Maxspect Gyre XF130

Tired of the cheap chinese circulation pumps on my current 65 gallon display tank, I ordered a Maxspect Gyre XF130 from my local fish store (Reef Shac).

The plan is to use the 130 on my current tank and maybe pick up a second one when I setup the 125.  The 125 is only 5 ft wide so 1 of the 130's wouldnt really do the job from left to right.  but put one at each end and point them at each other and they will create a nice flow when they collide in the center.

The packaging was very nice, nice heavy cardboard outer box (hard to open), then a matte black tin with the actual pump.  There was a second light duty cardboard box with the power cord beside the tin...but you can only fit and pad so much.

It came with spare parts to swap out during cleanings, rotors, cages, motor bits.  The controller has a clip on the back that you can mount to your stand and freely remove the controller to fiddle with it.  Overall very high quality stuff.

The pump itself has 2 rubber magnet mounts to completely destroy noise from vibration.  And it came with 2 spares.  The magnets are pretty potent too.  Testing it out at Reef Shac we mounted it on 3/4" glass and it held up (though it didnt take much force at that thickness to dislodge it).

From reviews on the internet, I expected to have to run it on low and not be able to crank it up any higher without blowing everything over in my tank.  Granted most reviews are for the 150.  The 130 set to 100% will blow some sand around.  70% at steady stream has a nice strong current in my tank with only the return pump as additional flow.

It has several different modes (I still need to read the manual to learn the ins and outs).  Pulse mode created waves in my tank...and the age of the tank made me uncomfortable with leaving it in that mode.  Backwards is markedly less powerful and I have no idea what the point of forward/backward is at the moment.

Overall I'm fairly pleased with my purchase, and its just another step towards getting that 125 up and running.

Vacation: Return of the Content

Was on Vacation last week...back to the grind today.

Destin/Ft Walton Beach is a fantastic area to vacation in.  Beautiful beaches...absolutely breathtaking.

After we got back, my favorite local fish store (Reef Shac), was running an anniversary sale on Tangs.  So I picked up my first tang ever, a Tomini Tang.  I originally went in for a yellow tang and some peppermint shrimp but upgraded to the Tomini.  A very beautiful fish with bright orange fins.

He'll be right at home in the 125 when I get it operational.

Right now the 125 build is stalled out.  I still need to clean it out and finish buffing it.  Seems the buffer picked up some crushed coral that was still in it and left skirl marks on the side.  So I'll be washing it out and buffing it back out then washing it out some more.  Planning on getting the cleaning and buffing done this week.

Equipment-wise I'll be stocking the following:

5' long 125 gallon acrylic tank, center overflow

Black acrylic stand and DIY wood canopy

Eshopps Sump

2x 250w Eheim Jager Heaters

Waveline DC10000ii return pump

Existing skimmer, Euro Reef...will be upgrading to a beefier Bubblemagus Curve at some point.

Maxspect Gyre XF130 circulation pump (I'm getting one for the 65 gallon this week, and that'll be used on the 125 when complete...might add a 2nd one depending on how it shakes out).

4 ft long 6 bulb T5 fixture on a timer.  2 channels and moon lights.  Cheap box, but I'll be dropping ATI bulbs in it.  For starters I'll continue using my Photon 24 in conjunction with my china blackbox LEDs until I get this fixture and bulbs.

Plumbing will have four 1/2" returns for that monstrous DC10000ii pump.  Planning on building a 1.5" diameter manifold and splitting off my returns from that.  The way the stand is built, i'll be building a small stand for the sump to keep any pressure off of the cross supports from the weight of the sump.

I've picked up about 60 lbs of nice Marco Rock a few months ago from a LFS (on sale and i got to hand pick it), so the left side will be rock pile reef.  The right side will be frags.  I intend on taking dry shelf rock and cutting into shelves, then mounting it up on some rock with rods so that I can pop off the shelves when I need to.  I'll drill rows of holes in the shelves for frag plugs.  This will look more natural looking, and be easier for my cleanup crew to navigate than egg crate.

I'll post up some pictures later (probably with the next update).  I have most of the equipment already, just being held up by the buffing and plumbing.

Wrath of Kings

My friend picked up the Wrath of Kings kickstarter a while back.  It came in and we played a couple games with it.  I'm fairly impressed with the simple and straightforwardness of the rules.  That's not to say that there arent complex interactions and subtle nuances.  Quite the opposite actually.  We're learning new interactions and tricks every time we play.

Of the 5 factions, I enjoy the aesthetics of the Hadross the most.  I cant wait until they release the Carcharians.  Who doesnt love them some shark men?

Quick aside on the models.  It appears they use PVC for the majority of them, while the weapons and arms attached to them are cast in another type of plastic, so superglue is a must.   I love the locking peg system they have for assembly, it virtually guarantees you'll put them together the right way.  If you want to change up the poses, you can trim a bit off the oddly shaped pegs to roll it around in its joint.

