Be Inspired : NanoBox California Trip

[DaveFason]

The past few months have been nuts in the office with new products, growing, visiting companies and just dealing with the over whelming response. I set up a trip to visit a manufacture to help me with some ideas down the road, see nature, visit friends and just be inspired. The reef world has been in slump with new/creative tanks in my opinion. Technology is continuing to grow but tanks are all starting to look alike. Pack corals, any coral, hope that things work out.

A few years ago aquascaping was starting to pop up more and more. Bonsai, coral boomies, open scares, etc. Fast forward and you mostly see the same stuff over and over. They are much cleaner than the early 2000's but we are reverting back to stocking TONS of corals that really should not mix together. I am part of this! My recent drop-off tank was stacked with corals and I could tell it was effecting the overall husbandry. I went off to California to see the rock formations, visit industry professionals, see the deserts and to be creative.

The first leg of the trip was in San Diego. I stayed with my Navy SEAL friend ( old paintball teammate ) and knew we would be out in the wild. He picked me up and we went to La Jolla Cove to snorkel. This was amazing and truly an experience being out there. Seeing the rock work ( looks like part river stone ), the algae/sea grass swaying, sea life and seals was unreal. We caught a few lobsters, swam with a few seals and saw tons of garibaldi. After that we swam to the caves and seeing the rock formations under water was nuts and really sparked ideas.

Seal Swim :

[/url]GOPR0550 by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Rest break - 68 degrees will get to you after 45 minutes!

[/url]RobbieDaveSnorkle by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Next stop was LA to visit my friend Johnny Ciotti. His RedSea 250 was featured on here but was recently broken down. He is now onto terrariums, planted tanks and Tannin/black water tanks. Getting to see his aquascaping ideas and just nerd out was just what I needed. We did a quick photo session of his small planted tank sporting a NanoBox Flare and then headed off to the Sierras.

Teaser - Full shot and video coming VERY soon.

[/url]Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

A five hour drive to the Eastern Sierras was next. It is amazing going from LA to the desert. We stopped in Fossil Falls and a few other spots that really had my mind in gear. The rock formations to the empty but gorgeous land scape again sparked ideas for my tanks. Seeing how nature formed these is simply incredible.

Lava Rock - Same stuff in FW tanks

[/url]Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Volcano and red sand - This sand would look incredible in a planted tank

[/url]Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Me :

[/url]Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Driving through this we finally got to our site and set camp. The entire way my jaw was wide open. The sheer size of the mountains will blow you away. If you live in California and have never been, you MUST go.

Drive Up :

[/url]easternseirraside by Dave Fason, on Flickr

I invited Aaron ( O2Surplus ) to come camp and fly fish with us. I really enjoy hanging with fellow members and aquarium crazies like myself. Aaron is the man and can fish with the best of them. This was my first true fly fishing trip and he and Johnny showed me around. Every place we visited I was inspired. I wanted to go home to build a new tank. The perfect empty space, the rule of thirds and seeing how simple nature keeps it. The ideas were flowing!

Burn Area - Reminded me of an empty aquascape with acros ( Reminds me of Trons tank )

desertburn by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Photo By Johnny :

Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Different take on the burn area :

Johnny and Aaron - Fish Farm

Picture perfect :

Wildlife :

First fish :

Aaron!

Inspiration :

Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Last stop was San Francisco to visit Mike from Rapid LED and see my wife. Not many people know but Rapid helps me out a TON. They produce my arrays, build driver boards, etc. While I was there Jamie ( my wife ) and I ate our faces off, walked the city and also stopped by Aqua Forest. There store was impeccable and I wish we had something like that in NC. Once Jamie left, I kicked it with Mike and got to see the Rapid operations. Always great to get face time.

Loholoho - James Beard Winner

[[

Tartine :

by Dave Fason, on Flickr

Mr Holmes Bakery - Inspired by there packaging

Cressit by Mr. Holmes

My wife and I :

So after all of that? I got home and started to set new tanks up. The drop-off will be coming down due to a bow I simply do not trust. However for the better I will be setting up a Reefer 170 that will be 100% inspired from this trip.

