Melev's Roadtrip

[melev]

Following the iPhone's blue dot was what made this trip so easy to navigate. After my route was plotted, I just made sure the dot stayed on the purple line. If I veered off accidentally, it was obvious and I could quickly correct my course.

The view driving to New Mexico was gorgeous. These pictures don't do it justice. The reds are vivid in the rockwork that rose on either side of the freeway.

Even the colorful traincars added to the picturesque scenery.

It looks like I'm about to drive off the end of the earth, doesn't it?

 

[melev]

The rockwork structure is so interesting to study. Why that layer is so straight in the midsection, for example.

I resisted temptation twice.

This is the view from xXReefXx's front door.

 

[melev]

Quyen lives in a gated community that my iPhone couldn't find. Google Maps doesn't know of its existence yet.

He brought this Elegance coral back from Vietnam in his suitcase. He asked me to guess what it cost him, but I hadn't a clue. When he told me $2, I burst out laughing. What a bargain, right?!

The color of the tank was odd, but the corals seemed happy. It didn't take long to determine that the reason the water was so green was because his father overfeeds the Formula Two flake food. By looking at the tank from either end, you could see the deep green tinge.

 

[jnarowe]

Great pics Marc. Barbara's install is very interesting. I like the RO/DI solution and find it interesting that the tank itself is right in front of a window. SHe has some really nice colonies in her system.

BTW, th eleg squeezers are really good for you, but they also have socks to help keep th eblood from pooling in your legs. As was already stated, the more you move around, walk, etc. the better your recovery will be and the earlier they will let you out. Also, taking very deep breaths will actually increase your O2 levels and help you heal faster.

I did 2 sets of 5 deep breaths every hour and brought my O2 level up 4 points during my 4-night stay.

 

[melev]

The converted wet/dry sump had two small skimmers running in it.

The frags were encrusted and polyped out.

Frag tank.

A future frag system is plumbed into the main frag tank.

 

[melev]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14488344#post14488344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Great pics Marc. Barbara's install is very interesting. I like the RO/DI solution and find it interesting that the tank itself is right in front of a window. SHe has some really nice colonies in her system.

BTW, th eleg squeezers are really good for you, but they also have socks to help keep th eblood from pooling in your legs. As was already stated, the more you move around, walk, etc. the better your recovery will be and the earlier they will let you out. Also, taking very deep breaths will actually increase your O2 levels and help you heal faster.

I did 2 sets of 5 deep breaths every hour and brought my O2 level up 4 points during my 4-night stay.

Thanks for the information. I'm gonna take a break for a bit.

 

[MileHighFish]

MMMM Im hungry now, thanks Marc, Pot Roast? You have to love hospital food

 

[dc]

Some pretty nice tanks.

 

[Robb in Austin]

As Jonathan mentioned, deep breathing is a good thing too. If they gave you an I.S., use it. Want to earn brownie points? Walk and I.S. at the same time!

Tell someone to empty your linen bin. Don't make me come up there!

Their food looks much better than ours though. Enjoy!

 

[melev]

Quyen told me about South West Reef Company... so I grabbed my iPhone and it plotted the course at 13 minutes away. Leaving me 20 minutes to peruse the store before they closed at 4pm.

Future cubbies, probably for invertebrates.

It was surprising to see so many tanks set up with HOB overflows instead of drilled tanks.

A black tubastrea

I like how each coral is priced.

 

[Ziggy953]

Nice update!

I swear though, you kill me. iPhone, laptop and camera at the hospital. Now that is dedication!!!

 

[melev]

I don't know how they got this Arrow Crab to stand next to his price tag, but as you can see...

Spock's future boyfriend. hehe

This is the new line of Caribsea sand.

Using a common carbinger's (sp?) clip, the door can be held open when working in the tank beneath.

Bubble Tip Anemone

Before I left, I bought a new bottle of Seachem's Prime. Annually, I get a fresh bottle just in case, as it can lock up ammonia, chlorine, nitrate... and in an emergency, it is best to have some on hand. A capful treats 50g, so this size bottle is more than enough in a pinch.

 

[michika]

This was an awesome idea for a thread, and I hope you do another in the future, or someone takes up the idea on their next trip.

Sorry about your hospital stay, I'm glad everything is back to normal again though!

I am this close | | to dumping my Storm and getting and iPhone. I should have in the first place...but free work phone, vs. must pay for yourself iPhone....hmmm yeah your road trip has pretty much sealed the deal for me.

 

[Victoria]

I love seeing other reefer tanks. It like meeting them. Thanks for letting us go along for the ride. I'll take those cookies if you don't want them. mmmmm

 

[melev]

Here are the last of those pictures from the LFS. This tank is being lit with LEDs only.

The guy that assembled them was in the store, but they only told me after he was gone. I would have liked to have met him.

Then it was time to leave. Goodbye mountains.

The drive home was relatively uneventful. It was night-time, and I did get to burn a few hours talking with Evan or Jessica. I arrived at home at 5am, after driving a total of 2,454 miles.

 

[melev]

My nurses and doctor have been amused with my iPhone and laptop activity. What they figured I was doing was research on my condition, but since they are the trained medical professionals, why would I do that? I showed them some posts from this thread, as well as the pictures of the delicious food I've gotten to eat today...

The surgeon just came by and informed me that everything went perfectly yesterday, and that I'll be leaving by 5pm today. I could leave sooner if I was being driven home, but my car is here and they want all narcotics out of my system before I make the 5 mins drive to my door.

All the numbers are excellent, no trace of a fever, blood pressure is perfect, and other than my general soreness, I'm in great shape. It'll be nice to be home and enjoy my tank. I'll let my son lug around top off water for the next week though.

Oh, one last screen shot from the iPhone GasBag app:

It shows you the prices of gas nearby, and the best deal is in green.

 

[IridescentLily]

Hey it's our mountains. Our mountains are3 called the Sandia mountains, it's a Spanish word meaning Watermelon. So the literal translation is Watermelon Mountain. Because it's red and green.

Looks like you went by pyramid rock in an earlier photo, very pretty isn't it. I love the red earth there.
It's interesting to see the area through someone elses eyes.
Glad your on the mend.

 

[MileHighFish]

I hate those shots to the stomach of Coumadin, they leave you very sore..

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Welcome home Marc. Really enjoyed tagging along on the trip. Especially seeing all the other tanks and fish stores. Wow! I wish I had a LFS like the ones you stopped at.

Hope you're back to 100% quickly, I know how long it took me to recover from very minor sinus surgery.

Phil

 

[Micki]

Great road trip pics! Sounds like your GB surgery went very smooth. I had my GB out a few years ago. It was no biggie for me just another bump in the road. Glad to hear you are coming home and doing so good!!! Keep it up!