Were you in the freshwater hobby before reefing? If so, for how long before getting your first reef tank?

[Tinnerito]

I felt like asking a grins and giggles question for those who'd like to share. The title is the question, and I can't wait to hear the replies!! I've been keeping freshwater for 8 years since I was 7 years old, when I raised my first aquarium by myself, and still am doing freshwater to this day. Only started reefing February.

 

[Fritz05]

I got my first freshwater tank when I was 9, and set up my first saltwater tank at 49! So the answer is 40 years…

 

[Cichlid Dad]

30 years fresh water, 3 years Salt.

 

[Red_Beard]

Freshwater 10 years, saltwater 6 years.

 

[Minifoot77]

I was in a cichlid club called capitalcichlids.org and got into breeding cichlids and catfish. Even tied for 3rd place in aca bap. (American cichlid association breeders awards program) oh and 28 tanks in a third floor 3 bedroom apartment... over 1k of freestanding water and a tank in every room and closet minus the bathroom

 

[kdx7214]

I kept african cichlids for 5 years or so before discovering saltwater. The LFS at the time got their first clownfish and kept it in a little 5 gallon tank on the counter. It was their first experiment with saltwater.

 

[Wild1]

I kept Cichlids for years when i lived in NY, once i moved to Florida, I started with a 45 gallon reef tank, then a 55, a 75, then a 90, which I currently have, probably the last tank i will ever own, unless i hit the lottery......lol

 

[RedReefer]

20 years fresh. 15 years salt.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I jumped straight into reefing

 

[Bruttall]

Oh Yeah, even have a picture of when my 300g was a Cichlid Tank with custom built background in it. All together been keeping fish, Off and On since I was 4 years old, I am currently 56 (Ya, I'm old!), started with my Dad and a 40g breeder with tropical community fish.

The background I made out of Pink house sheathing foam insultation, and vinyl lock Quick Crete concrete with Dye added to giver the brown and black coloration.

 

[RickSanford]

Fresh water for 3 years, saltwater fish-only for 18 months. First reef tank wasn’t for another ~30 years.

 

[edsbeaker]

I started with saltwater in the 80’s, but have gone back and forth over the years. I’m a Master Gardener, so have done several Hi tech planted tanks for the challenge of “landscaping” on a smaller scale than my backyard. For me, freshwater just doesn’t do it for me for long. I love me a beautiful reef tank!

 

[taricha]

Had a pet newt for years (taricha granulosa). When that one died, I bought a $10 "freshwater" puffer fish at walmart (!)
I later learned it actually needed brackish and my planted tank wouldn't survive brackish, but the puffer could live in full salt - so went to full reef.

 

[EuphyllinOHk]

I was born into a ciclid tank, and initiated into the cult when my dad took me to the LFS to buy a pleco (Larry). Eventually, I got my own livebearer tank and had endless swordtails. Broke that down maybe 20 years ago and now I have a nice planted tank.

I've been waiting to do a saltwater tank all my life and now I got a quaint setup I'm pulling together in year 31!

 

[jcmjoe]

Freshwater when I was 12, planted, live bearer and cichlids till I was about 30, then switched to saltwater fish till 40 until my buddy gave me a Kenya tree to try, now im hooked on reefs and I’m 50! Haha

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Freshwater off and on for about 40 years, My first reef tank was in 1990 to 1991. The reef tank was a total failure due to lighting, the fish were fine though. I Just recently shut down my freshwater operation middle of last year, gifted a few tanks and fish to friends and family who desired one. Started up the reef tank I have now this year.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Started with a 2.5 gallon tank with a single betta, then my sister was getting rid of her 36 gallon bowfront tank, took that and did mollys, guppies and platys. after that jumped into my 40 gallon breeder reef. I've been in and out of freshwater tanks since I was a kid. From the 2.5 gallon to the 40 breeder was probably 2ish years I'd say.

 

[vlangel]

I had a 10 gallon freshwater tank in HS and college but got into it more earnestly when I got married in 1981. We bought what seemed like a biggish tank (40 gallon XH) back then in 1986 after we moved to our forever house. It was a built in the wall tank. It was freshwater until about 1998 or so when I converted it to salt. I added a few low light coral fairly soon after that. One was a cabbage leather that I still have. I have upgraded and downgraded my reefs since and currently have a 56 gallon column reef. So freshwater 20 years and reef over 25 years.

 

[Fishy Guy]

I’ve had freshwater tanks off and on since I was 5. Got into high-tech planted tanks for about 3 years before coming over to the salty side.

 

[Doctorgori]

Started fw in 67’…saltwater in 77, reef tanks in 87