Meet the Reef Squad 2026!

[Reefer Matt]

Some have also been very busy with life stuff

Yup, we all are. Not judging anyone.

 

[tbrown]

Apparently they are shy. Like I said I had a problem that needed an immediate answer. It was actually Matt that replied but I believe he told me that he could not answer the question , and that someone else with experience with the problem would answer. I have no idea but Matt you would know . If one of your group sees that you answered would they just assume its been dealt with? That is why I asked for the list , so I could selectively contact that appropriate person that has a degree or such to answer . Then if They cant at least I know to move on with my own research

Personally, if I go to a thread that's asked for help, I read the question first. If it's something I have experience with, I will read through the responses and see if it has been answered and then offer any input I can.

If it hasn't been answered and I don't have any experience, I will do my best to find someone that I feel has experience and tag them in.

 

[tbrown]

Apparently they are shy. Like I said I had a problem that needed an immediate answer. It was actually Matt that replied but I believe he told me that he could not answer the question , and that someone else with experience with the problem would answer. I have no idea but Matt you would know . If one of your group sees that you answered would they just assume its been dealt with? That is why I asked for the list , so I could selectively contact that appropriate person that has a degree or such to answer . Then if They cant at least I know to move on with my own research

Also, the Reef Squad are not experts, just helpful hobbyists. Me, for example. I have a degree but it's not very helpful over here - Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Also, the Reef Squad are not experts, just helpful hobbyists. Me, for example. I have a degree but it's not very helpful over here - Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.

Hey I'm just a drop out, haha

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Also, the Reef Squad are not experts, just helpful hobbyists. Me, for example. I have a degree but it's not very helpful over here - Bachelor of Science in Public Administration.

Hey I'm just a drop out, haha

 

[tbrown]

Hey I'm just a drop out, haha

I dropped out of more schools than I graduated from... I graduated from 3 so that says something I think.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I dropped out of more schools than I graduated from... I graduated from 3 so that says something I think.

There's a running joke in one of my friend groups where the three people I was supposed to room with in sophomore year all ended up dropping out of college.

 

[Rocks reef]

Ok... here we go. Better late than never right?

My name is Keith. I have been in the hobby for over 20 years. I started out with a 200 gallon freshwater tank which held three Motoro stingrays. After a few trips to the aquariums and various fish stores, I was bitten by the salt bug... and the rest is history!

I recently upgraded to a 48"x24"x20" custom tank from Glasscages from a 40 gallon breeder. The 40g was originally set up to cycle rock while I decided which tank I wanted. Well... that tank was quickly filled to near capacity with stuff other than the rock I was cycling. I bought a rubbermaid tote to cure the rock and left the corals/fish in the 40 breeder.

New tank

Right side of 40 breeder that was supposed to be a rock cycle tank...

I am a Army Veteran, medically retired after 15 years and a couple months due to being injured on my 4th tour in Afghanistan. I now work for the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Registered Nurse.

Besides my reef addiction, I hunt, fish and enjoying working out. My wife and I enjoy cruising the Michigan coast looking at light houses and we have two Huskies.

 

[Rocks reef]

Thank you All. I know some of you as you also post fairly Regular . I would however Like to know any Experience ie Trade , Schooling , you all may have , Example I was unaware that Lassie was in the Group . I already Know what his specialty is . So I would Like to know about you all . Not for frivolous questions but pressing Concerns . Regards

US Army Airborne Ranger for 15+ years.

Registered Nurse for 21 years. 17 years in the ICU and a flight nurse, the past several years I have worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

 

[i cant think]

Well, guess I’m late to the party…

Hey! I’m Aaron, on here I usually go by ‘I Can’t Think’. I’ve been in the hobby for around 15 years (almost my whole life at this point, when I was younger, I was helping my dad with our old systems). Been working in and out of the trade since 2020, however I officially took over my own shop in December of 2024.

You’ve probably seen me pop up in wrasse threads, and likely have seen my old 4 foot or current 5 foot tank. And whilst I wish I could show a photo of the 5 foot tank looking like the usual reef, but a couple of weeks ago I began to tear down the tank due to a house move and neglect causing major harm to this system.

So, for now my main collection of fish and coral reside at my shop waiting for their 5 foot paradise to be set up again.

