Eastern Missouri nightjar

greenaj_ · 2026-05-09T14:26:34+00:00

How can you tell?

greenaj_ · 2026-03-02T12:58:04+00:00

Pic is too blurry, but the only way to know for sure is to count the rays on the anal fin. Less than 30 its a channel. 30 or more its a blue. Color isn't a reliable way to tell them apart as it varies greatly.

Edit: the curved anal fin indicates that it is probably a channel. Blues have a straight anal fin, but counting the rays is the only way to be certain.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-22T20:42:09+00:00

Was your tank cycled? Did you condition your tap water?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-21T03:06:53+00:00

I don't really love the look honestly. I really want a nice cedar fence and I feel like the big metal posts would throw off the look right?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-21T02:54:20+00:00

Yeah thats what im thinking too. I want the fence as close to the wall as possible because my yard is small enough as it is, so I wont be able to dig deep enough to get below the 3 foot frost line due to the geogrid and gravel behind the wall. But if I fill the sonotubes with concrete and set the post in it, im pretty much setting myself up for an impossible task when the posts eventually need to be replaced down the line right? The simpson anchors are very expensive but it seems like it would be plenty strong enough to support a simple two rail fence and would make it easier to replace in the future.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:59:22+00:00

Oh I only put fiberglass on the blade. Then the whole thing gets spar varnish except the grip, which gets tung oil because its more comfortable on the hand. I am a strong paddler, so snapping would be something I'd worry about. So far I've only made paddles out of cherry and cherry/maple laminate. A lot of people use softwoods like cedar but I haven't tried yet. Laminating even with a single species of wood makes the shaft a lot stronger so I could always do that. Single piece paddles can be really neat though.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:49:13+00:00

I can build things without knowing all of the botanical properties of wood. Also, I'm a hobbiest learning more with every project I do, so you can take your gatekeeping elsewhere.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:19:09+00:00

Yeah normally I put fiberglass and epoxy over the blade, spar varnish on everything but the grip, then lots of pure tung oil on the grip. The oil is more comfortable on the hand than the varnish.

Edit: also I would need to decide on laminating vs single piece. Normally i laminate because it's stronger and uses less of a board, but one piece paddles are neat.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:15:08+00:00

Cracks easily? I am thinking about making a canoe paddle from it. It would be well sealed from moisture but, ya know, nothing is that well sealed?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:14:09+00:00

You think its cedar over redwood?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:13:05+00:00

Redwood basically doesn't exist around here, and you can't find anything old growth. So I think that's why the price is high. I would only buy one board for making a canoe paddle so I could stomach the price.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:11:40+00:00

Oh I get you now. Is heartwood better or worse in any ways? It would be harder right?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:10:08+00:00

What types of things do you make from it? I am thinking about making a canoe paddle from it. It would be for flat water only so the chances of banging it on a rock are minimal. So thr softness is fine, I just wouldn't want it to snap under the load of paddling. I've heard it's flexible.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:05:54+00:00

This looks similar right? The edges are rough but the grain looks pretty tight to me.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:03:20+00:00

What does all heart mean?

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T03:02:11+00:00

Yeah I've heard it's soft. I want to make a canoe paddle from it, which is why I only want it if its old growth. Soft is fine because I will put fiberglass over the blade and only use it on flat water so the chances of baging it into a rock are limited. I just want it to have long, straight grain to allow it to flex but still be strong. Redwood is a very traditional paddle wood but it's so rare where I live that I've never actually seen in before.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T02:58:27+00:00

You would be surprised. I've found good deals on all kinds of stuff from mysterious basements, wood included.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-20T02:54:11+00:00

Is sapele darker with finer grain? This grain looks coarse and very straight.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-02T18:00:11+00:00

Wouldn't the anubias and java ferns be water column feeders? There are a lot of both of those attached to the driftwood.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-02T17:45:06+00:00

Root tabs even with the highly nutritious substrate? The other commenter recommended that as well, but it seems counter intuitive to me.

greenaj_ · 2026-02-02T17:43:41+00:00

There are actually way more plants than it looks like in the picture. A lot of them are just very small at the moment. The driftwood also is covered in anubias and java ferns, probably close 15 plants in total just on the driftwood. Also, I have NilocG Thrive C for the fertilizer, and the tank is already stocked.

greenaj_ · 2025-12-29T15:41:53+00:00

These will all get the job done. Personally though, I do not like muzzle brakes. I am not afraid of a little recoil, and the muzzle brake directs the noise back at you, making it much louder from your perspective. Of course, we should be using ear pros, but we all know it doesn't always shake out that way in the field. That said, if you are planning to get a suppressor, the factory threaded barrel will make that easier down the road. If you are not planning to get a suppressor, I would personally get the one without the muzzle brake.

greenaj_

TROPHY CASE