OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef

[jnarowe]

simonmr 7 years is a very short time in relation to Aikido.

Kent E yes, I suppose the foot is the farthest from the action, right?

NexDog Exactly. I took Aikido for a very short time when I was a pre-teen at Summer Camp. They offered it as a class. In my late 20's it came back to save my life. I was an avid mountain biker and riding down a steep hill that was mostly sand. Suddenly my front wheel hit a buried rock and I went into a perfect arc. I was about to land squarely on my head and it surely would have broken my spine, but that "roll" took over. I rolled and landed rolling on my right shoulder. It snapped my AC joint but I considered that lucky. I then hiked 3 miles out with my bike. The shoulder is essentially un-fixable, but that's better than checking out before 30!

 

[jnarowe]

simonmr BTW, got any pictures of your system? And what kind of cooking do you do?

 

[richfavinger]

Most excellent... I have plants to do Aikido after I get my black belt in judo. (We'll see) I love the art. And yes I agree 100% with the philosophy you describe. The colored belt system in the West, is over stylized. And too much emphasis is placed on what color they are and not what they really know. Seeing 10yo black belts (not that they did not work hard) I find disturbing. Many commercialized clubs promote every 4 to 6 months, and make it a point to have 2 or 3 (and charge you) sub ranks or Mon-Stripes between solid colors.

By the way, Judo was the art that made the colored belt system that all Western Japanese arts use (Some modifications here and there for different arts) but judo was the first. In Japan, there are only really three ranks, White, Brown, Black!

I am well aware of the story of the White Belt dirtied to black, and then fades back to white, symbolizing full circle. And that once you think you know something, you find you know less then you really think. In Japan, in Judo, the youngest black belt age is 17. (Kodokan rules).

I think Aikido is great for kids, as long as the sensei is OK as well. It is a "Soft Art" after-all, and like any art should only be used as a last resort, on the street.

So, to you and your son, I say good job. And keep it up guys! :thumbsup:
You are welcome to my dojo any time your in PA...
http://www.pottstownjudo.com/
If all goes well, I should have my black belt in judo, in about a year to 18mo from now. (Time in Grade). As mentioned before I have been in Judo for 11 years now.

Rich :wave:

 

[jnarowe]

I don't think they let plants take Aikido (jk!). In our Dojo, there is a minimum of time to reach a belt, but the Sensei does not ask a student to take a test unless they have proven that they are ready, and often it is surprising when someone isn't asked to test. The way it is explained is that although the student may be able to recite and perform all required excercises, the Sensei looks for personal growth, maturity etc. as well.

Sometimes they ask students to test who appear not ready, and that can be frustrating, especially for the parents, but still the guideline is personal growth. The mature adults and students alike really are not there for the belts anyway. My son had more than enough time and knew all the elements of the Orange belt, but was not asked to test. I asked him how he felt about it and he stated flatly that it doesn't matter. IMO, that's good personal growth. He waited until it was his time, and that is part of the training.

Pottstown Judo has a nice web site. We are at Kitsap Aikido. Ai!

 

[richfavinger]

eeekkk... LOL, Nice catch LOL, I spell checked that like 10 times before I posted it Oh well...

Good...! I like to see it when some one is more interested in what they know, rather then what belt color they have on. And thank you for the comments on the site, I am the webmaster.

Rich

 

[NexDog]

jnarowe - I had a similar incident but on a snowboard about 5 years ago. I came off a quarter-pipe all wrong and shattered my shoulder and severed all the ligaments. I had surgery but they couldn't get the ligaments back. So my clavicle just flops around on top of my shoulder, heh. Muscles still keep it in place and only looks slightly lifted up and doesn't disable me at all. Considering I crashed down on the back of my neck on solid ice from quite a height, I got off lightly - but only due to quick reflexes and solid ukemi.

I actually got my black belt in 4 years but I did train 2 or 3 times a day 6 days a week. I don't have that much time anymore so I'm still a lowly shodan 6 years later and no closer to nidan. In fact one guy who was my protege already has his second dan. Hoping next year I can be back in full force.

Anyhow, is this a reefing forum?

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, my doc said there are several "fixes" for the AC joint, and the reason is that none of them really work. Same thing, the muscles keep it together, but I imagine for my wife it must look strange to see that bone popping out of my shoulder.

I tell my buddies, "come on, touch it," and none of them will even look at it. Cowards! LOL...

This is a reef forum, but hey, anytime is the right time for Dojo talk.--J

 

[sixxer]

So do you have the tank up on the stand now??????? J/K

I just want to see some pics. since my tank build is moving so slowly!