Hard Scape start - A BIG thank you to Buce Plant/UNS - This is a 45cm tank and using UNS rock.

Tannin Tint - Inspired by the streams in the sierras

So get off your phone and get out there to be inspired. It is everywhere!

[Cencalfishguy56]

wow so awesome! hope you thoroughly enjoyed california! It's quite spectacular living in a state where the ocean, forest, and desert can all be found! next time you come check out monterey's kelp forests!

[ninjamyst]

Beautiful photos! Next time in San Fran, stop by the academy of science. They have some pretty cool stuff for reef nerds.

[DaveFason]

For sure. I love NC but really like to visit CA. I hope to make this a yearly trip.

wow so awesome! hope you thoroughly enjoyed california! It's quite spectacular living in a state where the ocean, forest, and desert can all be found! next time you come check out monterey's kelp forests!

 

Thanks! I sure will. SF was only two days and tried to bang out a ton of stuff. Next stop is Chicago.

Beautiful photos! Next time in San Fran, stop by the academy of science. They have some pretty cool stuff for reef nerds.

[uwharrie]

So cool! For some reason I thought you were much older than you obviously are! (no offence made) I guess you are wise beyond your years!

[braaap]

Great pics Dave. That UNS rock is really nice. REALLY nice. Now I want some. haha

[hinnenkm]

These pics are incredible, thanks so much for sharing and reminding us of how beautiful nature is!

[DAP]

I thoroughly enjoyed this post.

Thanks Dave!!

Please keep us updated on the 45cm tank with the UNS rock. I have been planning this exact set up.

[Boggers]

We need more rocking the blackwater. Both look really good.

[MrNanoReef]

Love your photography! Very inspirational. I went to SF 2 years ago on a family trip and it was a great experience, would love to revisit again.

 

PS. The bow with the drop-off tank is something I knew will happen but most people didn't know. Acrylic display tank need to be braced.

[DCUEVAS74]

What a great trip Dave and thanks for sharing. Glad to see you had a great time and kudos on the photos. You got a great eye amigo!

[Sunstar]

Stunning photos <3

[Droy008]

Wow beautiful pictures!

Next time your in California give me a call, I'll take you out to some great fishing lakes we have up here!

 

Also you said you took down your drop off because it was bowing. I looked at one locally and saw the same thing.

Do you think that it was just one bad tank or possibly a design flaw?

[DaveFason]

You and everyone else. I started when I was 26 and have learned a ton. From giant young screw ups to now things have changed a lot. Getting older rocks and I love every moment of it!

So cool! For some reason I thought you were much older than you obviously are! (no offence made) I guess you are wise beyond your years!

 

It really is. I love the direction they are going as well.

Great pics Dave. That UNS rock is really nice. REALLY nice. Now I want some. haha

 

Of course. There is so much inspiring places in the US. You often here how the US has nothing but those people are misinformed!

These pics are incredible, thanks so much for sharing and reminding us of how beautiful nature is!

 

Thanks! I actually have two. One that is set up at home and this one at work will be up in the next few days.

I thoroughly enjoyed this post.
Thanks Dave!!
Please keep us updated on the 45cm tank with the UNS rock. I have been planning this exact set up.

 

Agreed. For less than ~ $200 you have have a very unique tank that takes hardly any maintenance.

We need more rocking the blackwater. Both look really good.

 

SF was a great trip besides waiting in line everywhere. It had been 16 years from my last visit to now. Agreed, they mentioned the center step in the tank acting as a brace but 20g and bowing...

Love your photography! Very inspirational. I went to SF 2 years ago on a family trip and it was a great experience, would love to revisit again.

 

PS. The bow with the drop-off tank is something I knew will happen but most people didn't know. Acrylic display tank need to be braced.

 

100% will send you a PM. Fishing has really sparked my interest. It could be a run of soft acrylic but I honestly have no idea. I love IM tanks so I will reach out to them.

Wow beautiful pictures!

