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Post by paulshiroma on Feb 25, 2012 11:54:07 GMT -5
Over the long weekend, we pickedup my Mother-in-Law and met my parents up in Monterey. Drove up on Saturday, spent Sunday at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and returned on Sunday after visiting Mission San Juan Bautista. Nice, relaxing weekend, if a bit short. One hobby I maintained until last year was aquariums, both freshwater planted tanks and marine reefs. After ressurecting the rockhounding wanderlust, I had to shut down the tanks as it was getting to be too much maintenance time and dollars to maintain both hobbies. The trip gave me my "fix" for the year and will help me keep myself to one hobby (addiction). ;D Barbara and I ended up taking more than 500 photos, which we will not bore you with. . It's such a beautiful aquarium, though, and the scenery/location is just gorgeous ... it's hard not to take pics! Hope you all enjoy. The Family: Me and My Father. The day was "cool" for Northern CA but that's a relative comment. The Kelp Forest Exhibit. The windows are something like 28 feet high and the tank itself more than that. They also have a "Open Ocean" tank that has this 90-foot wide window and is something like a million+ gallons. Tunas, sharks, etc are in there and come and go, zipping by the window. Hard to get photos of that one. Nathaniel and the Grouper: This Grouper was a "juvenile" being only around 60lbs or so. He was big enough, though, that Nathaniel kept looking over his shoulder to keep an eye on it while I tried to take a picture. Cuttlefish: Little mini-helicopters. Hard to get photos of them. They kept moving around, just like underwater helicopters. Cool little critters. Jellyfish Exhibit: Firefish: Giant Clam, Flame Angel, and Lyretails: For reference, the Giant Clam to the left of the Flame Angel was about 20+ inches across. They had three beautiful specimens in the tank. Sea Dragons: Sunday Morning Checkout: ... And because Andrew's heading into 4th grade and will be studying California history, we made the obligatory stop at Mission San Juan Bautista. I was hoping to get some ghosts in the pics as many of these missions are reputed to be haunted. No such luck. I often think of how beautiful the tanks are and wistfully consider re-starting my own. Then I check out all the equipment I have to setup and maintain and just as quickly change my mind. LOL. Thanks for looking and letting me share the short vacation with you all. Paul
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 25, 2012 12:06:28 GMT -5
Beautiful pics. I had Cichlid tanks years ago when I got married but when the kids came along I didn't need the fish for IRS exemptions anymore so I sold everything.
Lee
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Post by geoff on Feb 25, 2012 12:14:51 GMT -5
Awesome! Looks like a fun weekend! Funny coincidence, we mde the 150 mle drive to Seward, AK yesterday, and are headed to the Alaska sealife center in a couple hours! Only problem is there is a blizzard warning from tonight through Sunday afternoon from here all the way back to Anchorage, so the drive home should be interesting. Just hope no avalanches block the road.
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Feb 25, 2012 12:28:28 GMT -5
Great shots Paul...aquarium photography is tough! I've got thirty tanks in the basement(another hobby)... Drop by and take pictures any time! Scott
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Feb 25, 2012 13:03:10 GMT -5
Time spent in a beautiful place, with the family, is time well spent. Thank you for sharing your beautiful mini-vacation. Beautiful pictures. The seahorse in the last aquarium pic looks like half seahorse-half plant.
Adrian
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Feb 25, 2012 13:43:07 GMT -5
Paul the people at the aquarium should buy that photo of Nathaniel in front of the grouper. They can use it on a billboard advertising the aquarium. It is priceless. Stu
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Post by helens on Feb 25, 2012 17:12:08 GMT -5
What wonderful photos Paul! I love fish too. I used to keep saltwater fish, I had 3 tanks, the biggest was a predator tank. After 2 back to back wipeouts in my main tank, I lost all my fish, including a large lionfish I had for years. I ended up selling all the tanks, it was too much to start over. I also had some koi ponds, that's another long story:). But I still love looking at fish:)! You know what's interesting is that people who really love a hobby find that others who do too share a lot of their other hobbies or like similar things!
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Post by Toad on Feb 25, 2012 23:25:28 GMT -5
Great pics, Paul. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by paulshiroma on Feb 25, 2012 23:59:34 GMT -5
Hey Gang, Thanks for the checking out the photos.
Lee and Helen - I keep thinking of selling off all of the equipment. Every time I pull it out, I put it back absolutely convinced that I'll set it up again "one day". LOL!
