Blenwood's Reef - 1st attempts at focus stacking

[Cannedfish]

A few “meh” photos for your Sundae pleasures...

 

.........

 

Setosa...

 

Suns...

 

B-Dolla Dolla

 

PPC Y’all:

 

WD:

 

Mitten Floyd:

 

[ReefGoat]

Where are you sourcing your livestock from these days? Did reef geeks close down in N.O?

[Pjanssen]

46 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

WD:

What makes a WD a WD? 

[Reefkid88]

29 minutes ago, Pjanssen said:

What makes a WD a WD? 

TONS ANS TONS OF LIGHT !!!! Regardless,Fishy Fishy still has a super nice looking WD. The color contrasts are killer. 

[Pjanssen]

2 minutes ago, Reefkid88 said:

TONS ANS TONS OF LIGHT !!!! Regardless,Fishy Fishy still has a super nice looking WD. The color contrasts are killer. 

Yeah, but who decided WD was a good name for it? I mean, I think, it stands for Walt Disney, right? What do those colors, as amazing as they are, have to do with Disney? (No disrespect to the coral here, it is a bute!) Just random stupid thoughts cuz I have nothing better to do!

[pokerdobe]

7 minutes ago, Pjanssen said:

Yeah, but who decided WD was a good name for it? I mean, I think, it stands for Walt Disney, right? What do those colors, as amazing as they are, have to do with Disney? (No disrespect to the coral here, it is a bute!) Just random stupid thoughts cuz I have nothing better to do!

My wife works for Disney and she tells me all the time that she doesn't understand why it was named WD. 

[SaltyTanks]

I've always been amazed at how successful you've been at defying conventional coral placement wisdom.  I still feel new at this, so I don't even know what that means, but blastos with acros and cyphastrea over birdsnest?  How does that echinata and favia not pummel each other?  Meaty sun coral out in the sun?  Grow out space, huh?  And TOTM tank crash flipped in under a year?  Two things happen to me when I look at your tank pics: (i) my head wants to explode; and (ii) I want to supermarket sweep the sh$t out of the world's coral inventory and throw it all in my tank to see if it will harmonize like yours.

 

P.S. I define success by how much drool has pooled when I look at a tank. When I realized that I could do a 15% water change on my IM40 by just adding some salt, I deemed your tank successful.  Very successful.

 

P.P.S. Somebody should produce a new show called "Tank Crash Flippers."  And by somebody, I mean you.  I'd binge watch all your episodes.  It's only a matter of time before you grow bored of your still imagery learning curve skillz. Somebody's gotta point out the white elephant in the room here.

[ReefGoat]

10 minutes ago, SaltyTanks said:

I've always been amazed at how successful you've been at defying conventional coral placement wisdom.  I still feel new at this, so I don't even know what that means, but blastos with acros and cyphastrea over birdsnest?  How does that echinata and favia not pummel each other?  Meaty sun coral out in the sun?  Grow out space, huh?  And TOTM tank crash flipped in under a year?  Two things happen to me when I look at your tank pics: (i) my head wants to explode; and (ii) I want to supermarket sweep the sh$t out of the world's coral inventory and throw it all in my tank to see if it will harmonize like yours.

 

P.S. I define success by how much drool has pooled when I look at a tank. When I realized that I could do a 15% water change on my IM40 by just adding some salt, I deemed your tank successful.  Very successful.

 

P.P.S. Somebody should produce a new show called "Tank Crash Flippers."  And by somebody, I mean you.  I'd binge watch all your episodes.  It's only a matter of time before you grow bored of your still imagery learning curve skillz. Somebody's gotta point out the white elephant in the room here.

The colors explode. But what amazes me the most is that damn rock. Would ya just look at it! The rock is just layer upon layer of colors and probably diverse beneficial life.

[Cannedfish]

On 10/25/2020 at 6:58 PM, ReefGoat said:

Where are you sourcing your livestock from these days? Did reef geeks close down in N.O?

So my go to and favorite LFS is actually Coral Fever in Raceland, Seth is both legit and honest and has great prices. Furthermore if you want something he can get you whatever you need with added plus of having a wife who is a pro Harley Davidson drag racer. Tied for second would be Aqua Hut in Baton Rouge and Coral Cove in Houma. I need to find someone who has an offshore boat that wants to go diving for sun corals on the rigs...

 

 

On 10/25/2020 at 7:25 PM, Pjanssen said:

What makes a WD a WD? 

Three important things: mouse ears, questionable early cartoons about the South, and landmark animated movies where both parents of the protagonist often die. Other than that it’s the usual things: linage and color. Mine was purchased from a dealer who purchased directly from Big ‘R’; coloration-wise: it’s a rainbow tenius that loves light. Other than that, honestly, it’s just a good looking acro that’s dependably the same color and pretty hardy. 
 

