Old MARS member saying hi

P.Kelly · 08/04/2017, 10:49 PM

Hey all,

I'm an old MARS member. I can say it's been too long for sure. Is anyone still around that remembers me? I know that this hobby has a high circulation rate, but also a lot of long-time hobbyists. I'm on the edge of getting a tank. It has been a little over 6 years since I shut down the last one.

Is there a Tank Tour coming up in the near future? I'd love to see what people are doing these days. I made a quick stop at a few stores in the last few days and it has been fun to see what is still the same and what has changed. I'm planning on heading out to MACNA if I can get free from work. Is anyone else going?

Is this forum the best place to communicate with MARS or has it been supplanted with a different forum?

Thanks in advance,

Saltwaternooby · 08/05/2017, 07:43 AM

Hello,

I dont know if we ever met, but I do remember your screen name. Biggest changes are led lights and dc pumps.

I don't think we have a tank tour scheduled, we did do some virtual tours to make it easier and show photo/ video at the meetings.

Wanted to go to Macna, but just got back from Hawaii. We went last year in San Diego though and had a blast.

Here or the mars fb group which I added you too are best.

Anthony

P.Kelly · 08/05/2017, 02:06 PM

Thanks Anthony, I think you were getting into the hobby as I was getting out. The year I spent as the MARS president was a lot of work and I think it took a lot of the fun out of the hobby, but we had some great speakers, gear/frag swaps and coral auctions.

I think LED lights were just coming on the scene, but weren't established or economical. DC pumps are new for sure.

If anyone has tank videos posted on YouTube I'd love to see links.

We just came back from Cancun and the snorkeling there really put me back over the edge on wanting to set up a tank.

Thanks again,

tcoral · 08/05/2017, 06:19 PM

More than member, past pres! Of course we remember!

Grant W · 08/06/2017, 09:33 AM

Hey Pete, welcome back. About time! Hahaha

RonMidtownStomp · 08/08/2017, 01:18 AM

I think we are still friends on FB.

I got back in the hobby in January. The biggest change is that DC pumps and LED lights make it much less expensive to operate. My tank barely has an affect on my electric bill now. The Ocean Revive lights for $160/each work and look great. Also a lot of old but good equipment is very cheap used.

The FB forums are very active. The community is a bit different from my perspective but that might just be because I'm not as active.

Also, there are very few grown in established tanks in the area now. Mark and Tim and Robert are the only ones I'm really aware of. So many tanks have tiny crowded colonies. I have the good video camera here at the house and I'll get a new video up shortly. This is my tank when it was practically brand new. I've had some issues that I think are sorted out now, so hopefully I'll get the growth I want soon..

https://youtu.be/uCFdKOcqdRY

quan325i · 08/09/2017, 07:38 AM

Welcome back! I've just finished the magnesium bucket thet I bought from you ~6yrs ago?

P.Kelly · 08/09/2017, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMidtownStomp

I think we are still friends on FB.

I got back in the hobby in January. The biggest change is that DC pumps and LED lights make it much less expensive to operate. My tank barely has an affect on my electric bill now. The Ocean Revive lights for $160/each work and look great. Also a lot of old but good equipment is very cheap used.

Also, there are very few grown in established tanks in the area now. Mark and Tim and Robert are the only ones I'm really aware of.

Ron, good to hear from you. Sounds like life is treating you well. Are you still running Midtown Stomp? Thanks for the video, that was fun to watch. The new project looks like fun.

Yeah, some of the tech changes are pretty cool. Some of the livestock changes have me scratching my head. I see that some reefers are even more fickle than before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quan325i

Welcome back! I've just finished the magnesium bucket thet I bought from you ~6yrs ago?

Quan, yeah, it was about that long ago. Good to know how long it lasts in case I buy some more!

Good to see you're still around too! I'm slowly running into people from the hobby in other places too.

C4SxM5 · 08/09/2017, 12:37 PM

Pete from Elk Grove? If so welcome back! I just got back in a few months ago and it's night and day

RonMidtownStomp · 08/09/2017, 02:28 PM

Haha.. livestock changes. Indeed. It means that a lot of very nice stuff is very cheap because it's uninteresting for some reason.

