-
Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.
Huge Reef in Red Bank
- Thread starter jimroth
- Start date
I believe that is the one that Austin (harlequinreef) maintains. I'm not sure if they do public viewings of it or not.
thats where we take my dog and WOW. One of the vets in a family friend. I never inquired to maintence but damn that thing is nice.
jimroth said:
I have seen it. While access is easy, I'm not certain the staff of the animal hospital would appreciate tons of reef keepers just showing up to see the tank (*as it's located behind the receptionist desks). It's a lovely tank, most assuredly, but I'm certain it's worth a really long drive to see.
However, for everyone in the area, if you have a cat or dog that requires emergency care, this tank is great. I can tell you from personal experience. I had to bring my cat there after he decided to eat a potentially toxic house plant (we didn't know that at the time), throw up, and start flopping over like a drunk. It was very relaxing to be able to sit and watch the tank and study the corals while the staff was taking care of the cat and took a lot of the worry off.
I've already called my sister, who takes care of all our 4-legged pets, to switch our Vet. I don't mind driving half an hour as long as I get to see something like that every time.
Any chance we can get a club outing after hours?lol.
Any chance we can get a club outing after hours?lol.
The tank was built by Reef Aquaria Design Inc. out of Coconut Creek Fl, I have been maintaining it with their help since Sept. 2005. As the article in TFH states, the total volume of the system is about 3500 gallons. The tank is dominated by LPS, but there are a few soft corals and sps here and there (we are still recovering from an rtn event that took out a couple of monster colonies). 10% weekly (instead of monthly) water changes seems to be improving the situation though. Despite this, the tank is still a must see. I do not want to speak for the hospital, but they do not seem to mind people coming into see the aquarium as long as they do not make it a hang out and obstruct daily operations.
Thanks!
magic said:
Thanks!
and thanks to everyone for the kind words.
-Austin
-Austin
Subliminal
NJRC Member
When my dog was being treated for cancer, I spent HOURS staring at that tank. Love it. That tank taught me how much swimming space 'Dora' really needs. Those hippos swim circles around the entire tank for the entire day. Can't see how they'd be happy in one of our little boxes.
Subliminal said:
Thats the only reason those hippos haven't become aggressive or started picking on corals. They just keep swimming :
Austin, thanks for the info. I went back and re-read the TFH article, they certainly gave you good notices. You are livin' the dream!
I will definitely make a trip down to see the tank. Maybe I will put a bandage on our elderly pet rabbit and bring her along, so I don't look out of place! ;D
I have to second what Mike said, a behind-the scenes tour would be awesome.
I will definitely make a trip down to see the tank. Maybe I will put a bandage on our elderly pet rabbit and bring her along, so I don't look out of place! ;D
I have to second what Mike said, a behind-the scenes tour would be awesome.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
any links to the article?
jimroth said:
Yes it is certainly a dream come true to be part of such awesome reef systems (I also maintain a 29 foot long 2200 gallon reef at Hackensack University Medical Center built by the same company). I would love to show people around (since the filtration room is as impressive as the display itself) however, due to the sensitive nature behind the scenes of a veterinary hospital, I can not say one way or another if it is possible. I will mention the interest by local hobbyists to the hospital's CEO and go from there.
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
Did you help with the tanks at Trop. Those are great as well.
Edward771 said:
http://www.tfhmagazine.com/archives/articles/article2008011899042.php
I think you have to register first.
I wish the author had included some background information about HOW the tank came to be there. Considering the immense costs involved in constructing and maintaining a tank and system like that, it seems unlikely that somebody in management did it for decoration. There had to have been a passionate aquarist somewhere in the mix driving all that.
Edward771 said:
yes thanks, it seems we are always adding to and altering them. here are some older pics
I have seen the tank and it is impressive indeed. It has been a while, but I recall it is tank built around a mountain of LR. I need to pay another visit next time I see visit my sister in Tinton Falls. The clinic is actually very renowned as a leading facility for emergency care and (I believe) difficult surgeries. It is not uncommon for people to drive a long way to get there at odd times like holidays