TPT Social Event at BSS' House, Saturday 11/12, 3 PM - ?

[BSS]

Chili it is!

As to lfs's, if you're interested in what they offer in the plant arena, based on what folks have posted, you'll have a *far* better selection at my house than any of the lfs's will provide. Thirston works at Ocean Blue, which really is more of a reef shop. But, they do have nice clean tanks and a nice variety of slighty different fresh water fish....and they do order for you. Not sure there's much worth seeing here.

Then again, if you like pieces/parts, Aquatic Eco-Systems is over on the other side of town. Their show tanks have some of the most intense, nicely harvested algae bushes that I've ever seen ! If I lived on that side of town, I'd be half tempted to offer to maintain the tanks for them.

[Overfloater]

I'd go anywhere you guys think might be fun. I will be sure to bring my camera,

[frmrreefr]

Lol, Brian I couldn't agree more with that statement....Aquatic Eco really let those tanks go down the drain....it's a shame. They were gorgeous before!

[frmrreefr]

Well, I've got some bad news.... I'm still coming to the event, but it seems like I might not be bringing any plants along with me.... I have a severe outbreak of staghorn algae right now and I wouldn't want to pass it along to any of you guys. I can still bring some if you guys want, but be forewarned that u might need to bleach them before sticking them in your tanks....I don't understand how it happened! All my ferts are in line, Co2 is cranking at 34-36ppm and lighting is only at 10 hrs per day..... I don't get it...

[BSS]

Originally Posted by frmrreefr

I can still bring some if you guys want...

What I want to see is some of that staghorn algae!! Bring a stem or two with the attached algae in a jar of water. Then we can all debate the algae type, if others have had it, and how they get rid of it. That's my vote !

[AlexPerez]

Anybody want some cherry shrimps. I got some I can bring.
Not a lot but a few.
As for plants, I got some but it has some fuzz alage, but I'll
bring them if foks still want them. Let me know what you guys want
and I'll put them in the Shrimp tank and have the little guys clean them up some.
What I got:
Narrow leaf Java Ferns (these got a little bit of BBA on them)
Regular Java Ferns.
Blyxa japoncia.
Some cabomba don't now whiich one.
a little bit of Glosso (this one is clean of algae).
little bit of HC but it is heavy with the fuzz.
Hygrophila corymbosa "angustifolia".
Myriophyllum mattogrossense (clean)
Ricca
java moss.
Crassula helmsii.

Alex.

[BSS]

Originally Posted by Overfloater

I'd go anywhere you guys think might be fun. I will be sure to bring my camera,

Bob - this is Brian, your junior tour guide, laying out an itinerary for you. One of your first stops of the day should be to AquaticEco-Systems (www.aquaticeco.com) 2395 Apopka Blvd, Apopka, FL 32703. I just phoned, and they are open from 10-2 tomorrow. Before you get your hopes up too high, AES is basically a fancy poll barn/warehouse that distributes water-related pieces/parts. They do have a handful of interesting (think algae!) tanks on display. But, the real appeal to AES is there 300-400 page catalog. Bring a shopping list, grab a catalog, sit for an hour and pick up some stuff. If you have any iterest in trying to a ceramic diffuser for injecting CO2 into your tank, you might consider picking up one of these http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../3608/cid/2919 . AES is out on the northwest corner of town. So, you'll get a nice view of downtown (don't forget to look off to the left as you cross the 408 highway entering into downtown for a nice, scenic view of the TD Waterhouse Center, home to our (okay, my) beloved Orlando Magic!) and then venture off into an industrial looking area to get to AES. The first time I went there, I got lost for a few minutes, so play close attention to your Mapquest directions.

From there, I would venture to Pet Bazaar (490 Semoran Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707-4911, (407) 260-0552) for some local 'color'. It's a bit of a hole in the wall, that looks to have been there for decades. It's mainly a reptile shop, but off in the back left hand corner, they have 'fish row'. They used to have a 46g bf at the end of fish row where I would occassionally trade in plants. But, it has been a while since I've been there (so I don't know there hours). This place is all about atmosphere...if you will . Coming from AES, you will likely follow Semoran Blvd (aka 436) and get a nice tour of suburbia gone wrong with excessive traffic, stop lights, strip mall heaven, and maybe even some adult entertainment shops. Pet Bazaar is north east of downtown.