On 10/25/2020 at 7:55 PM, Reefkid88 said:

TONS ANS TONS OF LIGHT !!!! Regardless,Fishy Fishy still has a super nice looking WD. The color contrasts are killer. 

^this and the fact that it looks good under almost any light. Of the new school acro it’s up there with the SC OP, and Vivid Confetti as HOF candidates . 
 

On 10/26/2020 at 7:31 PM, SaltyTanks said:

I've always been amazed at how successful you've been at defying conventional coral placement wisdom.  I still feel new at this, so I don't even know what that means, but blastos with acros and cyphastrea over birdsnest?  How does that echinata and favia not pummel each other?  Meaty sun coral out in the sun?  Grow out space, huh?  And TOTM tank crash flipped in under a year?  Two things happen to me when I look at your tank pics: (i) my head wants to explode; and (ii) I want to supermarket sweep the sh$t out of the world's coral inventory and throw it all in my tank to see if it will harmonize like yours.

 

P.S. I define success by how much drool has pooled when I look at a tank. When I realized that I could do a 15% water change on my IM40 by just adding some salt, I deemed your tank successful.  Very successful.

 

P.P.S. Somebody should produce a new show called "Tank Crash Flippers."  And by somebody, I mean you.  I'd binge watch all your episodes.  It's only a matter of time before you grow bored of your still imagery learning curve skillz. Somebody's gotta point out the white elephant in the room here.

Keeping on brand,I am a week late replying, but sadly the echinata did finally decide that the favia was looking a little too ‘Ronald Goldman’ to its ‘OJ Simpson’ and went all “White Bronco Stabby Stabby” on the old fav-dog. But alas, that actually did happen and we are left with a bloody glove and some awkward Lethal Weapon scenes, but I digress. 
 

I appreciate the compliments, but don’t discount the sheer ineptitude... one thing to keep in mind is that Blenwood’s House of Horrors is, in fact, an aquatic Thunder Dome, where only the strong (or convincingly deceitful) survive. I’ve been through an exceedingly small fortune of frags... whether it be coral warfare or general incompetence.  
 

I have, however, learned through the combination of bourbon, failure, and a ‘few’ court appointed therapists... that a nano reef tank can be an exceedingly small allegory for life: buy quality basically basics, always trust complimentary colors, don’t urinate in public during Mardi Gras, and don’t be afraid of failure. And I am proof of what I preach, I have butted up against the nano tank threshold... burned out... come bank with an augmented approach. 

In summary, I must admit this is one of the top five best responses on this this thread which, if history is the judge means you are either destined for a great tank or jail...

 

On 10/26/2020 at 7:56 PM, ReefGoat said:

The colors explode. But what amazes me the most is that damn rock. Would ya just look at it! The rock is just layer upon layer of colors and probably diverse beneficial life.

Don’t get me started... I wish this rock was like 30% smaller...

 

.........

 

Terrible photos:

 

B-Dizzle

 

Is that a star fish on your face, or are just happy to see me:

 

WDM

 

Zoas of some sort or another:

 

SCOP:

 

[ECLS Reefer]

Finally!! He returns!!

[Pjanssen]

Can't believe you would post such garish second rate photos!

[SaltyTanks]

And that blasto be like...

 

[Tired]

Oh my goodness, a fish actually sat still long enough for a starfish to get on it. Gotta love fish that pretend to be rocks. 

[Cannedfish]

Welp, it’s (slightly past) that time of the month again. That’s right! The time where I get super good at staying inside and doing nothing, and even better applying my bourbon consuming skills to that of my puzzling skills, it’s… just kidding…. It’s been like this the last eight months. I’m a volleyball and bloody handprint away from becoming the true to life remake of an underrated Tom Hanks movie, recast in a third world American city located in a swamp. 

 

So, for those who actually struggle through reading this thread’s the less than great, and quite frankly, terrible monthly updates, I have some encouraging news. Not much happened the last month, so this month’s nearly incomprehensible rant should be significantly less painful than normal. Outside of the acan echinata staying on brand, and going all “favs bean and a glass of Chianti” on the ultron favia, not much happened. I did forget to turn the return pump back on one night after feeding and the tanks temp successfully dropped overnight to a balmy 68 degrees, but fortunately everything is pretty accustomed to my incompetence and didn’t skip a beat. So essentially everything keeps rolling along. I do continue to struggle with aiptasia, cyano, and the occasional dusting of dinos, but that’s  pretty much par for the course and nothing I can’t handle. Overall, growth has been okay, some acros have finally begun to sprout growth tips, and the odd menagerie of fish all seem fat and happy. So with being said! “On to the next month!!”

