SECRET SANTA 2022 is LIVE!!! Register HERE!!

[Dabcrusher]

1. What country are you located in?USA
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Salt . Reefenergy
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Play with the fish
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Drones
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Sit at home and play with my brand new baby
6. Do you collect anything? Seems like aquarium equipment for some reason
7. What is your favorite color? Green
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Star wars
9. What type of music do you listen to? Rap and classical
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Sometime UK Wildcats
11. What's your favorite fish? I really like these Wetmorella wrasses
12. Favorite coral?
13. Favorite invert? Tridacna clams
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? CADE 1200 yes
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? Add more sand for my wrasse
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Recently started appreciating the fish more . Seems like I always was more into the corals
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Work
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)something reef related. My significant other refuses to get me aquarium stuff so this and the secret santa at work is all I got
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*yes anything except pods cause I get as many as I need from work
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

 

[fire/medic]

I’m new. Not sure it’s been 14 but I have 10 posts. I’ll play if you guys will allow it…

1. What country are you located in? United States
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Time. Money. Cameras.
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? It once was photography. Now it’s nursing school.
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Photography. Music.
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Tinkering with the aquarium and music.
6. Do you collect anything? Antique cameras…noticing a trend here?
7. What is your favorite color? Greg
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Man…Stand By Me. Goodfellas. Cool Hand Luke.
9. What type of music do you listen to? Mostly rock. Everything from classic rock to death metal. Tend to hover around early 90’s grunge.
10. Do you follow any sports teams? LSU Tigers
11. What's your favorite fish? Probably a powder blue tang.
12. Favorite coral? I only have a tiny green star polyp now…but I
13. Favorite invert? Inner glow hammer
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? This is my first tank. It’s a Fluval Evo 13.5. It has a tiny clown, a signal goby, a royal gramma, a tiny chalk basslet, an emerald crab, and 5 snails. I do have a build thread…
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? For now my two biggest plans are a different power head, probably a hygger, and a better light.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? The royal gramma…he’s a peculiar little guy.
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Watching the changes take place. And having the fish get accustomed to me and interact with me.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) hygger nano power head, feeding ring, not metal aquarium tongs, inTank chamber 2 basket…pretty much anything for a nano tank
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* No fish. I’m pretty heavily stocked. I would take chorals if they are Hardy and can survive in a pretty newly established aquarium.
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.) Nope.

 

[Vasir]

1. What country are you located in?
2. What is one thing you always need more of?
3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
4. What are your other hobbies/interests?
5. How do you relax after a long day at work?
6. Do you collect anything?
7. What is your favorite color?
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again?
9. What type of music do you listen to?
10. Do you follow any sports teams?
11. What's your favorite fish?
12. Favorite coral?
13. Favorite invert?
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)?
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

1. USA
2. Man....hm...I always misplace my syringes.
3. Im somewhat of a regular at my LFS; but other than that we hit the trails by where we live- either with our Tandem Roadbike, or a simple hike.
4. Hike, Bike, Mini-Road Trips
5. Stare at the fish tank and play with one of our 4 cats.
6. Matchbox and Hotwheels Porsches and Mercedes! Or gun stuff.
7. Blue. Like deep dark almost black, blue.
8. Seinfeld
9. 80s, 90's Club Mix/Euro Trash (think Night at The Roxbury)
10. Go BLUE!
11. Clowns!
12. I like Zoas. none of my nice ones grow fast enough.
13. My Wife's is an emerald crab- Specifically ours. His name is Crabby Guy.
14. Currently in process of breaking down and splitting amongst two identical nanos. 2x RS Nano Peninsula
15. Trying to make the cabinets more organized.
16. The torches and Xenia. Im a sucker for movement.
17. Honestly, I like seeing something new in the tank that happened on its own, be it a new zoa polyp, or the Anemone moving somewhere different. My wife enjoys putting new hats on the Tuxedo urchin- the 3d printed hats were a hit!
18. Honestly im a terrible person to buy a present for- I would be happy with literally anything. I am a sucker for stickers though, so if you have one of those instagram reefer stickers or something...
19. IF that was the case, then something that wouldnt murder my clowns/be murdered by clowns.
20. Im a huge motor head. Anything old Porsche or Mercedes related gets me going.

