby" he said, he never mentioned the addictive like crack part. 😯

nathan1986 · 06/22/2016, 05:48 PM

4 years ago my gf wanted a fish. Something simple, so I agreed to get a 10g rank and we could each put 1 fish in it. She got an angel fish and I got a green spot puffer. I did not know that it was brackish and that it would literally pick the fins off the angel fish until could no longer swim. After replacing her fish 3 times (bringing the dead fish to the store and matching it up with another without the gf knowing LOL) I came clean and told her my fish was killing hers and convinced her to let me get my own tank.... And it begin, bought a 55g tank and stand off Craigslist for $75, started it off as fresh water and went salt 3 weeks later. Gave the green spot puffer away and bought my first real saltwater fish, George the porcupine puffer, he is my favorite fish. I now have 3 tanks and the gf gets upset when as soon as I get home I rush to my 120g and say hi to George before I say hi to her haha can't say this hobby is making me broke because well, I'm always broke lol she says the 120 will be my last tank but George is growing and I see a large tank in his future lol

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

nitr8 · 06/22/2016, 06:08 PM

Sell coral for profit...lol

nathan1986 · 06/22/2016, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitr8

Sell coral for profit...lol

LOL!!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Specfishin · 06/22/2016, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitr8

Sell coral for profit...lol

Now that's funny. 😆

That does remind me of how I love to trade buy and oogle over the oh so many wonders of the world's reefs. So much beauty in watching something flourish in your care. That's what does it for me.

Reefpilot11 · 06/22/2016, 06:22 PM

It started 3ish years ago a friend of mine brought me to Rockin Reef and I was instantly captivated...I remember seeing this completely purple hammer coral on display there and thought it was the coolest thing ever (hence why hammers are still my favorite). Shortly after that I bought a 14g biocube with the regular stock in it. Then a 24 gallon innovative marine, that one cracked open...Was sent a new one with much thicker glass and let that one run for awhile. Now I have a 75gallon mixed reef, mostly sps, and probably won't upgrade until I move and buy my own house, then things will get interesting.

djsmallz · 06/22/2016, 07:14 PM

Back in about 1998 I met a guy who gave me a great deal on a 55 gallon tank package, like $200 buck for new tank, stand and canopy. From there I started a freshwater tank with red belly pacu's until they out grew then tank a few years later. I later got a 29 gallon biocube and started my first saltwater tank. Been progressing in the hobby ever since.

m1k3 · 06/22/2016, 07:16 PM

First got a 55 gal to bring goldfish out of pond into house for winter. Switched over to keeping cichlids the next year. Couple years later picked up a 120. 1.5 years later still learning and enjoying.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Webmanny · 06/22/2016, 07:59 PM

For me, it was a trip to the Georgia aquarium about 5 years ago. I spent 2 hours just sitting at their large atrium where the whale sharks are.

I have gone back twice since then. I simply love that place. I've shared the link to their webcams below, in case you want to see it.

My wife had to drag me out of there and she said something that I'm sure she now regrets.

"If you love Aquariums so much, why don't you just get an aquarium for the house?"

She swears she didn't say that, but she did. I got a12 gallon bowfront eclipse on eBay when we got back to the hotel. By the time we got back home, the tank was already there.

Fast forward to now and I still have most of the corals I had back then on that 12 gallon tank.

Link to the Georgia aquarium webcam.
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/exper...onnect/webcams

bigzman · 06/22/2016, 10:35 PM

1993 all guppies and Betta. Then it moved to discus and breeding to mollies and palys. After a break I got a 20 gallon sw thank for birthday in 99 when my oldest was burn. Fell in live only a evil damsel and Lps. I later moved on to a 55, 75, 90, 375, and the to a 90 and 210. Now going 330 all sps. It always reminded me of my childhood days living in Costa Rica.

mlivvy · 06/23/2016, 05:22 AM

In 1998 I was a teen driving around in Rhode Island and stopped at a taco bell. I noticed a store in the back called "Sea Creature Aquarium" that caught my attention so I walked in. I saw my first ever reef tank and the shimmer from the halides hypnotized me like a bug light. Been hooked ever since.

rogergolf66 · 06/23/2016, 05:31 AM

My mom gave me a 75 gal tank for free she picked up that someone was throwing away. It was about 2004. I had no idea how to even make salt water. Let alone keep fish alive so I just started reading. I fell in love with the challenge and learning.