 

[jnarowe]

Not on the stand yet. That's a timing issue with my buddies. Got the RG11 home runs brought into the room, re-did the upper pony wall 'cause it was bugging me, and got some green rock on the inside of the viewing room wall. Made some progress. I am about 2/3 done with the walls so there is some light at the end of the tunnel now. Not much to take pics of though. Everyone has seen a wall before!

 

[jnarowe]

Sorry no recent posts..visitors etc. keeping the work down. Had a fun little accident today. I had to extend the sink water supply lines to allow for the extra wall depth. Took a while to get it all straightened out with the correct pieces etc. Finally got it all together, mounted the sheet rock, and installed the spigots.

I double checked that the spigots were closed and left the bathroom sink faucet on to relieve any pressure if there was some kind of a problem. I turned the water back on and when I got to the tank room, I heard a very loud water spray noise.

Although I had been careful to close the valves, I neglected to close the tiny extra valve for the RO/DI line, and it was spraying directly at the ceiling. I dove in and shut it off. Everything seems OK now, but all my tools got soaked and I have to wait until the sheet rock dries before I can finish screwing it in. Always something fun going on!

 

[jnarowe]

Sorry no recent posts..visitors etc. keeping the work down. Had a fun little accident today. I had to extend the sink water supply lines to allow for the extra wall depth. Took a while to get it all straightened out with the correct pieces etc. Finally got it all together, mounted the sheet rock, and installed the spigots.

I double checked that the spigots were closed and left the bathroom sink faucet on to relieve any pressure if there was some kind of a problem. I turned the water back on and when I got to the tank room, I heard a very loud water spray noise.

Although I had been careful to close the valves, I neglected to close the tiny extra valve for the RO/DI line, and it was spraying directly at the ceiling. I dove in and shut it off. Everything seems OK now, but all my tools got soaked and I have to wait until the sheet rock dries before I can finish screwing it in. Always something fun going on!

Tank is on the stand and I only need to rock around the door.

 

[NexDog]

I've had loads of spillages due to forgetting to close ball valves. Just happy that I don't have carpet to deal with.

 

[jnarowe]

I hear ya. I wish I could install a floor drain but it is just not practical in this situation. I am going to use a WaterBug hooked into the ACIII to start sump pumps in the case of a catastrophic spill. And the wet/dry shopvac sure does come in handy!

 

[jnarowe]

Quick update

Quick update

Just a quick update: I am in the middle of taping and mudding the walls and ceiling, and let me just say that this is a serious B-I-T-C-H!! I probably should have hired someone to do this but I am just too stubborn.

I bought a stirring bit to fit the 5 gal. mud bucket, but it wouldn't fit my 3/8" drill. I then bought an adapter chuck to make it 1/2" drive ($25) and proceeded to mix my mud. After a minute or two, the drill (Dewalt) started smoking. I really had no choice so I just kept stirring. It continued to smoke. Seemed to be getting a little dangerous so I finished up and unplugged it. It still works, but I am doubtful that it will last very long.

So far this 3-day taping project has already taken 3 days just to get started.

 

[onetrickpony]

I have to say that taping, mudding, texturing
Is my least favorite thing to do?
It always takes me way too long, I tend to be to picky
Sand off way to much reapply, reapply, reapply
You have made great progress and the end is near :rollface:
Keep going
I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t wait for more pictures
Ken

 

[jnarowe]

I really appreciate the encouragement. I can't believe how sucky this part is. I have a section over the tank that is plywood rather than green board, and that has been trouble too since I didn't sand it before taping. That has gotten a lot of wood pieces etc. in the mud and made it completely out-of-hand.

I have stopped for now, and when I start again I will sand the entire plywood area first. Such a thin line between sanity and total bedlam.

 

[Kent E]

less is more. I love finish work.

For a floor drain, drill a small hole and it should drain down to the crushed stone under the slab. Just don't drain your whole tank into it.

 

[dzovi]

Double post. Sorry.

 

[dzovi]

I wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t recommend installing a drain to run under your foundation slab. The increase in moisture could cause your finish floor to fail. All that added moisture could cause serious problems if your concrete becomes too saturated. I don't think you'd want to ruin that moisture barrier under your house. Also I you wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t want to risk the loss of soil compaction under your house. That could cause the concrete to crack if it isnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t properly supported by the compact dirt. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢d think this would be especially important under a 1000 gallon tank. Just my thoughts though.

 

[WAGERJA]

I'm in 100% agreement with dzovi

Great project so far. :thumbsup:

I'll go back to lurking now...

-J