Tell us about yourself: 

My name is Todd Moses, I am 40 years old, and live in Tacoma, Washington. I have been in Tacoma for the past 17 years now. After my honorable discharge from the Army I decided to stay in the great North West and not return back to the Chicago area. I spent the past 21 years as a nurse, first in the Army (since that’s what they decided they wanted me to do), then for the past 14 years at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital as a pediatric nurse. Just recently (two months ago) I took a big leap into the great unknown and became a Real Estate Agent for John L Scott. It’s been a great change and I look forward to a rewarding future in my new career. My Reef tank takes up much of my “free” time but I enjoy photography (great for the reef hobby) and Martial Arts (I taught for 9 years).

How did you get involved in the saltwater hobby?

I started keeping freshwater fish in the late 70’s and early 80’s, if memory serves me correctly I started working at a LFS in 1980 where I was first exposed to saltwater fish. I had everything from Cichlids to Piranha, then on to Discus before I started keeping a pair of Oscellaris Clownfish. My clownfish actually mated and had eggs, though they ended up eating their first and only brood. I left the hobby when I went into the Army in 1984 and didn’t return until about three years ago when my wife said something about a tank listed on ebay that was fairly local. The hobby made so many advancements since the 80’s I was overwhelmed. I got lots of help from my local reef shop Indoor Reef and my many new friends that I have met through the forum and PSAS.

Tell us about your tank 

The easiest way is for me to just post a link here to my member showcase thread:

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5191

It is a 135 gal. “cubish” tank that was originally meant to be an SPS dominated tank; it has a total volume including the massive airstone skimmer of about 200 gal.  I have been through some trials and tribulations with my previous (55 hex) and this tank. Many of them are documented on my thread, if you haven’t read it yet you may want to just for some “what not to do”. The tank has done some real turning around now that the flatworms are gone (along with 99% of my SPS).  I now have a calcium reactor running and things seem to be making a big turn around. If you don’t have one running and you have over 100 gal total volume it is a must for the corals. I have had some great success with my current livestock of 2 Radiata Lionfish, 1 Copperband Butterflyfish, 1 Powder Blue Tang, and my newest addition the Yellow Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish…yes I do have a thing for the lionfish :) However I did have to get rid of my clams do to the CBB and PBT taking great interest in the flavor of clam :(

How did you become involved with Reef Frontiers? 

Indoor Reef suggested that I get involved in the Forum and I have been a member every since. I have told everyone I meet that has even a remote interest in the hobby to get involved in RF since it is a great place to not only learn but a great inspiration as well.

What is your reef keeping philosophy? 

The same as many others…nothing good ever happens quickly in this hobby.

What is your dream tank? 

My dream tank would have to be something like Steve Weast’s tank; only a little more “cubish” :) My next tank will be a 4x4 by 24” for a tank volume of 240 gal with a custom sump. I’m shooting for next summer for that one, the dream tank, well…it’s a dream :)

Do you have any advice for others? 

Take your time, learn as much as possible through books and on the forum. Read my thread and find out what not to do, no, not really, but do learn from others mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask, we have a great bunch here and lots of incredible knowledge at your disposal.

Don’t accept any coral with bryopsis on it, it will kill your tank and your spirit, but you can beat it!