I'd wanted to get a marine (preferably a reef) aquarium for many years now pretty much since I was a kid (I am now in my thirties.) The last time I had fish was about 7-8 years ago. It was a fresh water 10 gallon tank with guppies, one or two crawfish and also tiny fresh water snails. The guppies being live-bearers gave birth several times and a few of the fry survived almost to adulthood. The rest of the fry became snacks for the crawfish or even for their own parents. Yes, it is a cruel world out there, indeed.
It all ended the way it usually does. Eventually I lost interest and busy with work, other pastimes and life in general, I neglected the tank. At the end, the water level had dropped to half the normal level, since I was rarely adding new water and I had stopped doing partial water changes. The remaining water was green and foggy, full of free-flowing micro algae and I'm sure nitrates. One guppy, a female, had survived until the end and when I finally decided to call it quits I donated it (her) to a local fish store. I remember the owner of the fish store, a lady in her fifties or early sixties asking me, "How do you see your fish in this water ?", in an angry tone as I handed her a container full of swampy water with my last and hardiest guppy in it, and I still remember how embarrassed it made me feel even though I'm sure I gave her some smart answer at the time.
A friend of mine, let's call him "Joe", who has been in the reef tank hobby for probably 20 years now, has several large 150-200 gallon tanks in his basement. I have been admiring his tanks every time I visit his house for quite a few years now. Joe had noticed my affinity for marine life and had been encouraging me to get my own tank for a while.
I have been reluctant for several reasons. Naturally, I was worried that it will be just a passing thing and the guppy story will repeat itself eventually. And with good reason. I have over the years been very passionate about different things only to lose interest in a few months and abandon the appropriate equipment in some dusty corner of the garage or the basement. Free time is another concern as I sometimes work 7 days a week and certainly don't have time for any additional responsibilities. And probably the major reason for my hesitation is the high cost of the marine aquarium hobby. Compare the couple of dollars price of guppies versus the twenty dollar price where most marine fishes start. Also there is the more expensive tanks and equipment involved with the salt water hobby. Loosing guppies may be disappointing and even emotional but loosing marine fish is also just plain flushing serious money down the toilet. (And yes, I do flush dead fish down the toilet. Any better practices out there ? Please let me know.)
I always enjoy going to fish stores and watching the fish and the corals. I'd imagine in my head my tank I would create "one day" and all the animals that will inhabit my little undersea Eden. I love visiting public aquariums too.
Years ago I bought a copy of Michael Paletta's Ultimate Marine Aquariums, a glossy large size book with beautiful photographs of the best private marine tanks in the U.S. Once or twice I year I would pick it up and be absorbed in the descriptions of the living indoor reefs and the different systems that keep it all alive and functioning. I would become obsessed and come very close to getting my own tank. Then the voice of reason would prevail and I would will myself to not "make this mistake."
