I started keeping fish when I was 7. It was a simple goldfish bowl. I got my first real tank when I was 9. When I was in high school I was in an advanced biology class and was lucky enough to have several tanks under my care at the school. I also had several (I think 12) tanks at my girl friends house where I spawned several different cichlids and live bearers. Her mother must have really liked me. Of course my wife and I have now been married for 29+ years so maybe it worked out for everyone involved.
I started keeping discus sometime back in the 90’s. I was raising them by 2000. I became fairly well known on the forums by 2001. I have a tendency to call them as I see them. During the early days I managed to get in a few heated arguments with folks but I am much better now….LOL.
I was a founding member in NADA. I have had the privilege to serve in several positions for the club. I guess you can say I got in on the ground floor. Of course when we were trying to pull off the very first NADA show I am sure that Jerry, Jim, and I were all thinking that maybe we should have let someone else do this thing. I am currently the show chair and I am in charge of the judging (both the show judging and the training of new judges). I know that gong to a NADA show requires a pretty large commitment of time and money but you get 10 times as much back as you put in. Being able to sit around and talk fish with other nuts like myself is worth a million.
I did have a fully functioning fish house. It houses 24 75 gallon tanks plus a few odds and ends. Above the tanks I have 7 330 gallon water storage tanks. I can siphon and change water in all of the tanks in a little over an hour. At one time I use to try to have every strain that I thought people would want but now I just play with the stuff that I enjoy. I still raise several thousand discus fry a year.
I have been married for the last 29+ years (not bad for a 50 year old). We are “blessed” with 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters. The daughters are 29, 22, and 15 years of age. I am lucky that my girls share my other love of all things outdoors. We are avid hunters and also enjoy fishing.