Check out some of my previous tanks and projects...

[Mr James]

My name is James, aka Mr James. I have had quite a few reef tanks, the last system being the best and the most expensive. I moved here to northern Minnesota voluntarily. ha ha ha...

I just discovered the Ben Franklin in TRF (Thief River Falls) has saltwater fish and other supplies. I would be more than willing to help anyone and everyone with lots of the DIY stuff, maybe even hold a few meetings here in TRF or abroad. I plan to set up a new system, just not so elaborate as in the past.

Here is my 180g when I first set it up last year. No basement forced the skimmer and calcium reactor to be stored in a cabinet next to the tank. 3 x 250w metal halides (ARO ballasts), MR-2 skimmer, MRC CR-2 calcium reactor, 1/4 hp chiller, and a Sequence Barracuda for a closed loop were just some of the highlights. Here's a few pictures:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC04097.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC04620.jpg

Skimmer on top, calcium reactor on bottom:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/7762rc_cabinet1.jpg

Frags of SPS and other goodies, which were my specialty:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05339.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05340.jpg

Just three of the seven or so M. Capricornis I had:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05350.jpg

I'll sneek this one in from a previous tank, I named it after my son:
Acropora Elijah:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/7762rc_Acropora_Elijah_02-05-med.JPG

[Mr James]

My DIY skimmer (Snailman Skimmer I think):

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC00262.jpg

Yummy DIY Phytoplankton and Rotifers:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/7762DSC04783.JPG
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/8-5.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/8-6.jpg

Good water is a must, (DI = 0 TDS):

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC04098.jpg

My patented DIY kalk dripper:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC04945.jpg

A little Interceptor action to kills them pesky red bugs:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05056.jpg

Homemade Food:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05085.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05084.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Jims%20Reef%20Tank/DSC05086.jpg

[icereefer]

To bad things looked sweet.
Well if you ever decide to do meetings let me know I'd be interested. always good to hear others opinions.
Ice.
PS any others watching this tread, give use some input on getting a club in this area going.

[icereefer]

here's a little about myself.
I have been in this hobby since I got out of High school back in the middle 70's, I'm a native of Calif and always love the sea, but once I moved into the mid states I couldn't go to the beach so I brang the ocean to me, some in my area call me blue thumb, because I have been pretty lucky with keeping thriving saltwater tanks.
but I owe it all to the people I meet and forums like this one and many others I belong too.
it would be nice to get a club going in our area, to share methods, and frags amougest area members.
well enough jabbering....LOL. heres a few shots of my set up and some Macro shots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/icereef/IMG_0231.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/icereef/IMG_0234.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/icereef/IMG_0237.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/Jim-Durso-/IMG_0078.jpg