Another Reefer back from a 13 year Hiatus

[mike1962]

Seems like there are few us who are returning from a much too long break. My exit from reef tanks started when while on vacation. My chiller burned out which caused the circuit to trip, killing everything. It was devastating to lose 6 years of cultivating and pampering. Having watched coral grow from 1" frags to wondrous branching things of beauty only to have a mass die-off really set me back. It was in this time that my wife and I got a call out of the blue that our plans for adoption came to fruition. A 2 day old baby boy was waiting for us at the hospital. Needless to say that this life change put a tank re-birth on hold. Add that we moved from Northern California to Southern California a few years back and Saltwater Tanks had to sit on the back burner. The good news is that I kept all my equipment minus the burned out chiller. I have nearly 100lbs of dry rock I got from Bulk Reef Supply that never got the chance to be used (I was planning an upgraded tank) and still in their boxes!

Now that I am in Southern California I'm wondering if anyone can guide me to a local club. I'm in the Inland Empire area near Riverside. Also, if anyone knows of any good Aquarium places to visit in my area that would be great!

When I left the hobby LED lighting was just becoming the thing. I would like to transition to LED's and need to start doing some research. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[griss]

Welcome back and congrats on your adoption even if it was a while ago.

Unfortunately, Facebook has had a huge negative affect on all hobby forums so traffic on forums isn’t what it used to be. People would rather get an instant (often incorrect) answer from FB rather than wait for a correct answer on a forum.

Anyway, maybe @Anemone or @christygirl can provide you with a club.

 

[mike1962]

Thanks for the info @griss ! I've personally never been a fan of FB so I haven't been on their in more than a decade. Hopefully @Anemone or @christygirl will have some insight about a club. I was in MARS and then BAR way back when and I found being in a club not only helpful but enjoyed the camaraderie of like minded hobbyists.

 

[griss]

You’re very welcome. I personally dislike social media, so I stay here:

 

[Anemone]

You’re very welcome. I personally dislike social media, so I stay here:

Griss just likes anti-social media and yelling "Get off my lawn" at the neighborhood kids!

SoCal really doesn't have a single, active club anymore. The Southern California Reefers Forum here is more an amalgamation of clubs (Southern California Reefers). I'm not in the IE, but folks on the forum can direct you to any worthwhile LFSs.

Kevin

 

[mike1962]

Thanks @Anemone, appreciate the info!