Obligatory newbie introduction. I'll be posting up a standalone thread on my current build (so as not to hijack the intro thread with multiple questions!) so I'll go into more detail there but a little bit would work here too!
I've had a few smaller freshwater tanks when I was younger, always enjoyed having one around. Several (eight or so) years ago I helped a buddy from work set up a saltwater tank. In retrospect I realize that he was doing it rather on an impulse and I don't think he did much research, as I went over to help him move the tank into his apartment, fill it up, mix in some salt and start floating bags o' fish all in the same night. All the same, it has been the sort of thing I've been wanting to get into ever since and haven't really had the opportunity ... till now.
I acquired a 75 gallon tank and a decorative stand (that fits in very nicely with the rest of the furniture in the home) a few months ago. Being a consummate DIY type guy, I ordered an overflow kit from glassholes.com and drilled the tank myself. Talk about nerve wracking! In the end it was a success, and the next thing you know I've got a tank full of empty water
Now that I've finished filling it with sand and live rock, I've begun the slow process of stocking it with living critters and am looking forward to it ... but that story is for another thread.
RC has been a fantastic resource and has easily become my #1 source of information about the hobby, and I have no doubt it's going to stay in my bookmarks for very long time. Many thanks to all of you, experienced and otherwise, who share your invaluable insight and knowledge here!
