Reef Year in review: What were the notable happenings for you in 2022?

[Peace River]

Year in review: What were the notable reef happenings for you in 2022?

It is said that change is the only constant, and this year was no exception. We have lost friends, we have seen the continued morphing of expos with the continued rise of combined freshwater and saltwater shows, and the industry has changed with more acquisitions and distributorship changes by BRS. As you reflect on 2022, what were the notable happenings in the aquarium space for you? Were there any other significant happenings for you? Tell us about it in the discussion.

Image from @Reef Builders video

 

[ZoWhat]

Biggest thing in 2022 is ppl quit complaining about Indonesian corals being banned

 

[revhtree]

Love and miss you Jake Adams!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Change is like the sea, ever shifting and flowing. All of the above, plus a few personal ones.

I focussed on participating and learning more on this forum, started a local frag business, and started uploading videos to YouTube to give my perspective on reefing.
I am looking to not only be a hobbyist but to reach out to those in the industry to learn and communicate to help advance reefing for all.

 

[Backreefing]

For me , the big happening was switching from none skimming ( no skimmer) . To skimming with a reef octopus HOB 90 . And this has changed things in the aquarium. Before without skimming I had ultra low nutrients. And acropora did ok montipora ( my favorites) all would eventually die.
now with a skimmer montipora are doing well nutrients are higher especially phosphate. But acropora hate it . ?? All in all it’s doing better. Thx

 

[i cant think]

The biggest thing that happened in 2022 for me was I finally got the fish that has been at the top of my wish list for 5-6 years now. That fish is a juvenile regal tang at 2.5-3 inches. Although I managed to get hold of a misbar regal (you can’t see the misbar in the photo though).

Another big thing that occurred this year was my 4’ tank finally got 5 large colonies, one was a Miyagi tort and the others were all leathers. They can all be seen in the FTS however close ups of my two favourites are below.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Contacted something (kids swear Covid) that knocked me down so much I could not take care of my 250.
Sold it all. After 6 months I put up a smaller tank. Now I might have a predator I have to find.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

The biggest thing that happened in 2022 for me was I finally got the fish that has been at the top of my wish list for 5-6 years now. That fish is a juvenile regal tang at 2.5-3 inches. Although I managed to get hold of a misbar regal (you can’t see the misbar in the photo though).
View attachment 2951797

Another big thing that occurred this year was my 4’ tank finally got 5 large colonies, one was a Miyagi tort and the others were all leathers. They can all be seen in the FTS however close ups of my two favourites are below.
View attachment 2951807
View attachment 2951809
View attachment 2951808

On my list too. Hopeful for 23.

 

[Labridaedicted]

We had a baby which has kept me home more. Made me more diligent with my maintenance and upkeep.

 

[ZoWhat]

We had a baby which has kept me home more. Made me more diligent with my maintenance and upkeep.

On your tank or the baby? Lol

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

On your tank or the baby? Lol

Boff

 

[OrchidMiss]

I was able to get to not 1, but 2 different RAPs this year. A first for me!
RAP NY

RAP TX

And got my foot in the door a little with designing stickers.

The rest of the year has been very messy for me, as I navigate a separation.
However, I 've met some incredible people from this amazing community! I look forward to meeting many more of you and seeing the others again!
Here's to health and renewed happiness for all in the new year.

 

[i cant think]

On my list too. Hopeful for 23.

I look forward to that! Any plans for CB or WC?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

This year has been crazy for me but a good one, got married this year, got a nano tank this year (in the process of getting it set up), and met a lot of great people in this hobby. Excited to see what 2023 brings

 

[A Young reefer]

The loss of jake adams still pains me to this day. Reefing is no longer the same to me.
A big thank you to everyone a @Reef Builders for continuing this journey.

 

[LordofCinder]

Other: for me its the Great Barrier Reef mass bleaching again in 2022

 

[Rhodes87]

For this community losing Jake was a huge blow to us all. Especially those of us who started learning this hobby through youtube. Jake and reef builders has always been one of the best places to learn from. Will be missed and a space that no one will do it the same.
For me personally just getting my tank back from the brink of taking it down. Have lost so much with this tank but things are finally starting to turn around and I can see the light lol. 2023 will be the year it gets back to pre covid status and I get back to enjoying it vs fighting it.

 

[Sdot]

A few for me...some more notable than others.

1. The loss of Jake Adams.... he inspired many, this reefer included.

2. Staying focused on my reef even though this year has been the most challenging by a country mile (Cyano issues, fish loss, coral loss, dino's...etc)

3. Getting my aquarium dialed in to the point where i can now really start to enjoy it... something magical happens when you overcome adversity.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

This year was different from all the rest (but aren't they all LOL). Reasons:

• Texas Ice Storm Bounce Back Promotion (local area level)
  • I/we all developed PTSD if weather app says "freezing"
  • generous donations trying to re-stimulate DFW aquarium hobby
• Reef A Palooza Texas
  • 1st ever held TX
• Aiptasia in my main tank
  • BF threatens to toss my aquarium into chlorine pool
    • fortunately 180 gallon aquarium is HEAVY
    • canopy doors slow down any grab & toss impulses
• breeding Berghia
  • make up for berghia BF kills with his other extreme 'cures'
    • lost some really great fish and not replacing until safely on other side of aiptasia (could even be 2024)

SO, if 2023 finds me jailed for protecting my main tank, root cause was lame original coral dip and quarantine process - now lets see a new aiptasia (or anything else) try to sneak thru MY doors with ME as gatekeeper ...

2023 some tank tasks should not be 'shared' ... Interestingly, he is still ignoring my 60g FOWLR and only comment was a recent "you should have gotten bigger" (!)

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I think the most notable thing for me this year was the realization of just how important reefing has been, not just for me but also for my kids for our emotional healing and trauma.

We didn't start keeping aquariums until after my oldest son passed away 3 years ago and we inherited his tank and fish. I already knew how much the tanks meant to me but it wasn't until a joint therapy session with my younger two boys that I realized how important it was to them also.

After that we made the decision to focus more on the tanks as a full family project and try to do better about keeping that connection going.