One of the biggest reasons our hobby stands out is because of the people.

It’s more than just a shared passion for marine life; it’s the sense of community and support that makes it truly special.

A perfect example is how hobbyists came out in force for ACI Aquaculture last week when the company was struck by Hurricane Milton. Hobbyists and professionals alike came together in the face of adversity to shoulder the hardships and ease the anxiety and stress for Chris, Amanda, and all the animals that they have in their facility.

Despite the chaos a hurricane can bring, the reefing community rallied to ensure that the majority of the animals will remain alive until the power came back on, that their systems stayed running, and made sure that they had what they needed until everything was restored. This camaraderie, resilience, and mutual care are what make this hobby not just about keeping tanks, but about building lasting bonds.

For days, we coordinated with Chris and Amanda Meckley of ACI Aquaculture, as well as Jay O’Rourke, to bring much needed supplies and labor, and made the trip yesterday afternoon to help them out (along with my good friend Shane Lafrenere of 247 Aquariums), and here is our video.

I truly love this hobby for the people as well as the animals and I hope that this video shows what I am talking about.

Happy reefing everyone.