since we're highjacking..
We went to the tree lot this weekend..
This is my Son Boo....
Dig the hair Doo....outta control



and with his Santa hat..



Hi Weets..
sorry for the jack.. but looks like you've been totally jacked on this thread.
ha..so....
hope you are well.

So cute! I love that hair but would hate to have to comb it! Wait till Weets posts the pics she took last week when I took my other set of grandkids over to her house. She got some great cousins shots! I forgot my camera getting 3 kids out the door!

He's ADORABLE Merc!
His hair reminds me of Monkfish's daughter's hair.
I love curly hair!
I suppose that's fortunate since I have some myself.

Lemme see what I can do bout those pics...

Cute kids!! (that includes the grandkids there Sue )



off topic is on topic in this thread







got prints today...good grief, they're HUGE!!!!!!!!

and someone already got their grubby prints on one

ha.. yes.. dshnarw..very true..off topic is the deal here.

WHAT PRINTS? DRATS..........
Good Luck.

couple pages back...lol
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...t&p=1927958

Cute kiddy pichers!




and

Soooo......
it looks like an upgrade for this tank might be in the works!!!

Saw this deal on a 24" T5HO fixture yesterday and couldn't pass it up, so I've got one on the way.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=178487

It's the perfect length for a 15g long, but I think I actually want to get a 20 long and center the fixture in the middle of the tank and just put some lower light stuff on the ends, like my Blasto's.
The fixture doesn't come with legs, but I have some DIY ideas on that. You'll just have to wait and see what I do...
I also think I want to upgrade the bulbs it comes with, so I'm selling some of my nicer frags to raise money for that:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=178564

I'm thinking of putting the 20long on my kitchen counter and putting a 10g next to it to hook up as a sump/refugium/frag grow out tank, so the total system volume if I do that would be 30g.
I haven't decided yet whether to drill the 20g and plumb them together, or just use a simple U-tube to hook them up. BibleSue's trying to talk me into the drilling idea.

I had been thinking about doing something like this already to combat some of the issues I've had with the current setup, including heat and temp fluctuations due to the MH, and difficulty with flow and the footprint due to the height of the tank. It's a beautiful tank and the clarity is amazing due to the acrylic, but the height has always bugged me and given me difficulties.
When that I saw that incredible deal on the light fixture yesterday, it kinda just put me over the top to go ahead and do this.

The remaining issue of an overgrowth of nuisance macro and aiptasia should be dealt with shortly by the insano CUC I'm gonna be ordering from ReefCleaners, hopefully later today.

I'm excited and nervous at the same time!
It's been a really difficult year with this tank, and I hope this plan allows me to address the issues I've had with it and finally move forward.

That looks like a good light. The 4xT5 light I got at the frag swap does good on my 15 long. I put 2 Aquablue lamps 15K, 1 10K and 1 actinic in it. Everything except high end SPS grows well in it. Including algae GGGRRRR!!! It doesnt have the individual reflectors though. I have a Current 10K and Actinic 24" bulb I would trade for the pumpkin paly frag if you want.

Hey you!
On the bulbs, I'm looking more for ATI and UVL brands, but thanks for the offer.
Do you remember what bulbs you had in the fixture that was over your Frag Tank that you had set up at the Memphis Frag Swap?
I remember everything had really good color under it.

Can't wait for the upgrade, chicka!

That was a 150W Sunpod with a Phoenix 14K bulb.

Are you SURE about that?
When I turned your lights on for you cause you were late, I remember turning on two separate switches and I looked at the light then and thought it was a T5.

Yep, positive. I didnt have a T5 light until I won it.

On a semi related note, I am very frustrated with the frag tank thing. I have tried to set one up twice and keep having algae issues. Getting on my nerves. The frags from you guys are nice and clean. I am jealous.

We get hairy, too. Get some Mexican Turbos. They mowed down all my grass as well as the pink algae I had. They don't sit still for long!

I am thinking I am going to take down my frag tank and set it back up like glennr1978's. Then I am going to let the tank run for a while before adding frags. I think my problem has been rushing and not letting everything stabilize. All my display tanks went through various types of algae cycles before they cleared up.

Cheese and rice! Tank talk!!!

Sorry! We forgot where we were for a minute!

WL is getting an upgrade!

Oh nvrmind, weeties tank is.....

^^^^^^^ Wait wha who r u again?

She lives!!!

Playing with a new toy...

First attempts..




yup, dirty glass, dirty sand bed, and yes, an aip on the micro...

but I had to try it out.

Thanks again Lani.

Couldn't wait until X-mas, huh buddy?
Pssst, you can get cleaer shots if you shoot straight on with the glass.. instead of at an angle.

