I voted 2 years but I think it may actually have been closer to 3.
Problem is I started in the late 90's and there weren't really discussion boards yet, or they were in their infancy. I would read rec.aquaria.marine.reefs though, usenet news groups were pretty big in the 90's but seemed to die out when forums like reefs.org, reefcentral.com and canreef.com started to take off.
Canreef started out around 2000 I think? I joined up in 2001 after someone (I think it may have been Bob) posted on r.a.m.r that there was a Canadian reefs discussion forum.
It's been downhill ever since... (ie., the amount of time I spend online that is)
