Hi there! I hope you don't frown on this, but, true reefers will totally get it 
Short story: I live in North Carolina, but have the most amazing daughter ever, in school in Fort Collins. I'll be visiting for a couple weeks at the end of the month (less than 2 weeks away!!!) and, I'll have some down time while she's at work during the day and some evenings. What better way than to spend that time checking out some of the reef life in Colorado! I'll be staying mostly in FoCo, but I'll be spending a few days in Steamboat, and a few days down in Colorado Springs.
I can absolutely ship things back home to a reefer buddy til I get home, so if I see eye candy, I won't have to walk away from it!
Longer story... I've been in the hobby for quite a while, about 20 years or so. 20 years ago, tanks were totally different, and it didn't hold my interest. I really got into it about 12 years ago (ironically enough in CO Springs.) I ran a 120 there for 2 year and totally made every mistake possible. From the WORST possible equipment- to the worst possible livestock choices and habits. I stocked my tank in the course of 2 days by placing 2 HUGE orders from online vendors based on appearance alone. I think back to that time, and cringe.
I broke that tank down and moved to NC. Here, I did a similar thing, but bought a 240 tank that was already running. I had a bazillion leathers, shrooms and euphyllia. I was still burnt from the loss of a ton of livestock on my last tank, so I just had a few damsels and a dragon wrasse (yeah... my son liked his eyes...) There really was no saltwater community in the area I lived in when I first moved to NC... so I stumbled around. THEN! It was like a light went on in my head. I found a local forum! Oh my goodness, I learned so much! I started branching out on other national and international forums (my screen name is the same all over.) I had images of corals and clowns and wrasses dancing in my head! I began trying to upgrade equipment on my 240 and I got it to marginal at best.
I had to move again, so I sold the 240. I moved into an apartment, with an express NO aquariums rule. I made a water "garden" out of a NC12 and thats where I started playing with real corals. This was about 5 years ago or so.
4 years ago, I set up a 180. Most beautiful tank I've ever run. 2 years running.
I had to downsize due to an upcoming move... So.. I built a 60 cube I kept all my favorites, and some new favorites... 1 year running before crash while I was on vacation. I lost absolutely everything.
My 60 cube crashed New Years Eve. Cracked return section of the sump, exploded and charred titanium heater, seized return pump... and 50 degrees. It took me six months of a tank of just rock and sand to decide to rebuild. But, I couldn't do it in the 60. I never could convince myself to do it. I sold it, and now set up a RSM 130d because it is an all in one. The sump thing has now scared me to death. The HUGE glaring negative- I lost everything. The relative positive my tank is wide open with possibility.
I am very active in the reefing community here in NC, and am fortunate to now live in an area where there is active trading, swapping and such. But, now... we all have similar pieces... Soooooooooooooooooooo Colorado, show me something unique! Which stores do I need to go to? Who has an amazing tank I just have to see? Who is the local fish nerd crack dealer?
Tess
Short story: I live in North Carolina, but have the most amazing daughter ever, in school in Fort Collins. I'll be visiting for a couple weeks at the end of the month (less than 2 weeks away!!!) and, I'll have some down time while she's at work during the day and some evenings. What better way than to spend that time checking out some of the reef life in Colorado! I'll be staying mostly in FoCo, but I'll be spending a few days in Steamboat, and a few days down in Colorado Springs.
I can absolutely ship things back home to a reefer buddy til I get home, so if I see eye candy, I won't have to walk away from it!
Longer story... I've been in the hobby for quite a while, about 20 years or so. 20 years ago, tanks were totally different, and it didn't hold my interest. I really got into it about 12 years ago (ironically enough in CO Springs.) I ran a 120 there for 2 year and totally made every mistake possible. From the WORST possible equipment- to the worst possible livestock choices and habits. I stocked my tank in the course of 2 days by placing 2 HUGE orders from online vendors based on appearance alone. I think back to that time, and cringe.
I broke that tank down and moved to NC. Here, I did a similar thing, but bought a 240 tank that was already running. I had a bazillion leathers, shrooms and euphyllia. I was still burnt from the loss of a ton of livestock on my last tank, so I just had a few damsels and a dragon wrasse (yeah... my son liked his eyes...) There really was no saltwater community in the area I lived in when I first moved to NC... so I stumbled around. THEN! It was like a light went on in my head. I found a local forum! Oh my goodness, I learned so much! I started branching out on other national and international forums (my screen name is the same all over.) I had images of corals and clowns and wrasses dancing in my head! I began trying to upgrade equipment on my 240 and I got it to marginal at best.
I had to move again, so I sold the 240. I moved into an apartment, with an express NO aquariums rule. I made a water "garden"
out of a NC12 and thats where I started playing with real corals. This was about 5 years ago or so.4 years ago, I set up a 180. Most beautiful tank I've ever run. 2 years running.
I had to downsize due to an upcoming move... So.. I built a 60 cube
I kept all my favorites, and some new favorites... 1 year running before crash while I was on vacation. I lost absolutely everything.
My 60 cube crashed New Years Eve. Cracked return section of the sump, exploded and charred titanium heater, seized return pump... and 50 degrees. It took me six months of a tank of just rock and sand to decide to rebuild. But, I couldn't do it in the 60. I never could convince myself to do it. I sold it, and now set up a RSM 130d because it is an all in one. The sump thing has now scared me to death. The HUGE glaring negative- I lost everything. The relative positive my tank is wide open with possibility.
I am very active in the reefing community here in NC, and am fortunate to now live in an area where there is active trading, swapping and such. But, now... we all have similar pieces... Soooooooooooooooooooo Colorado, show me something unique! Which stores do I need to go to? Who has an amazing tank I just have to see? Who is the local fish nerd crack dealer?
Tess
