Blenwood's Reef - 1st attempts at focus stacking

[Cannedfish]

22 hours ago, Lula_Mae said:

But the bubble algae still is! 

Unfortunately for ole Blen-Daddy and I, we are not a pro at much, however, when it comes to Erin Green Aqua-Organic Spereoids Water Lettuce we're basically mother-effing Bob Ross. 

 

 

[Lula_Mae]

I can totally see Blenwood sporting that hair! 

[KurtS]

Now you made me miss Bob Ross, I loved watching him paint when I was young and I'm still jealous of how relaxed that man seemed now that I'm older and cynical.

That and I'm totally jealous of your tank of course 😉

[WV Reefer]

1 hour ago, KurtS said:

I'm still jealous of how relaxed that man seemed now that I'm older and cynical.

 

It’s called Reefer. 🙃

[Subsea]

On 5/30/2018 at 7:42 PM, WV Reefer said:

It’s called Reefer. 🙃

Yes, I remember.  “Reefer Madness”.

[Cannedfish]

On 5/30/2018 at 9:53 AM, Lula_Mae said:

I can totally see Blenwood sporting that hair! 

Weirdly Blenwood usually rocks that 1990's middle part look. I tell him he looks stupid, and I think he understands that it's no longer fashionable, however, as we all know he's a diva and generally "a-does whatta he wants-a." That being said, in case you were wondering. 

 

Nah, just kidding Blen-Daddy Cash Money $$ only rocks that old-school high-top fade made famous by Kid of Kid 'n Play. 

 

B-Dubs 'N Play:

 

On 5/30/2018 at 6:33 PM, KurtS said:

Now you made me miss Bob Ross, I loved watching him paint when I was young and I'm still jealous of how relaxed that man seemed now that I'm older and cynical.

That and I'm totally jealous of your tank of course 😉

Appreciate the love. But be advised, my tank is much like your run-of-the-mill Disney teen-starlet. When she is in front of the cameras or being carefully monitored by her Mickey Mouse handlers, she appears put together and sane. The moment you give her an inch of space she gets a tattoo, pierces a nipple, and is otherwise a Klonopin and Smirnoff fuel dumpster-fire. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of that life. 

 

On 5/30/2018 at 7:42 PM, WV Reefer said:

It’s called Reefer. 🙃

 Pretty much nailed it. Side note, and completely unrelated, did you know Mr. Roger's mom knit all of his sweaters. Boom, knowledge. 

 

———

Tank Update:

Things are pretty much the same and on auto-pilot. I did attempted to dose a bit of Vibrant to ameliorate my slight Erin Green Aqua-Organic Spereoids Water Lettuce issues and I think it cause some of my acros to brown-out a bit. Other than that, I got nothing. 

 

———

Pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Subsea]

@Cannedfish

 

while I have read numerous post to this thread and for certain, appreciated the fast paced dialogue (have you considered stand up comedy), I did not note the thread title until today.  Very cute play on the French / English.

[Lula_Mae]

24 minutes ago, Subsea said:

@Cannedfish

 

while I have read numerous post to this thread and for certain, appreciated the fast paced dialogue (have you considered stand up comedy), I did not note the thread title until today.  Very cute play on the French / English.

I think it's actually Cajunglish.

[WV Reefer]

1 hour ago, Cannedfish said:

Weirdly Blenwood usually rocks that 1990's middle part look. I tell him he looks stupid, and I think he understands that it's no longer fashionable, however, as we all know he's a diva and generally "a-does whatta he wants-a." That being said, in case you were wondering. 

 

Nah, just kidding Blen-Daddy Cash Money $$ only rocks that old-school high-top fade made famous by Kid of Kid 'n Play. 

 

B-Dubs 'N Play:

 

Appreciate the love. But be advised, my tank is much like your run-of-the-mill Disney teen-starlet. When she is in front of the cameras or being carefully monitored by her Mickey Mouse handlers, she appears put together and sane. The moment you give her an inch of space she gets a tattoo, pierces a nipple, and is otherwise a Klonopin and Smirnoff fuel dumpster-fire. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous of that life. 

 

 Pretty much nailed it. Side note, and completely unrelated, did you know Mr. Roger's mom knit all of his sweaters. Boom, knowledge. 

 

———

Tank Update:

Things are pretty much the same and on auto-pilot. I did attempted to dose a bit of Vibrant to ameliorate my slight Erin Green Aqua-Organic Spereoids Water Lettuce issues and I think it cause some of my acros to brown-out a bit. Other than that, I got nothing. 

