This section will chronicle the setup of our new large reef tank from start to finish.  I will be logging the logic behind decisions, giving costs, showing successes & failures with a running picture commentary.  

Hopefully there will not be many failures or stupid things to report, but rather only insightful, well thought and carefully planned successes.  Unfortunately, this hobby more than most, educates the hobbyist through a seemingly inevitable series of failures and crisis'.  If someone can experience this type of thing vicariously through someone else and therefore possibly prevent the same type of problem in their own tank, then this section has served one of its purposes.  Also, there is great hope to be taken when you are facing one of reef keepings little challenges, such as the green hair algae monster, and you realize that you are not alone in the world and that virtually everyone has at least one run-in with the same devil you are facing and have persevered.  

Perhaps there should be a badge of honor that could be issued for each typical hurdle that a reef hobbyist eventually must face and overcome, sort of like the Boy Scouts merit badges. That's the true mark of a seasoned reef keeper... battle scars.