Hello, All! (A re-introduction)

[misery]

Hello all!

I'm Chris, and I live up on the northside of Chicago, near the Loyola campus. I used to post a whole lot on these forums, and got to know a good lot of you. I had to leave the hobby for a while, as the economic downturn hit my industry the hardest, and I'm still out of work, but I'm taking up the hobby again. Lord knows I can use the distraction! Anyhow, I see a lot of new names here, and I look forward to getting to know you all. Here's my tank specs!

14 gallon nano tiny cube whatever you call it tank
All the circulation mods
Full o' rock, and a little rubble
and I've been cycling it about every three weeks with cocktail shrimp since last summer.

What my plans for it are, aren't all too extravagant. I am working out building a LED set of lights for it, but setting them to light and fade with a microchip, and changing around for moonlighting & actinic. Otherwise, I'm just working out a biologically balanced tank, more of something to do with my time! I am finally in my last year of school, and they're really working me pretty hard

Anyhow! I look forward to meeting you all again!

And of course, an also: If there's someone near where I'm at, at least near the train; I could really use a wad of macroalgae and a bit of sludge from the sandbed to beef up my bacteria collection I can pay a few bucks, too, if you'd like! Thank you!

 

[casualreefer]

Welcome back! What industry were you in? Construction?

 

[misery]

I was in printing.. blueprinting :/ Not quite construction, but who needs blueprints when there's nothing to build? I think it may have actually been a blessing in disguise.. now I can do whatever I want!

 

[pgibson]

Welcome back.
I can help you with a cup of sand. I live of the Wilson stop.

 

[ashtree68]

I've some cheato that you can have. I'm off the lawrence stop.

 

[ostrow]

Hi Chris. I owe you a lengthy reply -- thanks for your nice note earlier in the week.

I'll be in touch.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Welcome back! It's always great to see someone willing to start over again.

Let me know whan you're looking for frags.

 

[harv1324]

Welcome back and good luck.

 

[misery]

Hello all!!

Thank you for the many warm replies! I headed out to the LFS on Belmont today and picked up a few things, a new return pump, a firefish, some cleanup crew, and sand and macro. I certainly wouldn't have spent the ten on that if I had known otherwise! I'm off the Granville stop these days, in a neat little artist's building. I figure since I've been cycling with reef sludge and cocktail shrimp for waaaay too long, everyone's going to be very happy in their new homes.

It's great to be back in the saddle, if you would. It's all on a shoestring budget, but you don't need a lot of money to make a nano look great. And I'll certainly be taking you up on those frags, Pufferpunk! And you've got enough tattoos to look like someone I'd hang around with Not sleeves yet, but thirteen or fourteen, or three, depending on your perspective.. But frags are a little while off, I have to put together those lights and let it cycle a bit more with a fish in it.

And Joel! It's the least I can do to help you out with all of the things with your tank. I'll be playing with some LEDs with a microchip on it to have it fade in and out, perhaps on the lunar cycle? Then I'm thinking about slipping it into a bit of tubing for safety and such. Heck, take advantage of my time at leisure, right?

 

[ashtree68]

Which LFS off of Belmont?

 

[misery]

Aquatic reef, if I recall. A little pricey, but not so bad! Better than petco by any means.

 

[Pufferpunk]

And I'll certainly be taking you up on those frags, Pufferpunk! And you've got enough tattoos to look like someone I'd hang around with Not sleeves yet, but thirteen or fourteen, or three, depending on your perspective.. But frags are a little while off, I have to put together those lights and let it cycle a bit more with a fish in it.

LOL, I stopped counting years ago...

Just let me know when you're ready or maybe I could drop some off. I drive into the city a lot but during the day generally.

 

[misery]

LOL, I stopped counting years ago...

Just let me know when you're ready or maybe I could drop some off. I drive into the city a lot but during the day generally.

Hello!! Please pardon the slow reply- I just kinda spaced out there, I guess! I think I'm up for some hardy SPS or softies, the tank's been cycling since last summer, and I can play with lighting later on, just have to fire up the soldering iron In any case, if you find yourself out this way in a few weeks, that would be awesome! Thank you, and please do let me know if you would like money for the corals or for gas and such. Best!

 

[dohc97]

question for you, does aquatic reef have regular hours? i drive by there all the time but never seems to be open.

Jose

 

[misery]

I don't know that one I've only been there a few times. I do know that they close by 7! That's when I left last time. Good luck!

 

[dohc97]

Actually if the weather was nicer i can walk there from my apartment, ill have to stop and check out the hours might be a good place to walk to with my pup in spring/summer.

 

[misery]

It is a pretty nice place to walk over to There's a nice little selection, and it can't be beat for location for us northside sorts without cars and such.

Also! I have great news: After a little under two months of having my homemade LED lights on the tank, I'm already getting little touches of coralline algae! I dose two or three times a week with "Purple Up" which was given to me by the gentleman whom owns Aquatic Reef, it was all dried up, but some RO fixed it up. It's growing in surprisingly fast, but I think it's because I'm paying attention to what may well be rule #1 for reefkeeping:

BE PATIENT AND KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE TANK!

I had this setup cycling for about 6 months, just water, LR silt&rubble, and a bit of cocktail shrimp in every couple weeks. Seems to be working out nice

 

[misery]

Curses!

I could have put a plenum in this tank!!!

(not really)