How to Avoid a Reef Restraining Order?

[Modo]

Dear RDO,

My wife and I took a stroll around the neighborhood last night. When we rounded the corner on the street just behind us I noticed the corner home had a very familiar blue glow coming from the front window. As we passed in front of the house I could see the edge from what I could tell to be quite a large tank with some LR! I think I might have even caught a glimpse of a fish! 8O

So how do I approach the guy? I am so eatin' up by the fact that another reefer is my neighbor! My wife brought me to my senses and asked how I would explain the fact that I know they have a reef tank in their front room. Well, besides the fact that I was peeping through their window. LOL!

But, you gotta admit it would be quite nice to have another reefer in the neighborhood. Who knows he may even wanna trade FRAGS!!

So, how do I approach these people without coming off as a the psychotic reefer hobbiest?

Yours Truly,

 

[Anonymous]

When you see them out working in the yard or something, just stop and mention that you noticed a very familiar actinic glow the other night and were wondering if you were correct.

 

[Anonymous]

THen you can ask them for a frag of that one coral that's in the lower-left corner of their tank that you saw while peeking through their window from the back yard. ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

If he is a reefer, then he's probably obsessed too and he was likely peering through your window later that night....I'm sure he'll understand.

 

[t gallo]

man i wich i had a neighbor who was into reefing but i dont and it gets lonely out here .
dude like sharky says, take a walk on sunday and see if he's in the yard and if not, peep thru the window again and get a better inventory on his tank.

 

[Modo]

I was thinking about maybe dressing up and non-chalantly mingling in with a group of Trick-Or-Treaters tonight to get a better look. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

In all seriousness... we're in a smallish neighborhood and there are a *lot* of folks who take walks every evening (it's how we met many of them!) I don't know a one who isn't peeking into each other's open windows. I'll admit that my husband and I do it. I know they look into mine all the time ("Noticed you got a new painting on the wall there!"). I think Sharkky's approach would be perfectly acceptable (well except, maybe, for the asking for a frag part :lol

 

[t gallo]

modo, that would work and dont forget to ask to use the bathroom, next to the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

This happened to me. I live in a condo complex and at night my unbit looks weird with the blue lights glowing.

One day I got a knock on my door. It was one of my neighbors that I never met. He says you have a reef tank dont you. I said yes why? He says he has a tank and would like to see mine. So, I let him in. He was staring at my tank in awe. Granted I dont thinnk my tank deserves and "Awe" look. He starts saying he loved the way it looked and he wants to add more corals to his tank. I said maybe we can swap frags. I asked him what he had.

Ready......Here is his answer....

29 Gallon tank with a SKilter.....
1 naso tang
1 yellow tang
1 purple tang
1 tomoto clown
1 Lion fish
some LR with some mushrooms.

I said that tank might ne too small for the tangs and all that fish and he told me I dont know what I am talking about. I said to myself this guy has a large set of Brass ones to come into my house and tell me I dont know what I am doing. ( I may not but who is he to tell me).

Anyway, I haven't seen or spoken to the individual.
_________________
Cystic Fibrosis Forum

 

[Anonymous]

modo, that would work and dont forget to ask to use the bathroom, next to the tank.

Unless the bathroom is upstairs. 8O :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

> He starts saying he loved the way it <my tank> looked ... and he told me I dont know what I am talking about.

When one's self esteem is "endangered", the usual defense is to tell others that they have no clue. This is just human nature, so if you see him again, accost him like this never happened.

 

[Anonymous]

LOULE, it may be human nature, but where I come from, it is STRICTLY VERBOTEN to speak against the owner of the house in any way, shape, or form when you're standing in his/her home. It's the lowest of the low, the trashiest of the trash, and means that person not only was not brought up well, but has no class whatsoever.

 

[Emperator]

LOULE, it may be human nature, but where I come from, it is STRICTLY VERBOTEN to speak against the owner of the house in any way, shape, or form when you're standing in his/her home. It's the lowest of the low, the trashiest of the trash, and means that person not only was not brought up well, but has no class whatsoever.

AGREED!

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I should go kick is butt.

Better yet, I will give him some aiptasia frags and say they are some exotic anenome's.
_________________
Toyota Cars

 

[Anonymous]

Better yet, I will give him some aiptasia frags and say they are some exotic anenome's.

LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think anybody will have a problem with John's approach. I just met a neighbor that has a tank too, kind of sad looking though. Covered in brown algae with a dying bubble coral under NO lights. It's kind of hard to say, "Hey man, maybe that coral could use some more light, and possibly calcium additives.." without coming across as a know-it-all though.

 

[Anonymous]

Which means that you, my tall friend, were brought up well.

I love the Aiptasia idea, they'll grow SO well for him!

It occurred to me that bumper stickers could be added to the RDO logo items list.. though I'm positive you'd get your neighbor's attention if you just wore the RDO thong.

 

[Anonymous]

hough I'm positive you'd get your neighbor's attention if you just wore the RDO thong.

I'm a scared! 8O
_________________
Mercedes B Class

 

[Anonymous]

I understand, but I feel that forgiving is an important thing for us to do in order to keep everyone sane.

I think I finally realize why people only trade frags with me once and only once..

 

[danmhippo]

I think I finally realize why people only trade frags with me once and only once..

Because you always give them aiptasia, flat worms, and ich infested rocks?