[RyanG]

So I am asking you all, why do you think this hobby is so addicting? And why are you addicted?

[BIGDREWLEWIS]

i am really new to this hobby i have had my tank set up for about a year and i had a friend stay over for a week when i took him to the airport this morning he tells me " I think i spent more time looking at your tank than sleep its kinda crazy" i felt like my addiction was worth it at that point...

[Krazy]

Its a rewarding hobby, I get great pleasure (not in that way) out of my fish tank, When I got into the hobby a couple years back, My girlfriend and I were so excitied about our 37 gallon tank, we rushed and rushed, live rock, fish, coralife pc light, we thought we had the best tank ever, then we went to a 72 bow, OMG we were in heaven, bigger tank, more rock, more fish, a better light. Then came the current 90 gallon, We had done it right this time, reef-ready, a sump, metal halides, But as you all know, it just wasnt enough, Now I've got a 180 in the works and my addication grows yet still as I wonder will this tank be big enough...

I loved marine fish ever since I was a little kid, it caught my eyes, I love tangs the most in question and soft bushy corals. I love watching juvy fish grow large and the same with corals, its an amazing thing we've been given to be able to have these creatures in our homes, I dunno, I just LOVE IT !~!!

[dfurbee]

Ryan, I do not know why this hobby is so addicting, wish I did. My husband thinks all I do is look at my fish most of the day Having lived by the ocean and in Hawaii, and scuba diving almost everyday, while living there, I believe that the ocean and all of the creatures of the ocean have my heart I love my fish tank and all of the inhabitants.

[glampka]

Fish always fascinated me. It started with watching Jacques Cousteau. Got a fresh water tank when I was in 4th or 5th grade - remember the old chrome frame tanks? One day walked into a lfs that had salt water fish, from that point on that's all I wanted to keep. Besides it gives me something to out spend my wife on! Of course now she's hooked & I had to set up a cube in her office @ work!

[pyromaniac398]

For me it's just the fact that having a saltwater tank is like me going to the ocean and cutting out a little cube and putting it in my bedroom. It's like have your own (and I know this sounds dumb) little planet in your living room that you can watch whenever you want. You get to watch your tank and it's inhabitants grow and flourish. To me thats worth spending all the time and money in the world on

[lynnvangsnes]

How do we know why? We just know that we are! I cannot walk by my tank without stopping for at least 5 minutes and seeing what has changed since the last "walk-by". I don't know why. Then there's the 15 minute inspection when I get home in the evening to see what has transpired during the day. I think it may be because of the constant changing of the little ecosystem...does that make sense?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I got into when I was single and had a really cool apartment.When I found out chicks really dug aquariums I went out and bought the bjggest tank I could get up the steps lol.I have a tank of some sort ever since.

[e_baer]

lol, my reason isnt quite the same as natives.

I started with wanting a beta fish. and then a 10g FW tank. thne 3 10g FW tanks. then a 25g FW tank and 3 10g FW tanks. then a 30g and a 25g FW. then a 55g reef. then a 55reef and a 30g lion. and that is where i stand today. all this happened over the past 4 years.

[Tonz of fun]

I would like to say I have 0 interest in FW fish. I love the colors. The mini ecosystem we recreat. I also love that when we have guests over at the house they make a B-line right for the tank and ask millions of questions. They seem more into it then myself. I feel accomplished when they say, "wow thats amazing". When we have kids over there eyes light up, they love the fish. There is so much going on and so much to see. I also love problem solving. I feel like its a challange trying to figure things out and the feeling of accomplishment when successful is awesome.

[e_baer]

speeking of people saying stuff about the tank, a few months ago we had a bunch of neighbors over our house, and my one neighbor is chinese, and he went to my tank and said "ar those cucumbers" (talking about the sea cukes). so i responded yeah, they are sea cucumbers, then he said ooooo....mmmmmmmmmm!!!! they are tastey. So i looke it up, and in china they are delicacies to eat!!!!

[Tonz of fun]

lol Now thats funny stuff.

[thelastmucci]

For me it's becoming a growing passion day by day. I still don't even have a drop of salt water in my house but just the investigating, the research, looking at others tanks and learning. I love animals in general and one day hope to become a Vet Tech. Until then I would love to have all different types of life in my house. I even love plants if that makes any sense (although out of fear for my cat I don't have any) I just feel there is a strong connection with living things.

[Horis.the.spider]

Im addicted to my skimmer, sometimes I just sit and look at the bubbles

[ncdiablo]

As others have said. We live on the top side of the world. While we can't go into space and see another environment. We can go the underside of the world, dive in, and bring some back to the top side of the world and watch it without fear of sufforcating. I watch it and get addicted by seeing all the different lifeforms in this small little world that I have brought to the topside. I enjoy the intimate aspect and the chain of life.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by Horis.the.spider

Im addicted to my skimmer, sometimes I just sit and look at the bubbles

Hey everybody keep your eye on this guy! He has real potential!

Great thread Ryan!

[Terrjenn]

It's a great get-away for me. I can go and gaze into the little world of my tank, (well, it's been just live rock until this evening, I got my first fish- but I'll tell you about him later) and forget about the real world for awhile. It's so amazing, like a little planet of your very own! It is a responsibility though, which I think also keeps us addicted. We have to make sure our "planet" is doing well and our beings are happy!

[Horis.the.spider]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Hey everybody keep your eye on this guy! He has real potential!

Great thread Ryan!

Thanks! theres enough people in my skimmer watching now

[jimw369]

First, I am addicted to this world of saltwater and for so many reasons. I guess its fascination, a sense of wonder or curiosity I suppose. How the ocean works, WOW!

This addiction also requires something of a person, patience, a strong work ethic, a willingness to self educate, understanding mistakes are inevetable and learn from them and of course we could come up with many more.

These, along with some others, are all things that determine a persons character.

These amazing creatures we LITTERALLY get to hold in our hands. Some day Im afraid this priviledge will not come so easily.

Whats NOT to get addicted to?

[msbdiving]

I think my feelings would echo tonz the most. I had a fw tank when I was a kid and have always loved the water. I miss not scuba diving as much as I used to and this sort of gives me an escape from my stresses and another world to look into.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by Horis.the.spider

Im addicted to my skimmer, sometimes I just sit and look at the bubbles

Comment of the year award goes to this guy...rotflmoa

[cappy290]

This hobby is great there is nothing better than watching your fish grow and the coral grow as well. I got hooked right from the start with testing for everything making sure I was doing my part to keep a safe tank for the little guys swimming around in it. I cant stop going to the lfs just to see the new stock they got in, dont know really why I love it but its such i good feeling to admire the hard work that goes into the tank.

[walkerj14]

been doing this for only 9 months,,, and i can only echo the comments above,, its the fascination of building your own little reef,,, of learning the creatures and what they need,,, of seeing success,,,, it also plays to the part of my brain that likes exactness, of keeping the water quality just so....

i can understand how one can build bigger and bigger enviroments.... having a 90 g... my next step is scuba diving certification and having developing 210 gallon tank.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Horis.the.spider

Im addicted to my skimmer, sometimes I just sit and look at the bubbles

ever seen finding nemo? there was that shrimp (i think?) that would always go after ther bubbles.

[pyromaniac398]

It was the yellow tang