Roger

TheAquatect · 06/23/2016, 09:18 AM

My first fish tank was a 10 gallon special from Petland Discounts (https://youtu.be/D2GvpyPUgJo) in NY where I grew up. I started with guppies then I discovered frogs and crayfish at the local pond. I would catch bullfrog tadpoles and crawfish, grow out the tadpoles, and sell them to the local fish stores. At one point I actually upgraded to a kiddie pool in the backyard till the raccoons found it.

I got back in 10 years ago with FW and still have 1 of my original angelfish in a planted 75 gallon, he is huge! I got into SW about 5 years ago, tried a 10g tank for about a year and then jumped to a 150g. Now I made the jump to a 300g "dream tank" which I just started building after a long, long, long time planning.

Worleyxxx · 06/23/2016, 11:41 AM

2012 for me, my neighbor had just given me a 16gal bow front that he had for cichlids. I started with cichlids and in under a month went to 75gal. Then I realized my myself and my neighbor were about equal with setup and fish and I had to out do him somehow. He went big oscars and I went reef. Never looked back, to this day he scoffs at the prices but always asks how to get color like that in his cichlids tank.

robthorn · 06/23/2016, 03:17 PM

1996 or so. A couple friend's and I were driving by some pet store with a going out of Business sign. He had freshwater so we stopped. Well I bought a 29g hex and the next day a 55g. Hang on the back , undergravel filter and all.
I saw a bag of salt there and had no idea. The one guy always thinks he is smarter than everyone else and said that I couldn't do saltwater because he had failed several attempts. I bent down and grabbed all the salt they had. A couple bags. I killed everything I put in that tank for a long time. All we had were books from the library so I read a lot and then moved to Florida in 1999.
Late in 2000 or early 2001 I bought a 58 from a buddy and started spending most weekends hanging out and learning at FAOIS. <----- shortly after this started I got my first acro and it lived until I broke the next 3 or 4 tanks down and took a break. 10 or 15 tanks later I have a 250dd full of acros and lps.
I still have my green slimmer from that original year I started buying acros. It went to Chris M of Fins in Tampa and then back to me as a frag in my old 265 and then when I took another break it went to Emmett and now I have it back as about a 5 inch colony. Its as old as dirt, just like me.

I finally got my dream skimmer from way back. A BK Sm250.

06/22/2016, 01:15 PM	#1
BobbyV Established since 2008 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Apollo Beach, FL Posts: 2,190	What got you into this hobby and when did you start? Thought this would be a fun thread to start within our local community. I will start it off. My story goes back to 2008, my girlfriend at the time (now wife) and I were at the local State Fair strolling around. Like many others, I found myself playing the 10 pingpong balls for a $1 game to win a live gold fish. I remember eventually winning 5 small gold fish which allows you trade into a jumbo gold fish. So as you can imagine, I was standing there in the middle of the fair grounds holding a bag with a jumbo gold fish with no home to put him in. On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart and bought one of those $120 20 gallon all inclusive kits complete with silly ornaments. Like a "No fishing" sign. This then got me into buying a 29 gallon bio cube, which then graduated to a 120 Oceanic Tech Tank to now a 300DD. Thank you to those whom helped me along the way.

06/22/2016, 01:37 PM	#2
bwhit1406 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 851	I kept various freshwater tanks as a child and teenager. We had a 55 gallon Oscar tank in the first home my wife and I shared. Now closed pet store by my house had saltwater fish and Coral that i use to drool over. Ended up buying a used 75 gallon setup from them for way more than what it was worth lol. Setup my first Saltwater tank when we moved into our new house. Awesome tank, learned alot, made all the rookie mistakes but it got me hooked. Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk __________________ 150 Gallon mixed reef mix of lighting Metal Halide, Led, and T5

06/22/2016, 01:45 PM	#3
laserjim Another Day In Paradise Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,956	I had to much money to spare . No worries now ! __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 430 gallon, 4 radion gen 3pro, 4 T5 bulbs, 60 inch Life Reef skimmer, Apex gold, 2 Dos dosers, ,80 gallon sump. 2 Cor pumps. 2 Ecotech MP 60 powerheads

