Is this all that our hobby has to offer?

[alishahlakhani]

Hey reefers,
Sometime after owning a reef tank for a year or so I realised that I'm hungry for more but I don't just want to expand my existing aquarium into a bigger one. I am looking for different progression paths this hobby has. I managed to compile the list of all these paths. What do you guys think? did i miss anything? Feel free to add. I'm thinking of putting it out there in podcast format for beginner and experienced reefers or anyone who is willing to expand their hobby skillset.

For coral enthusiasts

• Softies coral tank
• LPS coral tank
• Mixed coral tank
• Speciality tanks
  • Xenia Fuge,
  • Macro Algae tank,
  • Clownfish harem & Anemone tank
• SPS coral tank
• NPS coral tank

For Fish enthusiasts

• FOWLR - Fish Only With Live Rock
• Species only tank
  • Sea horses tank
  • Saltwater sting rays
• Predator tanks
  • Moray eel
  • Lionfish

Side gigs in this hobby

• Fragging and selling,
• Fish and corals breeding
• ULN (Ultra low nutrients)
• Moving to freshwater aquarium hobby.

Help is highly appreciated. I would also love some support for my podcast and Instagram channel.
If you resonate with the content I'm putting out there then I would love some support <3 <3

KeepReefin | Ali Shah Lakhani

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I have acc seen people who have stingrays in reefs. Pretty cool. You also didnt mention sharks. But those need at least 300g.

 

[Deschutes541]

Breeding seems interesting to me.

I've also enjoyed starting to put more effort into feeding beside just a pinch of pellets. I've started feeding frozen food, spirulina powder and baby brine shrimp. The fish seem to be appreciating it. It's not much more work and it's a fun extension of the hobby. I'd also be interested in making my own frozen food one day.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

Growing your own phyto and pods for your fish and corals (something I'm about to pursue) or any other live food types (rotos, brine shrimp etc). Can also sell excess of you feel like the hassle is worth it.

 

[JakeAndAmanda]

Jellyfish

 

[Crashnt24]

I would love to try breeding and maintaining berghia nudis for a side hustle

 

[Greybeard]

Breeding... in small quantities, it's rarely profitable, but can be a serious upgrade to the hobby.

Biotope tanks of myriad types. I've always wanted to do a mangrove tank. In my mind, a 30" x 30" tank, 16" tall or so. 5" or so of fine sand, very little rock... grow out a couple red mangroves to reasonable size. Various small fishes appropriate to the environment, perhaps some soft corals, gorgonians and such. Could be very cool.

Non-glass box type tanks. One of these days, i'm going to pick up a big molded plastic stock tank, several hundred gallons, and do a top view only reef. Found a 9' round tank, 28" tall, about a thousand gallons. Only $350. Larger fishes, angels, tangs, triggers... Fast growing corals. Build it out right, it could be very cool. Maybe turn a 30g barrel into a big Carlson surge bucket

Uncommon animals: You mentioned Seahorses, great, but there's tons of interesting single species type tanks that can be done. Dwarf Cuttlefish have long been on my radar (Sepia Bandensis). Hatch 'em from eggs, try to breed the next generation. Seriously cool critters.

 

[hds4216]

Though I don't think they're suited to captivity, many keep cephalopods like octopus. There's also a region specific reef tank, ie trying to create a natural looking reef using only the fish/coral found in the region you're trying to replicate - like a Hawaiian biome or a Carribean biome.

 

[Paul B]

I like invertebrates even better than fish. There are dozens of types of shrimp and crabs that can be kept with fish with little to no care.





















OK, Maybe not that one.

 

[RobB'z Reef]

I like invertebrates even better than fish. There are dozens of types of shrimp and crabs that can be kept with fish with little to no care.





















OK, Maybe not that one.

ohhh yeah! grow your own scallops for dinner

 

[LaxFrags]

Don't know if you said it already but I've heard of people growing coral with just sunlight, put your tank up next to a window or outside if its warm and go from there. You can also do it in a green house. Just throwin it out there, cool thread though!Attach files

 

[Pny]

No its not all...

No path for "Coldwater Marine Aquarium"? ...or technology entusiast such as "DIY technology" or "tank automation". Nano reefs? or Marine photography? Macro algae?

 

[fish farmer]

Breeding... in small quantities, it's rarely profitable, but can be a serious upgrade to the hobby.

Biotope tanks of myriad types. I've always wanted to do a mangrove tank. In my mind, a 30" x 30" tank, 16" tall or so. 5" or so of fine sand, very little rock... grow out a couple red mangroves to reasonable size. Various small fishes appropriate to the environment, perhaps some soft corals, gorgonians and such. Could be very cool.

Non-glass box type tanks. One of these days, i'm going to pick up a big molded plastic stock tank, several hundred gallons, and do a top view only reef. Found a 9' round tank, 28" tall, about a thousand gallons. Only $350. Larger fishes, angels, tangs, triggers... Fast growing corals. Build it out right, it could be very cool. Maybe turn a 30g barrel into a big Carlson surge bucket

Uncommon animals: You mentioned Seahorses, great, but there's tons of interesting single species type tanks that can be done. Dwarf Cuttlefish have long been on my radar (Sepia Bandensis). Hatch 'em from eggs, try to breed the next generation. Seriously cool critters.

We dream the same...I'll add to this.

Mangrove/island tank/sea grass zone connected to the top down predator tank all enclosed in a greenhouse with tropical plants, maybe a few lizards running around.

That would make the winters more bearable.

Also ocean specific tanks, red sea, indo, carribean, northern cold water.

Forgot to add brackish.

 

[sp1187]

tank type... pico, nano, cubes, big, bigger, huge , ginormous.
don't do insta. good luck.

 

[JakeAndAmanda]

I work on Long Island sound, always thought a local tank would be cool

 

[PeterC99]

How about a section about when things go wrong. Monitoring for corals/aquariums, problem signs, and remediations.

 

[fish farmer]

I work on Long Island sound, always thought a local tank would be cool

Your "local" tank could actually have tropical fish in it that settle out every summer.

 

[alishahlakhani]

I have acc seen people who have stingrays in reefs. Pretty cool. You also didnt mention sharks. But those need at least 300g.

Stingrays in reef? Are they even reef safe? This hobby never fails to surprise.

+Shark tanks, great idea. I've added that now

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Stingrays in reef? Are they even reef safe? This hobby never fails to surprise.

+Shark tanks, great idea. I've added that now

I saw someone on instagram who had on in their reef, and I too was surprised so I asked them how they did it. They didnt know what species it was though.
@supremereefs on instagram, they have it on there go check it out

 

[KenRexford]

I have often thought about my big tank build being a mermaid tank, but I don’t think my wife will let me.