Like many distressed aquarists, I’ve found solace in times of anguish. During those times when you can’t even look at your aquarium. Think of it as, “reef depression”. When it seems as if all inspiration is gone. Then you finally muster the guts to research the issue and a Reef Builders article or video, produced by Mr Jake Adams appears. You know deep down you are going to find the answer to your issue and it will motivate you to get back to work on your tank.
In the most recent Reef Therapy Episode #100 Rob Mougey said “You know what Jake taught me? Enthusiasm!!!” He continues to state, “….theres a cycle that you go through with your hobby and you lose a little interest and it’s not as exciting anymore. Jake brought that excitement back…!” This quote really hit home. I think many Reef Builders fans can relate to this!
There are times when we are hyper-focused on our systems. We know exactly what’s going on, down to the most minute detail. Then we have a negative experience or moment and that focus disappears or diminishes greatly! Therefore, we find ourselves out of tune, not knowing much about our tanks, barely even glancing at them! Then a spark goes off and we become hyper-focused again. For many that spark is Jake Adams’ content!
That spark, that enthusiasm, that motivation was the influence that he had on me. This has manifested a few times. Once, during Reef Therapy Episode #54 Part 1 & 2. I had been needing to desperately clean my skimmer, but I just kept procrastinating. Until I watched those episodes. This inspired me to pull my skimmer and deep clean it. I documented the before and after on my social media pages.
Also Jake Adams’s enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge with others. There are many ways he did this, but just to name a couple, he would correctly identify corals by scientific names, aiding the hobby with correct and up-to-date information. This inspired me to create my TikTok to document my journey and to go onto Facebook pages and groups to help as many aquarists as I can.
There are always beginners looking for help and even avid reefers who need help, here and there. I try my best to aid them the way that Jake did. The Facebook Group “Saltwater Aquarium & Reef Keepers” provided me with my first opportunity by making me an “Expert” in their group. Giving me a platform. This is what I needed to aid my fellow hobbyists, who no longer have that spark to inspire them to become hyper-focused again.
Furthermore, Jake always talked about his experience working at and with his LFS. The relevance that an LFS played a huge role in his life. This is evident on the Reef Builders website which has over 550 articles with the abbreviation “LFS” in them. This inspired me, so much so that I left my career of 15 years to join the team at my LFS, Age of Aquariums in Signal Hills, CA. full-time this year. A decision that has no regrets. After many years of being inspired by someone who was so enthusiastic about a subject. It felt like the right thing to do and I knew I’d enjoy the experience. Now I get to convert many freshwater hobbyists to the niche reef hobby.
I never met Mr Adams, but what would have happened if I had had that opportunity? I would have played Pokémon Go. That’s right, Pokémon Go! I would have not talked about reefing. I would have been too intimidated at the time anyway. I would have rather been a fly on the wall (who’s playing PoGo) just listen to him talk about reefing.
In 2019 I went to Cancùn, Mexico, and caught a Corsola (region locked) and named it “Jake Adams” to trade him the day I did meet him. Corsela being the “Coral Pokémon” whose Pokédex entry states that its “branches glitter very beautifully in seven colors when they catch the sunlight. If any branch breaks off, this Pokémon grows it back in just one night.” Meaning that this Pokemon frags and propagates itself, overnight.
Jake Adams’s memories live on in the hearts of his beloved wife and son, his parents, his brother, and his friends! His enthusiasm and influence will live on for many, many generations to come! It will be everlasting enthusiasm, for anyone who has lost their spark!
Meena Abdelmalak.