 

———

Pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve said before that Mr Rogers actually made me want an aquarium.......and a traffic light!

 

Now, I have my traffic light over my aquarium  😄 — He inspires hobbies and home decor. 🤣

[mitten_reef]

2 hours ago, Cannedfish said:

 

Is it just me, or were you focusing in on that zoa pooping in the shot? cuz everything else seems slightly blurry. 

[Cannedfish]

Lazy Sunday on the mini reef. About strap on some Nike Monarchs, tuck my t-shirt into my cargo shorts, and go H.A.M. on some yard work. 

 

 

[Cannedfish]

Quick, less-than-exciting weekend update:

 

On Friday in between chuckling at all the Acro Contest Thread nonsense and being lured into a going to a steakhouse and drinking copious amounts of red wine, (which inevitably lead to being lured into going to the bar, which inevitably lead to being lured into going to another bar, which inevitably lead to be lured into having a Saturday morning headache) I managed to get my hands on an Icecap handheld salinity probe. Despite some negative reviews online, I must say I am very pleased with it so far. It appears that Icecap has tweaked the design a bit (you no longer get the weird cup thing that attaches to the end), but it seems pretty accurate and is much, much easier to use than a handheld refractometer. Even if its off .001 ppm, that's good with me (especially if it's consistently off) because, like it or not, my refractometer is probably off that much, and even if it's not, my eyesight certainly is. Plus it's really easy to use, and I found myself testing more during the last batch of NSW, instead of being like "eh, eff it, close enough, let's go a a steakhouse." 

 

Unsurprisingly, in other news, much like my attempts at adult-ing, I am still laboring to dial in the dosing pump, and, as a result, some of my acros have browned a bit. Also the walking dendro, against stern warnings, decided Saturday night cross the clam tracks and wander into the bad part of town. And true to form, was absolutely lit up by the acan echinata, which is truly the biggest A-hole in the tank. I also picked up a new porcelain crab. 

 

That behind us... Pictures!!

 

We both had a rough weekend:

 

Blen-Daddy! Let him fat in peace!

 

Lorp doing Lorp things. Here he's creepin' on pods. 

[This guy is extra salty]

I think I have the “nub” you’re looking for

lol I fragged it about a week ago thinking it was too small and was going to die... 

nope this Jigglypuff millie is growing 

[Cannedfish]

44 minutes ago, This guy is extra salty said:

I think I have the “nub” you’re looking for

lol I fragged it about a week ago thinking it was too small and was going to die... 

nope this Jigglypuff millie is growing 

Hahah!! I have a montipora with your name on it!

[Cannedfish]

So like,  I have like a IM 10, and I like need help upgrading my like pump...

 

Just kidding it’s monthly update time! 

 

Summer time on the forum, unlike a Will Smith song, it’s been pretty dead. I understand that most people are off sucking in their gut and pretending they have a beach bod all summer, but “lez be honest” you’re not fooling anyone. Outside of repetitive “what is this?” threads (hint it’s either weird coralline algae, a copepod, or Nessi) not much has been happening. And this isn’t the “oh god, there isn’t a pulse maybe mezcal and fireworks were a bad idea” nothing’s happening, but more of the “I’m bored, so I’ve been buying As-Seen-On-TV products on Amazon” nothing been happening. Basically, it’s been Terra Reid post Van Wilder, basically a corpse. But I digress, let’s talk about the tank. 

 

The last month can be summarized by the phrase “improper dosing and brown-outs,” which oddly, can also describe the effects of drinking too much magnesium as a sleep aid. Needless-to-say my corals (most likely due to too high of alk levels for a week) have, in spectacular fashion, gone to brown town. Worse still  the worm powered Duncan decided to park under the acan echinata and, as a result, I may need to start looking for a new worm powered Duncan. Like the terrible info-mercials fueling a certain summertime Amazon habit, “but wait, there’s more! I also lost the WD acro, which was a bummer, not so much mentally but as a component of my credit score. Otherwise, things have been good. 

 

Anways, Blen-Daddy and Team know what you're here for: Bad Pics!

 

June FTS:

 

Cash Money Blen Money:

 

 

Ok pic:

[Stoops718]

Always love the updates whether eventful or not. Can you ghostwrite my thread for me?

