Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Every 6-12 months we need a thread where people can talk about and show pics of their hobbies, interests, and past times.

Computers are my life both as a hobby and my work. My degree is in networking and networking security. But I have another huge interest that has consumed my Summer. Aquariums! I've always had a tank since my earliest years but finally entered the big leagues, courtesy of my birthday and my wife allowing me to buy it.

120 gallons! I COULD have gotten one in the 220-225 gallon range but it was just too big for the room, plus would have been WAY too expensive to buy the other required equipment. The monthly electric bill was also a factor.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2365.jpg

Here it is about 60% stocked with plants. Yes, there will be quite a few more going into it over the coming weeks.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2372.jpg

A view that shows it in relation to the rest of the room.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2370.jpg

Specs:
120 gallon All-Glass brand aquarium
2 twin-tube T-5 florescent strip lights
200 lbs of Ecco-Reef clay based substrate (KEY for live plants!)
BIO System 75 power filter (designed for aquariums up to 75 gallons) -my only mechanical filtration, the plants do the rest
NO heater
NO air pump

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Are you doing fresh water or salt water? A buddy of mine has a large fresh and a small saltwater aquarium. The salt water one is easily the cooler of the two. The water is so clear, it is like a little ecosystem in there.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I have had reef tanks in the past, but this is entirely fresh. Of all the possible aquarium set ups I think fresh water planted tanks are the hardest to keep.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Yep. I'll agree with you here. The most awesome when you find that sweet spot though. Miss my tanks and fish.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

It has been many years since I had a small tank with fresh water.

Loved to watch it at night with the lights out.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

My very first tank was a 10 gallon stainless steel with an iron stand. Blue gravel, and a tiny air-powered outside filter. The most popular place to buy fish was Kmart. Oh how I remember that wonderful Hartz Mountain aquarium merchandise!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

The most interesting man in the world needs something very special for his aquarium.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...5890217607.jpg

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I hear they do best when purchased in groups of three or more.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I'm sure they do! :lol

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

We bought one goldfish bowl and three goldfish. By evening, they were dead. Out of kindness and consideration towards our aquatic friends, we never tried again. :D

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

"Every 6-12 months we need a thread where people can talk about and show pics of their hobbies, interests, and past times."

How glad I was to read those words!! My husband would LOVE to have a tank like yours for freshwater fish - He's an avid bassfisherman!!

Personally, I've been working on our family history and making a scrapbook - My sister and I have worked on this project for over a year now - and it's been fun. We've had a blast putting it together and discovering how our memories of growing up are the same in some ways, and very different in others. She's four years younger so that would explain it. We've discovered celebrities (yep, we have the same common gggggggg(not sure how many "greats" it is back to the original Preslar (changed to Presley in 1800's for our family) with Elvis and Jimmy Carter. Just an interesting past time!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

So THAT is wht you were filling with gatorade bottles. Go any pictures of that?

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

What are you doing in my living room taking pictures???

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:spit

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I read that the other night and was wondering why didn't he just use an attachment that connects to the kitchen sink faucet that allows for a water hose to be attached.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Said attachment is called the Python No-Spill system and yes, I do own one. But even though it is supposed to work with ANY faucet, such is not the case. Thus I filled that whole thing using nothing but 2 1-gallon Gatorade bottles.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

My wife thought it would be a better idea if I got one of these instead.
http://www.arcatapet.com/fullsize/525.jpg

Or this:
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/produ...041840t400.jpg

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Well, ... isn't, .... that, .... nice. :heeheehee

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

This is mine just real expensive at 35.00 a gal.LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTD9k...eature=related

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

KW! That much fun has got to be sinful! :toofunny :toofunny :toofunny

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

It is timmy especally when you have to tune on them..It can be real sinful....All kinds of words come out...LOL

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

:lol

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Yep sounds just like ours. :)

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I love to do that as well. It is very time consumning but worth it.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Things are coming along fine so far. There are very few fish in the tank yet and won't be any more for a few weeks.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2391.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2397.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2398.jpg

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

My only hobby is TRAVEL. I love to travel and want to go everywhere!!!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

WOW RW! I want your camera!!!

Beautiful pics! :thumbsup

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

The camera is a bit older (a Canon Rebel XT with an upgraded lens) but I am just learning how to use it. :)

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Travel (especially international)

Eating (I have a weakness for pricey joints :) )

Acting (when I have opportunity)

Collect chimney sweep figurines and memorabilia.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Travel to San Francisco some time (practically international),

eat at Gary Danko,

act like you do this kind of thing all the time, and

get huffy when you find that they don't sell those at the gift shop -- or even have a gift shop. :thumbsup

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I bet you have quite the display in your Man Land! :ursofunny

http://www.landchark.com/wp-content/...d-craps-69.jpg

http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/a/a...316/flip-b.jpg

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

:thumbsupMan Land contains memorabilia from ten countries.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

The continuing evolution of this tank.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2511.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2512.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2516.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/_MG_2514.jpg

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Congrats Randy. I'm terrified to even try something like that. The whole thing would be a bog by the end of the week and PETA would picketing out front of the house.

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Randy - - the tank looks beautiful and I agree with The Mrs. - your camera takes geat pics!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Yes, and I hope the great pics don't intimidate others from sharing their own hobbies.

Here's something I do on a nationally competitive level (which is not necessarly a great claim since only about 15 Americans have been able to hang with the insanity of this obscure class of "model airplanes.")

These guys are Argentinian. Only the second guy's model, starting about 5:01, is flying properly (meaning slow enough to be competitive.) The name of the game is flight duration, and these things fly 30-40 minutes depending on ceiling height available. Weigh about 1 gram, plus 1 gram of rubber power. No external controls except built-in adjustments for circular flight. No, you can't buy these. They are only handmade from wisps of balsa. No camera trickery such as slow mo shown here, BTW.
:usa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOhbJPtPXM

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Now THAT is neat!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I guess my hobby is baking!

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...raig/Oreos.jpg

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...&postcount=201

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

Randy, your tank is beautiful. I hope to someday have a big salt water tank. I am waiting until I am really old and not ever going to move again though, because I heard that the fish die really easy when things get out of whack. I couldn't bear them all dying. :-/

I would think in a tank that big, your Angel fish might get really big. What fun!

My favorite hobby is eating fun food, and fortunately I don't enjoy my hobby so I am still thin. LOL I could do without eating and could easily live off of pills that fill you up, as far as just eating to stay healthy. What I like is bits of yummy stuff. I like all kinds of desserts and ethnic foods from around the world. I just don't like having to eat a whole meal and getting full. :-(

Wouldn't it be great if there was no such thing as getting fat? Then we could eat all the things we like without worry!!

Re: Hobbies? Interests? Pictures?
 

I had quite a few saltwater animals over the years but I find that freshwater planted tanks are much tougher. As far as moving a tank, that isn't exactly fun either but we successfully moved our 29 gallon aquarium and all fish from Wisconsin to AZ. They survived in a 5 gallon bucket (half filled) with an air stone powered by an air pump plugged into an inverter. Only lost ONE fish in the move. Oh yes, the tank was nearly drained but the gravel was kept wet with maybe an inch of water. Funny thing is is that while we were moving the tank into our new house from the moving truck, we saw a LIVE baby fish swimming in it that I had failed to net when we were packing.