06/22/2016, 01:59 PM	#4
oblio Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brandon Fl Posts: 407	My wife bought me a 2 1/2 gallon tank with the silly colored rocks with a pair of clowns in it from the kiosk at the Brandon mall. I kept that tank for about 3 years and then my brother in law said he wanted his 90gallon salt tank gone. So I brought home this 90 gallon placed it on the floor in the living room about 5 years ago and the journey then began. I lost one of those clowns, but the other is still hanging around. I had another friend get out of the hobby and I took his only fish, a clown and put him in the tank and they are pals. Funny thing is that clown is roughly 12 years old now. I have never torn down the tank, just worked thru all the learning curves and mistakes. Eight years into this now, I want to thank all those in the community that have helped me also. Wouldn't have made it without the group. Today I have a healthy SPS tank that is on cruse control at this point. knock on wood __________________ Tank: 90Gal corner drilled, MP40, MP10, 2 Kessil 360we's, 2 39W t5 supplements, ReefOctopus DNWB150, 2 reactors, carbon and GFO, CadLights BR-1 media reactor w/EcoBak pellets

06/22/2016, 02:33 PM	#6
nawilson89 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 481	My grandmother had 2 oscars when i was little in NY. I kept goldies in 10g as a kid (yeah that was a mistake). When I became an adult and lived on my own I started with freshwater and kept multiple tanks. Began breeding livebearers and some tetras. Became very interested in inverts and the world of salt. Dived in. Failed a bit. Tried again. Succeeded for a while. Started to like macro algae. Failed hard. Girlfriend got pregnant. Quit salt went back to fresh. missed the heck out of the fun of collecting in the gulf. Came back to salt, got some macro algae and two tanks in loving the heck out what i have. __________________ I'm a Goby-maniac! XD Current Tank Info: 29g Macro Algae tank

06/22/2016, 02:51 PM	#7
Reeferman1019 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Tampa,FL Posts: 536	Been doing freshwater for about 20 years, all types of freshwater. Just started my first reef tank 2 months ago it's a 5 gallon nano and it's doing good so far. I'm learning about reef systems and I already want to upgrade to a bigger tank lol. Always wanted to do salt and just took the dive into it. Very fun hobby!

06/22/2016, 03:55 PM	#8
listen2bob - David Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Tampa Posts: 776	In 2003 I had an old friend live on the couch for a bit, in return he gave me his 30 tall reef tank. I was always diving and fishing before that and used my work knowledge to redesign his setup. __________________ When filling your tank with frags, remember that they will not be tiny frags for long. Plan accordingly. Listen to Bob Marley, not some random guy named Bob Current Tank Info: 80 gallon Rimless Peninsula Reef with 30 gallon refugium, 2x250 HQi 20k full mixed reef

06/22/2016, 04:03 PM	#9
janes_mw Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,526	1984 - previously to this, had fresh water planted tanks which were beautiful. Then I saw a nice SW display (back then totally different than today). Bought a 90 gallon, put a glass corner over flow in it and used the good ole bio balls. Fish only but slowly progressed to a 180 in 1987 and did a reef tank. Back then, SPS was not even in the picture, mostly LPS and other softies. On and off since then with small to large reef tanks and every type of lighting and skimmers tried and ...... . Fast forward to today, 300 gallon SPS and fish mixed reef. Still love the hobby, but at 60, I am getting "tired" __________________ 300G 96x24x30, BK250 Skimmer with Avast Swabbie, LED/T5, Geo CaRx with Masterflex effluent cntl, Zeovite User - Avast Marine Tumbler, Archon control, Vortech MP60,Tunze 6125, & Jebao RW20 making waves

06/22/2016, 04:20 PM	#10
Sadistic Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pinellas Posts: 29	The beauty of the marine world is inescapable. I was lucky enough to grow up on the water here in pinellas. I have always been enthralled with the ocean and as long as I can remember I have been fishing and keeping some sort of tank. Of course the wonder of it keept me learning and wanting more. I will always be involved in this "hobby" in some way. Hopefully we can all pass down the experience and conservation involved. Great thread Bobby! And remember to give a hearty thanks to all that helped you open this door.

06/22/2016, 04:53 PM	#11
Specfishin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New port richey Posts: 457	Little over a year ago, a friend told me it's fun to have a reef tank. A little over a year later I'm nearly broke, divorced , working two jobs and everything is dying because I have no time now. I also couldn't sell 3000$ worth of equipment for $300 bucks. 😜 Bu, seriously a co-worker has introduced this addiction and I believe my other half is coming around. Every package that comes, I just tell her I needed it to keep the already expensive livestock alive.😆 I also have several tanks laying around and more than enough equipment for several, but yet I find myself snatching things up haha. "Great hobby" he said, he never mentioned the addictive like crack part. 😯

06/22/2016, 05:48 PM	#12
nathan1986 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,365	4 years ago my gf wanted a fish. Something simple, so I agreed to get a 10g rank and we could each put 1 fish in it. She got an angel fish and I got a green spot puffer. I did not know that it was brackish and that it would literally pick the fins off the angel fish until could no longer swim. After replacing her fish 3 times (bringing the dead fish to the store and matching it up with another without the gf knowing LOL) I came clean and told her my fish was killing hers and convinced her to let me get my own tank.... And it begin, bought a 55g tank and stand off Craigslist for $75, started it off as fresh water and went salt 3 weeks later. Gave the green spot puffer away and bought my first real saltwater fish, George the porcupine puffer, he is my favorite fish. I now have 3 tanks and the gf gets upset when as soon as I get home I rush to my 120g and say hi to George before I say hi to her haha can't say this hobby is making me broke because well, I'm always broke lol she says the 120 will be my last tank but George is growing and I see a large tank in his future lol Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

06/22/2016, 06:08 PM	#13
nitr8 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lakeland, FL. Posts: 1,932	Sell coral for profit...lol __________________ The solution to pollution is dilution. Current Tank Info: February 2017 TOTM

06/22/2016, 06:22 PM	#16
Reefpilot11 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Indian rocks beach Posts: 926	It started 3ish years ago a friend of mine brought me to Rockin Reef and I was instantly captivated...I remember seeing this completely purple hammer coral on display there and thought it was the coolest thing ever (hence why hammers are still my favorite). Shortly after that I bought a 14g biocube with the regular stock in it. Then a 24 gallon innovative marine, that one cracked open...Was sent a new one with much thicker glass and let that one run for awhile. Now I have a 75gallon mixed reef, mostly sps, and probably won't upgrade until I move and buy my own house, then things will get interesting. __________________ 75g Mixed Reef - ATI 36" Sunpower / x2 MP10s / SWC 120 Skimmer / Tsunami Sump / MR1 Reactor / Apex

06/22/2016, 07:14 PM	#17
djsmallz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tampa FL, near Ybor City Posts: 569	Back in about 1998 I met a guy who gave me a great deal on a 55 gallon tank package, like $200 buck for new tank, stand and canopy. From there I started a freshwater tank with red belly pacu's until they out grew then tank a few years later. I later got a 29 gallon biocube and started my first saltwater tank. Been progressing in the hobby ever since. __________________ Upgrading is always possible. Current Tank Info: Dual stacked 40 breeders with sump. Halide/led combo up top T5/led combo on bottom

06/22/2016, 07:16 PM	#18
m1k3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 94	First got a 55 gal to bring goldfish out of pond into house for winter. Switched over to keeping cichlids the next year. Couple years later picked up a 120. 1.5 years later still learning and enjoying. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/22/2016, 07:59 PM	#19
Webmanny Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: 33612 Posts: 2,461	For me, it was a trip to the Georgia aquarium about 5 years ago. I spent 2 hours just sitting at their large atrium where the whale sharks are. I have gone back twice since then. I simply love that place. I've shared the link to their webcams below, in case you want to see it. My wife had to drag me out of there and she said something that I'm sure she now regrets. "If you love Aquariums so much, why don't you just get an aquarium for the house?" She swears she didn't say that, but she did. I got a12 gallon bowfront eclipse on eBay when we got back to the hotel. By the time we got back home, the tank was already there. Fast forward to now and I still have most of the corals I had back then on that 12 gallon tank. Link to the Georgia aquarium webcam. http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/exper...onnect/webcams __________________ 32 gallon Biocube, DIY LEDs and Triton Method. My N=1 study of me, validated by me, and supported by completely anecdotal evidence, states that my advice is 100% correct, most of the time.

