Before I get myself into trouble I figure I should introduce myself.
I started out fishkeeping with primarily freshwater back in about 1984. I did have 1 saltwater tank with a Condy type anemone and a Sebae clown in about 1974. I kept both of them alive for over a year. I think looking back was pretty remarkable considering Underwater Caverns was killing prety much everything at that time.
I bought a house with my other half in 1985 and set up a room for breeding all those fish I fancied. I had about 100 tanks in a 10 x 13 foot room. About 1989 I knocked out a wall and made it a 10 x 25 foot room and increased tank size and dropped the number of tanks. I set up a 75 gallon Reef in 1993 which was quickly followed by a 40 breeder, a 30 long and a 20. The 3 smaller tanks were all connected to a single sump. I had one Pagoda as my only hard coral entry. I had it living though thriving could hardly be anything I woud call its existance Till everything came down in 1996. I had a Sarcophyton leather that kept me supplied with salt for water changes. I think I was able to trade about a dozen stubs over a 3 year period.
Most everything was DYI, the only way I could afford to keep all the stuff I had. At one time I had about 6 Skimmer designs I was playing with. I got my hands on about 40 feet of 4 and 6 inch PVC and a ton of end caps. I was working on ways to
dose Kalk as it was a super pain for me. Soft
coral growth was sproradic .. fast and slow.
In 1996 the DIvorce set in... and so did the demise of my fish room. By the time I moved in 1998 I pretty much donated about $5000 worth of tanks and equipment to anyone who would take it. My surviving stuff includes a 20, 2 tens and a few odd pieces including a 36 inch dual strip light that will cover a plant tank or a refugium eventually.
I currently have set up a used 55 and the 20 gallon as freshwater tanks and have re-instated my activity in the MAS over the last 4 months. My Goal for a first reef tank is a 4 ft. 120. It was a person in MAS that led me to you all.
I guess whan I think I am dispensing information via post it is a little older than some would find useful. Keep that in mind as I trudge my way through some obviously new information.
Personally, I am single, live in Zimmerman, MN (which is a bit north of Elk River on Hwy 169 on your way to Mille Lacs.), I work for a medical manufacturing company in the R&D department, I am all of 44 yo. My educational background is in WIldlife Mgmt with a chem minor. Stresses are in Aquatic systems.. I was toying with a minor in fisheries.. Also air and water analysis tech..
My favorite stuff in a reef are clams.. and a recent love for Acropora and Millipora. Porites coming in on some live rock might be fun as well. I recall some of that on a few of my first pieces, way back when.
Seeing you all selling off and giving away all this equipment is giving me a major itch. Too bad I am still unprepared for most all of it. Have to finish a room or two before I get too involved.
I should also add, I will continue with the DIY.. I am not cheap when I can afford not to be.. but I think that is a fun part of this hobby for me.
Thanks for being here.
Anchor... NOT a NICKNAME WIth a name like that who needs a nickname.
You drive a hard bargain. Alas, The --DRY -- meeting has precedence.... I will still think about it.. have to wait to see the voting outcome on the first thursday.. 
