Many of you already know Dick Hilgers, known as Amphibious, Dick was an early Talkingreef member and has supported our community for a long time by sharing his many years of knowledge and experience in the hobby and industry.

One of the most helpful things is that Dick is always there to give you the best info possible, even if its may not be exactly what you want to hear. He is always more than willing to spend hours working with people on a topic or problem to make sure they understand what there doing and why. This is a trait i know transfers over into his business, making sure you get the one on one care you deserver.

Please join me in welcoming The Cultured Reef as a proud and strong Talkingreef supporter
make sure you heck out the website here The Cultured Reef

and check his sponsor forum here
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/cultured-reef/

Dick,
It is good to have you aboard as a sponsor! :welcome:

Thanks for the great introduction, Rob. Becoming a sponsor of the finest forum I've ever had the pleasure of being a member of has been on my mind for some time. Meeting you, and other TR members, at MACNA (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=11074), helped me come to the conclusion that TR is my home and where I want to advertise. I'm registered on 17 different forums, although I rarely visit some of them. Why go anywhere else when TR is the best?

As we all know reef keeping has many methods, employed by a diverse group of people. It can get a bit hairy giving advice to such a broad range of reefers. What works for one may not work for another. Many times it's a slight variance in technique from one to the other that is the difference. When I chime in on a post, my words come from 60 plus years in the hobby, the last 40 years strictly in marine aquariums. Most of my words come from this vast practical experience but, I also speak from my heart. I love the marine aquarium hobby and the advent of reef keeping, about 20 years ago, set my soul on fire again.

All of my advice comes from an extensive library and self taught, hands on experience. I couldn't go to school for marine biology because I was raised believing we couldn't afford higher education. I occasionally tell people, "I'm an Aquariologist. I went through the School of Hard Knocks". But, that about sums up where I came from. I wasn't interested in formal school, I just wanted to prowl the lakes, rivers, creeks and ponds of my WI home. Now, retired in FL, I'm looking forward to prowling the reefs. I just got SCUBA certified at age 69. My wife, bless her soul, would add, he's going on 19. She never had children. I'm making up for that in her life.

"The Cultured Reef" is actually a spin-off of a business we started in 1987, Nautilus Aquarium Supply, a wholesale aquarium supply biz. We closed it down in 1996 because of lack of funds. I got tired of working 6/7 days a week and not drawing a wage. Anyway, I couldn't stay out of the business so began programming and developed The Cultured Reef (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/autolink.php?id=123&script=private&forumid=). This evolved into plans to move to FL (accomplished in 2005) and setting up a coral fragging/grow-out business. We are in that process now.

What you can expect from The Cultured Reef (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/autolink.php?id=123&script=private&forumid=) is a line of reef related products that we use ourselves. No one has to tell TR members that reefing is expensive. It is our goal to do our best to save reefers money with our "Internet Direct" pricing. Also, on expensive items such as chillers, get your best price and then check with us via e-mail or toll free call (888 745-0449) and we'll try to get the exact item at a lesser price. We can't stock everything but, we can drop ship most anything.

Our specialty? Reef ready acrylic aquariums and sumps (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=11076), any size up to about 1000 gals. Our preferred manufacturer, IPI of MI, has been our provider of choice since 1987.

We will never be a Premium Aquatics, Marine Depot or Drs Foster and Smith, all fine establishments. In fact, if we can't get you what you want, those are the businesses that we recommend.

Please, TR members, log on to our site, check us out and post questions on our forum here on TR in the sponsors section. I'm around most every day, remember, I'm retired. I'm here for you.

Dick

Thanks for the welcome and your help, Carmie.

welcome aboard Dick !! glad you decided to stay around and offer up all of you exp. here.

That is an awesome story! I am so glad things worked out for you in the end! It just goes to show that no matter what your driver's license says, you are as young as you want to be in your heart. Congrats my friend!

lReef lKeeper,

Thanks for the kind welcome. I can certainly offer a mature perspective on things. :rotfl:



Pescaiolo,
you are as young as you want to be in your heartThat, I believe, is the key to happiness and a long life. Of course, being blessed with a wife that has the attitude Sue has helps a great deal. I also tend to hang with young people. I guess that's why I love everyone on TR. Your all younger than me. :tongue2:



Dick

Damn bud, i know its helping the site & all, but did you even consider the fact im meant to blow even more smoke up you @ss now that your offsetting some of the bills, hey....... did ya? i dont think you could even handle any more love from me!:unsure: lol

You finally did what we all wanted, own a piece of forum space so we can run shifty "opps fell of the back of the Cultured reef truck" stuff @ out the back away from prying eyes, hey did i just say that out loud....lol


Join me fellow musketteer , at the tip of Mt Wanahocaloogie:up:. Welcome aboard brother Ampage.

Veriann,

What on Earth would I ever do without your jaded sense of humor. It would be a dull world without it. When I read your posts I think to myself, "Where in the back of his brain does he conjure up these aberrant thoughts? He surely is a genius or hmmm, is it Jester?" :rotfl:

"Oh well", I tell myself, "never you mind where they come from, lets just hope we get to enjoy his humor for a long time."

"One for all, and all for one" my Musketeer friend. I hope you noticed our friend Wally has rejoined the troupe.


Amp

there is a fine line between genious & crazy, i flirt & sing with it constantly:raining:

what keeps me in check is watching the tv on silent, & letting "the voices" tell me whats happening...lol

I did notice brother bloat was back, although he still feels like a sesame street character with the sporadic peakaboo visits.:(