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First year in the hobby! (1 Viewer)

Leicester56

I contributed!
Lifetime Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2015
Messages
1,220
Location
Shoreview
Today marks the one year anniversary since I entered the saltwater hobby! I would like to thank all the club participants who have helped me along the way. I have not only received excellent answers to the many questions I have posted, but have also learned a great deal just browsing through tank build threads and other topics that pop up. As I gain confidence and experience, I look forward to sharing my knowledge with others.

Here are a couple of points of interest:
1. Started with a 40 breeder and upgraded twice
2. Currently running a 120 gallon mixed reef tank with a 40 gallon sump
3. Losses over the first year-
a. Following an extended power outage- 1 RBTA, 1 pistol shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp (I will
never be without a generator again!!!!!!!!)
b. Favia coral lost to sting from hammer coral that it fell on
c. Yellow Watchman Goby shortly after upgrading tank and moving to a new home
4. Best things I have learned:
a. How to make filter socks
b. Setting up a herbie drain system
c. (In my opinion)- the importance of using new sand when upgrading to a new tank
d. How to acid wash live rock
e. Plenty of tips from Jlanger regarding staining/protecting wood and various carpentry
Tricks
f. Anything David Grigor has posted on this forum
5. Favorites in my tank-
SPS- Jack-o-lantern lepto
LPS- Aussie Torch Coral
Zoa/Paly- Armor of gods
Mushroom- ironman shrooms
Other- Rock Flower Anemones
 
Impressive first year! You've found some wise mentors in DG and Jlanger too. BTW, Sophomore year is typically when people distribute truck loads of free frags from their colonies... ;)
 
Impressive first year! You've found some wise mentors in DG and Jlanger too. BTW, Sophomore year is typically when people distribute truck loads of free frags from their colonies... ;)

I will keep that in mind! Of course, I also heard it was customary for every member to give a frag as a gift to celebrate this important milestone (board members usually give 2). :cool::beerchug:
 
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All impressive stuff Will.

You listed all your favorite corals but what fish do you like the most? Have special fish or corals you want to add in 2016
I also heard it was customary for every member to give a frag as a gift to celebrate this important milestone (board members usually give 2). :cool::beerchug:

Good luck getting any from that Fish Only lover Marty.
 
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All impressive stuff Will.

You listed all your favorite corals but what fish do you like the most? Have special fish or corals you want to add in 2016


Good luck getting any from that Fish Only lover Marty.

Favorite fish- Blue Star Leopard Wrasse by far. I could watch it forage for pods all day.

Goals-
1. I hope to start fragging this year! The hammer coral I got from you is up to 8 heads now, though it still looks too small in the 120 gallon to frag. I also have a neon green trumpet coral that has about 28 heads that will likely be my first fragging project (also acquired from a club member).
2. I have several zoa/paly frags ( AOG, blue hornets, utter chaos, fruit loops), but I would like a couple more varieties to fill up a spot for my zoa garden.
3. One more fish- Have 2 clowns, Leopard wrasse, Yellow tang, and a cherub angel. Plan is to add one more- On the short list- diamond goby, bellus Angel, or Midas Blenny.
4. Attend more meetings! I really like meeting club members and seeing set-ups in person.
5. I would like to try my first Maxima clam this year.

As for Marty, beer is an acceptable offering for this milestone in lieu of frags. :rotflmao:
 
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Update! The sassy little Yellow Watchan Goby apparently survived the move. Didn't see it for 9 weeks ( though I stopped looking for it after the first 3). Darted right out in front of me while feeding the tank today. Looks fat and healthy. Must have made a home pretty deep in the rock work. Now this is the strangest part: he seems to be coexisting in a deep hole with a fairly sizable bristle worm. The worm retracted in when the goby did. May just be a coincidence. If I get another pistol shrimp, how will it fare against the bristle worm?
 

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