Little Big Reef
New member
Hey, I've been keeping aquariums for awhile. I look at Reef to Reef and Chicago Reefs. I signed up last year after trading frags with some fellow Chicago Reefs folks. However, in the last year I finally began my career and moved in with my girlfriend. Its been a good year of transitions and gains but I didn't post anything. So, here we are. A move always signals the end to aquarium. A fellow reefer once said "every aquarium has a lifespan". I considered that the last few years and feel my transition from a 120 Oceanic to a 75 gallon has been extremely gratifying. I'll post pictures of the three phases of the 120 over 7+ years as well as a current photo of the 75 gallon. I'm also going to start a member tank thread and share in greater detail the transition.
A bit about me. I work in the Loop as a law librarian. I had a place downtown in Marina City but moved out to Naperville while my girlfriend pursues her LCPC in Aurora. This is my first first time living in the western burbs as I'm originally from the Island Lake/McHenry area. My experience in reefing began in the mid 90's when I worked with my brother at Oasis Pet Center in Wauconda Illinois. We were an independently owned/operated full-line pet store. The store had extensive freshwater and saltwater offerings. Perhaps the seminal moment for me was visiting Apet and Wilson (wholesale distributers) and seeing "everything" for the first time. I kept tanks all thru high school but mothballed all my equipment when I left for college at UIC. I re-set up my 120 gallon (acquired from the LFS) in 2006. For several years I had a French Angelfish fowler. Then, in 2009 I transitioned to a tang tank with some corals. Around winter of 2012 I realized (and finally had the funds) to begin putting together a respectable reef tank. I was initially interested in Sps but now concentrate on Zoas and Acans and certain Lps.
As I mentioned before; every aquarium has a life span. Anyone who has moved an entire system in one day realizes the impracticability of such an effort and high mortality rate than often accompanies it. The choice to downsize to a 75 gallon allowed me to get the new tank up and running and move the inhabitants of the 120 gallon out in segments. I aquascaped in such a fashion as to allow me to create "segments or columns" of live rock. These were easy to move and I'm happy to report only the loss of less than a handful of corals.
I've met some pretty cool Chicago reefers via trading and selling thru craigslist. I'm hoping to meet some more thru forums and postings here. I feel like I have some knowledge to offer and always appreciate new perspectives. Thanks for reading and enjoy these pics to get started.
A bit about me. I work in the Loop as a law librarian. I had a place downtown in Marina City but moved out to Naperville while my girlfriend pursues her LCPC in Aurora. This is my first first time living in the western burbs as I'm originally from the Island Lake/McHenry area. My experience in reefing began in the mid 90's when I worked with my brother at Oasis Pet Center in Wauconda Illinois. We were an independently owned/operated full-line pet store. The store had extensive freshwater and saltwater offerings. Perhaps the seminal moment for me was visiting Apet and Wilson (wholesale distributers) and seeing "everything" for the first time. I kept tanks all thru high school but mothballed all my equipment when I left for college at UIC. I re-set up my 120 gallon (acquired from the LFS) in 2006. For several years I had a French Angelfish fowler. Then, in 2009 I transitioned to a tang tank with some corals. Around winter of 2012 I realized (and finally had the funds) to begin putting together a respectable reef tank. I was initially interested in Sps but now concentrate on Zoas and Acans and certain Lps.
As I mentioned before; every aquarium has a life span. Anyone who has moved an entire system in one day realizes the impracticability of such an effort and high mortality rate than often accompanies it. The choice to downsize to a 75 gallon allowed me to get the new tank up and running and move the inhabitants of the 120 gallon out in segments. I aquascaped in such a fashion as to allow me to create "segments or columns" of live rock. These were easy to move and I'm happy to report only the loss of less than a handful of corals.
I've met some pretty cool Chicago reefers via trading and selling thru craigslist. I'm hoping to meet some more thru forums and postings here. I feel like I have some knowledge to offer and always appreciate new perspectives. Thanks for reading and enjoy these pics to get started.
