Tell us about yourself: 

Well, I?m 23 years old. I was born and spent my first seven years of my life in Java, Indonesia. I've also lived on Oahu, Hawaii for about another seven years, before eventually ending up in Washington State. Ah yes, still a bachelor of course. I actually enjoy other hobbies in addition to this addicting reef hobby. I play badminton rather competitively, and definitely do not treat it as a backyard picnic sport. I also collect old United States coins that I find from change I've acquired here and there. I'm usually eager to help and always welcome new things about the hobby.

How did you get involved in the saltwater hobby?

I started my first saltwater reef tank in mid-2000, although I've kept saltwater fish-only tanks for as long as I can remember. The first reef tank was a 25 gallon Tall All-Glass tank, with the usual live rock and deep sand bed. Despite the fairly recent involvement in this reef tank hobby, all my life I have been around or exposed to the reef tanks or reef animals. Being born in Indonesia and spending my first years there, I got a chance to see the suppliers and their holding tanks. The past six years of 'reefing' has been great, and each day there is always something new to learn about this hobby. I decided to start a reef tank because I moved out for college and decided to set something in my little one bedroom space in Seattle.

Tell us about your tank 

My current tank is a small ~27 gallon acrylic tank measuring 18"x18"x21" tall. The tank has gone through several changes, specifically in coral types and the animals that inhabit its miniscule volume. I originally started the tank with visions of an SPS only tank, and then phased out into an anemone specific tank with clownfishes. The reason for the change being the fact that I got into breeding clownfishes and decided that I should give my current pair of gold-stripe Premnas clownfishes more space, rather than the small volume filled with 'fuzzy sticks' or acroporas and montiporas. The tank is lit with a single XM10k 250 watt SE bulb run on ARO Hellolights ballast, with an additional 32 watt PC actinic for the sole purpose of dawn and dusk effect. The actinic is turned off for the duration when the halide bulb is on.

How did you become involved with Reef Frontiers? 

I found out about Reef Frontiers through the Puget Sound Aquarium Society club. I was previously and still am supporters of other boards as well, but now call Reef Frontiers home. I am always learning new things from the posts of others and advice from the experts.

What is your reef keeping philosophy? 

My reefkeeping philosophy consists of limiting the animals we take from the oceans. This not only means limiting what we take out, but also to grow and captive-breed what we do take out, so one day, we do not need to harvest from the coral reefs to fill up our glass or plastic boxes.

What is your dream tank? 

My dream tank right now is a 4?x4?x2? tank with a pair of Amphiprion mccullochi or Amphiprion omanensis and several Stichodactyla gigantea anemones.

Do you have any advice for others? 

I would definitely let someone know about the numerous amounts of resources that are available online these days, and to always research before making that purchase. In some level, reef forums are great assets in more ways than one, and in my opinion, it strengthens and promotes responsible reefkeeping, as well as creating a sense of community for all reef hobbyists. I would encourage all hobbyists to join one or more reef communities and forums.