NatureNerd
New member
Wow! I just found this thread and loved every single picture. Thanks!
wild SPS corals, Marshall Islands
- Thread starter r-balljunkie
- Start date
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
Been awhile since I updated. just getting back from Thailand/Vietnam vacation, back in the saddle for a couple of weeks now. While on vacation, I managed to sneak away and get a few dives in at Phuket , near Phi Phi island. The wildlife was really different from what I'm accustomed to in the South pacific, err actually about a complete 180. Thailand was full of non-photosynthetic and soft corals. it was hard to SPS / hard corals. the waters were nutrient rich, loads of plankton in the water. I won't say it was bad diving, just different.
Here's some pics from Thailand. It would have been nice to dive Vietnam, but had family duties/related stuff to do like take tours, see sites etc.
I've done one collecting trip since I've been back, zip on the fish, loaded up on some new corals. my underwater camera took a nice dump on me, so back to Olympus under warranty, so no shots from that trip.
had a nice thinning out of fish while on vacation. word to the wise, don't let a box fish die in your tank, while you're on vacation. My poor house sitter was in over his head. my guess is he couldn't find the boxfish. 50% wipeout of my fish. clam made it, damsels are nuclear bomb proof, wrasses fine. grrr.
tank did OK all things considered, poor guy (house sitter) was sweating bullets thinking I would be upset, meh. it happens.
ill post some updated FTS pics later, with my crappy second camera.
Here's some pics from Thailand. It would have been nice to dive Vietnam, but had family duties/related stuff to do like take tours, see sites etc.
I've done one collecting trip since I've been back, zip on the fish, loaded up on some new corals. my underwater camera took a nice dump on me, so back to Olympus under warranty, so no shots from that trip.
had a nice thinning out of fish while on vacation. word to the wise, don't let a box fish die in your tank, while you're on vacation. My poor house sitter was in over his head. my guess is he couldn't find the boxfish. 50% wipeout of my fish. clam made it, damsels are nuclear bomb proof, wrasses fine. grrr.
tank did OK all things considered, poor guy (house sitter) was sweating bullets thinking I would be upset, meh. it happens.
ill post some updated FTS pics later, with my crappy second camera.
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
I also had some issues with a 'muy malo' vendor, Brian Edwards of Finsreef.
See thread on the vendor feedback.
Dude swiped 1400 bones from me for a new Maxspect Mazarra, strung me along and never sent it. Has the nerve to tell me to contact his lawyer.
I can't really say what I want to say due to the mod squad and my numerous infractions due to expressing what i really really think, already incurred. I'm sure you can use your imagination to surmise what I think of him.
end of the day, ill win...because I'm a winner, and that's what winners do bro.
yeppers, that's my buds"¦.im just tagging along for the ride, watching the zen master do his work.
I personally don't sell them. I'm just tagging along with my buddy whom is a collector. these are collected at 100' plus in areas. it's not easy catching fish, especially net caught. he only targets specfic and rare fish, very focused on his trips, re: what to go for. something as simple as a watanabe or multi color anglefish wouldn't be worth it for him when you factor in transporting, holding etc. I don't really focus on the rarity, rather what appeals to me, and whatever is dumb enough to end up in my net. I take the 'its 2:00 in the morning, and the bar is closing approach' to collecting. not too picky.
thanks!
Here some dive pics from before vacation, not yet seen!!
See thread on the vendor feedback.
Dude swiped 1400 bones from me for a new Maxspect Mazarra, strung me along and never sent it. Has the nerve to tell me to contact his lawyer.
I can't really say what I want to say due to the mod squad and my numerous infractions due to expressing what i really really think, already incurred. I'm sure you can use your imagination to surmise what I think of him.
end of the day, ill win...because I'm a winner, and that's what winners do bro.
yeppers, that's my buds"¦.im just tagging along for the ride, watching the zen master do his work.
I personally don't sell them. I'm just tagging along with my buddy whom is a collector. these are collected at 100' plus in areas. it's not easy catching fish, especially net caught. he only targets specfic and rare fish, very focused on his trips, re: what to go for. something as simple as a watanabe or multi color anglefish wouldn't be worth it for him when you factor in transporting, holding etc. I don't really focus on the rarity, rather what appeals to me, and whatever is dumb enough to end up in my net. I take the 'its 2:00 in the morning, and the bar is closing approach' to collecting. not too picky.
thanks!
asketh and you shall recieveth
your too easy"¦..
cool, glad u liked them. I think its beneficial to all to get a glimpse of reefs in their natural state.
Here some dive pics from before vacation, not yet seen!!
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
nemosworld
Active member
Great pics chuck! when do you come back to H-town? bet you don't want to come back.
-felix-
-felix-
Oceanman79
New member
Wonderful as always! I'll follow the others and whip you like the sad reef pony you are to us - don't stop, keep it comin'!!
gambitcobra
New member
:celeb1:
WOW, amazing photos and what a fantastic thread to stumble upon today.
Keep up all the pics please
WOW, amazing photos and what a fantastic thread to stumble upon today.
Keep up all the pics please
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
Felix,
Might be awhile before i make it back to Houston. I really really miss $60 gas fill ups and traffic jams. I think I have been ruined for life, I found my true calling........ eternal island bum now. No going back :lol:
I sold my house last month, which lessens the ties. We still have family in Houston, so eventually will be back. Off to Hawaii in March, then British Columbia, Canada in July......might make a stopover for a couple of days with the Canada trip.
How's your new tank build going?
Send my regards to the misses and kiddo's
Chuck
markie mark
New member
YAY..This thread is back alive...These pics never get old bro....Thanks
Crypsis
yes
Nice! Very jealous. Did you ever get the Led thing sorted out? You should dispute the charges with your credit card company. I did some diving out in Thailand and actually saw a lot of SPS. I was diving off Ko Tao in the Gulf of Siam and a little off the western coast of Phuket. Still need an underwater camera though.
r-balljunkie
Registered Reefer
sure thing markie, your one of the early gawkers and commenters. :wavehand: i should get my olympus camera back soon from being repaired under warranty, more shots to come. four dives scheduled this weekend, should be a fun one.
not sure if that was tongue in cheek. unfortunately, not everything translates well into photo, especially with my skills. you do see some sick stuff here.....blessed like a buddha baby:thumbsup:
glad u liked them. i wanted to dive Vietnam, but oh well......there will definitely be a next time for me to go back. really enjoyed our time there
still sorting out the LED thing. talking with the DA in north carolina to press criminal charges. was advised by my lawyer here to tamp it down. still an adventure!!
yes, i guess it was very regional specific, as far as what corals i seen. it was a good suprise for me, since its predominately SPS where im at, definitely not complaining.
why yes...ive been blending NSW with tropic marin. my tanks about at the one year mark, where most tanks start hitting there stride. everything looks tip top, moving along just fine.
steevareno2002
New member
Wow! Could I BE more jealous? That's a little slice of heaven...
markie mark
New member
Bring the pics bro..Lets see those acro's...The ones we can't get back here in the states....:beer:
fxbyjanice
New member
Simply Amazing! 