[mitten_reef]

1 minute ago, Stoops718 said:

Always love the updates whether eventful or not. Can you ghostwrite my thread for me?

This is a fantastic idea! I’m second in line. 

[mitten_reef]

23 minutes ago, Cannedfish said:

So like,  I have like a IM 10, and I like need help upgrading my like pump...

 

Just kidding it’s monthly update time! 

 

Summer time on the forum, unlike a Will Smith song, it’s been pretty dead. I understand that most people are off sucking in their gut and pretending they have a beach bod all summer, but “lez be honest” you’re not fooling anyone. Outside of repetitive “what is this?” threads (hint it’s either weird coralline algae, a copepod, or Nessi) not much has been happening. And this isn’t the “oh god, there isn’t a pulse maybe mezcal and fireworks were a bad idea” nothing’s happening, but more of the “I’m bored, so I’ve been buying As-Seen-On-TV products on Amazon” nothing been happening. Basically, it’s been Terra Reid post Van Wilder, basically a corpse. But I digress, let’s talk about the tank. 

And all of the above. Thinking about just checking out for a while. Getting really tired of the “can I do this...?”, “what is this?” threads. 

[teenyreef]

Ummmm...I looked fairly carefully at your latest FTS...well actually I glanced at it and said "Holy Crap!!!". And I don't see any brown. So there.

 

But yeah, I've done the same thing with dosing problems, and saw lots of brown and some stn as a result. Just ride it out. I am sorry about the WD frag. I've learned that frags know damn well exactly how much they cost and the expensive ones are much more likely to quit on the job just like an overpaid prima donna.

[Cannedfish]

13 hours ago, Stoops718 said:

Always love the updates whether eventful or not. Can you ghostwrite my thread for me?

I was once told that in life, when faced with a difficult decisions, the best place to look for answers was... the rap game. For example, if you were pulled over by the cops with "a trunk full of raw" and needed guidance about your search and seizure rights under the 4th Amendment, look no further than Jay-Z's 99 Problems: "[the] glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back; and I know my rights so you goin' need a warrant for that." Boom,  one problem solved. When it comes to legitimacy of ghostwriting, however, this is a much grayer area. On one hand, many top rappers have had or do actively employ ghostwriters: Kayne, Dr. Dre, & Drake to name a few, and they seem to be doing okay (discounting illegitimate children with porn stars). Furthermore, some of the best rappers in the game are ghostwriters themselves: Kendrick, Nas, Rick Ross.  On the other hand, while this may seem to suggest that ghostwriting is an acceptable act, unfortunately, this is not the case. The best analogy, I think is peeing in the pool: is it going to hurt anyone... probably not. Should you still do it... depends on the situation. 

 

Luckily, I think this whole case is moot since I don't believe ghostwriting falls within my marketable skills (proofreading certainly doesn't). To be sure, let's quickly check the comprehensive list of my talents: 1) eating tacos, 2) looking great in cowboy boots, 3) cheating at chose your own adventure books. Nope, it doesn't look like ghostwriting is on there. Sorry. 

 

13 hours ago, micoastreefing said:

This is a fantastic idea! I’m second in line. 

After seeing this I am apt to change my above opinion. Having people wait in line, however, will not do. Instead I demand that candidates partake in a competition not dissimilar to The Most Extreme Challenge. If y'all agree to this... I'm in. 

 

13 hours ago, micoastreefing said:

And all of the above. Thinking about just checking out for a while. Getting really tired of the “can I do this...?”, “what is this?” threads. 

Short answer: yes. Long answer: I am going to need more time to respond to this.

 

12 hours ago, teenyreef said:

Ummmm...I looked fairly carefully at your latest FTS...well actually I glanced at it and said "Holy Crap!!!". And I don't see any brown. So there.

 

But yeah, I've done the same thing with dosing problems, and saw lots of brown and some stn as a result. Just ride it out. I am sorry about the WD frag. I've learned that frags know damn well exactly how much they cost and the expensive ones are much more likely to quit on the job just like an overpaid prima donna.

Oh don't worry, brown town is there. Luckily, after a lifetime of not-looking like Brad Pitt, I have gotten really good at hiding flaws: Receding hairline? Wear a hat!; Beer belly? Slip into some '90's parachute pants!; Lazy eye? Easy, wear an eye patch!  Thus, on a day-to-day basis, instead of looking like Steve Buscemi after a two-week bender, I look more like a drunken-pirate version of Willem Defoe . With these skills in hand, I was able to hide the worst of the turd-looking frags behind less turd-looking frags. Not to brag, but "probbbbbblem solved."

