Are you experienced?

[MikeDeL]

I was just wondering how long everyone has been in the hobby?

[brewercm]

It's funny to think about all the changes to the hobby since I first got into it in the late 80's. Back then you were really advanced if you were using powerheads with you undergravel filter instead of an air pump. There have been so many advances in this hobby that it's amaizing to think we were able to keep animals alive back then. Actually the new equipment and advances just make it easier and give a larger margin for error, just like most advances in all things nowdays.

[Brett Wilson]

I've been keeping a reef tank for over 3 years now. I still have some of my first corals :)

[GaryP]

I think a better measure of your experience level is to add up canceled checks to LFS.

Let's see, if I did that I would just scare myself out of the hobby. I could have bought that Maserati by now.

Gary

[NaCl_H2O]

... It's funny to think about all the changes to the hobby since I first got into it in the late 80's. Back then you were really advanced if you were using powerheads with you undergravel filter instead of an air pump. ... it's amaizing to think we were able to keep animals alive back then.

I didn't do so good in keeping them alive with my undergravel and two state-of-the-art "Powerheads" - the hobby has definately come a long way!

I'm only about 1.5 years back into the hobby, I gave up back in the good old days cuz I couldn't afford the turn over of my livestock. It is a much more pleasurable hobby these days with the advanced filtration techniques :grin:

[::pete::]

It is a much more pleasurable hobby these days with the advanced filtration techniques

Advanced ... :? It seems that LR, LS and algae have been around for quite some time :shock: :D

[btacker]

All I know is that I have been in this hobbie for 4 months, and I am already upgrading.

Just spend the cash and buy big right out of the gate. :)

[cvonseggern]

My dad tried to talk us out of saltwater last year when he found out Deb and I were contemplating it. He had a couple of smallish SW tanks back in the 80s and I have some pretty vivid memories of him doing 80% or so water changes on a regular basis, vacuuming artificial gravel, and scrubbing coral skeletons. I think he's going to flip his lid when he comes to visit and sees our 100g full of LR and softies :P

[NaCl_H2O]

Advanced ... :? It seems that LR, LS and algae have been around for quite some time :shock: :D

When I setup my first SW tank (Early 80s) LR & LS were not part of the retail hobby (That I knew of), and it definately wasn't for sale at LFSs! I think the only protien skimmer I saw was on a commercial system!

Maybe "Advanced Filtraton" was a poor choice of words, maybe I meant "Functional Filtration" ;)