Main Display pics

[divemonster]

I'm discovering new "odd" stuff in unexpected places in the tank:
Red sponge growing under a ledge. I had to use a flashlight to luminate it.

This looks like some sort of crinoid or hydroid:

I thought this red macroalgae had disappeared, but it is growing back! It's about half an inch in height

Richard sent a beautiful feather duster with the critters he sent last week:

Richard included a Corky Gorgonian that was massive. He told me to fragment it and spread it among my tanks. It was so big it was necessary to frag the frags. Here is Corky One and Corky Two

Lettuce Nudibrach:

 

[liverock]

neat!

neat!

Aren't corkys cool!

Always was a favorite of mine....more pics of the booty!

did the shrimp make it?

diving tomorrow....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Richard TBS:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[gjh289]

I dove over the weekend and "brrrrrrrrrrrrr" is not the word I would use. My 3mm suit didn't have a chance. Seas over here Sunday were 8-10. Saturday wasn't too bad at 4-6. Stay warm

Divemonster that Corky Gorgonian is sweet!

 

[snodine]

Teri,

Very nice pictures! Your tank looks great.

Hey, at least you guys are diving. Diving in November in Lake Michigan is no fun unless you are into dry suits and that is more expensive then reefing!

 

[gjh289]

Steve we are spoiled and sometimes forget how lucky we are to dive 99% of the year. I seem to remember when I watch the weather and see the north shoveling the snow.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13811090#post13811090 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gjh289
I dove over the weekend and "brrrrrrrrrrrrr" is not the word I would use. My 3mm suit didn't have a chance. Seas over here Sunday were 8-10. Saturday wasn't too bad at 4-6. Stay warm

Divemonster that Corky Gorgonian is sweet!

It is sweet! Richard is my hero I have 5 BIG frags and several various smaller ones.

Were you diving in those 8-10 seas?!!

Speaking of "brrrrrrrrrr" and the North I had a 2 referral students from Wisconsin that needed to finish Open Water Dives 3 & 4. They thought it would be warmer here in Texas than in Wisconsin. So what happens? We got snowed on and the wind cut like knife. Not only was hypothermia a concern in the 47F water but the air temp was not any better.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13811140#post13811140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
Diving in November in Lake Michigan is no fun unless you are into dry suits and that is more expensive then reefing!

My drysuit was a ONE TIME EXPENSE. This hobby is an ongoing expense. Seems like I'm always putting out money for something be it salt or replacement bulbs or Phosban or something.

 

[gjh289]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13811676#post13811676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
It is sweet! Richard is my hero I have 5 BIG frags and several various smaller ones.

Were you diving in those 8-10 seas?!!

Speaking of "brrrrrrrrrr" and the North I had a 2 referral students from Wisconsin that needed to finish Open Water Dives 3 & 4. They thought it would be warmer here in Texas than in Wisconsin. So what happens? We got snowed on and the wind cut like knife. Not only was hypothermia a concern in the 47F water but the air temp was not any better.

Sunday 8-10 was a bit too rough so we choose dry land. I'm hoping this weekend will be better. The last time I dove in 47 degree water was in a rock quary in NC. It wasn't to bad until the thermal cline. I don't miss it at all.

 

[shadowbearwv]

Wow another great looking tank.

SB

 

[divemonster]

Well I need to take a panoramic photo of the entire display rather than bits and pieces. I'll try to do that later today.

 

[liverock]

Teri

What kind of shrimp were hitchhiking on the corkys?

BTW

no diving today, was evil wicked mean and nasty out there....

Richard TBS:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[divemonster]

Richard,
It moved itself to the condy and it took me awhile to find it. It's whitish/transparent in color with white whiskers. No other color yet. I thought the demon possessed blenny ate it and was relieved (and surprised!) to find by the condy. I'll try to get pics.

No diving, eh? Rough seas with surge at 20 ft depth added to zero vis is NO FUN!

Hmmm...would you consider a drysuit? Or would the weight required to be neutral be too much? It won't help the weather but the right one is just as easy to put on as a 7mm wetsuit. Let me know!

 

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13815946#post13815946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
Richard,
It moved itself to the condy and it took me awhile to find it. It's whitish/transparent in color with white whiskers. No other color yet. I thought the demon possessed blenny ate it and was relieved (and surprised!) to find by the condy. I'll try to get pics.

No diving, eh? Rough seas with surge at 20 ft depth added to zero vis is NO FUN!

Hmmm...would you consider a drysuit? Or would the weight required to be neutral be too much? It won't help the weather but the right one is just as easy to put on as a 7mm wetsuit. Let me know!

Absolutely!

Had one once when in Maine in 1982...diving scallops..and when surfacing the first stage would freeze up on my reg..but at least I did not freeze......season was nov through march back then...but the scallops were dinner plate size....YUM!...was lots of fun!

I forget what kind it was....but was neoprene..not rubber...

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13818192#post13818192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by liverock
Absolutely!

Had one once when in Maine in 1982...diving scallops..and when surfacing the first stage would freeze up on my reg..but at least I did not freeze......season was nov through march back then...but the scallops were dinner plate size....YUM!...was lots of fun!

I forget what kind it was....but was neoprene..not rubber...

Believe it or not rubber is still around though rarely. You have more material choices now. Neoprene drysuits are available but what about Trilaminate? Light weight and very durable. I'll send you an email.

 

[noahm]

Yeah, all of our divers use rubber dry suits as we primarily dive potable water and they have to be able to be decontaminated via chlorine which cannot be done to neoprene. i have known guys to break ice a few inches thick to dive.
That being said though, the maneuverability of a wetsuit is probably more comfortable for what Richard does.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13825498#post13825498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noahm
That being said though, the maneuverability of a wetsuit is probably more comfortable for what Richard does.

Depends on the thickness of the neoprene. When you start getting into 7-10mm then a diver can feel like the michelin man with the arms sticking straight out because of the suit. I find maneuverability challenging at those thicknesses.