So, it seems that a piece of legislation currently under consideration by NOAA would add 82 species of corals to the endangered species list. This is getting a lot of buzz around the hobby, websites, mostly of the knee-jerk "Oh my god this will kill our profits hobby!" type (ie. Coral Magazine's site, where this proposition is laughed at, yet conservation efforts are recommended only one post below!), a fear that's not only unfounded, but interfering with the protection of these species.
Continue reading "82 Stony Corals Endangered?" »
After a hectic "holiday season", I/we
are back (trying to be back?) at penning for the CA blog. I wanted to
write a brief opinion piece of the hobby in 2009.
As a marine
aquarium hobbyist since 1993, a marine aquatics author since 2001, and
a "professional" for a year, I've seen a lot of things come, go, stay,
and change in our hobby, for better or for worse. For better or for
worse, this is the first year I felt that the beginning of the end was
palpable for the marine and reef aquarium hobby in it's current state.
Continue reading "The Marine Aquarium Hobby in Retrospect: 2009" »

I worked with marine biologist and notable fish breeder Matt Wittenrich at Microcosm Aquarium Explorer, and today I'd like to post an interview I did with him a few weeks back about the current wild collection practices. I think it will be an informative interview for hobbyists who don't often get a lot of 'behind-the-scenes' news:
Continue reading "Matt Wittenrich on Collection & Aquaculture" »
Well, I made my final post at ReefCentral - a forum reknown for it's misinformation and excessively controlling moderators (hence why this is my first and last post in five years). I posted a thread selling a few of my personal aquatic paraphernalia, as I'm moving personal (not business) locations soon. Here is a transcript of what followed:
Continue reading "The ReefCentral "Gestapo" Strike Again!" »
Editor's Note: this post introduces our newest contributing author and photographer, Nate Bernardo. All images in this post are © Nate Bernardo, 2009.
It was a beautiful Wednesday morning when I decided to head out to Monterey. I packed my bag with water, food, and a book to read on the bus and left my house with my SLR camera.
Continue reading "Visiting the Monterrey Bay Aquarium" »
Richard from
Euro-Reef's Nano Systems
called me to discuss the state of today's nano aquariums, and what I thought an ideal nano aquarium would have to offer.
I apparently have attained a reputation regarding nano reef aquariums,
and Richard called me to let me know he sympathizes with my opinion regarding
many of the all-in-one (AIO) nano aquariums on the market today: close, but no
cigar.
Continue reading "All-In-One Nano Aquarium Thoughts" »
I detest pet and local fish stores (LFS). Why? To put it simply, I have very rarely see a store that provides decent care to their livestock, and offers sound, accurate advice.
Continue reading "Pet and Local Fish Stores: a Disgrace to the Hobby?" »
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