Newbie to MAAST

[mattozzie]

Hey everyone my name is Matt. I have been reading this forum for awhile now but haven't posted before. I live in south Austin off slaughter.
Well here is my story. I'm still a newbie to reef keeping but have had a 20G mini reef in the past. I currently have a 90G DAS corner tank (empty). I'm getting harassed by my girlfriend to get it up and running. I landed this tank for free but not familiar with the DAS brand. Does anyone have one of these tanks? Good or bad reviews on DAS?
My first issue is lighting. Currently there is no top or canopy. I was thinking MH pendants. I want the flexibility to see a coral that I like and know that my lights will be strong enough to handle it. I know there is a meeting this weekend on this very subject so I guess I need to get up there and meet everyone and learn a thing or two.
There isn't some strange ritual at these meetings for newbies is there like feed a moray eel a piece of shrimp with my bare hands or something is there? :shock:

[Gator]

welcome to maast. last time i went to norris house i came home and ordered 3 400 mh that same day.

[TAXMAN]

Welcome Matt.

Well there is a ritual or initiation you might say. I had to do it too. Only problem is I woke up 2 days later and cant remember anything. And when I ask the other people that were there, they just bust out laughing and have never told me anything.

But you'll have fun and learn a lot at the meeting. So we hope to see you there. :lol3:

[wkopplin]

As far as I have heard, DAS tanks are good tanks. I know quite a few people here have them. Welcome to MAAST

[manny]

Matt,
They dip your whole body in Jim's tank and make you become "one with the fish". I was weirded out while they were doin it so I took off before they made me get in there. :grin: :grin: :grin:

[wkopplin]

Don't forget about the "Anemone Bath" and "Swimming with Urchins". Not fun.

[PeeJ]

Aneomne bath...hahahaha


"Ride the Man O' War"

[wkopplin]

Don't listen to Josh. He likes to be dipped in any tank that will let him...... hehe

[dan]

hey matt: welcome to maast. those guys are just pulling your leg. the meeting are great. wait till you see jims tank. your jaw will drop to the floor. the first time i saw i had to get my chin out of the carpet.lol but realy this is a great club. any thing you want to know about your tank or inside your tank just ask. you will get an answer!

[Gator]

also jim rents his tank out to neigbor college kids as a sun tanning salon, make sure and bring sunglasses

[dan]

ya roosters right 6-400w m/h WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[mattozzie]

HAHA, you guys are cracking me up! From the sounds of it, I guess I will need to bring my snorkel and fins to the meeting. Got to get the full effect of this tank!

[reefer]

actually, the newbie intitation requires red hot coals, grass skirts, a live chicken, and voodoo preistess.
welcome to maast!
8)

[Instar]

:-o
Thats me, watching out for you guys holding up a cross.

Actually, I thought Jim's tank had 10 MH's on it. Guess I was just blinded by the light. :-D

You will be talking about what you can't remember of the initiation for years. I don't recall a thing about it either except that I felt real new and my first salt tank I think was in 1966 -- or was that just part of the illusion?!?