14 Year Navy Vet, Wheelchair user from a Freefall Jump

raustinreese · 10/10/2017, 07:21 PM

Hi All,

My name is Austin. I live in Virginia Beach, VA and am new to saltwater aquarium's. I joined the Navy in July 2001 and was medically retired in July 2015. I was EOD from Sept 2003 until I retired, I was doing a Military Freefall jump and long story short hit the ground doing about 65mph and now I'm paralyzed from my waist down and in a wheelchair full time. I am looking for any help or advice on tank setup so that I can still do everything myself. I want a tank that is between 30-90 gallons and I want to do reef and fish. Any help would be great.

Thanks a ton,

Austin

jayball · 10/11/2017, 09:31 AM

You may want to consider a shallow tank on a shortened stand. My experience is that the top edge of the tank above armpit height is a pain.

Deep Blue is mass produced, so available, in shallow depths of 12-16 inches. Maybe something from them will work for you? On the plus side a shallow tank is cheap to light.

http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/frag.html
http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/rimless.html

ReefMaster48 · 10/11/2017, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayball

You may want to consider a shallow tank on a shortened stand. My experience is that the top edge of the tank above armpit height is a pain.

Deep Blue is mass produced, so available, in shallow depths of 12-16 inches. Maybe something from them will work for you? On the plus side a shallow tank is cheap to light.

http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/frag.html
http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/rimless.html

+1 You could add a sump, but it would be tight with a short stand. That'd be okay, but not a must. You can always go sump-less, many people have had equal success that way.

Thank you very much for your service!!!

K9Diver · 10/16/2017, 11:03 AM

I'm not sure if you're still looking but I saw one for sale on craigslist in Chesapeake. I'm posting the link for you. It looks shallow but you may need to get a different stand to lower the tank more. I'm in Norfolk and have been in the hobby before and looking to get back in. Also a former Navy Working Dog Handler and I appreciate your service. If you need any help just let me know and I'd be glad to do what I can!

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/for/d...327438203.html

Hodad2 · 11/03/2017, 03:29 PM

Hey brother.....I would be honored to help you out. I don’t know everything but I know enough to brainstorm with you. A lot of ideas already, let me know my friend....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

elefink · 01/17/2019, 04:36 PM

How'd this go?

elefink · 01/17/2019, 04:37 PM

My husband is active duty USPHS up here in the DC area.

10/10/2017, 07:21 PM	#1
raustinreese Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 4	14 Year Navy Vet, Wheelchair user from a Freefall Jump Hi All, My name is Austin. I live in Virginia Beach, VA and am new to saltwater aquarium's. I joined the Navy in July 2001 and was medically retired in July 2015. I was EOD from Sept 2003 until I retired, I was doing a Military Freefall jump and long story short hit the ground doing about 65mph and now I'm paralyzed from my waist down and in a wheelchair full time. I am looking for any help or advice on tank setup so that I can still do everything myself. I want a tank that is between 30-90 gallons and I want to do reef and fish. Any help would be great. Thanks a ton, Austin

01/17/2019, 04:36 PM	#6
elefink Regurgitated Fender Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 721	How'd this go? __________________ MB In my universe, Spock has a beard. Current Tank Info: Returning to hobby after a 10 year hiatus with a Biocube 32.

01/17/2019, 04:37 PM	#7
elefink Regurgitated Fender Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 721	My husband is active duty USPHS up here in the DC area. __________________ MB In my universe, Spock has a beard. Current Tank Info: Returning to hobby after a 10 year hiatus with a Biocube 32.

10/11/2017, 09:31 AM	#2
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	You may want to consider a shallow tank on a shortened stand. My experience is that the top edge of the tank above armpit height is a pain. Deep Blue is mass produced, so available, in shallow depths of 12-16 inches. Maybe something from them will work for you? On the plus side a shallow tank is cheap to light. http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/frag.html http://www.deepblueprofessional.com/rimless.html

10/16/2017, 11:03 AM	#4
K9Diver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 7	I'm not sure if you're still looking but I saw one for sale on craigslist in Chesapeake. I'm posting the link for you. It looks shallow but you may need to get a different stand to lower the tank more. I'm in Norfolk and have been in the hobby before and looking to get back in. Also a former Navy Working Dog Handler and I appreciate your service. If you need any help just let me know and I'd be glad to do what I can! https://norfolk.craigslist.org/for/d...327438203.html

11/03/2017, 03:29 PM	#5
Hodad2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 53	Hey brother.....I would be honored to help you out. I don’t know everything but I know enough to brainstorm with you. A lot of ideas already, let me know my friend.... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk