Planted Tanks: New Fish Tank

It's been a long time in the making. I've just had this blank space over top my fireplace in my living room. It was designed for a TV, but since TV's aren't really shaped to fit there anymore, I decided a fish tank would be a much better fit. But not just any fish tank, a live plant tank.

Look at that wasted space!
So after searching Craigslist for over a month, I finally land on the perfect tank. A 36" 45 gallon breeder tank, complete with filter, heater, and lid. Fits perfect!


So I ordered a new high output lighting fixture for it. Plants need a TON of light to grow.








Ooo pretty moonlights!
After ordering 100lbs of plant gravel, and doing a test run in the garage, I was ready to go.








My shelf didn't break!
After letting it sit overnight (with no leaks!). I decided it would be a good time to get some plants. They arrived earlier today.


You know it's a good day when you get something that looks like this in the mail



All ready to plant





Nope, those bubbles aren't air bubbles. This is a Co2 diffuser. I run a pressurized Co2 system because it provides live aquatic plants with the crucial things they need (carbon) to live and grow. Think of it as oxygen for us.


It's an open top tank, with the light suspended over it





Pretty cool looking if you ask me!


All lit up with the moonlights at night!


The fireplace keeps the plants warm at night




This system should live, grow and develop over time, so I'll be posting updates periodically. Now I just have to get some fish!

BMW Relay for Life 2009

It's that awesome time of the year again. BMW hosts a yearly charity event to benefit cancer awareness, and in traditional BMW fashion that involves driving. A donation of just $10 gets you behind the wheel of either an X5 SUV on a awesome off road course, or behind the wheel of a 300hp twin-turbo BMW 335i on a wet autocross course. Needless to say I had to take advantage of this. Oh and I did manage to take a few pictures between all the fun I was having!

Josh's Photo Vortex: Now in HD

In celebration of one full year of blogging I've decided to make the site W I D E R. As you probably noticed this allows a lot more space for the good stuff (the photos!). Since most people have a decent sized monitor these days, and 56k is pretty much dead (woohooo!) there is no reason to keep the site (and images) so small. As for you people who follow me on facebook, click here to visit my actual blog and start viewing my posts in HD!

So get your big monitors and high speed connections ready! Our blog is now in High Definition!

Jess and Drew Sneak Peak!

Here's a quick sneak peak from Jess and Drew's Wedding a few weeks ago. Look for the full set soon!

Grand Opening: New Meeting Room!

Well I've finished putting the final touches on my brand new meeting room. It's filled with some awesome leather couches, coffee tables, and lots of photos! From now on I'll be scheduling meetings here. Check it out!

One Year of Blogging!

Wow this blog has already been around a year?

It's been great watching this grow over the past year. We started off with just a couple subscribers now we are well over 50!

Thanks to the Internet here are some interesting stats!

• 251 Blog Posts
• 1500+ Images posted
• 9,707 Views
• 55 Daily RSS Subscribers
• Readers from 78 countries and all 50 states!

Thank you to all my readers and supporters!!

Wine making 101

Well I've taken up another hobby over the last month: Wine Making. I started my first batch of Merlot a little over a month ago and it's really starting to shape up. Here are a few images of my adventure so far!





Mixing it up!


Off to ferment for 2 weeks


Siphon time!








Off to sit to clarify for another 3 weeks

Their Wedding Day: Cris & Clay

There are good days to be outside and there are just some days that you NEED to be outside. Cristina and Clay's wedding day at the Chautauqua Institute in Western New York was one of those days you just had to be outside for. Partly cloudy skies, 75°F, gentle breeze, the stuff that weathermen dream about.

Of course what made the day even more beautiful was Christina and Clay's love. After a touching first meeting and an emotional ceremony, the stage was set for an awesome rest of the day. Anyways I'll let the pictures do the rest of the storytelling. Congrats again Cris and Clay!










































































DO NOT try this at home





















Guests wrote wishes on paper and then folded them into airplanes to throw at Cris and Clay
































Oh yea they planned a stunning moonrise as well!










Thanks again guys!!