Turbo Snail

Family: Turbinidae
Range: Gulf of Mexico; Western Atlantic Ocean
Size: 1.25 cm (0.49 in.)
Diet: Omnivore, Detritus
Tank Set-up: Marine: Coral, live rock, deep sand. May disturb loose rock and coral
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 75° F (23.89° C); sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12
Temperament: Peaceful
Venomous: No
Care Level: Easy

The Turban Snail is a powerhouse that helps keep live rock and aquarium glass free of algae. This peaceful snail boasts an interesting shell and is a smart addition to your existing aquarium cleanup crew. The Turban Snail, is also known as the Top Snail, False Trochus Snail, or Pyramid Snail, and is found in holes and crevices of the reef in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It has a bumpy shell shaped like a top or turban generally in varying earth tone colors including white, tan or even brown. The foot of the snail is white with fine black dots.
This hardy snail does well in an established aquarium with ample places to hide. The aquarium should ideally have a large area for grazing and live rock. Since the Turban Snail uses calcium to build its shell, an adequate calcium level must be maintained. It is very sensitive to any level of copper-based medications and prefers a low nitrate level.

The Turban Snail can spawn in captivity, normally in mature reef aquariums. The Turban Snail will expel their gametes, temporarily making the water cloudy. In a few months tiny Turban Snails will be visible on the glass and substrate when the lights have gone off. As they grow the Turban Snails will venture out into bright light during the day.

If sufficient algae are not present, the Turban Snail’s diet should be supplemented with dried seaweed.

Melanie Wesslock

melaniewesslock.com

Melanie, her husband Mike & son Max are all dear friends of my wife and I. She shot our wedding beautifully.  A VERY talented photographer in the New York City area. She also shot some of the pics you see here at aquariablog…

Ivan Medina

Ivan’s one of my oldest friends here in NYC and one of the truest. He did the video work at our wedding and produced a fantastic DVD for us. A talented videographer.

Medina Image Productions

Anna Dymer

Another powerful combo of beauty, brains & talent, Anna’s an old friend from my days in Charlotte, NC who was always destined for big things.

Freelance Makeup Artist for film and television.
Most recent project ‘Dexter‘ for Showtime.

Based in Los Angeles, California.

Jack Storms

Another friend from High School who’s gone on to do great things. His work is amazing and I’m trying to get something going for him with the book publisher I work for.

jackstorms.com

Welcome to the spectacular world of Jack Storms glass sculpture. Meticulously hand sculpted, these luminous crystal sculptures can take up to six weeks to produce due to the care and precision put into each individual piece. Dichroic glass is encased in pure lead crystal—a cold glass process known by only a handful of artisans throughout the world. Each brilliant sculpture is considered a rare piece of artwork…as valuable as diamonds!

Mr. Storms was introduced to cold glass after graduating with a BA in Art from Plymouth State College. As apprentice to an accomplished glass sculptor, Jack quickly became the studio manager and after just one year, moved to California to open the artists west coast production studio. In 2002, Jack opened Storm Works Studio, and introduced his own unique, fresh designs into the world of cold worked glass. “Many people see cold worked glass as being very technical and distant from the human experience. I try to overcome that and seek to make a bridge from myself to the work. I strive to bring a sense of organic nature to all of my pieces.”

Jack has recently made great headway to new audiences. The Carmel Valley Rotary Club has presented Storms’ work as an emissarial gift to the President of Nigeria to mark the occasion of the first blood bank on the continent of Africa. A commission to produce the LA Music Awards has led to inclusion in the collections of a growing list of celebrities. Juried into both the BAGI and Pilchuck auctions for 2005, 2006 & 2007 Jacks work is sought by discriminating collectors around the world. His newest work “Bella Vino” won the coveted People’s Choice Award at the 2007 BAGI Awards.

Jack is currently having artist show thoughout the western United states. Check the events page to see where he will be appearing next.

Based in Red Bluff, California

Mark was our Senior Class President in High School and his band played there several times. Was always a multi-talented guy who has flourished since moving to the NYC area. I had the opportunity to see him again and enjoy his music several years ago when he was playing the same venue as another friend of mine who plays with Furniture Music.

The New York Times once called Mark McAdam a “singer-songwriter” whereas the The Post refers to him as an “indie-rocker.”  McAdam cancelled his subscription to the Times.

His new album, Cavalcade, is a triumph of homespun enthusiasm, chock full of infectious mood swings.  It has more in common with Big Star or The Band than any of the pinup teen idols who have recently spoiled and defiled the label “singer-songwriter.”

This is the kind of record you want to tell your friends about. More info….

Cavalcade>

Matt and I hung out for a while in High School..a great guy. Good to see him doing so well.

