Hi from Orange County CA! First tank ever.

[ZzyzxRiver]

Hi everyone! I’ve heard this is *the* community when it comes to reefing.

I was at a PetSmart with my 9mo old baby (getting something for our cat), and he was so captivated by the fish that I knew on the spot I needed to get an aquarium.

I went to an aquarium store to get a nice setup for a freshwater tank, but the owner clearly saw me for the sucker I am and talked me into saltwater. I bought a BioCube 16, live sand, dry rock, and then absolutely lost my mind waiting for the tank to cycle!

I’ll start a build thread as well. Very early days—only had fish and snails for a week now, as well as an anemone that I’m annoyed about getting sold so early now that I’ve been doing my research to understand why it’s been so angry. The great news is my son LOVES to stare into the tank with us— watching him paw the glass trying to get our Tiger conch snail is super cute, and he watches our clownfish with a smile on his face.

Thanks in advance for all the advice and information, everyone!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family!

 

[Nano_Man]

 

[smitten with ocean life]

a warm welcome!

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

 

[CO2TLEY]

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board. hello from PA!

 

[corosato]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

Hello & Welcome, happy you’re here!

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Welcome! A BioCube is where it all started for me too because of my son..

I know how to pronounce your name correctly too. I’m an OC native and that road was always on the way to Vegas on the i15.

Currently live in South OC near San Clemente.

 

[PharmrJohn]

To quote the Knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, You Chose Wisely! This place rocks.

So Greetings and Welcome to our collective obsession!

 

[Lavey29]

Congrats and welcome to the reef. From so cal here also and have driven past zzyzx rd many times.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everybody! Just from my experiences in the last few weeks enjoying my still-barren tank. I already know I’ll be here in ten years talking about some monster tank I’ll have going by then, haha!

For those of you in OC (Hi!): which are your favorite aquarium stores? I have visited Ocean’s Tropical Fish in Mission Viejo and Amazing Aquariums and Reefs in Orange so far.

 

[luis angel]

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Welcome to Reef2reef!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Hi everyone! I’ve heard this is *the* community when it comes to reefing.

I was at a PetSmart with my 9mo old baby (getting something for our cat), and he was so captivated by the fish that I knew on the spot I needed to get an aquarium.

I went to an aquarium store to get a nice setup for a freshwater tank, but the owner clearly saw me for the sucker I am and talked me into saltwater. I bought a BioCube 16, live sand, dry rock, and then absolutely lost my mind waiting for the tank to cycle!

I’ll start a build thread as well. Very early days—only had fish and snails for a week now, as well as an anemone that I’m annoyed about getting sold so early now that I’ve been doing my research to understand why it’s been so angry. The great news is my son LOVES to stare into the tank with us— watching him paw the glass trying to get our Tiger conch snail is super cute, and he watches our clownfish with a smile on his face.

Thanks in advance for all the advice and information, everyone!

Welcome to R2R!! Nice looking tank BTW. Yeah a lot of pet stores are just looking to make a sale, with little to no knowledge of what the animals actually need to thrive. Hopefully your anemone will get thru this. They are typically very sensitive animals, so newer tanks are generally off limits for them. But sounds like you now know this. Have you tried taking it back to the pest store? And maybe get one down the road abit, like 10 months or so.

 

[felda001]

Welcome. I got my start out in OC myself long ago. Tongs in fountain valley used to be great. And the scmas group was a great place to get info and pick up frags from some of the big names at fair prices. I know Tongs is still there but I don't know if it's still as good. It's been 10+ years since I was in the state

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and the salty world. Take things slowly. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.