 

[Woodyth]

Secret Santa Questionnaire:

1. What country are you located in? USA
2. What is one thing you always need more of? MONEY
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Fishing
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Minnesota Wild Hockey
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Irish whiskey and a cigar
6. Do you collect anything? Cigars I guess.
7. What is your favorite color? Yellow
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Casino
9. What type of music do you listen to? Any
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Minnesota Wild and Vikings
11. What's your favorite fish? Clownfish, Tangs
12. Favorite coral? a living one
13. Favorite invert? Harlequin shrimp
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? Only 1. A 28 gallon tank.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? As we all do, will be getting a bigger one someday
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? My yellow watchman goby.
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Clean up crew day.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Happy with anything.
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* yes, ANY.
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.) Nothing.

 

[whybenormal]

I'm SO excited to do this! This is actually the first time I've ever done a Secret Santa!!

1. What country are you located in? I'm in the US - North Carolina to be more precise.
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Shrimp and hermit crabs? Knowledge! I'm more of a newbie.
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Rearrange things (in the house, or the aquarium); declutter my office, find new ways to drive my husband up the wall; play with my dog, go target practice, go shopping, stare at my tank.
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Day trading stocks, carnivorous plants, antique books, health, learning new things, I love raccoons and keeshonds as well.
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? I don't really relax... I just move my laptop to the living room. If my hot tub wasn't broken I'd relax there though. I do relax playing with my aquarium though.
6. Do you collect anything? Antique books (especially pre 1800) and glass dip quill pens. If something has a raccoon on it, I will usually end up buying it.
7. What is your favorite color? Any jewel tone - sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red,
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? I've seen "The Princess Bride" no less than 50 times. "Galaxy Quest" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" would be runners up.
9. What type of music do you listen to? I'm fairly eclectic in music - rock, country, classical, some rap, easy listening, just not too extreme, and not much indie.
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Not really, but my husband loves the Cowboys, so I root for them.
11. What's your favorite fish? I love all my babies! Current fave... Achmed, my Dusky Jawfish, or Toro my Lawnmower Blenny.
12. Favorite coral? I'm new to corals, I had some Daisy polyps, but something ate them. They were so cute.
13. Favorite invert? I love shrimp, I don't have any, but I want some cleaner shrimp soon. I also love my brittle star "Spikey." I think he is adorable.
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? Currently I only have one, my 75 gallon. I do have a build thread. It is a mixed tank with fish and coral. I have an engineer goby (Scotty just turned 2!) Scooter Blenny, Falco Hawkfish, Lawnmower Blenny, 6 Line Wrasse, Flasher Wrasse, Scissortail Dartfish, Firefish, 5 Pajama Cardinals, Achmed the Dusky Jawfish, Bristletooth Tang, Invertebrates: Flame Scallop, Serpent Star, Brittle Star, Cruella the Coral Banded Shrimp, Boomer the Pencil Urchin, 2 Turbo Snails. Corals - Red Zoa, Green Zoa, Green Torch, Clove Polyp (recovering from attempted murder by urchin), Kenya Tree, Orange mushroom, Green mushroom (MIA - presumed dead, last seen headed under a rock)
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? I hope to start another tank to breed shrimp. I'm not happy with my aquascaping, so I will probably tweak it more, (continually according to my husband) I plan to get more coral now that I have good lights, though staying with beginner stuff. I want to get a Scopas Tang, some cleaner shrimp and hermit crabs, and *maybe* a small tube anemone. Also *maybe* a pair of clowns and an anemone for them - just want to make sure I don't have a fish eater. lol.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? I love watching the jawfish move rocks, engineer goby move sand, and all of the fish get excited like a pack of ankle biters every time I get near the tank. "Is she going to feed us????"
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? I love learning, and this is a continual learning process, which really suits me. The variety of the fish/inverts/corals fascinates me - I love to find more unusual things to put in the tank.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? Fish/coral books, a pet raccoon if you have a spare one... ,
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? yes, corals (softies or lps) shrimp, hermits, anything reef safe

 

[evrydayzawrkday]

1. What country are you located in? USA
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Hanna Reagents
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Outdoor stuff, mainly mountain biking or hiking with the kids
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? PC gaming
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Reefing, gaming, gym
6. Do you collect anything? Zoas
7. What is your favorite color? Blue
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Rick and Morty
9. What type of music do you listen to? '00 Emo-Screamo-Hardcore (Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, Thrice, etc)
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Not anymore.
11. What's your favorite fish? Clownfish
12. Favorite coral? Zoa
13. Favorite invert? Sexy Shrimp
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? 40G AIO. Build thread has all the details, but it is mainly a zoa/anemone tank currently with GSP spreading throughout.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? No.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Love just watching the crabs and other inhabitants do its thing.
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Watching small frags turn into massive colonies over time is pretty sweet.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) I like to be surprised. It can be a 10 dollar frag, some reagents for Hanna, cool supplements or chemicals, or something non-reefing related at all.
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* The only thing I would be interested is in some zoa, mushrooms, or cyphasteria.
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.) No.

 

[Tamberav]

1. What country are you located in? USA
2. What is one thing you always need more of? time, coffee, ICE super glue gel
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? All my free time is spent with my 11 month old
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Spending time outdoors, play videogame sometimes
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Netflix and chill, read forums
6. Do you collect anything? Not on purpose lol
7. What is your favorite color? Purple
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Don't have a specific one but I like comedies and dramas
9. What type of music do you listen to? Anything really
10. Do you follow any sports teams? No
11. What's your favorite fish? Copperband butterfly
12. Favorite coral? Not sure I have a favorite, I appreciate them all
13. Favorite invert? Peacock Mantis shrimp
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? I have a 80g with mostly soft corals, a 7g which is a cold water reef, and a 25g that I don't know what I will put in it yet!
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? Would like a 200-300g sometime in next few years, going to set up my 25g.. can't decide between SPS/LPS or macroalgae tank for it.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? My fish
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Breakthroughs in captive breeding
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Reef art (vossen, lachri, reef weeds, etc), a controllable powerhead for a 25g cube, local snacks, honey, or seasonings (no allergies), reef stickers, ICE super glue, Frozen fish food (LRS or whatever, Premium Aquatics is near me and ships on dry ice), honestly whatever you want to give, it does not need to be reef related at all!!
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

 

[Alex's Nano Reef]

1. What country are you located in? - United States
2. What is one thing you always need more of? - HANNA Alk Reagent , Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, Super small frag racks.
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? - Boating, Fishing, Reefing, and Content Creation
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? - Working on my Boat and Fishing out of the Barnegat bay
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? - I Like to lay down on my couch and watch my reef tank with a nice beer.
6. Do you collect anything? - Coral and fishing gear
7. What is your favorite color? - Blue
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? - any of the tarantino movies
9. What type of music do you listen to? - mostly rap and classic rock
10. Do you follow any sports teams? - no i dont have enough time
11. What's your favorite fish? - Tangs even though i cant keep them i love a nice yellow or naso tang
12. Favorite coral? - Fungia Plates and hammer corals. have had both types since 14 years old and they hold a special place in my heart
13. Favorite invert? - ConchS
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? - Currently i have only a single IM Nuvo 20g AIO Reef tank. Its a mixed reefthat hold everything from mushrooms to smooth skin sps. I have two bullethole clowns and a pink streaked wrasse in there. Of Course i have a build thread.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? - This Christmas we will be adding a brand new Neptune Systems Apex A3 controller aswells as a trident and DOS system to go along.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? - The Pink Streak Wrasse he is cryptic when he wants to be. But when he dosent he is out dancing in the flow with the clownfish.
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? - Going to trade shows and meeting vendors face to face and really getting to meet other people in the community.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) - Apex probe holder, Two Little fishes reborn if anyone can find it. Hanna reagents are always a good too. (ALK)
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* - Would be very open it even if its copepods or phyto. maybe i get matched with one of my local vendors(a man can dream)
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

 

[Alex's Nano Reef]

well i pulled the trigger happy reefing and secret santa everyone.

