melev

The final part of my SCUBA certification involves open water dives this weekend. I'm going to two different lakes, one per day. The car is loaded up with gear and an ice chest will hold food and drinks.

What you see in this image are two air tanks, 5mm wet suit, 5mm hoodie vest, BCD, weights, log book, and a few smaller items. Not pictured are my fins, prescription mask, snorkel, and booties. And towels, clothes, first aid kit, etc.

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For the past week, I spent my Thanksgiving in Hawaii on the island of O'ahu. I plan to share quite a bit of that trip in blogs and articles, so here's a quick aloha to let you know I'm back home. The 400g arrives tomorrow, at last.

Here are a few pictures from the Waikiki Aquarium.

Green bird wrasse with growth on its mouth.

Hawaiian Harlequin shrimp

Peppermint Angel
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It never fails, when you are traveling, sleeping, or generally busy -- that is when your protein skimmer seemingly decides to erupt like a volcano. The cup overflows with foam and watery solution, and depending on how the system is set up will get everything in the vicinity wet. The protein skimmer I have is big, and even centered in my sump the resulting spatter just gets everywhere: the refugium light fixture, the lip of my sump, the metalwork of the stand, nearby tubing, wiring and cables. ...

So this story really touched my heart when it broke recently on Facebook. Brian Bunne Broughten of Advanced Aquarium Service in Minnesota had a client whose pet "Bubba" needed emergency care. The fish had ingested a clam, and the shell was trapped within Bubba's digestive system intact and still hinged. The fish grew lethargic, stopped eating and also no longer expel waste for too long.

The first step was to get the fish x-rayed to see what was going on.
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For the last day of the year, I better get in this holiday related sand sculpture I saw at one hotel on O'ahu. It was impressive how this guy (I didn't see any other minions) was able to build this from 20 tons of sand.

Finally something I recognize - acrylic panels were put up to protect the art.

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