So, we concluded yet another "popup" event with minimum drama, not too many frayed nerves, and a bunch of you walked away with some cool corals!
It's exciting to see reefers getting stoked on new stuff, and that never seems to get old. We actually get a vicarious thrill out of seeing everyone get all happy when they score that cool coral...'cause...we get it!
It got me thinking about things that get us excited in the hobby! I posed this question to some of my freshwater friends who do business with me at Tannin Aquatics, and they had a wide range of interesting answers. The biggest and most exciting events in the hobby, based on this very un-scientific sampling thus far, seem to be when you set up a new tank, and when you acquire/receive/purchase a new coral or fish....And I'm inclined to agree...!
I love when I help a fellow reefer score that cool coral and I get that email or text or call and they say, "Man I can't wait to get the package...!"
Few things in this hobby or business thrill me like hearing the sheer joy of a fellow hobbyist, stoked as heck about getting something that he or she loves so much.
Coolness!
However, I think there are other exciting things...Like going to conferences and having your head explode from all of the frags, gadgets, and reefers you encounter under one roof, nailing the perfect aquascape, securing that difficult Efflo to the rock work just the way you wanted it...dozens and dozens of tiny little moments that provide us that little "rush" which keeps the hobby so addictive.
I don't know about you, but I still get that little ping of excitement every time I enter into my LFS! "Will THIS be the time I find that crazy weird dwarf cichlid I've been looking for? Will the store have that awesome new coral food I've read about but haven't yet tried? Will I end up walking out with a new nano tank?"
All those kinds of cool things that create excitement, and keep us engaged in the hobby. Granted, we all get excited about different things: I hung with a bunch of guys at MACNA who had very passionate and (to them) exciting exchanges about testing for Vanadium in aquarium water (no, I'm serious! And they weren't really that drunk, either!)! And of course, "shopping" with friends for gadgets at shows is a thrill (especially when they're the one spending money!).
So many cool things.
And you know what? It even hit me this past month- after three years, I still get that twinge of excitement every time I step into our facility at Unique Corals...Because there is always something new and interesting...something to keep me excited, engaged, focused. And all of these things-all of these experiences, things, and moments of enjoyment of the hobby with friends- are what excites me the most.
I'm pretty lucky, I think.
So, that being said...What do you consider the most exciting things in the hobby? The most exciting moments in reef keeping? Let's here 'em!
Stay excited. Stay engaged...And stay wet!
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
It's exciting to see reefers getting stoked on new stuff, and that never seems to get old. We actually get a vicarious thrill out of seeing everyone get all happy when they score that cool coral...'cause...we get it!
It got me thinking about things that get us excited in the hobby! I posed this question to some of my freshwater friends who do business with me at Tannin Aquatics, and they had a wide range of interesting answers. The biggest and most exciting events in the hobby, based on this very un-scientific sampling thus far, seem to be when you set up a new tank, and when you acquire/receive/purchase a new coral or fish....And I'm inclined to agree...!
I love when I help a fellow reefer score that cool coral and I get that email or text or call and they say, "Man I can't wait to get the package...!"
Few things in this hobby or business thrill me like hearing the sheer joy of a fellow hobbyist, stoked as heck about getting something that he or she loves so much.
Coolness!
However, I think there are other exciting things...Like going to conferences and having your head explode from all of the frags, gadgets, and reefers you encounter under one roof, nailing the perfect aquascape, securing that difficult Efflo to the rock work just the way you wanted it...dozens and dozens of tiny little moments that provide us that little "rush" which keeps the hobby so addictive.
I don't know about you, but I still get that little ping of excitement every time I enter into my LFS! "Will THIS be the time I find that crazy weird dwarf cichlid I've been looking for? Will the store have that awesome new coral food I've read about but haven't yet tried? Will I end up walking out with a new nano tank?"
All those kinds of cool things that create excitement, and keep us engaged in the hobby. Granted, we all get excited about different things: I hung with a bunch of guys at MACNA who had very passionate and (to them) exciting exchanges about testing for Vanadium in aquarium water (no, I'm serious! And they weren't really that drunk, either!)! And of course, "shopping" with friends for gadgets at shows is a thrill (especially when they're the one spending money!).
So many cool things.
And you know what? It even hit me this past month- after three years, I still get that twinge of excitement every time I step into our facility at Unique Corals...Because there is always something new and interesting...something to keep me excited, engaged, focused. And all of these things-all of these experiences, things, and moments of enjoyment of the hobby with friends- are what excites me the most.
I'm pretty lucky, I think.
So, that being said...What do you consider the most exciting things in the hobby? The most exciting moments in reef keeping? Let's here 'em!
Stay excited. Stay engaged...And stay wet!
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals