One Cubic Meter of Ocean

[Coralgurl]

Awesome mural!! Some crazy talent in your house!!

[sphelps]

Awesome mural!! Some crazy talent in your house!!

Lets hope some rubs off on the new addition :razz:

[sphelps]

A couple new fish

Peppermint hogfish
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20130311_1.jpg

And an Emperor. Please join me in prayer that this new ruler will bring peace and prosperity and not brutality and hardship.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20130311.jpg

[wmcinnes]

And an Emperor. Please join me in prayer that this new ruler will bring peace and prosperity and not brutality and hardship.


I will pray for your polyps.:lol:

[gregzz4]

Beauty additions

[lastlight]

very nice hog! they had a pair when i was in... plus a sweet candy basslet.

[sphelps]

very nice hog! they had a pair when i was in... plus a sweet candy basslet.

While we often joke about your stalking abilities it's comments like this that make second guess the joke aspect of it all. Not only did I not state where the fish was from but the two are from different stores but they could have come from the same but they didn't and yet you know this. The creepiest part is you don't even mention the store assuming I know what you're talking about because you have no doubt, and don't even get me started on complimenting my hog.

[lastlight]

While we often joke about your stalking abilities it's comments like this that make second guess the joke aspect of it all. Not only did I not state where the fish was from but the two are from different stores but they could have come from the same but they didn't and yet you know this. The creepiest part is you don't even mention the store assuming I know what you're talking about because you have no doubt, and don't even get me started on complimenting my hog.

I was only referring to the hog... chances were pretty good there weren't a bunch of those floating around the city. i'm still a bit creepy i'll give you that =)

[phi delt reefer]

how hard is it to clean and work in a tank that deep and wide when you only have front access?

I imagine anything in the back corners of the tank can never be reached?

[kien]

At least he's not parked out in front of your house taking FTS' ...

Nice fish! Good luck with the Emperor. Have never had any lucky keeping them in a reef setting :(

[sphelps]

how hard is it to clean and work in a tank that deep and wide when you only have front access?

I imagine anything in the back corners of the tank can never be reached?

It's not terrible as I have monkey arms but reaching the very back bottom corners requires some sort of extension but far from impossible. I only clean the front glass, don't plan on ever cleaning the back or sides. I place pretty much everything on rocks or within reach so I don't really have any issues or complaints. Would have liked to go longer and wider but I did pretty much as big as I could go given the space I had available.

[sphelps]

At least he's not parked out in front of your house taking FTS' ...

Nice fish! Good luck with the Emperor. Have never had any lucky keeping them in a reef setting :(

I guess that's one of the benefits of living outside of town, keeps the crazies away :wink:

Thanks, I'm not overly optimistic but most of the coral is SPS and Brad's gives me some hope. I don't have zoos or palys for the most part and if the few LPS I have becomes as issue I'll just remove them. Not too worried about clams either.

[kien]

Thanks, I'm not overly optimistic but most of the coral is SPS and Brad's gives me some hope. I don't have zoos or palys for the most part and if the few LPS I have becomes as issue I'll just remove them. Not too worried about clams either.

It sounds like you have the right attitude. It helps to be flexible :-)

[Scythanith]

Any updates? How's everything going?

[sphelps]

Nothing overly new with the tank, still doing well and improving daily as corals slowly grow. The Empire is doing good, so far only picked on one of two virtually identical clams and a couple open brain type LPS. Surprisingly Favias have been untouched as well as a few palys and zoas I have in there so I've added some more of those. No time these days for tank pics, with the b-day deadline approaching quickly I'm attempting to finish as much basement development as possible and hopefully a deck as well, that is provided it ever stops snowing.

I have few pics of some basement progress.

Finished the ceiling and moldings in the center area, was planing on knockdown texture but I'm contemplating keeping it flat and just fixing a few spots, either way that's on the short list for now.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/House/20130413.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/House/20130413_1.jpg


My current project is the ceiling in the living room type area, same deal as the bar so it's going to take me a bit to finish.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/House/20130413_2.jpg

After that it's the back wall that's still unfinished, it will be a feature wall finished in stone with a fireplace and cabinets on both sides.

[Zoaelite]

Liking the fish eye lens photos, at first I thought your house was just overly curvy :lol:.

You sir, have some fantastic handy work.

[lastlight]

Basement's looking great! It's a winter wonderland out there again don't hold your breath on the deck thing lol.

[BlueTang<3]

What no tank shots, is this a tank build or house build... :wink:

Your construction skills are out of this world, that crown moulding is looking sharp and the ceiling is insane.

[lastlight]

You did a great job on the ceiling as it is but I really dig knockdown. My vote would be for that. Poll time?

[sphelps]

Liking the fish eye lens photos, at first I thought your house was just overly curvy :lol:.

You sir, have some fantastic handy work.
Hey thanks man and yes the fisheye is an awesome lens for these types of pictures, I sometimes fix the distortion but then the scale becomes somewhat messed up.

Basement's looking great! It's a winter wonderland out there again don't hold your breath on the deck thing lol.
Thanks and yeah it's become more and more unlikely I'll fit a deck in before but perhaps I'll still have some time after.

What no tank shots, is this a tank build or house build... :wink:

Your construction skills are out of this world, that crown moulding is looking sharp and the ceiling is insane.
Thanks. My favorite build threads are usually the ones that involve some kind of house development hand in hand with the tank. Most big tank builds I see are usually built into there surroundings and it's cool to see how people mix reef and living quarters together. Plus I think I got more comments and questions about my ceiling than I did anything else relating to the tank, so I guess there's some interest there.


