HI Everyone...couple of things....

[jfolley67]

Well, It has been one amazingly hard and stressful .....and sad last few months. We have not gotten real involved here because we just could not find the time...and very very often my mom went into the hospital. She lived with us and after finally getting used to that transition, she passed away 3 weeks ago.
We have not been involved here at all lately, and then I noticed that we are down for the July meeting. We would still love to host the meeting at our home if you all would like us to...I gotta get back to a meeting to just get excited about it again. We have not had any time to deal with our tank and fortunately it is doing fine..but there have definitely been a few bumps where I was ready to sell as some of you know.
We have never hosted a meeting so some ideas would be great and maybe if I could ask someone (like Angela maybe who doesn't live far...hint hint) to help speak of a topic?
I know it is some time away, but trying to fill my calendar and was thinking of Saturday the 15th....cookout on the grill....kinda thing.
Let me know what you all think....

Also.....I have not seen Waynesworld in some time on here, anyone seen him lately..I was just getting concerned because we are friends with them and I have left messages, PM's and such...and just wanting to make sure they are ok..anyone seen them online? Thanks!!
Julie (and scott)

 

[Angela Short]

This will be my first meet in awhile since the baby and I am excited! I could help as much as possiable but I wouldn't know much to talk about. I am pretty passionet about QTing so maybe since we have so many new reefers this is a topic that people don't think about till its too late... Just a thought. Julie has a beautifull tank and well worth the trip to see it!

 

[waynesworld]

I am alive but this job is sure getting in the way of me on the RC I wish these people in state gov would understand what's more important.

 

[jfolley67]

Hey, there he is!!! Wondered where you have been, was starting to worry!! give us a ring soon. Hi Angela, thanks for the tip, I think qt'ing is a great idea, I could use that! Let's take a vote and see what everyone needs and if there is a majority of a topic, I will work on finding out more info on it as well before the meeting.

 

[gflat65]

I think QT'ing is a great topic. Not just for the fish side. there are so many things waiting to get into a seemingly disease/pest free tank with acros, zoas, montis, porites, etc. It's gotten to the point where you have to have dedicated treatment tanks before introducing anything into your system...

 

[Angela Short]

Tell me about it! I have my new wild zoa colony in a rubbermaid QT and having to share the 130 watt PC fixture over it 1/2 day and the other coral holding tank 1/2 day. Hope it doesn't burn my lights up running 20 hrs a day!! PITA but worth not mealting all my zoas hanging out in the holding tank with a bug or bacteria. All this is beside the 29 gallon fish QT cycling for new guys.....I need help.....

 

[theop]

Here is a good article about QT with lots of links/references to get you started...

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php

 

[TitansFan]

thanks for the link theop. Sounds like a good idea.. Maybe we could even bring up FW dips?
On another note I would love if someone could bring a becket skimmer and explain how it works. The MRC skimmer seems to get great reviews. I would like to see one in person and see how it works vs a needlewheel.

Angela if you need it I have a 36 inch coral life pc light sitting in my garage collecting dust. You can borrow it if you need.

 

[jfolley67]

Ok, sounds like we will talk quarrantine this time. The skimmer is a good idea also....I would like to see some equipment that is not familiar as well. We are leaving on vacation tomorrow for a week, so I will be planning more on the meeting when I return. Wish us luck for my hubby and I will be competing in a national taekwondo tournament on the 23/24th in mobile Alabama and I am nervous.....Pray we return...haha!!! Just kidding. See ya all soon.

 

[gflat65]

If I'm in town the week of the meeting, I could steal my Beckett injector to briefly describe what it does. Bringing the whole skimmer would be a bit more work... QT is a hot topic for everyone, as there are soo many pests out there just waiting to get into your tanks. I would recommend that everyone have lugols and somethign to bring your pH up (for freshwater corals dips) without affecting anything else, as well as Tropic Marin Pro Coral Cure. I don't believe in a 100% effective cure for the pests, but these weapons make it harder to let them in. Once you have certain pests (and some take months to show themselves), you will surely wish you had QT'd... Believe me, I've been there now.

Julie,

Is this your first tourny? If so, I would assume you are in the white/yellow/orange level. I know very little about tae kwon do/ATA (aside from some of the early forms we learned in Hapkido in college), but if it is anything like our Isshinryu tourny's, get some shin guards. Early on, we had a Shiai (local karate schools get together before a tourny for kumite and kata judging prior to the actuals) and some white belt beat the crap out of my shins with low kicks (none with form, mind you, just low, bad kicks). In Isshinryu, the lower belt levels always have more than other levels (kyu's, however you want to say it), so be prepared for alot of competition in the lower kyu's. Of course, we like full contact (with control, but hard hitting nonetheless). It's nothing to come home with a bloody nose or black eye. Ah, what some of us find fun...

 

[jfolley67]

Hi Gflat, no, not first......I have been to regionals...but this will be my first national. I am a sr. red belt now but in July will have my probationary black. Hubby already is a black belt...he started a year ahead of me. Definitely got all the gear.....(don't leave home without it...hehe)....also.....ITA taekwondo...we have light/medium contact.. I have definitely got my hits to the face and kicks not wanted, but for the most part we judging will call "watch the contact" if too hard. Can't wait though, we are checking out a local taekwondo place tonight in Fort Walton, FL....which is where I am right at the moment just to get some practice in before the tournament.

Yep, I agree with you about the quar. idea to talk about. I have some zoo pests and need to dip them but have no quar. So might be nice to talk about these dips as well. I could use the imput on how to dip these zoos.