About Me
Reef keeper · Reader · Adventurer
Hey, I'm Justin
I'm a hobbyist with an eclectic mix of obsessions: a living reef tank, open water on a kayak, a good book, and the occasional raid night in World of Warcraft. This site is my little corner of the internet to share what I'm into — starting with the reef.
The reef tank is a 24/7 science experiment that started during COVID — I needed a project, and it turns out reef keeping is the kind of hobby that quietly takes over a corner of your house and a significant portion of your brain. Every fish, coral, and critter on the Home page is an actual resident of my tank. Water chemistry, coral placement, feeding schedules — it's more involved than most people expect, and I love every bit of it.
When I'm not staring at the tank or a screen, I'm on the water. Kayaking is my reset button — quiet, physical, and totally unplugged. I'm also almost always in the middle of a book.
Reef Keeping
Running a mixed reef with euphyllia corals, leather corals, zoanthids, mushrooms, and an ever-growing collection of LPS. Click any inhabitant on the Home page for species info.
Kayaking
Flatwater, rivers, wherever the current takes me. There's nothing quite like being low on the water at sunrise with no phone signal.
Reading
Always have a book going. Fantasy, history, thrillers — no strict genre loyalty, just whatever grabs me next. See all reviews →
📖 Currently reading: The Devil's Bible by Steve Berry
Read in 2026
- ✦ Secret of Secrets — Dan Brown
- ✦ Immortal Longing — Chloe Gong
- ✦ Templar Legacy — Steve Berry
- ✦ Devils — Joe Abercrombie
- ✦ King Sorrow — Joe Hill
- ✦ The Blade Itself — Joe Abercrombie
- ✦ Once and Future — Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy
Gaming
On-and-off WoW player for years. The tank takes more of my evenings these days, but I still find time for Azeroth — and occasionally Rust or RDR2.
⚔️ Currently playing: The War Within — Midnight
Playing Shel — Devourer Demon Hunter
Also: Red Dead Redemption 2 · Skyrim
See my games page →Pets
Loki is a Golden Retriever/Lab mix — big, friendly, and perpetually convinced it's dinner time. Skylar is a Jack Russell-based mutt with maximum energy in a small package. Poppy is a large, opinionated black cat, and Chester is a ginger cat who mostly just vibes. Two dogs, two cats, and a tank full of fish — the house is never boring.
Green Bay Packers
Diehard Packers fan. Win or lose, it's always Packer Sunday. Go Pack Go.
Family
My wife Jackie and I have three daughters: Kylie (20), Natalie (16), and Scarlett (14). Family time is the priority — everything else fits in around what matters most.
Education
B.M., Music — Longwood University Go Lancers!
M.A., Strategic Communications — Michigan State University Go Spartans!
Graduate Certificates in Media Analysis & Organizational Leadership Communication
Executive MBA (in progress) — James Madison University Go Dukes!
"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea."— Isak Dinesen