Next time your in California give me a call, I'll take you out to some great fishing lakes we have up here!

 

Also you said you took down your drop off because it was bowing. I looked at one locally and saw the same thing.

Do you think that it was just one bad tank or possibly a design flaw?

 

 

I forgot this is the other planted tank using UNS rock. Just planted and using an OG Flare. Filter pipes will be fixed and CO2 will be going up this weekend. Again very inspired from the rock I saw in Fossil Falls.

Untitled by Dave Fason, on Flickr

[reefist]

That pic in SF down by the beach looks like it was at The Sutro Baths. Did you go through the tunnel to get over there? Glad you had a great time!

[Shoob1e]

wow so awesome! hope you thoroughly enjoyed california! It's quite spectacular living in a state where the ocean, forest, and desert can all be found! next time you come check out monterey's kelp forests!

 

Did look like you had an awesome time , agreed with the kelp forest great place to dive at. If your ever looking to get some crazy scape and just enjoy our vast coast travel from monterey down to around sb on hwy 1. Big sur is simply amazing with all the sheer rock scapes and vast landscape around. Cheers to traveling and getting out there! Just got back from chicago!

[Astinus]

TY so much Dave for sharing ur awesome and very inspiring trip.

I really enjoyed looking at ur pictures!

Glad u had a very nice trip and was able to reconnect face to face with friends

Cheers!

[jojopus]

First fly fishing trip and you got to fish for California Golden Trout.... lucky you, sir.

[DaveFason]

Not there but a Marshals and Bakers.

That pic in SF down by the beach looks like it was at The Sutro Baths. Did you go through the tunnel to get over there? Glad you had a great time!

 

Agree I need to do that next time. Packing in all of this stuff for a week was a ton of work. To the next time!

Did look like you had an awesome time , agreed with the kelp forest great place to dive at. If your ever looking to get some crazy scape and just enjoy our vast coast travel from monterey down to around sb on hwy 1. Big sur is simply amazing with all the sheer rock scapes and vast landscape around. Cheers to traveling and getting out there! Just got back from chicago!

 

Of course. I am fortunate to be able to do things like this for work and personal. I hope that it gets people looking around!

TY so much Dave for sharing ur awesome and very inspiring trip.

I really enjoyed looking at ur pictures!

Glad u had a very nice trip and was able to reconnect face to face with friends

Cheers!

 

So I have heard. Being so new I had three others that got away when reeling in. Using barbless was new to me too. I was like a little kid when I caught that little guy. Brought back all the little kid feelings!

First fly fishing trip and you got to fish for California Golden Trout.... lucky you, sir.

[brad908]

:tup:

 

I've been brainstorming how to recreate Tunnel View in a planted tank for the last year+. So much inspiration out here.

 

Make sure you come back in the Spring.

[ajmckay]

Nice post. An interesting topic for sure and I get what you're talking about with current tank trends. They're much better than tanks from many years ago - but there's been a degree of homogenization that's gone on. Then again what looks good, looks good - right?

 

Anyways looks like you had a cool trip - I enjoy going out west to immerse myself in a different landscape. I do feel like I get a fresh sense of perspective but I suppose I haven't necessarily applied it to aquascaping yet. Maybe that's something to think about?

 

Thanks for the read - and the cool pictures.

[DaveFason]

Thanks! What looks good is good but there is always room to change again!

 

I really like the magnetic fake rocks that are coming out. I wonder what a dedicated tank with those would look like? Giving a front view of a "ledge".

 

Nature is there to make us get creative. Just look up the endless iwagami style tanks out there. Incredible.

Nice post. An interesting topic for sure and I get what you're talking about with current tank trends. They're much better than tanks from many years ago - but there's been a degree of homogenization that's gone on. Then again what looks good, looks good - right?

 

Anyways looks like you had a cool trip - I enjoy going out west to immerse myself in a different landscape. I do feel like I get a fresh sense of perspective but I suppose I haven't necessarily applied it to aquascaping yet. Maybe that's something to think about?

 

Thanks for the read - and the cool pictures.