 

[BetterJake]

1. What country are you located in? United States
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Hanna Nitrate HR or Hanna Phosphate ULR Reagents
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? American Football, Tank Maintenance, Play Apex Legends
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Fantasy Football, Consumer Technology, Personal Finance
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Walk the dog, relax and watch some YouTube
6. Do you collect anything? Nope
7. What is your favorite color? Blue
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? The Office
9. What type of music do you listen to? Classic Rock, Rap, Punk, Metal. Pretty much everything except country
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Yes; Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Appalachian State
11. What's your favorite fish? Cowfish
12. Favorite coral? Scoly
13. Favorite invert? Tuxedo Urchin
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? Reefer 250 G2. Livestock; Tomini Tang, Mocha Clown, Filefish, Flame Hawk, Sand Star, 2 Tuxedo Urchins. I'm about to receive delivery of a Deskmate 4.8 nano tank bundle from BRS
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? Just adding the nano tank, stated above
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Flame Hawkfish
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Coral!
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Organization items, cleaning items, etc..
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* No Thank you
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.) N/A

 

[Dabcrusher]

How do you put you nickname on elfster I can't find that

 

[StatelineReefer]

How do you put you nickname on elfster I can't find that

Under profile settings/personal settings...
right after first and last name.

 

[jasina1]

Ho! Ho! Ho!! Thank you all for your patience while we worked out the details, but without further adieu...

Let's get this party started!! It's our 2022 Secret Santa for Reef2Reef!!

This is going to be a great time to spread Christmas joy!!

We're getting a bit of a late start this year, but we're still going to have a blast spreading Christmas cheer!!!

NOTE: To those who have been part of our Secret Santa before, this one will be slightly different. I promise there are some good reasons for the changes, and we hope they will lead to a better experience over all.

Here is how it will work:

• Requirements to participate:
  • At least 18 years of age (only exceptions to this will be participants who have been part of our Secret Santa before)
  • At least 14 days as a member of R2R
  • At least 10 posts on R2R
• Gift requirement: AT LEAST $25 value and a splash of Christmas joy! (Suggested gift range is $25-$50. More on this below.)
• As you sign up, you'll get a link to the gift exchange on Elfster (it's the Secret Santa exchange website/app that we use to organize the gift exchange) where you'll need to register so that we can easily match you with your Secret Santa.*
• The first matchup will take place on November 24th so that all of you eager Secret Santas can take advantage of Black Friday shopping. After this, matches will happen weekly through December 10th.
• Sign up will be open until December 10, 2022
• Buy or make gifts and ship them by December 17, 2022.
• Delivery tracking is mandatory and will need to be sent to @Santa Claus and/or updated in Elfster.
• International Participation: This year's Secret Santa will have 2 groups for those outside the US: 1) Canadian participants, 2) other international participants. While we wish that we had enough international participation to allow all participants to only send to members within their own country, that simply isn't feasible, so please be aware of the possibility that you may need to ship internationally to participate outside the US or Canada.

Here are a few guidelines for this year:

1. Please, PLEASE, be sure your R2R username is entered on your Elfster profile as your nickname. This really does help your Secret Santa to find you on Reef2Reef and get better gift giving ideas.
2. This is an event that is meant to spread Christmas joy, so we're asking all participants to try to make this special for whoever you receive. While we realize that this may look different for everyone, we're asking participants to avoid sending $25 e-gift cards as your only gift. Suggested gift range is $25-$50. You may give more, but be aware that you may not receive more than this amount.
3. All participants MUST make a post or send a message acknowledging their gift and thanking whoever their Secret Santa is. Most of you do this anyway, so I don't think it's a problem to ask. However, due to some situations we've run into before, we're making this a requirement. We'll start a Thank You thread specifically for this and link it here.
4. About Elfster wishlists: We're getting away from using these this year. Instead, we're asking each participant to make a more detailed profile and asking each Secret Santa to get a gift based on that profile. Our hope is that this will take some of the focus off of receiving and refocus us on giving and why we do this to begin with. We realize some of you may still enjoy making wish lists, and we're fine with you doing that, but know that your Secret Santa is being encouraged not to really look at that for gift giving this year.
5. Your gift MUST be sent by December 17th. Now, we realize things can happen, and we're always willing to work with participants. However, if your gift has not been shipped and confirmation/tracking info sent to Santa by the deadline, you may be banned from participating in future Secret Santa exchanges on Reef2Reef.
6. Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in not being allowed future participation in Secret Santa gift exchanges. (We're really not expecting to remove anyone, but we do reserve the right to do so if a participant does not engage in the spirit of this gift exchange.)

