Poll: So is 60 too old to get back in the hobby?

[BAMABUFF]

So at 60 years young I decided to get back into the hobby after being out for 28 years.
I did think maybe I was too old but 60 is the new 40, right????????
I purchased a used 60 gallon cube and stand off craigslist. I made a mounting board to hold all my electrical on the back. Because of the door on the stand I made a sliding platform to pull my 20 gallon sump out so I can service it.
My wife is thrilled (if you believe me I have some swamp land to sell) at all the boxes I've received of aquarium products. In fact the UPS and Fed Ex drivers and I are on a first name basis now!
I just hope she never sells it for what I told her I have in it because she is going to lose a ton!
Anyway, I would like to hear how many of you guys are in your 60's or 70's and are still enjoying the hobby.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R! I'm not old yet, i'm about 6 months away from being half of 60, but you know what they say "you're as young as you feel"
There was actually a poll a while back asking reefers at what age do you think you'll stop reefing, and the general consensus was until they're physically unable to. #WelcometoR2R

 

[NY_Caveman]

I voted 50-60, but I am just shy at 48. I just returned to reefing after many years of freshwater only. I talked long with my wife and spent a long time planning and we have just set up a fairly simple and manageable 45 gallon reef. My feeling was, I was getting older and if I wanted to have a another reef tank in my life, now was the best time. I can say I could not be happier.

I think if one is healthy enough to carry a 5 gallon bucket of water around, they should be fine. Since you mentioned your wife, I will say I have given mine a plan should anything happen to me in the future (as in what LFS would be best to take it down).

EDIT: And welcome to R2R!

 

[saltyhog]

62 here, didn't even start till I was 56. I asked the same question about diving.....then I noticed on one dive in Belize my wife and I were the youngest people on the boat!

 

[seastar]

I think it's an excellent hobby for ANY age provided you're willing to read, read and read some more! Also, do yourself a favor and work on getting a system build to bring water to/from the tank rather and your arms and legs, so sayith the man going on 40.

 

[Jason mack]

Welcome to R2R, your never too old for this hobby thats for sure !!! Happy Reefing

 

[locktite]

I'm 70 years old and got back into the hobby a little over 2 years ago after having been out for over 10 years. I previously ran 2 reef tanks from about 1990 until the early 2000s. Even though I no longer had tanks I still had interest and periodically kept up what was happening in the hobby. In 2016 I decided on buying a AIO tank after a lot of decision and indecision. I settled on a RSM E-170 and felt at this point in my life I wanted to keep things as simple as I could. I have found this go around to be much more rewarding than my previous experience with maintaining reef tanks and am glad that I decided to give it another go.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Welcome to R2R!! I voted the 50 - 60 range as well. The poll is a great reminder of how old I'm getting to be as if my wife's daily reminders wasn't enough.....thanks!!! Haha.

 

[Dennis McGrath]

I just started back in the hobby a few months ago at 56, so I'm not too far behind you.

 

[WVNed]

57
I have kept fish since 1982. Freshwater until 2006 when my 55 gallon lost the front seal and dumped everything in the floor.
Started salt with a Nanocube in 2007.
3 weeks into a new 75 gallon tank.

I think my 30 gallon cube would look nice with a nem and some clowns.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Welcome to R2R

 

[cracker]

Come on in the water feels great ! Old Timer I can get away with that cause I'm close to 58 !
In all seriousness, why not Man? You deserve it! I for one would be interested in how you did things back then compared to what I was doing. A lot has changed in 30 years !

 

[mta_morrow]

I got my feet wet at 53. I’m 57 now and my best years are still ahead of me!

 

[jimk60]

I bought my first tank in 1972 with money I made delivering news papers. Went saltwater in 1984 and reef in 2010. Ill never admit I'm too old! I'm 58.

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to Reef2Reef ! ! ! 52 here

Welcome to R2R

I see @Lovemyreef2015 left off her age

 

[Ksmmike]

I had fresh water fish tanks as a kid and then again in my 20's. Last year I had heart surgery and while recuperating I walked on the beach one morning and o whim was setting up a 30 gallon biocube in the afternoon. After reading tons on this site and watching many videos on youtube, I now have 3 tanks. The biocube with 4 fish and easy to grow corals, a 120 gallon reef tank with harder to grow corals and 5 fish for now. I plan to add up to 5 more fish in the future. I also have a small QT tank. I did this starting at age 59 and now 60. I make my own water, do all my own water changes (weekly), constantly look for coral to buy (even made a trip to World Wide Corals which is a 3 hour drive for me each way) and love the hobby. It's been a bumpy ride at times
but it's given me a ton of happiness and far less time to get into trouble elsewhere.
Mike

 

[Mark Gray]

Welcome have fun I am almost the same age well I am younger

 

[Mark Gray]

Oh and your right 60 is the new 40 just licke a 100$ is the new 5$

 

[vetteguy53081]

We don't grow old being fools.....all the better LOL. This is not an aged factored but rather an addiction.
Knowledge is power in this industry and age affords more time to spend on Success !!

 

[oldfishman]

I am 74 and have had tanks on and off since I was 11. I had salt back in the 70 and 80’s. So your not to old but things have changed so IMHO it is like starting all over with lots to learn