Local singer/songwriter who mostly plays cover songs in the Bradenton/Sarasota/St Petersburg area. I have been playing out both as a solo artist and with bands for over 10 years. Created this page to give me a place to put my own songs out, and to let people know where I’ll be playing out. All songs written and performed by Matt Brown Instruments- Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Martin DC-1E, Fender Squire bass. Recorded at home on the Roland VS-880EX.

Skyway Jumpers based in Florida.

Randy Matson

Randy’s an old pal from my years in Charlotte, NC. Hysterical.

I’m a stand up comic with little or no respect for all things considered sacred by the powers whom think they be. My show is a high energy riot act of sketches and stories from the special olympics to the rape crisis center and anything in between. Don’t come looking for the “did you ever notice this, what’s up with that, who hates their job, how long ya been married, fat joke guy!” I’m too busy going from town to town, and door to door letting all the local straights know that there’s a verbal felon in town. Hey, it’s a life and I love it. And for the most part, I get away with it too. I’m 5’4″, dressed like an 8 year old and built like Terry Schivo…with a childlike innocence found in the naughty kid…I was always prone to flipping our pastor the bird for reaction. No beatings! Just got a kick out of my parents talking circles out of the impossible situation. Oh, I’m also a real estate investor…but that’s really not all that interesting. Like talking about taxes or insurance…and the hypnotist said…sleep. More info…

Based in Charlotte, NC.

Talented, pretty & a smarty pants, Susan’s a great girl and was always super talented.

www.wineandcigarettes.net

Wine and Cigarettes

Many things spring to mind when we think of wine and cigarettes; some may feel the urge to turn the page after being confronted with this phrase due to last nights hangover and a taste in their mouths which resembles what we imagine the bottom of a parrot’s cage to taste like; others may think of the various guilty but pleasurable vices in their lives.

It is the latter which brought on the name of Susan Elizabeth’s new album, “Wine and Cigarettes”. Along with falling in and out of good and bad relationships, a good bottle of wine and a pack of fags are her ultimate vices. Songs that didn’t make the cut are being released on her “B-sides and Sea-sides” EP.

Susan Elizabeth released her first album, “Let Yourself Fall” with former band Paige 23 in 2002 with ACM Records. Songs from “Let Yourself Fall” appeared in such shows as Ed and Medium (NBC). Her song “Run Run (Too Far From Me)” won Susan a college scholarship in 1996. In 2005 “In Retrospect” followed on an independent label.

Since Paige 23, Susan Elizabeth has taken up her own path. With all the funky possibilities electronic music has to offer, she isn’t in need of a drummer and is perfectly capable of managing her career on her own.

Having moved more into the direction of folk music, happily making her own decisions and going by her own feelings without having to respect the opinions of other band members, Susan has described this album to be her most personal; a chronicle of her life leading us through her finding of Buddhism, her marriage/divorce, her dating life after the divorce and finally discovering her new fiancé, losing him and finding him again.

Her style can be compared with Alanis Morissette although Susan Elizabeth comes across a lot softer; not necessarily in her music but definitely in her lyrics. While Alanis Morissette went from bitter and angry divorcee (“Jagged Little Pill”) to overly thankful followed by a quick jump to frighteningly positive, Susan Elizabeth’s heartfelt, thoughtful and playful energy comes across in all of her songs/albums. Think of Anouk’s ballads on the album “Urban Solitude” and you are just another step closer to understanding Susan’s music; the song “Michel” takes Anouk way back to when she first met her soul mate Michel, similar to Susan’s story with “Reinventing Sara.” T

he song “Peace” tells us more about her finding Buddhism last summer, an experience she found both enlightening and soothing. Susan was raised Roman Catholic, yet due to various personal reasons and the public scandals the naughty priests of nowadays found themselves in the middle of, she drifted further and further away from her beliefs. “Peace” is dedicated to Buddha and her spiritual guide Arya Tara.

Susan Elizabeth takes us on a painful yet educational journey with her ballads; she touches upon everything from the loss of a soul mate to the ironies in life such as explained in the song “The Excitement Before.” “Many things in life are just all about the excitement before it happens rather than the joy of the actual ‘thing’ you’re chasing after,” Susan explains.

And we all know what she’s talking about; it could be that Latin lover you’ve been eyeing up for weeks on end and once you’ve felt the brush of his tongue you realize your dog’s tonguing techniques are better than his and all excitement is lost.

C’est la Vie. C’est la Vie…an attitude Susan seems to have adopted and turned into a free spirited outlook on life.

There is no need to sit down with Susan Elizabeth in order to get to know her; just wait for her to pick up that guitar and let the melodies lead you closer to her thoughts and persona. “Wine and Cigarettes” is the soundtrack to her biography and it can be to yours for all the various aspects in life you enjoy; be it the same amount of smokes you enjoy while listening in, or a lazy day in the sun with her voice mesmerizing you in the background. Either way, this sparkling senorita will not disappoint you.

For more information on Susan Elizabeth please visit: www.wineandcigarettes.net

Based in New York City.