All R2R Secret Santa participants will receive a special Secret Santa banner under their username.

To sign up, you will need to do these 2 things (PLEASE DO BOTH):

1. PM @Santa Claus with your contact information (name, email, and country you're located in so that we can PM you the link to sign up on Elfster and join the gift exchange).
2. Post in this thread with your answers to the questionnaire (see below) IN THIS THREAD (this is our official registration thread).

Secret Santa Questionnaire:

1. What country are you located in?
2. What is one thing you always need more of?
3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
4. What are your other hobbies/interests?
5. How do you relax after a long day at work?
6. Do you collect anything?
7. What is your favorite color?
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again?
9. What type of music do you listen to?
10. Do you follow any sports teams?
11. What's your favorite fish?
12. Favorite coral?
13. Favorite invert?
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)?
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

At this time, we are unable to guarantee matching users based on a preference for shipping coral. If shipping coral we ask that you notify @Santa Claus via PM when you would like 2 ship so we can notify recipient and make sure they will be able to receive it. If recipient can't be there we will ask them for 2 other days and work out with sender. (We don't mind playing the go between here to keep it more a secret.)

Also, notice that we have a special Secret Santa forum going on! Feel free to start other threads in here to talk about everything Secret Santa related, holiday related, or just anything you want to talk with all of us other SS peeps!

#R2RSecretSanta

1. USA
2. Live Plants/fish, inverts, coral
3. Spend quality time with my family. I have 5 kids, 2 teenagers left in the house, kids ages 28, 24, 18, 18, 14
4. BMX, huge football fan, huge crafter, fisherman, hunter
5. Watch movies or watch my fishies
6. Thomas Kincaid
7. Red
8. Yellowstone, Grinch, Game of Thrones, Vikings
9. What type of music do you listen to? All kinds,
10. Dallas Cowboys, KC Royals, Vegas Golden Knights
11. What's your favorite fish? I don’t have a favorite but the more color the better
12. Favorite coral? I don’t have a favorite the brightest color corals
13. Favorite invert? Harlequin Shrimp
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? I00 gallon reef tank. Mimic tang, Clown pair, saltwater mollies, tropical flounder, tube worm, and just starting my reef collection. I have a 75g cichlid tank and I have a 30g freshwater community tank Do you have a build thread? Not sure what this means
15. I’m in the process right now setting up my 100 gallon reef tank from a 40 gallon reef tank
16. I can sit and watch my tanks for hours but I love anything that is active
17. Anything and everything. I love learning new tricks and techniques
18. Anything with color found in the natural habitat. I like natural things instead of painted things you buy at any store.
19. I’m game for just about anything. I have salt/reef and freshwater tanks. I’m fairly new to the hobby so easy keepers are the best. I prefer something found in the natural habitat. I love things not everyone has that makes my tank stand out
20. Are there any additional questions. Not really.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Excited to give this another shot after a year off!


What country are you located in?
North Carolina USA

What is one thing you always need more of?
Reef Crystals, frozen fish food (rods/lrs nano)

What do you like to do on the weekends?
Film festivals, D&D, horror conventions, hiking, general adventuring

What are your other hobbies/interests?
Horror, comedy, general nerdy events

How do you relax after a long day at work?
Honestly either staring at/fiddling with the tank, playing Crusader Kings III, and watching YouTube content/wrestling/netflix

Do you collect anything?
My girlfriend collects rocks, so if you have cool rocks that would be dope. I also collect weird kitschy collectibles from strange destinations. Some examples: a mothman Christmas ornament, a clay cast replica of Audrey II from little shop of horrors, etc!

What is your favorite color?
Purple!

What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again?
I really really like Shane and Ryan from Watcher/Buzzfeed unsolved. My favorite movie is Sleepaway Camp.

What type of music do you listen to?
Punk, hyperpop, hip-hop, bluegrass--honestly most things

Do you follow any sports teams?
Nope

What's your favorite fish?
That I have currently? My yellow watchman goby. Of all time? Puffers have my heart but too nibbly for my reef

Favorite coral?
I have a soft spot for rhodactis mushrooms and euphyllia. I also loveeeeee anemones and elegance

Favorite invert?
Skunk cleaner probably. I also love love love urchins.

Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
I have a 120 gallon with 35 gallon sump started August of 2018. Current stock is after an outage related crash a year ago sadface. Yellow watchman with tiger pistol, talbots damsel, tomini tang, clownfish pair (one black one standard), lawnmower blenny, and blue line flasher wrasse. For invers, skunk cleaner, fire shrimp, pincushion urchin, tiger conch, emerald crabs, various snails and hermits. For coral I'm just getting back in after recovering from crash. Yellow watchman and my massive 18" toadstool coral are the only original inhabitants. I also have a few rhodactis, zoas, a bubble tip anemone, and some discosoma.

Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)?
I plan to add a few more fish and a LOT more coral! No new system though. Maybe an externally plumbed in fuge?

What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
I always find myself staring at my tomini tang or my talbots damsel. The talbots loves to back up like a bus into the rockwork mimicking its reef behavior. The tang is constantly algae hunting and swooping through rockwork.

Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
I geek out over commensalism/wild reef dwelling behavior. Seeing clownfish hosting or pistol shrimp with gobies or damsels backing into their "reef" makes my heart full.

What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)
Anything horror, the fish I'm waiting to add (from a reputable vendor), aquarium supplies, d&d stuff, little things that have made your reefing experience easier, easy colorful mushroom coral or euphyllia/elegance, horror art and/or your favorite local artists' work, really cool rocks for my girlfriend, whatever you get from my vibes on this post

Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*
Yes, if you have experience with and are comfortable with the vendor and their quality. For fish, on the "to add" list are a pajama cardinal, a royal gramma, and a biota captive bred mandarin. For inverts, a halloween urchin or a tuxedo urchin. For coral I love mainly euphyllia, elegance, mushrooms. For nems I'd love maxi min carpets, rock flower nems, or crazy bubble tip color morphs.

Thanks and honestly whatever I get would be appreciated!

 

[Dabcrusher]

Under profile settings/personal settings...
right after first and last name.

Appreciated. The app is set up different I didn't see it. Thanks alot

 

[MysticBlue]

Secret Santa Questionnaire:

1. What country are you located in? United States of America
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Well I always need more coral lol. In all seriousness filter socks!!!
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? I have many things I do like take care of my parrots as well as my cats/dogs
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? I love beekeeping and gardening and working on old cars
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Sit in front of the aquarium and watch the coral move back in forth
6. Do you collect anything? I collect old rock and roll records
7. What is your favorite color? Blue but like the sea blue with i tiny bit of green in it
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Tv show supernatural and movie blues brothers
9. What type of music do you listen to? 80s and 90s rock
10. Do you follow any sports teams? USA soccer!!!!!!! Yes we lost but we still beat Iran and tied with England
11. What's your favorite fish? Favorite fish was my lawnmower blenny who recently passed
12. Favorite coral? Favorite coral is acans but I haven’t been able to get any!!
13. Favorite invert? I love urchins!!!!!
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? I have a 75 gallon reef tank with clownfish coral beauty’s snowflake eel valintine puffer two mollys and a yellow watchman goby.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? I always want to upgrade lol I’m wanting a protein skimmer and a auto top off system to add to the tank
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Favorite thing to watch is my corkscrew anemone.
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Finding new species that can go in my aquarium
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.). I’m honestly thankful for anything and I love anything to do with aquariums and terrariums lol
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*. I’m always interested in livestock!!! I’m looking for a eel friend for my snowflake eel.
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

 

[Oiva]

1. What country are you located in? Norway
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Fishfood and coral glue.
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Snap pics of my corals
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Star Wars, Gaming, working out and photography.
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Work out, play games and photos of corals.
6. Do you collect anything? Star Wars Lego and Corals
7. What is your favorite color? Olive Green
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Anything Star Wars
9. What type of music do you listen to? old school rap, EDM, DNB, Electro,
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Only watch UFC
11. What's your favorite fish? Tangs and Wrasses
12. Favorite coral? Acropora, Chalice and Goniopora
13. Favorite invert? Acro crabs
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
    Several systems (Coral farm) all sorts of corals. And my 120g Display tank.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)?
    upgrading the farm with new coral frag tanks.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
    Fish eat
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
    When corals color out. And fragging.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Anything Star Wars or reef related gets me going.
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* Acropora, and Gonioporas
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

 

[MT_is_a_Pisces]

Ho! Ho! Ho!! Thank you all for your patience while we worked out the details, but without further adieu...

