Hello and Introduction (1 Viewer)

[MimicOcto8]

Hi everyone,

My name is Aaron and I just moved from California to Atascocita, Tx. I've been in the hobby for 11 years now. Before leaving California I sold almost everything I had as far as reef keeping goes. I only kept a few pieces of equipment to help me get started back up. I just picked up a 100 gallon glass tank and i'm excited to get back in to the hobby. I'll soon be looking for lots of frags so please PM me if you have the goods. It might be awhile before I start stocking my tank but i'm looking for contacts now. Also, please feel free to share where the best places are to shop around here. Thanks in advance.

Here is some info and photos on my Reef System before I sold it all. I won't go in to crazy detail. I'll keep it simplified, but feel free to ask any questions.

I had 3 aquariums all connected to 1 common sump. My reef system was in my garage and therefore was designed for performance and not cosmetics. The wife has no control over my garage .

The common sump was a 160 gallon horse trough.

Smallest aquarium was a 33 gallon custom designed glass tank. 36"x18"x12"T (far left tank)

Second largest was also a custom designed 100 gallon glass tank with dual overflows. 48"x24"x20"T (middle tank)

largest tank was my shallow reef coming in at 250 Gallons. Also glass and had an off-center overflow. 48" wide, 5' 5" long, 18" tall. (far right tank)

33 gallon tank (below)

250 gallon tank (below)

SoCal Corals Beautiful Disaster (below)





SoCal Corals Planet Earth (below)

 

[Mark L.]

Welcome to MARSH and Houston! You had some beautiful tanks and livestock! All of our sponsors are great to buy from. Let us know if you need help with anything.

 

[Reefahholic]

Beautiful reefs bro! Welcome to H-Town!

A lot of knowledgeable reefers here.

I used to to live and go to school in Tustin, California. Surfed Huntington pier every weekend.

People are super friendly in Texas.

 

[MimicOcto8]

Beautiful reefs bro! Welcome to H-Town!

A lot of knowledgeable reefers here.

I used to to live and go to school in Tustin, California. Surfed Huntington pier every weekend.

People are super friendly in Texas.

That's awesome man. I lived In Ventura which is about 30mins south of Santa Barbara

 

[FarmerTy]

Welcome to Houston (from a guy that doesn't even live there).

Well done on the former tanks! I'm not sure Texas garages will treat you as nicely as a Cali one so you better start negotiating with the wife now. [emoji12]

I used to live in Costa Mesa and surf before work at Huntington Beach pier as well. I'm a Texan though, just lived out there for 3 years and enjoyed my time there.

What kind of tank are you planning to start?

 

[MimicOcto8]

Thank you. I'm doing a 100g in my live room so it must cosmetically look perfect. She said I know it'll look amazing inside the tank, but before you put water in I need to approve the location, size and look of the stand/canopy. Lol

 

[FarmerTy]

Thank you. I'm doing a 100g in my live room so it must cosmetically look perfect. She said I know it'll look amazing inside the tank, but before you put water in I need to approve the location, size and look of the stand/canopy. Lol

Sounds a lot like my wife! Looking forward to your build thread once it gets started!

 

[MimicOcto8]

I never do build threads. I enjoy the heck out of building my systems but I don't do it like 95% of the hobbyists. I've had amazing success doing my own thing and way. I don't want to explain my reasoning over text during a build thread. So I just don't do them. So when people are over to see my tanks I explain then.

 

[oneasianguy]

Welcome and really nice tank. Good luck setting up everything and hope to see an updated picture once you got it setup.

 

[Ostentum]

I am not too terribly far from you so if you ever need anything let me know. I am about to start building my next tank since I too sold everything off to move from the south side of houston to up north.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

Stunning pictures! Welcome to the Bayou City from a Pacific Northwest Transplant.

As Mark said, our sponsors are great. My personal opinion on where to look is PSXerholic for frags. That Aquarium Place for a general LFS. They have gotten in some wild Acro colonies lately with potential to be spectacular. They usually have a great selection of fish and coral as well. FJW has a fantastic store with higher end equipment, corals, Fish and Inverts. I have only been to City Pets and Ocean Life once but was very impressed. Customer service at fish galery in The Woodlands is top notch! They once stayed late so someone could pick up a bulkhead to replace one on my tank that was failing-long story. There are always locals including my self selling and trading frags, fish, and equipment. EMF Imports seems like one heck of a guy and will deliver stock directly to you.

 

[Reefahholic]

X2 for PSX. He's got some nice frags!

 

[MimicOcto8]

I never do build threads. I enjoy the heck out of building my systems but I don't do it like 95% of the hobbyists. I've had amazing success doing my own thing and way. I don't want to explain my reasoning over text during a build thread. So I just don't do them. So when people are over to see my tanks I explain then.

 

[MimicOcto8]

I am not too terribly far from you so if you ever need anything let me know. I am about to start building my next tank since I too sold everything off to move from the south side of houston to up north.

Thank I will hit you up

 

[MimicOcto8]

Stunning pictures! Welcome to the Bayou City from a Pacific Northwest Transplant.

As Mark said, our sponsors are great. My personal opinion on where to look is PSXerholic for frags. That Aquarium Place for a general LFS. They have gotten in some wild Acro colonies lately with potential to be spectacular. They usually have a great selection of fish and coral as well. FJW has a fantastic store with higher end equipment, corals, Fish and Inverts. I have only been to City Pets and Ocean Life once but was very impressed. Customer service at fish galery in The Woodlands is top notch! They once stayed late so someone could pick up a bulkhead to replace one on my tank that was failing-long story. There are always locals including my self selling and trading frags, fish, and equipment. EMF Imports seems like one heck of a guy and will deliver stock directly to you.

Awesome info thanks!

 

[RR-MAN]

Insane pictures...what camera you are using?

Welcome to Houston!

 

[Tangs]

Never been to Ventura but been close by in Malibu. Love those pictures you put up and good luck with your new set up. Jim

 

[MimicOcto8]

Thanks everyone. I used a Pentax K100 but I need to buy a new camera. She worn out after 8 years of abuse. Not used to take photos of my corals but also for dive trips and surfing out on the Channel Islands of the coast of Ventura.

 

[Reefahholic]

Hey do you have any pictures of how you tied the tanks into your DT. I'm fixing to do two remote tanks and plan to use a small over flow to control the water level and have a bulkhead and drain that's gravity fed back to the sump.

 

[Mark L.]

I never do build threads. I enjoy the heck out of building my systems but I don't do it like 95% of the hobbyists. I've had amazing success doing my own thing and way. I don't want to explain my reasoning over text during a build thread. So I just don't do them. So when people are over to see my tanks I explain then.

Reading this peaks my interest even more about how you build your systems. Judging by the pics alone I would say you are highly successful and many of us would love to read how you set up your systems. You're way is obviously the right way for you and could be for others. Hope you reconsider and share your journey of building your new Houston Tx. tank!