New to the neighborhood

Salty Rambler · May 31, 2021

Welcome to R2R! We're glad you joined us.

thatmanMIKEson · May 31, 2021

hey! lets see some tanks!!!

jtp7004ft · May 31, 2021

Welcome

Adolfo · May 31, 2021

Fish Think Pink · Jun 1, 2021

ARCkeeper said:
After years of monitoring many of these online aquarium groups, I finally joined R2R to participate in WWC's last livesale. I am starting to stock my new 125g tank and they had some choice corals.

I have been keeping aquariums since I got a 10g for Christmas in 1972. I went through various iterations of community tanks over the next few years before getting deep into African cichlids. I tried marine for a while but decided it was too consumptive of wildlife. At that time success at keeping marine fish was spotty and keeping corals and inverts was virtually nonexistent.

Fast forward to present. I have been a zookeeper for 33 years. I have constantly remained in the aquarium hobby since that first tank. I've explored many aspects of fish keeping and breeding over the years, but until recently kept it as a hobby and avoided it professionally. I have worked virtually every area of zookeeping over the years except elephants and great apes. Most of that time I've worked with large carnivores (19 years) with a smattering of marine mammals and small carnivores such as red panda, wolverine, and 3 otter species. One of the highlights has been over 12 years breeding tree kangaroos - they are fascinating and unlikely animals!

I got back into marine aquaria about 15 years ago and started reefkeeping about ten years ago. I have been working as an aquarist for the last four years but mostly with freshwater fish. Our marine collection at work is almost entirely coldwater with the highlights being Giant Pacific Octopus, California Sheepshead, Garibaldi, and Common Cuttlefish. Our former curator was intimidated by corals but I convinced him to let me set up some reef tanks for our education dept. Our new curator is interested in corals and we may eventually convert one or more of the larger systems to reef. He has also expressed interest in possibly becoming involved in off exhibit propagation of some of the Florida corals for conservation and reintroduction programs.

I currently have a 125 g tank that I set up last August. There are 2 black Ocellaris clowns that I moved from my old 50 gallon, a Caribbean moustache jawfish, a purple tang and a black capped basslet. I have few corals as yet but an starting to add them. I bleached and restarted my old 50 and am using it for a quarantine/frag tank. I have about a dozen frags currently growing out in the 50 before moving them to the display tank. After taking care of aquariums all day every day I have cut way down on my tanks at home. Besides the 125 and the 50, I have a three tiered pond of about 1200 gallons that I built in my backyard with a surrounding naturalized area/ garden. I have some fantail goldfish in the pond that I move inside during the winter. Their population is fluid.

I am looking forward to making new friends on R2R and exchanging ideas with you all.

Welcome!

Glad you joined! Feel like I know you already and look forward to hearing even more

fuelman · Jun 1, 2021

Welcome to R2R!!!

SPR1968 · Jun 1, 2021

Hi and welcome to Reef2Reef!

Jimbhoy13 · Jun 1, 2021

Welcome to R2R. A very interesting introduction.

lelandmarine · Jun 1, 2021

Welcome,
Your history of caring for so many animals should really pay off as a reefer

WELCOME!
Here are some resources you may like

If you like to read

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

If you prefer video’s. This video series is “5 minute guide”, good info. BRS TV has lots of different series.

Here’s a getting the most out of Reef2Reef link

Tips for Getting the Most From the Reef2Reef Forum

Tips for Getting the Most From the Reef2Reef Forum Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum. Photo is from the Reef2Reef archives, courtesy of @Darryl, ©2019, All Rights Reserved. If you're new to online discussion forums or just new to Reef2Reef, this article is for you. Much of the...

www.reef2reef.com