Red sea crazy

Btw, thank you for serving platy and stinger!

No matter what different political ideas we all have about why you guys/gals were over there, Im very glad that you made it out and I think it's very very cool that you are using your experiences to correct ignorance when you see it.

When you only hear about places like SA on the news it's easy to forget that they are full of regular folks of all different sorts with normal probs just trying to like raise their kids and maybe have a hobby too. For us without first-hand experience its tempting to lump everybody into one stereotype of what a Saudi is. It's really great you guys can help us see a bigger picture.

I think that one dude was trying to make a point (poorly) that most of us have bigger problems to deal with than the environment. A statement I completely agree with, but disagree with the tact in which he said it.

Having said that, I do also very much agree with you. We can argue the past, coulda, woulda, shoulda all day long, but it's all in the past and we need to focus on what's important. I believe that individual happiness as well as individual toiling (staying busy, thinking critically), are important. And if a reef tank helps the OP achieve that, then maybe he can be more effective and more focused trying to take care of "bigger problems."

We all have bigger problems than stupid fish tanks, some more so than others. Fact is none of us need to be doing this if you want to get technical about it. But contentment focuses the mind, and how each person gets content comes in many forms. Some of us it's stupid fish tanks, some people it's investing, some people it's a dog or cat, and a more focused mind is more effective.
 
This sounds like a cool thread and I hope you post a lot of pictures of your tank and what you collect! I think most of us wish we could do the same.

One thing I would suggest is that you collect only broken corals. There are several threads on RC with people from places like Australia or Japan who collect broken coral frags (say after a storm) and put them in their tanks. Often times you don't even need to scuba, you can just snorkel the beaches after a storm and find all sorts of stuff.

Good luck, welcome, and let's see some pics!
 
I think that one dude was trying to make a point (poorly) that most of us have bigger problems to deal with than the environment.

maybe. we don't know anything about op. could be just a kid, or someone else who doesn't have much political power for whatever reason. that's partly why its stupid and elitist to second-guess other people's priorities.

Also, it can become an endless circle, like: how can you have a reef tank when the polar bears are dying? - how can you care about polar bears when people in Syria are fleeing? - how can you care about Syrians when there's kids in the US that don't have good schools? - how can you care about schools when there's kids who don't have enough to eat? etc. etc. etc.

fwiw it seems like people who make those arguments usually aren't exactly out there doing anything themselves. for all I know Mark is like living in a tent in Haiti as a full-time Medecins Sans Frontieres volunteer or whatev, even so, his opinion on how op should spend their free time wasn't requested and doesn't matter.
but that's just my unrequested and irrelevant opinion ;)
 
maybe. we don't know anything about op. could be just a kid, or someone else who doesn't have much political power for whatever reason. that's partly why its stupid and elitist to second-guess other people's priorities.

Also, it can become an endless circle, like: how can you have a reef tank when the polar bears are dying? - how can you care about polar bears when people in Syria are fleeing? - how can you care about Syrians when there's kids in the US that don't have good schools? - how can you care about schools when there's kids who don't have enough to eat? etc. etc. etc.

fwiw it seems like people who make those arguments usually aren't exactly out there doing anything themselves. for all I know Mark is like living in a tent in Haiti as a full-time Medecins Sans Frontieres volunteer or whatev, even so, his opinion on how op should spend their free time wasn't requested and doesn't matter.
but that's just my unrequested and irrelevant opinion ;)

cant argue with any of that buddy.

edit:
I have to ask, what is going on in that avatar? I cant figure it out.
 
LMAO that was funny, but don't you think you should have used this picture :D

fish11.png
 
Sure. I'll pm it it to you when I get home tonight, or tomorrow am. Feeling kinda sorry for how far off topic this thread already is :)
 
Its great to know there are people willing to track my progress in keeping a reef tank... thanx for the positive vibes :D

In the OP i didnt say much about myself or what i do for a living so here it is... im 29 years of age. Lived a large portion of my years in the UAE (Abudhabi and Dubai) finished my education in the american international high school and then got my degree in audio engineering. Bak to saudi and currently working and managing a jewlery shop... i also joined PADI and just recently got my rescue license :D

Enough about me :p ..

I got my tank yesterday night.(20" x 24" x 17") (glass 8 mm thickness) Dimensions didnt come out as i thought and finishing on tank wasnt all that good. But functionality is what matters to me at this stage...

I will post pictures very soon inshalla as im really excited to start this project...

Once ive completly setup the tank i'll start posting pictures... currently im looking for filters, pumps and lighting that fits my budget. So im going with china made products...
 
Worked with some great dudes from UAE with KFOR in kosavo, i still have a patch from them. Chinese stuff is getting better, just keep some backups on hand for the occasional (inevitable) failure. Subscribed to your build, keep it up and we are looking forward to the build.
 
Btw, thank you for serving platy and stinger!

No matter what different political ideas we all have about why you guys/gals were over there, Im very glad that you made it out and I think it's very very cool that you are using your experiences to correct ignorance when you see it.

When you only hear about places like SA on the news it's easy to forget that they are full of regular folks of all different sorts with normal probs just trying to like raise their kids and maybe have a hobby too. For us without first-hand experience its tempting to lump everybody into one stereotype of what a Saudi is. It's really great you guys can help us see a bigger picture.
17 years still going strong. Hard to keep a tank, but everytime i break it down I learn lessons applied to the next. Stinger and I would call it an AAR....lol. Completely agree, it makes me mad when i hear people like that. It is devastating to see the situation with ISIS, especially in places where i have served and lost brothers. I was with 3ACR when we liberated Tal Afar from the militia. Spent many nights on top of Sinjar Mountain, guarding the retrans antenna. All those areas are now controlled by ISIS. The yezidi kurds are some of the coolest people i have ever met, the kurds have paid a terrible price.
 
Hey all :)

I am having trouble deciding between these two light systems. (Zetlight zt 6500 or Zetlight za 2421) these are the names. And here are the links -----http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/21-za2421.html ----- http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/products?id=47

The main thing is i plan to grow SPS corals and they require royal blue, blue and violet at the very least to show color and growth, is that true ? .... zetlight 6500 provides these wavelengths in the spectrum....

Or white and blue are enough ??? considering i plan to grow SPS after first stage with softies...

I thought if i got 2x zetlight za 2421 which holds white and blue LED's only.. i could perhaps substitute some diodes with the colors i need (if thats possible) and end result provide SPS with what they need....

Please help me and share your experiences with these lights if you had any...

Thnx alot
 
Lol I know what AAR is. Anytime I screwed up my grandad would say "sit down boy we need to have an AAR."

My entire male family were marines. I was the outcast who did not go....

I went to Art school at that time instead. That went over well.

Then I learned why the term "starving artist" exists. Then I went back to school to be a RN. That was worse. Lol
 
After Action Review/Report and Registered Nurse. AAR is also a global aircraft repair facility. :bigeyes:
 
Hah. I haven't heard "AAR" in years,lol.

Lol I know what AAR is. Anytime I screwed up my grandad would say "sit down boy we need to have an AAR."

My entire male family were marines. I was the outcast who did not go....

I went to Art school at that time instead. That went over well.

Then I learned why the term "starving artist" exists. Then I went back to school to be a RN. That was worse. Lol

What has that got to do with the OP's question?
 
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