Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

Reefing While You're Sick - It's No Fun!

This past week I developed a really horrible cold that left me confined to my room unable to tend to the needs of my tank. As hobbyists, we try our best to keep our parameters stable. Many hobbyists utilize programmable controllers for top offs, heaters, dosing, etc. As a college reefer, my budget cannot handle such extra equipment.

Is this really a ‘Dark Hobby’?

Editor's Note: this post introduces Dr. Neale Monks, who should be no stranger to anyone in our community with his many excellent aquatics book and magazine publications!

I have read with interest Robert Wintner's piece on the possible overfishing of reef fish by the aquarium industry as well as Bob Fenner's response  on the Coral Magazine web site. Although both gentlemen make valid points, both have oversimplified the situation in terms of biology, and in doing so, some of the shades of grey between their positions may be lost.

The Aqua LED: Why Aren't Manufacturers More Transparent About Their LED Light Output?

Today I received an email from SolarMax that simply contained this flier (click for full size) about a product that is apparently new, and called "Aqua LED", and uses "Special developed SMD-LED chips". 

If my sarcasm isn't apparent, I'll say it straight: manufacturers need to give us more information than what's in this flier if they expect anyone to purchase their product, as most of us like to make informed decisions (from information written in gramnatically correct English, I might add). 

This issue of a lack of information applies to more than just SolarMax, and has created a false environment where only a few diodes are taken seriously by hobbyists - and this shouldn't be the case.

The Palytoxin Afternoon - Watch out for Zoanthids!

Today, as with most other days recently, I was making frags for a new propagation system at work.  Then out of nowhere, while fragging some Radioactive Dragon Eyes one of the polyps exploded right into my eyes, what a great long distance shot!

Now just for some background, I've gotten zoanthid fruit punch in open cuts before, and even in my eyes countless times, but as soon as this particular brand of sea juice hit my eyes there was a weird, itchy tingling that I hadn't felt any other times.  Having work to do however I pressed on.

Symbiotic Relationships in Saltwater Aquariums, Part I

There is nothing more rewarding that recreating nature in every detailed aspect in a home aquarium, or at least to the extent that it can or should be done.  It is an extremely exciting experience, witnessing something twenty years ago was thought to be impossible: the symbiotic relationship of various marine organisms.  While this could be said about captive breeding, certain fish, or any number of marine topics, I am referring to Symbiotic Relationships.  I have had the privilege to be the witness of two completely different symbiotic relationships in my Nano Reef tank.

Sustainable Aquatics Benefits the Hobby, the Environment, and Local Peoples

We're a big fan of anyone that practices sustainable ecological principles in this hobby, and none more than Sustainable Aquatics.  Offering a variety of captive bred clownfish species and morphs, Sustainable Aquatics takes things one step further with their Sustainable Islands project. 

82 Stony Corals Endangered?

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.

The Marine Aquarium Hobby in Retrospect: 2009

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.

Reef Central Continues to...

...Fail, as Reefbuilders put it?  That's right: as if RC wasn't already a laughingstock amongst professionals and serious aquarists, the RC mods are at it again, this time removing thousands of posts created over half a decade by the Seachem staff.  Seeing as Seachem stopped paying RC's exorbitant ad rates (nearly $1000 per month + $1 per click!) RC has decided to remove years of knowledge from their forum section (likely the majority of the only real knowledge RC had to offer). 

Being a money-mongering forum is one thing (although they try to hide it, RC is a cash cow bringing in ~$10,000 per month - but don't mention this on their forum, it's a ban-able offense) but eradicating years of knowledge about some of the world's best aquarium products and water chemistry information that the Seachem staff kindly provided (about products that virtually every reefer uses) without archiving it, is inexcusable.

Do yourself a favor: don't visit Reef Central, and check out a legit source of aquatics information that universities and the like use: WetWebMedia.com.  You aren't missing out on anything at RC, I promise.

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Matt Wittenrich on Collection & Aquaculture

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: