why? - Page 4

tbittner · 03-09-2008, 11:22 PM

One of my friends at work said "I'm going to start a SW tank this weeked". Well, I thought about it, read a few things about them, and thought it would be a pretty cool way to burn a few spare hours. Besides, I have a 6 year old daughter and I would LOVE to see her smile when I brought Nemo home and put him in the tank.

MANY thousands of dollars later, I'm STILL setting up new tanks, coming up with new schemes, and still spending LOTS of money. Now I'm hooked because I've learned to genuinely care about these wonderful animals and I would like to provide them the best home that I can. The ocean isn't going to be safe for them much longer...

cioutlaw · 03-10-2008, 12:32 AM

My mother got me my first tank when I was 4-5yo it was one of them stainless framed, slate bottom tanks. Kept guppies & Mollies & such.
We had a An LFS in our neighborhood growing up, people there were kid friendly & it was kinda the kid hangout. At 12 or 13 they gave me a job mostly cleaning animal cages, feeding & cleaning fish tanks & I later started working the sales floor. I spent pretty much my entire earnings ($3 per hr.)in the store. I had fw tanks & when I was about 16-17 I had a 30G salt tank. Our family vacationed in the Keys of Florida a couple times per year & did a lot of snorling & diving so im sure that had some to do with it to. Over the next 25+ years I have had salt tanks off & on. A couple years ago I set up another tank & decided to do a reef. I have to admit keeping salt fish & reefs is much easier now with the internet & all the great equipment.

burning2nd · 04-05-2008, 08:34 PM

I always use to love the aquarium as a kid.....

one day a few years ago.. i saw in a aquarium in mertil Beach..

I snaped... came home and did it.

rmlevasseur · 04-05-2008, 11:10 PM

Don Knotts made me do it.

The Incredible Mr. Limpet. My favorite movie when I was a kid (I'm 41)

JonP · 04-06-2008, 10:51 PM

I remember getting a 10 gallon when I was younger that housed a few mollies. Few months later, A LOT of little mollies filled the tank. We got rid of the tank and was tankless for about 10 years. During those 10 years, my uncle had a FOWLR setup and I remember looking for what seem like forever finding something new every so often. Few months ago, I decided I wanted a tank but thought SW would be too difficult, so I bought a 29g from a guy off craigslist. Filled it with a few Danios and before I knew it, bought a 10g setup. Had both of those for about 2-3 months and needed to go bigger. Found a great deal on a 90g drilled tank (didn't know what drilled meant at the time) that he setup as a FW planted tank. The original plan for the tank was to take out the plants (never really interest me) and turn it into a "poor man's salt" (Cichlid tank). After talking to people, they talked me into setting up a SW tank. So here I am researching and slowly setting up a 90g SW tank.

Jen · 04-07-2008, 10:02 AM

I've had fun reading everyone's experiences, so, I'll add mine.
I admired SW tanks for years.

My son had a little FW tank with mollies and guppies...I ended up caring for it, of course. In early '07 I injured my foot VERY badly

and have spent a lot of time off my feet since then.

So, I started to do LOTS of research

and got a 24-gallon nano last summer for an early birthday present (I think my husband just felt so sorry for me, and we both thought it would help me deal with so much time...sitting.

). The nano was VERY frustrating for me,

as it required so many water changes and I couldn't keep much alive. (The whole setup, sand, rock, inhabitants, etc. was a year old...I think something was wrong with it?

) For Christmas my husband, sister and mother (

's )got me my beautiful 120-gallon--set up is exactly what I wanted.

So, it's not frustrating now! It sits in the Family Room, which I love, so it is easy to watch. Not only is it a fascinating hobby, which keeps my mind active and learning, but it really centers me and keeps me in the present...in a strange way, it's kind of a part of my spiritual growth.

My kids think I'm crazy for fish now, my husband didn't know there would be so much $ spent after that huge initial investment

, and I'm just having lots of fun!

KimPossible · 04-07-2008, 10:40 AM

This is a great thread. I'll add my journey.

I have always been drawn to fish tanks since I was very young; they mesmerized me, calmed me. When I went to college I got my first tank. A freshwater bowl that was suspended in the air by cables and drilled on the side for an air tube. I kept coli loaches a molly and a couple fresh plants in this tank for 5 yrs. I graduated to a 20gal planted tank with guramis and of course coli loachs.....I love those little guys. The guramis were growing and growing, so one Christmas I asked for a larger tank. My husband built me a stand and bought me a 55; but, when I started to get ready for the transfer he was very insistent that I consider a saltwater tank. I started researching and finally said yes. The tank sat empty for 1 year while I studied, I cycled my tank for 3 months before adding any livestock. I recently graduated again to a 120. I still sit and stare into my tank and it still calms and mesmerizes me.

grinch · 04-07-2008, 12:03 PM

Another similarly inspired story, I went snorkeling off Kihei beach in Hawaii. That did it. I wanted the same beauty, relaxation, and inner peace that this experience provided. Got some beauty, no inner peace (still looking lol) and started with FO now reefer madness I say, madness!!!!!

burning2nd · 04-07-2008, 05:23 PM

woot! im on the journey

my other half see's as well

Kayla · 05-04-2008, 08:37 PM

I bought a 29g from a friend who had moved and had no room to set it back up....then turned my 10g FW into a QT......then bought a 55g......afraid this is the first sign of the snowball effect. I may need a second job.

pdamhuis67 · 05-04-2008, 08:42 PM

I got started because my wife, Kayla, bought a 29g AND a 55g from our friends

See post above

vdituri · 05-04-2008, 08:43 PM

Nice!
We don't get alot of husband wife posters on here.
Glad you're in it together.

Kayla · 05-04-2008, 08:46 PM

If not together someone is gonna hafta explain where the money went!!!!!

pdamhuis67 · 05-04-2008, 08:48 PM

So far it already costed me a few paychecks...and my 55g ain't even started....yes she gave the 55g to me.

Right now it has some colored substrate and a resin fake rock in it, so it won't be an empty glass box in the living room

Witfull · 05-06-2008, 01:34 PM

dude,,,,save this for the future,,,,for once IT IS HER FAULT!

03-09-2008, 11:22 PM	#46 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? One of my friends at work said "I'm going to start a SW tank this weeked". Well, I thought about it, read a few things about them, and thought it would be a pretty cool way to burn a few spare hours. Besides, I have a 6 year old daughter and I would LOVE to see her smile when I brought Nemo home and put him in the tank. MANY thousands of dollars later, I'm STILL setting up new tanks, coming up with new schemes, and still spending LOTS of money. Now I'm hooked because I've learned to genuinely care about these wonderful animals and I would like to provide them the best home that I can. The ocean isn't going to be safe for them much longer... __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-10-2008, 12:32 AM	#47 (permalink)
cioutlaw Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Champaign Illinois Posts: 953 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? My mother got me my first tank when I was 4-5yo it was one of them stainless framed, slate bottom tanks. Kept guppies & Mollies & such. We had a An LFS in our neighborhood growing up, people there were kid friendly & it was kinda the kid hangout. At 12 or 13 they gave me a job mostly cleaning animal cages, feeding & cleaning fish tanks & I later started working the sales floor. I spent pretty much my entire earnings ($3 per hr.)in the store. I had fw tanks & when I was about 16-17 I had a 30G salt tank. Our family vacationed in the Keys of Florida a couple times per year & did a lot of snorling & diving so im sure that had some to do with it to. Over the next 25+ years I have had salt tanks off & on. A couple years ago I set up another tank & decided to do a reef. I have to admit keeping salt fish & reefs is much easier now with the internet & all the great equipment. __________________ My 120gallon chronical My 225 gallon chronical My website

04-05-2008, 08:34 PM	#48 (permalink)
burning2nd Acropora Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pocono PA Posts: 1,981 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? I always use to love the aquarium as a kid..... one day a few years ago.. i saw in a aquarium in mertil Beach.. I snaped... came home and did it. __________________ ________________________________________________ 30g, 10g DIY sump w/ mag7 Csr90 over flow. 36" sunpod 2x150 2 Tunze 6020 40 Lb's Live Rock 20 lb's of Ls Aqua C REmora mIxed reef, softies, pora's, clams, 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (hosting GTA) 2 cromies and one dragon jake the jedi sexy shrimp, and brown bob

04-05-2008, 11:10 PM	#49 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 984 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? Don Knotts made me do it. The Incredible Mr. Limpet. My favorite movie when I was a kid (I'm 41) __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

04-06-2008, 10:51 PM	#50 (permalink)
JonP Tubeworm Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 26 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? I remember getting a 10 gallon when I was younger that housed a few mollies. Few months later, A LOT of little mollies filled the tank. We got rid of the tank and was tankless for about 10 years. During those 10 years, my uncle had a FOWLR setup and I remember looking for what seem like forever finding something new every so often. Few months ago, I decided I wanted a tank but thought SW would be too difficult, so I bought a 29g from a guy off craigslist. Filled it with a few Danios and before I knew it, bought a 10g setup. Had both of those for about 2-3 months and needed to go bigger. Found a great deal on a 90g drilled tank (didn't know what drilled meant at the time) that he setup as a FW planted tank. The original plan for the tank was to take out the plants (never really interest me) and turn it into a "poor man's salt" (Cichlid tank). After talking to people, they talked me into setting up a SW tank. So here I am researching and slowly setting up a 90g SW tank.

04-07-2008, 10:02 AM	#51 (permalink)
Jen Midas Blenny Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 114 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? I've had fun reading everyone's experiences, so, I'll add mine. I admired SW tanks for years. My son had a little FW tank with mollies and guppies...I ended up caring for it, of course. In early '07 I injured my foot VERY badly and have spent a lot of time off my feet since then. So, I started to do LOTS of research and got a 24-gallon nano last summer for an early birthday present (I think my husband just felt so sorry for me, and we both thought it would help me deal with so much time...sitting. ). The nano was VERY frustrating for me, as it required so many water changes and I couldn't keep much alive. (The whole setup, sand, rock, inhabitants, etc. was a year old...I think something was wrong with it? ) For Christmas my husband, sister and mother ( 's )got me my beautiful 120-gallon--set up is exactly what I wanted. So, it's not frustrating now! It sits in the Family Room, which I love, so it is easy to watch. Not only is it a fascinating hobby, which keeps my mind active and learning, but it really centers me and keeps me in the present...in a strange way, it's kind of a part of my spiritual growth. My kids think I'm crazy for fish now, my husband didn't know there would be so much $ spent after that huge initial investment , and I'm just having lots of fun! __________________ Jen

04-07-2008, 10:40 AM	#52 (permalink)
KimPossible Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 2,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? This is a great thread. I'll add my journey. I have always been drawn to fish tanks since I was very young; they mesmerized me, calmed me. When I went to college I got my first tank. A freshwater bowl that was suspended in the air by cables and drilled on the side for an air tube. I kept coli loaches a molly and a couple fresh plants in this tank for 5 yrs. I graduated to a 20gal planted tank with guramis and of course coli loachs.....I love those little guys. The guramis were growing and growing, so one Christmas I asked for a larger tank. My husband built me a stand and bought me a 55; but, when I started to get ready for the transfer he was very insistent that I consider a saltwater tank. I started researching and finally said yes. The tank sat empty for 1 year while I studied, I cycled my tank for 3 months before adding any livestock. I recently graduated again to a 120. I still sit and stare into my tank and it still calms and mesmerizes me. __________________ Kim ~My environment is a product of myself~

04-07-2008, 12:03 PM	#53 (permalink)
grinch Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Providence RI Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? Another similarly inspired story, I went snorkeling off Kihei beach in Hawaii. That did it. I wanted the same beauty, relaxation, and inner peace that this experience provided. Got some beauty, no inner peace (still looking lol) and started with FO now reefer madness I say, madness!!!!! __________________ PAIN IS INEVITABLE, SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL

04-07-2008, 05:23 PM	#54 (permalink)
burning2nd Acropora Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pocono PA Posts: 1,981 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? woot! im on the journey my other half see's as well __________________ ________________________________________________ 30g, 10g DIY sump w/ mag7 Csr90 over flow. 36" sunpod 2x150 2 Tunze 6020 40 Lb's Live Rock 20 lb's of Ls Aqua C REmora mIxed reef, softies, pora's, clams, 1 Amphiprion ocellaris (hosting GTA) 2 cromies and one dragon jake the jedi sexy shrimp, and brown bob

05-04-2008, 08:37 PM	#55 (permalink)
Kayla Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Location: oklahoma Posts: 9 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? I bought a 29g from a friend who had moved and had no room to set it back up....then turned my 10g FW into a QT......then bought a 55g......afraid this is the first sign of the snowball effect. I may need a second job.

05-04-2008, 08:42 PM	#56 (permalink)
pdamhuis67 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 15 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? I got started because my wife, Kayla, bought a 29g AND a 55g from our friends See post above

05-04-2008, 08:43 PM	#57 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,728 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? Nice! We don't get alot of husband wife posters on here. Glad you're in it together. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

05-04-2008, 08:46 PM	#58 (permalink)
Kayla Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Location: oklahoma Posts: 9 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: why? If not together someone is gonna hafta explain where the money went!!!!!

05-04-2008, 08:48 PM	#59 (permalink)
pdamhuis67 Tunicate Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 15 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: why? So far it already costed me a few paychecks...and my 55g ain't even started....yes she gave the 55g to me. Right now it has some colored substrate and a resin fake rock in it, so it won't be an empty glass box in the living room

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