06/22/2016, 10:35 PM	#20
bigzman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Tampa FL Posts: 2,807	1993 all guppies and Betta. Then it moved to discus and breeding to mollies and palys. After a break I got a 20 gallon sw thank for birthday in 99 when my oldest was burn. Fell in live only a evil damsel and Lps. I later moved on to a 55, 75, 90, 375, and the to a 90 and 210. Now going 330 all sps. It always reminded me of my childhood days living in Costa Rica. __________________ 330g SPS - LED/T5 - EShopp S-300 Skimmer - 4 x Jebao PP20- reefkeeper elite Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef lps sps

06/23/2016, 05:22 AM	#21
mlivvy em-lee-vee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: central florida Posts: 2,910	In 1998 I was a teen driving around in Rhode Island and stopped at a taco bell. I noticed a store in the back called "Sea Creature Aquarium" that caught my attention so I walked in. I saw my first ever reef tank and the shimmer from the halides hypnotized me like a bug light. Been hooked ever since.

06/23/2016, 05:31 AM	#22
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	My mom gave me a 75 gal tank for free she picked up that someone was throwing away. It was about 2004. I had no idea how to even make salt water. Let alone keep fish alive so I just started reading. I fell in love with the challenge and learning. Roger __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

06/23/2016, 09:18 AM	#23
TheAquatect I Could Stop If I Wanted Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wesley Chapel, Fl Posts: 518	My first fish tank was a 10 gallon special from Petland Discounts (https://youtu.be/D2GvpyPUgJo) in NY where I grew up. I started with guppies then I discovered frogs and crayfish at the local pond. I would catch bullfrog tadpoles and crawfish, grow out the tadpoles, and sell them to the local fish stores. At one point I actually upgraded to a kiddie pool in the backyard till the raccoons found it. I got back in 10 years ago with FW and still have 1 of my original angelfish in a planted 75 gallon, he is huge! I got into SW about 5 years ago, tried a 10g tank for about a year and then jumped to a 150g. Now I made the jump to a 300g "dream tank" which I just started building after a long, long, long time planning. __________________ Tank: 300 Gallon 96"x24"x30", 20" Ghost overflow Lighting: 4 Kessil A360WE, 8 T5 (4 B+, 4 Coral+) Circulation: 2 1" Sea Swirls, 2 Gyre 250, Vectra L1 return Filtration: NYOS Quantum 220

06/23/2016, 11:41 AM	#24
Worleyxxx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land o Lakes, Florida Posts: 173	2012 for me, my neighbor had just given me a 16gal bow front that he had for cichlids. I started with cichlids and in under a month went to 75gal. Then I realized my myself and my neighbor were about equal with setup and fish and I had to out do him somehow. He went big oscars and I went reef. Never looked back, to this day he scoffs at the prices but always asks how to get color like that in his cichlids tank.

06/23/2016, 03:17 PM	#25
robthorn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: largo florida Posts: 5,089	1996 or so. A couple friend's and I were driving by some pet store with a going out of Business sign. He had freshwater so we stopped. Well I bought a 29g hex and the next day a 55g. Hang on the back , undergravel filter and all. I saw a bag of salt there and had no idea. The one guy always thinks he is smarter than everyone else and said that I couldn't do saltwater because he had failed several attempts. I bent down and grabbed all the salt they had. A couple bags. I killed everything I put in that tank for a long time. All we had were books from the library so I read a lot and then moved to Florida in 1999. Late in 2000 or early 2001 I bought a 58 from a buddy and started spending most weekends hanging out and learning at FAOIS. <----- shortly after this started I got my first acro and it lived until I broke the next 3 or 4 tanks down and took a break. 10 or 15 tanks later I have a 250dd full of acros and lps. I still have my green slimmer from that original year I started buying acros. It went to Chris M of Fins in Tampa and then back to me as a frag in my old 265 and then when I took another break it went to Emmett and now I have it back as about a 5 inch colony. Its as old as dirt, just like me. I finally got my dream skimmer from way back. A BK Sm250.