From there, your scenic tour will likely take you through residential sections (depending on the route Mapquest recommends) as you snake your way over to Ocean Blue Aquarium (4270 Aloma Ave, Suite #106, Winter Park, FL 32792, 407-679-3557, open 11-8 on Sats). My current favored, and fortunately closest, lfs. As suggested earlier, it's a nice clean shop that favors the salty dogs. But, there fresh water selection is nice, and even nicer if the owner's adult daughter is working the shop. She's worth the price of admission! Plants aren't a specialty, but they should have a few. I was trading in there for a while too, but since they didn't sell, it wasn't working for them.

Finally, you can end your whirlwind Orlando adventure as you wind through the 'burbs heading to the Snoap palace. You'll already have the particulars on that. Though the party is scheduled to start at 3, feel free to arrive anytime after 1. You might need to watch me work for a while, and I might make you pitch in, but early is good! So feel free.

Should you also wish to upgrade your Orlando adventure, you might wish to arrive early. If so, I'd suggest touring the ever-scenic Lake Eola park in lovely downtown Orlando (http://cityguide.aol.com/orlando/ent...7&layer=venues ). Take a self guided and self-paced jaunt around the winding, (I don't know, let's say) 0.7 mile pathway that encircles the most often photographed fountain from our city beautiful. A plentiful breakfast can be found at the Panera's bread/pastry shop just beyond the northwest corner of the park (out beyond the pagoda area). The upgraded package is free and only requires an additional investment of your time.

So, Bob, that's what fun-filled day entails.

As I've pretty much just laid our all the lfs's I've ever been too, that's about all I can offer. I know there are some other shops in the area of AES, but I haven't ventured there yet. You can check out some of the other Florida threads for that.

So, see you at my place when?!?
Brian.

[BSS]

I've got boatloads of Blyxa I've been saving up here, so no need to bring that. I've never had any luck with Java fern, but I'd be interested in trying the narrow leaf again. Also, some of the Myrio and Hygro sounds good. And what's Crasulla? I guess I'll have to try some of that too.

I've no where to really put anything, but I can't pass up trying something new AND free!

[AlexPerez]

BSS said.

I've no where to really put anything, but I can't pass up trying something new AND free!

LOL.. I'm the same way...I'll even get rid of a plant I had for a while if a new one comes my way.

The Crasulla is a really cool plant. At first I didn't think much of it.
But it has formed a really nice bush.

[Overfloater]

Well I can't say I will be there too early. I have some stuff to do before I leave including getting the fish and plants ready... I''d like to leave around 12 and it is probably a 2 hour drive. I guess I will miss AES but we can swing by Ocean Blue if you guys wanted to.

[thirston]

Well, I'll see you all in a few short hours. I'll be bringing a grab bag of goodies as well as plants to trade for other plants or just donate to people in need. I have a few gallons of Mela/Prima-Fix. A few test kits. Some hemostats. PH Buffers. And whatever else I can dig up. I'll swing by Publix on the way and get some soda and munchies. Brian, I'll be running by the shop to get some fish bags (great to put plant trades into) so if there's anything you need from there, let me know.

[Overfloater]

Im still waiitng on directions Brian

[BSS]

Originally Posted by Overfloater

Im still waiitng on directions Brian

DOH!!! Must have missed you. You've got them now.

Just trying to keep this exciting !
Brian.

[Overfloater]

Alright I got them.

I am not having any luck catching the rasboras so I won't be bringing them. It's too tough in this tank. I'll have to try again when I have more time.

[BSS]

Originally Posted by Overfloater

I am not having any luck catching the rasboras

Darn! And, I was going to ask about how you did it. I had an SAE for years that I finally gave up trying to snare.