November 2020

 

October 2020

 

September 2020

 

August 2020

[mitten_reef]

Apparently this month update is not funny enough to warrant any replies

 

Btw, time to quit on that JKR rainbow and the birdsnest. 
 

I didn’t realize how big that favia was before the echinata nuked it. 🤯 did that really just happened overnight? 

[ECLS Reefer]

1 hour ago, mitten_reef said:

Apparently this month update is not funny enough to warrant any replies

 

Btw, time to quit on that JKR rainbow and the birdsnest. 
 

I didn’t realize how big that favia was before the echinata nuked it. 🤯 did that really just happened overnight? 

I can’t see this coral warfare in the pictures, but that sounds like a shame. I sure like acans and favias. 
 

And you know people can’t keep up with his wit, even when enlightened by booze. He should write a reefing book- would be entertaining and educational, the perfect and elusive goal of all textbook authors.

[mitten_reef]

4 minutes ago, ECLS Reefer said:

I can’t see this coral warfare in the pictures, but that sounds like a shame. I sure like acans and favias. 
 

And you know people can’t keep up with his wit, even when enlightened by booze. He should write a reefing book- would be entertaining and educational, the perfect and elusive goal of all textbook authors.

Play spot the difference between October and November. Something big is missing. 

[ECLS Reefer]

7 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

Play spot the difference between October and November. Something big is missing. 

Ah. Yeah that’s a shame. I’m sure I’m in for that some day when my echinata in the Evo gets sick of the GSP crowding it

[Pjanssen]

For the record, I like your rants. Keep 'em coming

[Cannedfish]

Many (zero) people have been calling and messaging me, wondering about the goings-on of Blenwood & Company over the Thanksgiving Break. For those who don't live in USA, Thanksgiving is the American holiday where we not only pay homage to the All Powerful and Merciful Turkey God by performing the annual acts and sacrifices of: 1) the ritualized baking of the second place national bird; 2) having to spend time with our extended family; and 3) watching the Detroit Lions embarrass themselves on national television, its also a long weekend. Unfortunately, this year due to a certain global event that rhymes with SMOVID-SMINETEEN, Blenwood and I were unable to travel. Therefore, I had to resort to my annual Thanksgiving  hijinks over the skype instead of in-person. Tried and true spoofs and goofs like immediately bringing up politics, baselessly insinuating that some family member was pregnant, or a personal favorite, announcing that I had gotten married... *sigh* it never gets old. I also partook in the annual American Holiday Celebration of Light... Black Friday. Using the national festival of questionable financial decisions, to pick up my first new corals since (does math on fingers) July and also grabbing a new doser. Frags-wise, I finally found what I hope will turn out to be a pink/red tenius: the LRO Hearttrob.... and feeling frisky (most likely due to the potent combination of tryptophan, bourbon, and pumpkin pie) I grabbed an intriguing snippet of a wild acro. Doser-wise, I grabbed the new Kamoer Pro. Unfortunately, for those wondering about the doser, because I exhibit the rare personality combination of being both lazy and slightly incompetent, I have yet to set it up... but I'm somewhat sure that will happen at some point in the indeterminate future (so make sure to smash that like button, subscribe, and turn your notifications on). 

 

Anyways! Photos!

 

LRO Hearttrob... has a lot of coloring up to do:

 

Blen-Dizzle:

 

Zoas of some sort or another:

 

PPC:

 

Pickles:

 

Polyp:

[pokerdobe]

Pickles looks disappointed and or upset with you. What did you do now?

[NoOneLikesADryTang]

If you're running a dual band network, I'd highly recommend turning off your 5ghz network when you attempt to set it up. It took me about an hour of frustration, a plethora of cuss words, and a few smacks to the tank keepers ass, before I figured out that running only 2.4ghz was the easiest way to get it to connect. Once it got connected to the network, it was a matter of minutes before it was up and running flawlessly. 

[Pjanssen]

I love pickles

[Cannedfish]

Comments will be responded to, but in the mean time the beatings will continue till moral improves here are some Sundae Fundae fotos:

 

Digi:

 

Bird boi:

 

ASD Rainbow:

 

CB Zombies:

 

Sunny Day Real Estate:

 

CF Booger Sugar:

[ECLS Reefer]

10 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

Comments will be responded to, but in the mean time the beatings will continue till moral improves here are some Sundae Fundae fotos:

 

Digi:

 

Bird boi:

 

ASD Rainbow:

 

CB Zombies:

 

Sunny Day Real Estate:

 

CF Booger Sugar:

That’s gonna be a lot of beatings if we’re waiting for morality to improve