Yes, I still own Midtown Stomp. We purchased Spotlight Ballroom in West Sacramento 4 years ago. The next frag swap is actually going to be at my studio.

P.Kelly · 08/09/2017, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4SxM5

Pete from Elk Grove? If so welcome back! I just got back in a few months ago and it's night and day

Tan, right? Yup, we just moved out of Elk Grove this year so I probably won't run into you at your store anymore, but hopefully at a meeting or event.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMidtownStomp

Haha.. livestock changes. Indeed. It means that a lot of very nice stuff is very cheap because it's uninteresting for some reason.

Frankly I'm amazed at the prices, both high and low. Likewise, it means that the stuff I like is very reasonably priced. Someone else can buy the crazy priced mushrooms...

marioensf · 08/09/2017, 07:01 PM

I bet when you paused the hobby, never had the remote idea of mushrooms reaching for the hundreds price mark per each.

P.Kelly · 08/09/2017, 07:36 PM

Not in the slightest. Mushrooms were a nuisance to most people.

RonMidtownStomp · 08/10/2017, 04:32 AM

Yeah, I still lack any understanding of it... except to farm and sell and ship because they sell for so much online.

I saw the bounces at Your Reef before I knew what they were and if John would have offered me both for $75 I probably wouldn't have taken them. I guess he's had offers of >$1000/each. I don't get it.

Saltwaternooby · 08/19/2017, 01:45 PM

1000 is cheap in big bounce mushroom value, there was a large one at Macna San Diego guy got offered 10,000... and turned it down!!!!

RonMidtownStomp · 08/19/2017, 02:04 PM

"Cheap." Won't be able to sell them for $50 in 3-4 years

Saltwaternooby · 08/20/2017, 01:09 PM

Maybe, Jawbreakers have held there value for that long and more.

RonMidtownStomp · 08/20/2017, 02:43 PM

Didn't I just see one for $60?

P.Kelly · 08/20/2017, 09:50 PM

I picked up and setup a nano today to ease me back into the hobby. What a fun day!

Saltwaternooby · 08/21/2017, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMidtownStomp

Didn't I just see one for $60?

Maybe for a pencil eraser size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.Kelly

I picked up and setup a nano today to ease me back into the hobby. What a fun day!

Awesome !!!

TigeBell · 08/22/2017, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.Kelly

I picked up and setup a nano today to ease me back into the hobby. What a fun day!

Glad to have you over to see my tank and you get the reefing bug.

P.Kelly · 08/22/2017, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigeBell

Glad to have you over to see my tank and you get the reefing bug.

There is no doubt that my visit softened the wife up to the idea again. Thank you!

08/04/2017, 10:49 PM	#1
P.Kelly Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 3,828	Old MARS member saying hi Hey all, I'm an old MARS member. I can say it's been too long for sure. Is anyone still around that remembers me? I know that this hobby has a high circulation rate, but also a lot of long-time hobbyists. I'm on the edge of getting a tank. It has been a little over 6 years since I shut down the last one. Is there a Tank Tour coming up in the near future? I'd love to see what people are doing these days. I made a quick stop at a few stores in the last few days and it has been fun to see what is still the same and what has changed. I'm planning on heading out to MACNA if I can get free from work. Is anyone else going? Is this forum the best place to communicate with MARS or has it been supplanted with a different forum? Thanks in advance, __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170 Last edited by P.Kelly; 08/04/2017 at 10:56 PM.

08/05/2017, 07:43 AM	#2
Saltwaternooby SPS junkie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orangevale ca Posts: 3,915	Hello, I dont know if we ever met, but I do remember your screen name. Biggest changes are led lights and dc pumps. I don't think we have a tank tour scheduled, we did do some virtual tours to make it easier and show photo/ video at the meetings. Wanted to go to Macna, but just got back from Hawaii. We went last year in San Diego though and had a blast. Here or the mars fb group which I added you too are best. Anthony __________________ Anthony, MARS President 225g Starfire w/sump room 24g cube for ORA Picasso

08/05/2017, 02:06 PM	#3
P.Kelly Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 3,828	Thanks Anthony, I think you were getting into the hobby as I was getting out. The year I spent as the MARS president was a lot of work and I think it took a lot of the fun out of the hobby, but we had some great speakers, gear/frag swaps and coral auctions. I think LED lights were just coming on the scene, but weren't established or economical. DC pumps are new for sure. If anyone has tank videos posted on YouTube I'd love to see links. We just came back from Cancun and the snorkeling there really put me back over the edge on wanting to set up a tank. Thanks again, Last edited by P.Kelly; 08/05/2017 at 02:32 PM.

