The Cultured Reef Aquacultured Corals, Clams, Fish, Invertebrates and Select Lines of Equipment for Successful Reef Keeping The Cultured Reef, 1996 - 2008 copyright, all rights reserved! Home Page

Welcome to our web-site.

My wife Sue and I hail from Madison, WI.  We are planning a move to Florida and in the process of building our home.  We plan on building a greenhouse for growing corals, clams etc, as this website suggests.  Sue is a working nurse and I'm a retired pipefitter.

Update - 02/19/04

We finally have a physical address in Florida: 5605 Johnston Road, Ft. Pierce, FL.  The house has been started as of the same date.

I've been building the website and love the experience.  So, I'm way out in front of the business on this.  It's not unusual for me to put the cart in front of the horse.  Sue would attest to that.

My experience in this hobby is quite extensive.  It all started when, as a child, I'd be at waters edge every opportunity possible.  Investigating the aquatic realm  with the inquisitiveness of a seasoned scientist.  I would find the most interesting things as a child, like snails, seaweeds, daphnia, crawfish, turtles, tadpoles, frogs, baby gar fish and minnows of various species.  All fascinated me to no end.  I stole as many quart Mason canning jars as my Mother would allow and when they weren't adequate, I would beg  Mom to find me something bigger to hold my captives.  She never let me down.  Our basement and, in the summer, the back porch held dozens of containers for my charges.  I proved to be a good  keeper.  So................................

My folks bought me a pressed glass aquarium of two gallons and a goldfish.  It seemed huge to me as a child.  I've never looked back from that time.  It was about 1946, just after the war.  That was a long time ago.  I was nine years of age.  At the time, there were two aquariums on display in town, one in a florist's shop and the other in a photo shop.  I couldn't go near either without spending hours peering into that magical world.  Both were large for their time, about 75 gallons.  I dreamed of owning one someday.

In the ensuing 56 years, I've had many successes and failures but learned a great deal along the way.  It's been a fascinating journey.  From every conceivable freshwater fish available at the time to, in 1968, a conversion to saltwater.  My thirst for aquatic knowledge lead me forever on.  The last freshwater aquarium I maintained as a hobbyist was in 1972.  From then until now my soul interest is in marine reef keeping, including the magnificent fish.

I've been in the retail business, installation and maintenance business, wholesale distributor business and now, coral propagation is my burning desire.  Through it all, a hobbyist at heart.  Probably no different than you, really.

Sue's involvement has been since our marriage in 1987.  At that time we went into the wholesale business and became the Clarity Plus distributor in WI, covering parts of IN, IL and IA,  for ten years.

Consequently, the move to FL and this website.

In the mean time, bookmark us, be patient and check back from time to time.  I guarantee, you will want to check us out.  Many businesses talk about quarantined fish, coral, clams and invertebrates.  "The Cultured Reef" will actually accomplish it.  We will offer the highest quality livestock money can buy.  A reward you, our customers, so richly deserve.  That is not an empty promise!  It's our goal!

Richard and Sue Hilgers

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