NEW CAMERA!!!!!

No way......perks of being the old guy

thanks for the tip ( fiirst of MANY I'm sure )

so it begins........

So after a few hours of reading, downloading and uploading I can at least do what I did with the p+s cam.

OoOoOh!!!
PURTY!!
What kind of camera, what's the scoop, must know NOWNOWNOW!!!

Picked up a used XT from a local reefer ( and also NR member ) who had upgraded.

Did a bit of research and it seemed to be a good choice for me right now.
I get to see if I really do have the interest and ability with a minimal ( relative ) investment.
Would totally be deh suxors to go for the XSI and find out it just sits there...


Thanks Constantne!
Thanks Lani!

And Thanks ahead of time for you guys putting up wit moar lousy pichers while I try to figger dis ting out!

^^ More pichers plz.

+1 to Weets, more pichers!

Wow pics look awesome man must be loving the new toy:)

----lights went out...


Lol...Thanks Monk....

I have to hit AO tomorrow ....can you get there?

the yellow polyps on the right ya get those from pet shanty?

Actually no, from Candi on NJRC....I have some from brshriver in my 46 that grow like crazy..these grow much slower for some reason.

Shoot me a PM if you can make it to Aquatic Obsessions tomorrow and I'll hook ya up with that rock buddy.




I know its not a great shot, but look how fuzzy the Kenya tree is in this tank




OK, I promise to clean the glass before I take anymore....well...I'll try anyway..

Watch it! NRF is gettin' some skilz! Hope you learn yours faster than I am mine! I did pick up lots of useful tips from here. The last one was using the P setting on macro shots. What a difference! Have fun! See! Old dogs can learn new tricks. We are living proof. If I can at my advanced age, just think what you can learn. You go, Buddy!

Awe, you guys........I owes it all ta mah NR support group

There's a "P" setting?!?? ...oh yea, lookey there..there is. Tanks Sue!




I worried that getting the new camera may make me get lazy with my tanks. Actually the opposite is true.
I seem to be paying more attention to getting the problems under control rather than being bummed and sulking....wanting a purdy tank to take pichers of I guess .

is this better ...or worse?

Oooh, very nice! Getting better with every shot you post, you'll be shootin' like a pro in no time.

Nice work! You catch on fast!

( I can't stop buddeh! )

Hope you have a large camera card. This is becoming an addiction.

very much so....

( two cards BTW )

Someone trained you right! I am trying to get my cards cleaned off before Christmas so I have room for family pictures.

It's all LANI'S fault!



( well, possibly some blame goes towards Daniel )

Definitely better, keep it up!

Okay, I have a question for everyone out there and would love to get some input.
I am planning an upgrade for this tank and am looking at 2 different options.
For both options, the tank and or tanks would be placed on one level surface, namely my kitchen counter. For various reasons, it really does need to go in this location.

Okay, tell me which of these two you think would be better:
#1-- Get a 20 long for the main display and drill and plumb it into a 10g (which I already have). The 10g will rest on the counter next to it and will serve as a Sump/Refugium/Frag Growout tank.

#2-- Get a 27g (36 x 12 1/2 x 13" tall) from Glasscages.com, who are relatively local to me. Divide the tank with a Black False Wall. The wall would have an overflow with teeth and have a hole drilled for a return. Approx. 2/3 of the tank would be used for the display, 1/3 would be used for the Sump/Refugium/Frag Grow Out.

Each has it's pluses and minuses.
Tell me which you think would be better and why.
Each side would be on a reverse light cycle, and I already have the lighting and almost all necessary equipment with the exception of some small parts like bulkheads.

27 from glassgages. or even the 30 square, where you would have more space for your whatnots, it's 24" deep!

I don't like deep tanks, I really don't want the depth to be more than 13".
I'll take this as a vote for the 27g glasscages option, thanks.
Next?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, you had to make it an easy decision, didn't you... lol.
When it comes down to it, I would go with option one. Easier to keep things separate, imo.

I would agree, well sort of.

If the attached ( plumbed together ) frag tank is simply grow out for frags of corals from your display, cool.

If not, then I would worry about any possible "chemical warfare" going on in the frag tank causing corals in the display problems as well.

While the larger system would seemingly be more stable with the increased volume, I have often wondered about this possible problem when the added tank is for assorted frags.

As for a GC AIO set up....I would think it may be difficult to deal with rear chambers being tucked under kitchen cabinets ( if that is in fact where it would be going ).


I didn't help you at all again, did I ?


But really, Option 1 if the sump / fuge / frag is just for grow out of corlz you already have in the display.
Pretty sure this is what you were thinking anyway, huh?

OK, I'll go away now.......