08/05/2017, 06:19 PM	#4
tcoral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 4,893	More than member, past pres! Of course we remember! __________________ ~ Tina ~ The sound of silence... Current Tank Info: 180 gallon tank- gone to better things

08/06/2017, 09:33 AM	#5
Grant W Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Petaluma,Ca Posts: 2,840	Hey Pete, welcome back. About time! Hahaha __________________ Really honey, I'm not going to buy anything at the fish store I'm just going to have a look. The Other Pres. at Wine Country Reefers. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon SPS dominant tank, custom lighting, etc, etc

08/08/2017, 01:18 AM	#6
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	I think we are still friends on FB. I got back in the hobby in January. The biggest change is that DC pumps and LED lights make it much less expensive to operate. My tank barely has an affect on my electric bill now. The Ocean Revive lights for $160/each work and look great. Also a lot of old but good equipment is very cheap used. The FB forums are very active. The community is a bit different from my perspective but that might just be because I'm not as active. Also, there are very few grown in established tanks in the area now. Mark and Tim and Robert are the only ones I'm really aware of. So many tanks have tiny crowded colonies. I have the good video camera here at the house and I'll get a new video up shortly. This is my tank when it was practically brand new. I've had some issues that I think are sorted out now, so hopefully I'll get the growth I want soon.. https://youtu.be/uCFdKOcqdRY __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

08/09/2017, 07:38 AM	#7
quan325i Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 683	Welcome back! I've just finished the magnesium bucket thet I bought from you ~6yrs ago? __________________ Mixed reef and fishes Equipments: ELOS 120XL GHL: Mitras 6200HV x 2/Doser2/Profilux/Profilux Touch/Aquabreeze Genesis: Auto Water Change

08/09/2017, 12:37 PM	#9
C4SxM5 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 9one6 Posts: 365	Pete from Elk Grove? If so welcome back! I just got back in a few months ago and it's night and day

08/09/2017, 02:28 PM	#10
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	Haha.. livestock changes. Indeed. It means that a lot of very nice stuff is very cheap because it's uninteresting for some reason. Yes, I still own Midtown Stomp. We purchased Spotlight Ballroom in West Sacramento 4 years ago. The next frag swap is actually going to be at my studio. __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

08/09/2017, 07:01 PM	#12
marioensf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,502	I bet when you paused the hobby, never had the remote idea of mushrooms reaching for the hundreds price mark per each.

08/09/2017, 07:36 PM	#13
P.Kelly Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 3,828	Not in the slightest. Mushrooms were a nuisance to most people. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170

08/10/2017, 04:32 AM	#14
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	Yeah, I still lack any understanding of it... except to farm and sell and ship because they sell for so much online. I saw the bounces at Your Reef before I knew what they were and if John would have offered me both for $75 I probably wouldn't have taken them. I guess he's had offers of >$1000/each. I don't get it. __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

08/19/2017, 01:45 PM	#15
Saltwaternooby SPS junkie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orangevale ca Posts: 3,915	1000 is cheap in big bounce mushroom value, there was a large one at Macna San Diego guy got offered 10,000... and turned it down!!!! __________________ Anthony, MARS President 225g Starfire w/sump room 24g cube for ORA Picasso

08/19/2017, 02:04 PM	#16
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	"Cheap." Won't be able to sell them for $50 in 3-4 years __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

08/20/2017, 01:09 PM	#17
Saltwaternooby SPS junkie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orangevale ca Posts: 3,915	Maybe, Jawbreakers have held there value for that long and more. __________________ Anthony, MARS President 225g Starfire w/sump room 24g cube for ORA Picasso

08/20/2017, 02:43 PM	#18
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	Didn't I just see one for $60? __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

08/20/2017, 09:50 PM	#19
P.Kelly Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 3,828	I picked up and setup a nano today to ease me back into the hobby. What a fun day! __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170