What’s up Reefers?
I began the aquarium hobby almost 2 years ago now with freshwater fish in a 40 gallon breeder. Over the time since I’ve setup and enjoyed two more tanks (a 20 gallon high and a 9 gallon long) all Aquascaped and stocked differently. I never would have imagined the joy, peace, and intrigue the hobby would bring me and at the constant peer pressure of a friend have decided to begin a saltwater build for my fourth tank. I will admit the mixed reef, macro algae, and FOWLR setups with the striking beauty of marine fish and inverts has gotten me very excited. All of that said, I am still brand new to this side of the hobby and am excited to learn as I undertake deconstructing and reconstructing my 125 gallon tank I’ve gotten second hand for this build. Advice, cautionary tales, and salutations are all welcome.
Pleased to meet you all!
Welcome aboard.
Cautionary notes:
- expensive
- turns into second job
- stress will rise with your phosphate
- you’ll become a chemist
- saltwater retail space can be predatory
- fish cost more
- vacations become stressful
- your electric bill might go up (will go up)
- your garage will turn into a water treatment plant
- will always cost money— salt mix is like the monthly fee to be in the reefing hobby
- if you want to keep coral you’ll be in for even more money
- you’ll become a fish doctor
- technology will creep into your enjoyment of the hobby
- you’ll never know enough
- you’ll realize at some point you need to own a microscope
- you’ll love it


