How long have you been keeping Saltwater aquariums?

[Europhyllia]

I'm interested in knowing the amount of experience we have as a group towards keeping Saltwater Aquariums.

I've been keeping reef aquariums for over ten years but to be honest I probably learned more in the last year than I have in the 5 years prior to that. Things have changed quite a bit in the last decade and I just didn't keep up with new technology/developments.
I guess my point is:
some things are learned by experiencing it and years of hands on experience matter with that
but there's also a 'continued education/study' aspect to it where time involved in the hobby is less of an indicator of knowledge.

[msmith619]

I probably learned more in the last year than I have in the 5 years prior to that. Things have changed quite a bit in the last decade and I just didn't keep up with new technology/developments.

So true.
When I started in 1975(ish), as I stated earlier, undergravel filters where the best and we used dolamite substrate and bleached coral to get the proper pH in the water. Now we have MH lights, refugiums, wet/dry filters, protein skimmers, calcium reactors, chillers, CO2 controllers, ozonizers, UV sterilizers, and digital monitoring of everything.
I still believe simpler is better. I do a wet/dry filter on 1 tank and a refugium on the other. I have protein skimmers but they only collect during the first 6 months of the tank's life then the 'natural filtration of the live rock, live sand, and 'reef' take over. Now my skimmers only get stuff if an animal dies in a corner undetected, that is my clue to look around. Rather than calcium reactors, etc, I change 10-15% of the water every week to replace trace minerals and remove waste matter. Less technology has worked well for me. Sometimes we get bogged down in the expensive bells and whistles.
I think attention to keeping the water clean with frequent water changes, adequate lighting, and adequate circulation are the keys. Mother nature takes care of the rest once we get the live rock, live sand, refugiums, and reef started.

[Mr Cob]

I've been keeping reef aquariums for over ten years but to be honest I probably learned more in the last year than I have in the 5 years prior to that. Things have changed quite a bit in the last decade and I just didn't keep up with new technology/developments.
I guess my point is:
some things are learned by experiencing it and years of hands on experience matter with that
but there's also a 'continued education/study' aspect to it where time involved in the hobby is less of an indicator of knowledge.

That's called Wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience.

I would argue that the wise...those with more experience... would likely have a more successful tank versus the book worm from the last year.

But I see your point and can agree that there needs to be a "continued study". But isn't that true with any hobby!?!

[4fun]

about 40 days now

[Europhyllia]

I would argue that the wise...those with more experience... would likely have a more successful tank versus the book worm from the last year.

Probably. Plus it takes that long to learn (sometimes the hard way) that the less you mess with it the better. ;)
Like Smith said: it's dazzling to see all the gadgets, potions and options and easy to fall prey to thinking you need all that.
I do like my T5 fixture though...

[fishcraze]

8 yrs now and still going..

[Mr Cob]

Ok...I added up some numbers.

In keeping saltwater aquariums we have a total combined experience of 515.5 years + or - 10.

[recoiljpr]

Less technology has worked well for me. Sometimes we get bogged down in the expensive bells and whistles.
I think attention to keeping the water clean with frequent water changes, adequate lighting, and adequate circulation are the keys. Mother nature takes care of the rest once we get the live rock, live sand, refugiums, and reef started.

Yes, KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is a good cornerstone to operate on. I am 100% on the frequent water changes bandwagon. We only test for so few chemicals, we have no idea what other garbage is floating around in our systems. Protein skimming, Carbon, filtering, etc will only take out so much. Nothing much is better then taking out the water itself, and replacing it with fresh and clean water.

One of these days when I have the time and budget, I am going to put a automated water changer on my system. Oh if only money and time grew on trees. I know that goes against KISS, but in this case, i'll make an exception. :-)

[vman181]

For me its been off and on for about 7 years. Off only because of deployments.

[ErikH]

I enjoy the challenge and ease of reefkeeping. I have different tanks with different principles involved and each one is unique....... OK OK OK..... Really it just provides me with something to do when my wife says it's time to clean.