You did a great job on the ceiling as it is but I really dig knockdown. My vote would be for that. Poll time?
I prefer the look of knockdown as well, I have it everywhere on the main floor so it does make sense to tie it in but the issue with it is it can't be patched so it can be problematic from that standpoint. The other reason I'm leaning away from it is flat sanded ceilings are actually considered an upgrade above texture and the knockdown is going to cost me around $600+ to have done while fixing the few spots won't really cost me anything. So I'm debating whether it's worth while paying more for something that isn't worth more and can't be repaired.

[lastlight]

First world problems really do make the head spin :)

[brotherd]

Hey thanks man and yes the fisheye is an awesome lens for these types of pictures, I sometimes fix the distortion but then the scale becomes somewhat messed up.


Thanks and yeah it's become more and more unlikely I'll fit a deck in before but perhaps I'll still have some time after.


Thanks. My favorite build threads are usually the ones that involve some kind of house development hand in hand with the tank. Most big tank builds I see are usually built into there surroundings and it's cool to see how people mix reef and living quarters together. Plus I think I got more comments and questions about my ceiling than I did anything else relating to the tank, so I guess there's some interest there.



I prefer the look of knockdown as well, I have it everywhere on the main floor so it does make sense to tie it in but the issue with it is it can't be patched so it can be problematic from that standpoint. The other reason I'm leaning away from it is flat sanded ceilings are actually considered an upgrade above texture and the knockdown is going to cost me around $600+ to have done while fixing the few spots won't really cost me anything. So I'm debating whether it's worth while paying more for something that isn't worth more and can't be repaired.
I really like the flat sanded ceiling.Thats what our drywaller friend did for me in my sump room and now I want the whole house to look like that.Plus it will give me an excuse to upgrade the lights as well.

[Scythanith]

It has been way too long since you have updated this thread Steve! I know Jackson is keeping you busy but you must have at least one picture of him staring into the tank :)

Cheers!

[sphelps]

I'll try to post an update when I'm back in town.

[sphelps]

OK update time. The tank took a pretty huge neglect hit for the last 4 months or so, turns out THERE IS something more needy than my wife :wink: However there were a few things that didn't help my situation, like a fish, that will no longer be discussed, that caused a few issues despite my prayers and sacrifices. There was also a bad alk test kit that led me down bad road and a plumbing leak that a never did find despite dismantling the entire sump room. Not to mention 60-70 hour work weeks :( But with all that behind me things are returning back to normal and I'm hoping I'll have bit more time for it going forward.

I'll be doing my best to get some pictures up over the next few days but in the mean time this one just for you Scott :biggrin:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131009_2.jpg

[Ronyx]

nice! looks like your little guy is enjoying the view:biggrin:

[Scythanith]

You da man! Is he saying scientific names yet?

[sphelps]

You da man! Is he saying scientific names yet?

While he is a Phelps I think 4 months is probably still a little premature for that skill. We might stick with the basics for now, sleep...eat...poop...sleep....repeat :)

[Scythanith]

Unacceptable, I can see he can already "tie" up his socks! :)

How does he like looking at the tank? Does he follow the fish?

[sphelps]

He loves the tank, from tears to ahh in seconds so it's currently our secret weapon. He's all about the fish though and definitely follows them around, there's a tank upstairs without fish and he has zero interest in that one.

[sphelps]

A few pics as promised, please enjoy :biggrin:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_14.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_13.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_11.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_10.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_9.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_8.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_7.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_6.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_5.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_4.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_3.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_2.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013_1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/m3%20tank%20build%202012/20131013.jpg

[Scythanith]

Looking good Steve!

[lastlight]

Love it. That second last shot looks like it could have been taken out in the ocean.

[Slyguy00]

That is insane! Wow

[mrhasan]

What the fish is that in the picture above the rock anemone? :O

[Reef Pilot]

Awesome pics indeed!! Can you share what camera you're using and what settings?

[sphelps]

Thanks guys.

Mr Hasan, that's a white spotted snake eel, he's about 24" long or so.

The camera I use is a D300, all those pictures where taken with a 150mm sigma macro. I use a tripod and for the coral shots I shoot long exposures with small aperture and iso, that's the eel swimming behind the pink hammer. For the pictures of fish I turn the iso up to around 800 and increase the aperture enough to get a decent shutter speed, usually around 1/40 but I still use the tripod as that's still much too slow for handheld on that lens. When the backgrounds are basically blacked out I usually bump up the back levels in photoshop and apply a little touch up to black them out completely.

[Madreefer]

Cool pics. Pipefish (i assume) is my favourite pic.
I see another POTM badge by your name soon with those skills.

[sphelps]

Here's the latest on the basement development as well.

Built a cover for the pool table
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131014.jpg

A little custom artwork
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131014_2.jpg

Finished the ceiling in the living room
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131013_3.jpg

Continued the lighting theme from the bar
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131014_1.jpg

Fireplace with brick wall and tv done, drop projection screen also installed
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131013_4.jpg

Only real project left are the built in cabinets one each side of the fireplace. Just started building them yesterday.

I also did get my deck built this year :)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131013.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/20131013_1.jpg

[gregzz4]

Well done !
I really like that curved window :silly:

[Slyguy00]

I want your house :mrgreen:

[sphelps]

I want your house :mrgreen:

I'll probably sell it eventually or now for the right price ;)

[Slyguy00]

If only it wasnt in alberta!! Lol

[noy]

amazing shots! the photo of the pipefish (i think that's what it is) is incredible.

[sphelps]

Thanks and yes it's a dragon pipefish