Nate213

Id check www.ifish.net for the hot spots.

I bought a calcium reactor last weekend and was cleaning it up this morning. While putting it back together I broke the threads on the discharge side that are in the pump body. It there anything I can do to fix, or do I need to buy a completely new pump? It doesnt look like Eheim sells just the housing.

Anyone have a Neptune Apex? What are your thoughts? Im in the market for a controller and would really like one that is web capable.

Me too.

I ordered a filamented flasher wrasse and a brain coral frag pack from SeanF at Pacific Coral farms. They arrived today in great shape. He picked out some nice frags that were all different and generously sized. The flasher wrasse appears very heathly. The shipping rates were super cheap - I would spend more on gas just to drive to Eugene. He also triple bagged everything and supplied a heat pack. I have gotten a fair amount of live goods shipped to me, and I can honestly say that these were packed better than anything I have previously received. Plus he followed up today with a PM to see if I was happy with everything! If only everyone had this kind of exceptional customer service. Thanks Sean!

Thanks Salty!

Salty I have replied to your PM.

Do you know what model it is?

Mine does that occasionally. I dont think it is anything to worry about.

Rick is spot on about diagnosing the problem. There is no difference between the principals of digital photos and film work, so any older references or books will help. The best tricks I have learned is to use a tripod and dont use your flash. Most of the time the flash will bounce off the glass or will make everything washed out. Without the flash (shooting in auto mode) the shutter speed will typically slow down, so that is where the tripod comes into play. Slower shutter speeds and shaky hands = blurry photos. It can also help to shut off powerheads to get good coral shots, (so you dont get any blur effect from movement). Fish are always the hardest for me. I cant make them sit still. The best thing is just to take lots and lots and lots of photos. Eventually you will get it figured out. Try taking a picture of a fixed object and mess with lighting, shutter speed, film exposure and see what effect each one has. If your camera has standard modes like portrait, landscape and macro, try taking the same photo with each setting. That is pretty much what I did, until I found out what worked.

They made me read this book. It helped quite a bit. So does having really nice equipment, but you can take great photos with just about any camera. Some of my best shots are with a crummy old $100 Nikon. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253538378&sr=8-1

Thanks Eric. I am lucky to have a good teachers - my sis and wife are semi-pro photographers.

Brandon, I'm sorry to see you go. There aren't too many people left that are as generous as yourself.

What the heck, I'm in.

Ive been looking for a nice fairy or flasher wrasse. Any Portland area LFS have them in stock?

I bought some lighting equipment from finch6013 yesterday. He drove up to meet me at Rose City Aquarium. Super nice guy. Thanks!

I know that Rick has some mean clowns, but how many other people have totally ruthless clowns? Mine are horrible. I cant even get my hand into the water before they attack it. They literally jump out of the tank and onto the floor when I have the hood off. I have had them jump out and hit my face, jump out and bite me 6" above the water. One time the big one jumped clean out of the water, bit me and was hanging off my hand like a cartoon bulldog. My wife laughs so hard every time I have to adjust things. I get elbow deep into the tank and am cussing like crazy cuz the buggers are biting me. Its not nice little bites either, they draw blood. And the big female seems to have a knack for finding the sensitive skin between my fingers. This last time, I had to net them both out before I could start gluing down some new frags. What a pain in the rear. They have been breeding lately and my wife loves them, so I guess I just have to deal with it. DOH!

Dang Eric, when do you find the time to sleep? Or do you? Every time I log in, you are posting stuff. (laugh)

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully your next one will be more intellegent.

Hey, stay away from my rivers! (threaten) Locals only The slivers should start running pretty soon, we are supposed to have a record run this year. Cant wait. (dancing)(dancing)(dancing)

Thanks Eric. Great find. That is pretty much the exact method that I have been using.

I have seen this colony in person. It looks much better than the picture. I just wish I had the room in my tank.

Im not 100% sure what kind it is. It is pinkish brown and has large thick branches when it grows out. It seems to grow faster than the whiter variety or the Pom Pom Xenia. I assume that since it grows faster, that it would suck up more nutrients in the process.

My wife is a teacher at Wallace School in Kelso. She might be able to find a classroom that is interested.