Getting back to the hobby for health reasons

[Pmauro55]

I am a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer and Oceanographer having served 28 years; so the sea has been my life. I am a rescue diver and lived in Hawaii for 17 years. I received my PhD in Oceanography from the University of Hawaii Manoa have been in and out of the hobby a few times over the last 40 years. My last tank was 800 gallon fish and live rock, with a 400 gallon sump/ refrum, I lost it in a divorce I couldn’t take it, it was built into the wall. My wife and I have decided to get back into the hobby to help with my PTSD, ( my shrink recommended it )but we are taking our time and trying to catch-up on 15 years of tech advances in the hobby. That and the fact we are going to move south to South Carolina in the next 6-8 months. We are planning on a 300 gallon reef tank with a 150 Gal sump / Refugm with fish so there is a whole lot of research and reading to do before we take the plunge. Any suggestions are appreciated

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Raege]

Welcome to R2R and back to the hobby.

 

[Peace River]

Thank you for service Chief! Although technology in reef tanks has changed, the basic of water and fish are still the same (we just know a little bit more about them). It sounds like you have an amazing background and I look forward to learning from you. Welcome to R2R!

 

[dbl]

First and foremost, thank you for your service. Secondly, welcome to R2R and your new reefing family.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I'm just sitting here wondering where you have been all this time. You may need to read up on the more recent technology, but you are vessel of knowledge to others in this hobby and on this forum. You will love it here. Welcome.

 

[MTBake]

Thank you for your service.

Welcome to R2R

 

[Peace River]

I'm just sitting here wondering where you have been all this time. You may need to read up on the more recent technology, but you are vessel of knowledge to others in this hobby and on this forum. You will love it here. Welcome.

I am thinking the same thing!

@Pmauro55 - a couple of resources that you may enjoy are the recordings from previous MACNA conferences and the BRS 52 weeks of reefing videos.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Welcome to R2R!!! Thank you for your service!!!

 

[BeejReef]

Welcome!

Like we're brothers. I reef too and know all about Navy stuff. We're big "Last Ship" fans

Welcome

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef !!!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Great intro, but why such small tanks?

Glad you joined.

 

[BeejReef]

I am a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer and Oceanographer having served 28 years; so the sea has been my life. I am a rescue diver and lived in Hawaii for 17 years. I received my PhD in Oceanography from the University of Hawaii Manoa have been in and out of the hobby a few times over the last 40 years. My last tank was 800 gallon fish and live rock, with a 400 gallon sump/ refrum, I lost it in a divorce I couldn’t take it, it was built into the wall. My wife and I have decided to get back into the hobby to help with my PTSD, ( my shrink recommended it )but we are taking our time and trying to catch-up on 15 years of tech advances in the hobby. That and the fact we are going to move south to South Carolina in the next 6-8 months. We are planning on a 300 gallon reef tank with a 150 Gal sump / Refugm with fish so there is a whole lot of research and reading to do before we take the plunge. Any suggestions are appreciated

If you're so inclined, check out Travis at "Fish of Hex Aquatics." He's enjoys helping veterans with reefing and raises awareness about ptsd. He's on youtube.

 

[Pmauro55]

I am thinking the same thing!

@Pmauro55 - a couple of resources that you may enjoy are the recordings from previous MACNA conferences and the BRS 52 weeks of reefing videos.

I’ve already signed up with bar and I’m halfway through the 52 weeks

 

[Pmauro55]

Great intro, but why such small tanks?

Glad you joined.

It’s all about the money and the floor wouldn’t hold any more weight

 

[Pmauro55]

I'm just sitting here wondering where you have been all this time. You may need to read up on the more recent technology, but you are vessel of knowledge to others in this hobby and on this forum. You will love it here. Welcome.

Well let’s see, first there was Vietnam, then Bosnia, then desert shield / desert storm, oh yes we can’t forget 3 tours in Afghanistan and 3 in Iraq. In between tours in San Diego, Mayport fl And 17 years in Hawaii

 

[Peace River]

I’ve already signed up with bar and I’m halfway through the 52 weeks

Awesome! It sounds like you are catching up in a hurry!

 

[Pmauro55]

I’m trying to but I can’t really get started until we move and it seems like a lifetime away