 

100% frags know what they are worth. I can't kill the cheap ones, but I am able to melt the expensive ones just by looking at them wrong. I feel like there is a parallel here to my early adult dating life... Probably should leave that analogy in the hamper. 

[Travis]

This thread makes my day, everyday.

[mitten_reef]

Saw u got a 2-head dosing pumps, which one u did u go with? And how do u like it so far?  Thinking about getting one to make the tank life a little bit more automated. 

[Cannedfish]

On 6/17/2018 at 12:09 PM, micoastreefing said:

Saw u got a 2-head dosing pumps, which one u did u go with? And how do u like it so far?  Thinking about getting one to make the tank life a little bit more automated. 

After being hesitant about dosing, I went with a cheap Jabao DP-4. My experience with it, thus far, mirrors my early 20's self: it is cheap, easy, and generally seems to work. To elaborate, it doesn't like to pay for dinner, has been known to bring questionable individuals back from the bar, and can generally relied upon to make it to work punctually 85% of the time. Wait. Let's try that again. To elaborate, it's inexpensive, easy to program, and, for all intensive purposes, performed like it's supposed to. That's better. Unfortunately, since I don't have any experience with other dosers so I can't really compare to snazzier models. It may not have any fancy bells or whistles but at this point that hasn't bothered me. Regarding the actual doser, however, I will say, looking back I would recommend a three or four head doser, just to provide future flexibility. 

 

In terms of automating the tank, I think its been a positive addition. With that being said, it is a bit of a process getting the dosing amount dialed in. Personally, I think my difficulty finding the dosing sweet spot can be attributed to three major factors: 1) I'm an idiot, 2) the small size of my tank, and 3) Russian meddling. The minute size of my tank means I have less ability to finely tune the dosing amount. For example, at the moment I am stuck between 3-4 ml a day. I think 3.5 would be perfect, but can't dose in that small of an amount. Overall, I think a much more competent reefer (i.e. you) with a larger tank, would really benefit from the automated dosing. 

 

SUMMARY!!

• I am using the Jabao DP-4.

• Dialing in the dosing amount is an art.

• Easier for larger tanks

• This has been a terrible post even by my low standards. 

 

 

[mitten_reef]

2 hours ago, Cannedfish said:

After being hesitant about dosing, I went with a cheap Jabao DP-4. My experience with it, thus far, mirrors my early 20's self: it is cheap, easy, and generally seems to work. To elaborate, it doesn't like to pay for dinner, has been known to bring questionable individuals back from the bar, and can generally relied upon to make it to work punctually 85% of the time. Wait. Let's try that again. To elaborate, it's inexpensive, easy to program, and, for all intensive purposes, performed like it's supposed to. That's better. Unfortunately, since I don't have any experience with other dosers so I can't really compare to snazzier models. It may not have any fancy bells or whistles but at this point that hasn't bothered me. Regarding the actual doser, however, I will say, looking back I would recommend a three or four head doser, just to provide future flexibility. 

 

In terms of automating the tank, I think its been a positive addition. With that being said, it is a bit of a process getting the dosing amount dialed in. Personally, I think my difficulty finding the dosing sweet spot can be attributed to three major factors: 1) I'm an idiot, 2) the small size of my tank, and 3) Russian meddling. The minute size of my tank means I have less ability to finely tune the dosing amount. For example, at the moment I am stuck between 3-4 ml a day. I think 3.5 would be perfect, but can't dose in that small of an amount. Overall, I think a much more competent reefer (i.e. you) with a larger tank, would really benefit from the automated dosing. 

 

SUMMARY!!

• I am using the Jabao DP-4.

• Dialing in the dosing amount is an art.

• Easier for larger tanks

• This has been a terrible post even by my low standards. 

 

 

Thanks, if it does what it is supposed to, then I’m still gonna keep it in the running. Can’t justify the costs of other ones on the market quite yet. 

For the part that I bold and underlined, you can solve the small volume issue by diluting your supplement by 5 fold or 10 fold, then you can dial in the dosage a bit better. 

R u kidding? This post is great! But I’m biased cuz you’re answering my question. Those who expected entertainment must have been disappointed. 

 

 

 

 

[DaveFason]

Tank looks great and I always come in here for a good laugh. 

 

Make sure to monitor the doser.