Let's get this party started!! It's our 2022 Secret Santa for Reef2Reef!!

This is going to be a great time to spread Christmas joy!!

We're getting a bit of a late start this year, but we're still going to have a blast spreading Christmas cheer!!!

NOTE: To those who have been part of our Secret Santa before, this one will be slightly different. I promise there are some good reasons for the changes, and we hope they will lead to a better experience over all.

Here is how it will work:

• Requirements to participate:
  • At least 18 years of age (only exceptions to this will be participants who have been part of our Secret Santa before)
  • At least 14 days as a member of R2R
  • At least 10 posts on R2R
• Gift requirement: AT LEAST $25 value and a splash of Christmas joy! (Suggested gift range is $25-$50. More on this below.)
• As you sign up, you'll get a link to the gift exchange on Elfster (it's the Secret Santa exchange website/app that we use to organize the gift exchange) where you'll need to register so that we can easily match you with your Secret Santa.*
• The first matchup will take place on November 24th so that all of you eager Secret Santas can take advantage of Black Friday shopping. After this, matches will happen weekly through December 10th.
• Sign up will be open until December 10, 2022
• Buy or make gifts and ship them by December 17, 2022.
• Delivery tracking is mandatory and will need to be sent to @Santa Claus and/or updated in Elfster.
• International Participation: This year's Secret Santa will have 2 groups for those outside the US: 1) Canadian participants, 2) other international participants. While we wish that we had enough international participation to allow all participants to only send to members within their own country, that simply isn't feasible, so please be aware of the possibility that you may need to ship internationally to participate outside the US or Canada.

Here are a few guidelines for this year:

1. Please, PLEASE, be sure your R2R username is entered on your Elfster profile as your nickname. This really does help your Secret Santa to find you on Reef2Reef and get better gift giving ideas.
2. This is an event that is meant to spread Christmas joy, so we're asking all participants to try to make this special for whoever you receive. While we realize that this may look different for everyone, we're asking participants to avoid sending $25 e-gift cards as your only gift. Suggested gift range is $25-$50. You may give more, but be aware that you may not receive more than this amount.
3. All participants MUST make a post or send a message acknowledging their gift and thanking whoever their Secret Santa is. Most of you do this anyway, so I don't think it's a problem to ask. However, due to some situations we've run into before, we're making this a requirement. We'll start a Thank You thread specifically for this and link it here.
4. About Elfster wishlists: We're getting away from using these this year. Instead, we're asking each participant to make a more detailed profile and asking each Secret Santa to get a gift based on that profile. Our hope is that this will take some of the focus off of receiving and refocus us on giving and why we do this to begin with. We realize some of you may still enjoy making wish lists, and we're fine with you doing that, but know that your Secret Santa is being encouraged not to really look at that for gift giving this year.
5. Your gift MUST be sent by December 17th. Now, we realize things can happen, and we're always willing to work with participants. However, if your gift has not been shipped and confirmation/tracking info sent to Santa by the deadline, you may be banned from participating in future Secret Santa exchanges on Reef2Reef.
6. Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in not being allowed future participation in Secret Santa gift exchanges. (We're really not expecting to remove anyone, but we do reserve the right to do so if a participant does not engage in the spirit of this gift exchange.)

All R2R Secret Santa participants will receive a special Secret Santa banner under their username.

To sign up, you will need to do these 2 things (PLEASE DO BOTH):

1. PM @Santa Claus with your contact information (name, email, and country you're located in so that we can PM you the link to sign up on Elfster and join the gift exchange).
2. Post in this thread with your answers to the questionnaire (see below) IN THIS THREAD (this is our official registration thread).

Secret Santa Questionnaire:

1. What country are you located in?
2. What is one thing you always need more of?
3. What do you like to do on the weekends?
4. What are your other hobbies/interests?
5. How do you relax after a long day at work?
6. Do you collect anything?
7. What is your favorite color?
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again?
9. What type of music do you listen to?
10. Do you follow any sports teams?
11. What's your favorite fish?
12. Favorite coral?
13. Favorite invert?
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread?
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)?
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank?
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over?
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.)
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.)

At this time, we are unable to guarantee matching users based on a preference for shipping coral. If shipping coral we ask that you notify @Santa Claus via PM when you would like 2 ship so we can notify recipient and make sure they will be able to receive it. If recipient can't be there we will ask them for 2 other days and work out with sender. (We don't mind playing the go between here to keep it more a secret.)

Also, notice that we have a special Secret Santa forum going on! Feel free to start other threads in here to talk about everything Secret Santa related, holiday related, or just anything you want to talk with all of us other SS peeps!

#R2RSecretSanta

1. What country are you located in?United States - Chicago, Il
2. What is one thing you always need more of? 2-Part Brightwell
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Smoke Cigars / Drink Bourbon
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Foodie - barbecue, Workout at gym, ride bike,
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Watch Perry Mason
6. Do you collect anything?No
7. What is your favorite color? Beige/brown
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Perry Mason / Lord of the Rings movies
9. What type of music do you listen to? House / Disco
10. Do you follow any sports teams? All Chicago
11. What's your favorite fish? Wrasse
12. Favorite coral? Euphyllia
13. Favorite invert? Nothing particular
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? 55 G FOLWR - softies. 90G Mixed - Hammers, birdnest, duncan and zoas. Sarting a 24 G AIO w/ build thread.
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? AOI 24G treasure chest
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Fish interact
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Adding livestock- addictive
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Something I wouldn't normally get myself, but useful.
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock* Yes, Acans or Montipora
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.) No

 

[clhardy5]

1. What country are you located in? United States
2. What is one thing you always need more of? Reef glue
3. What do you like to do on the weekends? Spend time with my family
4. What are your other hobbies/interests? Jigsaw Puzzles
5. How do you relax after a long day at work? Netflix and a cuppa cafeC
6. Do you collect anything? Fish
7. What is your favorite color? Red
8. What is one TV show or movie you can watch over and over again? Top gun
9. What type of music do you listen to? Country, Pop
10. Do you follow any sports teams? Denver Broncos :-(
11. What's your favorite fish? Hippo Tang
12. Favorite coral? Torch, Hammers - all things LPS
13. Favorite invert? Hermit crabs, fighting conch
14. Tell us about your tank(s)! What size are they? What do you keep in them? Do you have a build thread? RR525....139/39sump. Mixed Reef. I have a build thread...but it hasn't been updated in FOREVER
15. Do you have any planned upgrades or hopeful future tweaks to your tank(s)? Get rid of aptasia!!!! oh, and perhaps start a dedicated anemone tank.
16. What's your favorite thing to watch in your tank? Tangs during feeding time
17. Are there any parts of the reef hobby you get really excited over? Balance!! When things are going just right - but that is rare for me . I always have something to obsess over.
18. What are some good gift ideas for you? (This isn't meant to be a wish list. Just some general thoughts or ideas for whoever draws your name.) Reef glue, Hanna reagents (nitrate HR, Phosphate, ALK), Fish food, Gift card to DrQuarantine, frag rack, roller mat 1200 refills....really anything. I just like getting surprises!
19. Would you be interested in receiving livestock? If yes, what would you be interested in? *disclaimer due to the busy holiday season we recommend not shipping livestock*. Sure.....I need a filefish - or CB Butterly (again - aptasia)...but really only buy pre quarantined fish now. Ich - been there - done that!
20. Are there any additional questions you wish we had asked that we didn't? (Add those questions in under these and post your answers.). I think I'm good! Excited to participate.

 

[Santa Claus]

Hi everyone!! We're nearing our last matchup for this year! There's still time for any late comers to jump in between now and tomorrow (Saturday) night.

If you have signed up in this thread, but haven't sent me a PM (with name, email, and your country), please do that ASAP! I'll send you all the info you need to get connected to our gift exchange so you get matched up.

If you have pm'd me, but haven't filled out the questionnaire in this thread, please do so ASAP because your Secret Santa will need that info for getting your gift.

Thanks to everyone who is joining us for this gift exchange!!