Scott - Did I read that right? 30? I had 3 (no additional zero) and went a bit nuts trying to keep up with the maintenance. Rocks are a much easier hobby. But I'll have to take you up on your offer one of these days. We could probably spend hours talking shop!
Geoff - Safe driving, my friend. Hope you make it back okay. Coming back south on Highway 5 on a holiday weekend is a bit nuts. I think the average speed was around 85 MPH. People drive crazy on Five.
Stu - Yeah, it was a pretty funny photo; I've actually got two or three because Nathaniel kept moving around to keep an eye on the Grouper. at 60 lbs, it was pretty intimidating. I'd hesitate to meet an "adult".
Adrian and Toad - Thanks, guys. Yes, time with family is time well spent! My parents and my mother-in-law are all in their middle-80's and we try and visit as often as possible.
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Post by Toad on Feb 26, 2012 9:05:41 GMT -5
I have the same problem with fishtanks. I have not had one set up in many years, but I really yearn to get back into it. When we get back into a house in the next month or two, I'll want to again, but have to get the rock work bench set-up first, then there are karate expenses, vacation plans...
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Post by paulshiroma on Feb 26, 2012 21:11:55 GMT -5
Oddly, it was moving into a house (from our townhome) that made me give up the tanks. There was a lot more maintenance with the house vs. the townhome and that ate into my available time to work with the tanks. Oh well, I'll keep everything handy and "maybe one day" will actually show up! Paul
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Post by helens on Feb 27, 2012 0:15:55 GMT -5
I don't know how I missed Nathaniel and the Grouper show!! I think maybe the photos didn't all load at the time. What a CUTIE!! You have such a lovely family, what a great place to get everyone together! Just wanted to comment on what I didn't see earlier:).
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Feb 27, 2012 0:36:48 GMT -5
Paul, A couple of weeks ago I thought about buying an aquarium. Not for fish. Not for snakes or lizards. I was going to buy one for flowers. I can't buy Tina flowers. Our cats Jinx and Lilo, no matter where you are able to place the flowers, they will find a way to eat them. I'm sure I'd have to lock the top of an aquarium to keep Lilo out if we had fish.
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Post by Woodyrock on Feb 27, 2012 1:55:46 GMT -5
I love the kelp tank, that is just special..........very much the feeling of diving in a kelp forest.
I had a great desire to have a cold salt water aquarium years back when I was collecting specimens for the Seattle Aquarium (It was just being set up) diving. Just about the time I wanted to do this, the state decided it was unlawful to draw water form the Sound, run it through an aquarium (all local specie) and return it. I did not want to mess with refrigeration, filter, chemistry, and etc.
Woody
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Post by roy on Feb 27, 2012 10:23:23 GMT -5
wow looks like you all had a great time that big grouper looks tasty!
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Post by paulshiroma on Feb 27, 2012 22:24:43 GMT -5
Helen and Roy - That grouper was moderately initimidating, actually. It's funny being so close to them and getting a good look at a "juvenile" up close! It was a perfect "Kodak" moment! Roy, if you like fishing they had some great looking trout as well! All 10+ lbers!
Woody - that's a pretty cool story! I totally agree with you on the maintenance aspect of the marine side of the hobby. The reef tank I had, while beautiful, was a total maintenance hog.
Bill - now that our last cat has passed away, we're going through pet-withdrawals. We may get a couple of new "family members" later this year. For right now, we're going pet-free. Cats and dogs are great pets, though. I had one of them all my life so I'm sort of missing mine. Let me know if you want an aquarium for Tina's flower. I've got several in the attic collecting dust!
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Post by talkingstones on Feb 28, 2012 6:44:21 GMT -5
There must be something about rocks and fish, lol! I must confess to having a 50 gallon freshwater in the diningroom... So Oscar watches us all of the time! Looks like you had a wonderful time and these are great photos!
Cathy
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Post by BAZ on Feb 28, 2012 20:13:01 GMT -5
Awesome! My wife and I were bit by the aquarium bug a few years ago, had three now just back down to one! Great looking photos and family Paul!
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Post by paulshiroma on Feb 29, 2012 0:23:51 GMT -5
Yeah, isn't it funny? It seems as though, in my limited time on the forum, that a lot of folks are or were into the aquarium hobby. Thanks for checking out the photos. Paul
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darstcreek77
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2011
Posts: 673
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Post by darstcreek77 on Feb 29, 2012 19:39:50 GMT -5
great looking family !
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