All of the bases are deep dish display bases.   They're pretty easy to fill, though there's been a lot of controversy over this point.  There are many vocal opinions about how you shouldnt have to buy additional material to assemble your models.  A little wood paste goes a long way and its very economical.

I have found that mold lines are pretty hard to find and get rid of.  If you miss some, they'll make themselves painfully known once you start laying down paint.

I'll likely write more of my thoughts on the game and the Hadross faction at a later date.  Until then, some of my progress with painting and assembly.

My Kick Starter boxes assembled with some cork/sand basing.

I added some coral skeletons from my aquarium.

Airbrushing my Sevridan Gutters with some fluorescent green.

Test scheme.  Needs some refinements but I'm happy with the basics.

More or less finished Sevridan Gutter.  The orange really made a difference.  

Needs a matte topcoat and then brush on some gloss for the slimy bits.

Orsund Cavalier in progress.  What a monster!  This thing has a ton of airbrush layers to the red areas.  There will be better pictures when it's done (as well as the top half of the rider)

Cogitations and Methodology: Skitarii

I havent been this excited about 40k in a long time.  Finally, after 30 some years they've released Adeptus Mechanicus as a playable faction in the mainstream 40k universe.

After having a look at leaked pics of the models for the Cult Mechanicus release, I have to say I'm unimpressed.  I'll likely be sticking with a primarily Skitarii force.  I do love the Dominus and the Datasmith models, but the big bots and the electropriests do nothing for me.

Some friends and I played a large team game this weekend where I got to field my proxy list.  I found that lack of objective secured in maelstrom makes life hard for the Skitarii.  Also drop pod marines really capitalize on this because I just cant dish out the damage fast enough to remove them from objectives.

The Void Shield Generator was targeted and focused down on turn 1.  My opponents did do a double take when I scouted it forward 6 inches.  We discussed it and all agreed that's how the rules worked...though it was a little strange.  Overall the army was pounded on by 2 armies for a couple turns while my teammate got his reserves heavy chaos list in gear.  Its a lot more resilient than I expected, though the ironstriders and dragoons were deleted from play pretty quickly.

I think this list will do better in one on one matchups, the Vanguard with their Rad Carbines do so much more damage than I expected them to.

My list:

Vanguard x5, Arc Rifle x2
Vanguard x5, Arc Rifle x2
Vanguard x5, Arc Rifle x2
Vanguard x5, Arc Rifle x2
Vanguard x10, Plasma Caliver x3, Enhanced Data Tether
Rangers x5, Transuranic Arquebus x2, Omnispex
Rangers x5, Transuranic Arquebus x2, Omnispex

Infiltrators x5, Flechette Blasters and Taser Goads

Onager x1, Icarus Array, Cognis Heavy Stubber
Onager x1, Icarus Array, Cognis Heavy Stubber
Ironstrider x1
Ironstrider x1

Void Shield Generator x1, Extra Void Shield x1

Ironstrider Cavaliers
Ironstrider x1
Dragoon x1
Dragoon x1

Ironstrider Cavaliers
Ironstrider x1
Dragoon x1
Dragoon x1

Ironstrider Cavaliers
Ironstrider x1
Dragoon x1
Dragoon x1

I used necrons as proxies until I can get my actual models bought/built/painted.

I also crafted some accurate foamcore proxies for the vehicles.

Necrons: Path to Skitarii

I ever tell you that I love the new GW paint line?  Runelord Brass has to be my favorite paint out of the several hundred oddly named little pots.  When I started painting the necrons in the current scheme, I set out to utilize this color with a nicely contrasting glowing trim.  I explored greens, avoided blues, and finally settled on orange.

The process:

From right to left I did a base of Leadbelcher, generously washed with Nuln Oil, applied Warplock Bronze, and finally drybrushed some Runelord Brass on top.

I also converted Crypteks using Deathmark heads and a box of Lychguard. 

I regret not attaching the appendages and fidly bits to the Wraiths first.  Its pretty tedious and I'm going to have to break out the wire brush attachment on the dremel to clean the ball joints before gluing them in.

For the glowing parts I brushed on some Trollslayer Orange and then wash it with Testors Fluorescent Orange airbrush paint.

As soon as I get these guys done up and sold to my friend I can start buying and putting together Skitarii.  I already have a proxy army put together for playtesting until I can get my actual models.

Oodtacular: Return of the Ood.

The Oodtacular:

Other than purchasing the ood mask and server jacket, I havent made much headway on this.  A lot of people are bailing because they have an aversion to wearing a mask.  I still have some people who want to be Oodvengers though.

Overall the masks dont need much work.  just something to keep the split at the back of the mask closed (if that).

Still hoping to get this together for dragoncon.  though i may just scrap the service ood and do only the Oodvengers.