About
What is Polo Reef?
Polo Reef exists to inspire, especially the next generation of marine enthusiasts. Our goal is to ignite a spark and curiosity in young minds, helping to shape future scientists, aquarists, conservationists, and educators who will champion ecosystems and coral reef preservation.
But it doesn’t stop there. Polo Reef is also a hub for honest, no-BS information in a hobby that’s often full of opinions and guesswork. We’re committed to sharing real research, practical tools, and data-backed methods that improve the lives of the marine animals we care for.
While the 17,000-gallon reef tank is the showpiece, it’s just one part of a much larger system that includes multiple display tanks, quarantine setups, holding systems, and a full wet lab — all used to explore, test, and educate. This is a team effort. We work with experts across the hobby and industry to stay on the cutting edge, and we share everything we learn — through videos, articles, research, and talks. If there’s something new to discover in reef keeping, chances are, we’re already diving into it. At Polo Reef, we’re not just building our aquariums. We’re building an educational movement.
Meet the team
Andrew Sandler
Founder & Owner
Outside of several local businesses, Andrew is currently collaborating with and serving on the boards of various charities to give back to the hobby. Andrew has a very busy schedule between his business and family, but his passion for the reefing hobby is unmatched. He has worked with his team to develop a thorough fish and coral quarantine process that many reefers are intrigued to learn more about. Andrew and the team would not be complete without the assistance of his beautiful wife Aurily. She helps keep Andrew focused and ensures all of the projects blend with the rest of the house. Her keen eye for detail ensures that each tank matches the home’s design and that nothing gets out of control. She also has the unenviable task of keeping Andrew and everyone else from losing focus, which she manages gracefully and with impressive diplomacy.
Patty Martin
Director of Operations & Media
Patty Martin is a dedicated leader at Polo Reef, overseeing daily operations, aquarium systems, and team management with a strong focus on marine conservation. As an experienced aquarist and backup diver for the 17,000-gallon display, she also maintains specialized reef tanks and uses her award-winning photography to promote ocean awareness. Her passion for coral sustainability, hands-on education, and marine advocacy is central to Polo Reef’s mission.
JC Munoz
Project Manager / Logistics
JC has been immersed in the marine industry since age 8, beginning with a job at a marine aquarium store and later running a coral propagation operation. His expertise spans jellyfish aquaculture, herpetology, international trade, and finance, including global steel transactions. At Polo Reef, JC integrates this diverse experience into project management, marketing, logistics, and educational outreach, all driven by his lifelong passion for reefkeeping and conservation.
Yalcin Tanburaci
General Aquarium Management
Yalcin manages much of the day-to-day tank maintenance, including water testing, equipment checks, and the essential task of feeding all the aquariums. While feeding may seem simple, the scale and number of tanks at Polo Reef require a carefully developed regimen that keeps fish and corals thriving without polluting the system or creating excess nutrients. In this, Yalcin has become a true maestro—maintaining harmony between nutrition, water quality, and overall tank health.
Jonathon Hale
Project & Life Support Management
Jonathan Hale has been involved since the start of this project and has not only been central in the overall design and construction of many of the tanks including the 17,000-gallon tank, but he also helped bring in specialists to handle the engineering and other important tasks. He also handles all of the large maintenance tasks as well as any other problems that might arise with these tanks and all of the related equipment.
Michelle Hope
Dive / Coral Care
Michelle has been part of the tank projects since day one and remains an essential member of the team. In addition to managing Country Critters, she oversees much of what happens inside the main display tank, including frequent dives and expert coral placement based on her deep knowledge of their optimal conditions. With a background in accounting, she’s remarkably attentive to detail—often noticing when a single coral is out of place—and contributes valuable insights across the various systems that keep the tank thriving.
Joe Muscat
Project & Coral Management
Joe has been an avid reef hobbyist for decades, with a deep knowledge and passion for SPS corals. His stunning tank has been named Reef2Reef Tank of the Month multiple times and was featured on World Wide Corals’ YouTube channel and others. In 2023, it was also showcased in the September/October edition of CORAL Magazine. Joe’s keen eye for coral care, combined with his background in construction and engineering, makes him a highly valuable asset to the Polo Reef team.
Maxx
Assistant Aquarium Management
Maxx has been immersed in the aquarium world his entire life, inspired by his father, a longtime aquarist and fish breeder. He personally keeps and breeds many rare freshwater species, including elusive Plecostomus varieties. With a deep passion for all things aquatic, Maxx plays a key role at Polo Reef, helping maintain the health of both corals and fish. His dedication and expertise make him an essential part of keeping the aquariums thriving and beautiful.
Dun Dumlao
Coral & Aquarium Care
Dun’s curiosity and dedication make him an invaluable part of the team. As a part-time team member, he plays a crucial role in aquarium maintenance and coral care, ensuring the health and stability of the system. His attention to detail and commitment to learning allow him to identify and address potential issues, helping to maintain a thriving environment. As Polo Reef continues to grow, so does Dun’s expertise, making him an essential contributor to its success.
Alex Hall
Veterinarian
Dr. Hall holds a Bachelor of Science from Stony Brook University and a veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, where he became a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He provides expert medical care for dogs, cats, exotic pets, and aquatic species, with special interests in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and aquatic health. He collaborates with institutions like the Long Island Aquarium and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Infectious Disease at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. His addition to Polo Reef has been a crucial point in being able to identify and treat the marine animals and Koi we love.
Videography team
Derick Walker
Videography Project Manager
Derick is an award-winning underwater cinematographer and documentary filmmaker whose passion for the ocean began with a reef tank he still cares for today. He is the founder and president of Walker Wildlife Films, a nonprofit based in West Palm Beach, Florida. As head of videography at Polo Reef, Derick plays a pivotal role in capturing the beauty and complexity of the system through powerful, cinematic storytelling. He continues his mission to create wildlife documentaries that inspire awareness and meaningful change for our environment.
Dooks
Videographer
Dooks is a full-time videographer for Polo Reef with over 20 years of experience shooting and editing reality shows, commercials, movies, and documentaries. He has worked with major brands like Amazon, Jeep, Dunkin Donuts, WAC Lighting, and Property Brothers, as well as on projects for Generation Iron and Mars. A passionate snowboarder, rock climber, scuba diver, and yogi, Dooks brings the same adventurous spirit to his creative work. Always eager to learn and grow, he’s driven by a commitment to excellence and storytelling through visual media.
Pepe
Remote Video Editor
Pepe has been passionate about the aquarium hobby his entire life, building a deep well of knowledge that he later brought to social media with the goal of creating original, entertaining content. He quickly became the leading Spanish-speaking content creator in the aquatics space, traveling the world to document how the hobby is practiced in different countries. An achievement he is proud of is joining the creative team at Polo Reef. Based in Mexico, Pepe contributes remotely by handling video editing and bringing stories to life through his vision.