Hi all-
I'm new to the hobby/passion. I have a 125 gallon corner tank I'm just setting up after a few months of research, planning, purchasing equipment. (I started a build thread yesterday). My son (Ben, sixteen years old) is super into freshwater aquaria and he has multiple projects up and running, from a 2500+ gallon pond we built together, which houses not only Koi but redtail cats (HUGE!), Shovelnose cats, Clown Knifes, Oscars... to separate nursery tanks, turtle tanks, snappers, side necks etc. Honestly, I have no interest in indoor fresh water stuff. I've always wanted to have a beautiful reef tank. He just looks at me, smiles, and shakes his head. The more I've proceeded runnin' down the dream, I've done some head shaking myself, but now have the added goal of getting him to admit that dad was right. So my tank has to be cool, and awesome, and successful. And so far, with only 30 out of 125 gallons in the tank, it's a blast.
Personal:
Married 23 years. Wife Karen, known since 4th grade. Breast cancer survivor. Supermom. Rock.
Two sons: Jack, 19, UF Go Gators, Leukemia survivor- Man! Ben, 16, HS Sophomore, boater, fisherman, very 16 in all ways, mini (well, not mini)-me.
Me: Two brothers. Grew up Sarasota, FL as swimmer, love this place. Swam LSU 1985-89. Failed out (party...beat that). USF BS Zoology. Then...Veterinarian (UF 1998), DVM Intern (UGA 1998-99), Surgery Intern Orange Park, FL 1999-2000, Surgery Resident (Mich State CVM 2000-2003). Back to FL...raise the family. Blessed to be here, alive, happy and healthy. Together. My mom and in-laws all healthy and local.
My brother-in-law is into salt water tanks, so he's an advisor.
I'm new to the hobby/passion. I have a 125 gallon corner tank I'm just setting up after a few months of research, planning, purchasing equipment. (I started a build thread yesterday). My son (Ben, sixteen years old) is super into freshwater aquaria and he has multiple projects up and running, from a 2500+ gallon pond we built together, which houses not only Koi but redtail cats (HUGE!), Shovelnose cats, Clown Knifes, Oscars... to separate nursery tanks, turtle tanks, snappers, side necks etc. Honestly, I have no interest in indoor fresh water stuff. I've always wanted to have a beautiful reef tank. He just looks at me, smiles, and shakes his head. The more I've proceeded runnin' down the dream, I've done some head shaking myself, but now have the added goal of getting him to admit that dad was right. So my tank has to be cool, and awesome, and successful. And so far, with only 30 out of 125 gallons in the tank, it's a blast.
Personal:
Married 23 years. Wife Karen, known since 4th grade. Breast cancer survivor. Supermom. Rock.
Two sons: Jack, 19, UF Go Gators, Leukemia survivor- Man! Ben, 16, HS Sophomore, boater, fisherman, very 16 in all ways, mini (well, not mini)-me.
Me: Two brothers. Grew up Sarasota, FL as swimmer, love this place. Swam LSU 1985-89. Failed out (party...beat that). USF BS Zoology. Then...Veterinarian (UF 1998), DVM Intern (UGA 1998-99), Surgery Intern Orange Park, FL 1999-2000, Surgery Resident (Mich State CVM 2000-2003). Back to FL...raise the family. Blessed to be here, alive, happy and healthy. Together. My mom and in-laws all healthy and local.
My brother-in-law is into salt water tanks, so he's an advisor.