But, I do have another 2 tanks at home which are up and running - My Macroalgae tank, which you’ll be seeing more of now that the 5 foot is torn down. This is a 20G tank with the idea of being more of a rockpool system with the focus on inverts rather than active, out and about fish.

My other nano is a 25G tank, this is mainly a tank which is currently undergoing maintenance to try not look as bad and become another macro/coral tank.

Altogether, I run 5 display tanks, plus 9 other systems. Which is one of the reasons I have recently been quiet is due to the shop and all 9 systems taking over my time. But now I have more time, you’ll see me more frequently again.

And a couple of the displays from my shop;

Outside of the marine world, my main other hobbies are house plants and drawing. Oh, and one thing I’d love to do some time is snorkel around reefs, but for now I’m happy in the summer with snorkelling around the South coast of the uk.

 

[1ocean]

Apparently they are shy. Like I said I had a problem that needed an immediate answer. It was actually Matt that replied but I believe he told me that he could not answer the question , and that someone else with experience with the problem would answer. I have no idea but Matt you would know . If one of your group sees that you answered would they just assume its been dealt with? That is why I asked for the list , so I could selectively contact that appropriate person that has a degree or such to answer . Then if They cant at least I know to move on with my own research

yes sometimes doing my own research is best as I like to make alot of stuff myself and improve on things or ideas.
There are a lot of good people on her that I bounce ideas off of or have helped improved their ideas...
I am always here to bounce your ideas to me as I would expect I could bounce ideas off of you..

 

[1ocean]

Personally, if I go to a thread that's asked for help, I read the question first. If it's something I have experience with, I will read through the responses and see if it has been answered and then offer any input I can.

If it hasn't been answered and I don't have any experience, I will do my best to find someone that I feel has experience and tag them in.

like new flavor of coffee buddy ,,,always a great conversation...

 

[Rocks reef]

Well, guess I’m late to the party…

Hey! I’m Aaron, on here I usually go by ‘I Can’t Think’. I’ve been in the hobby for around 15 years (almost my whole life at this point, when I was younger, I was helping my dad with our old systems). Been working in and out of the trade since 2020, however I officially took over my own shop in December of 2024.

You’ve probably seen me pop up in wrasse threads, and likely have seen my old 4 foot or current 5 foot tank. And whilst I wish I could show a photo of the 5 foot tank looking like the usual reef, but a couple of weeks ago I began to tear down the tank due to a house move and neglect causing major harm to this system.

So, for now my main collection of fish and coral reside at my shop waiting for their 5 foot paradise to be set up again.

But, I do have another 2 tanks at home which are up and running - My Macroalgae tank, which you’ll be seeing more of now that the 5 foot is torn down. This is a 20G tank with the idea of being more of a rockpool system with the focus on inverts rather than active, out and about fish.

My other nano is a 25G tank, this is mainly a tank which is currently undergoing maintenance to try not look as bad and become another macro/coral tank.

Altogether, I run 5 display tanks, plus 9 other systems. Which is one of the reasons I have recently been quiet is due to the shop and all 9 systems taking over my time. But now I have more time, you’ll see me more frequently again.

And a couple of the displays from my shop;

Outside of the marine world, my main other hobbies are house plants and drawing. Oh, and one thing I’d love to do some time is snorkel around reefs, but for now I’m happy in the summer with snorkelling around the South coast of the uk.

Beautiful setups Aaron!

 

[Reefer Matt]

I retired from the Reef Squad and pursued commercial interests. Reefer Matt is now a company.
Thank you for the opportunity.

 

[13rodo]

I think the #reefsquad needs a signal where hobbyists can press a button on their tank to call for help. Kind of like the batsignal :)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I think the #reefsquad needs a signal where hobbyists can press a button on their tank to call for help. Kind of like the batsignal :)

Now that would be awesome, haha

 

[Freenow54]

I retired from the Reef Squad and pursued commercial interests. Reefer Matt is now a company.
Thank you for the opportunity.

Another Carpet Sales man

 

[Reefer Matt]

Another Carpet Sales man

Lol! I didn’t want to exploit the community here and stepped aside. I don’t advertise or sell anything on R2R. Looks like they did great with the new team! Take care.

 

[1ocean]

No No ...solar panels......every D$^$ day someone tries to knock on our gate to get to front door to sell solar panels...lol...
Time for another big boy rottie....maybe in the fall...