About ReefTankery
How We Got Here
Tomato Clown in LTA
I started reefkeeping in 2000 after purchasing a used 75 gallon tank. After not nearly enough reading and planning, the tank was set up in our 4th floor condo. At the time, I was using normal output lighting, tap water, a really lousy skimmer, and so on. Of course, after many, many problems these poor decisions were corrected.
When we moved into our single family home, I placed the tank temporarily in what was to become the "fish room." I suppose it was a fish room, even back then. At least now I was using 96W PC lighting, RO water, and I had purchased a better skimmer. Around that time, in September of 2004, I joined the Washington Area Marine Aquarist Society. The best $20 in reefkeeping I could have spent. With that I had the network of people necessary to support something like a tank-in-wall project. I even built up the confidence to try out a nano tank in my office, but in the end didn't have enough time to maintain it and had to re-import the livestock back into my main system.
Miracles in Glass Aquarium
Well, general home renovations started in our house in early 2005 and as part of that deal, the contractors were going to install a 180 gallon tank in the wall. I ordered a pair of tanks from GlassCages -- which turned out to be a huge mistake. The tank develped chips as soon as it was filled with water and the vendor refused to even listen (literally) to us over the phone. It was the worst customer service exeperience I've ever had. On the other hand, my 2nd 180 gallon tank, delivered in early 2006, came from Miracles Aquariums and was both beautifully crafted and has held up very well so far. And, of course, all interactions with them before, during, and after purchase were spectacular.
Well by summer 2006, the 180 gallon tank was installed and stocked to some extent. Of course, is it done now? Not by a long shot. There's always a list of things to do next and the hobby never ends...