Opinions of Greatest Advancements in Reefkeeping for 2001

[Fishaholic]

In my opinion it is not even close. The aquaculturing of yellow tangs buy collecting the fish in their larval stage is absolutely amazing to me. Only a few out of a thousand in the wild would have made it to adult. These are the advancements our hobby really needs.

I am sure many others have noted advancements in the past year.

[mojoreef]

Fishaholic I hear you I have been at collection sites in both the philiphines and Costa rica. I dont think we will ever stop the carnage that is going on until its is stopped by the governments of the particular countries. I think the best we can do is to stick to our guns and propagate coral and fish ourselves, and trade and sell between each other in order to make ourselves more self suficent. and slow the demand on natural reefs. We must teach people who are new to our hobby this meathod of thinking. and teach them the proper care and sustainable inhabitants they can admire.

anyway I'll get off my soap box now.

[MROK12]

May not be the greatest advance but a local fish store near me has begum to propogate marron and tomatoe clowns! I am impressed that they are doing there part to make captive bred animal available. They have been propogating corals for years and boast 40,000 gallon+ of salt water. I myself am setting up a 36x24x12 prop tank in the spring down in the basement so I can begin to offer tank raised stuff to some friends locally. I think the greatest advancement is the awareness that propogated species are available and people I think are really beginning to support these efforts more....

MROK12:santa:

[FishDaddy]

Aside from continuing R&D in captive propagation, the most dramatic change in the way we exchange info is the combined use of digital photography and Brooke's switch to vBulletin. Besides being fun, it allows us to almost instantly get feedback on tank problems/disease; identification; illustrations of tank equipment and setup; and helpful tips and techniques. All of this accelerates the learning curve.
As Bubba says: "A picture is worth a whole bunch of words".
Dick

[Spanky]

Discrediting "Diver Damage" and laying the blame where it belongs.

Tracing the source of the Keys Pollution problems and laying blame where it belongs. Saving Keys residents 100's of Millions of dollars.

Establishment of more SPA areas and actually getting the monies together to buy mooring buoys and perimeter floats.

Finishing our economy impact studies. Allowing limited collecting in Federal Waters and some State Waters.

Starting the ball rolling on a state wide ban on sponge fishing.

Finishing our studies on wooden trap pollution.

and on and on.

Jerel

[Fishaholic]

Jerel

It is fortunate that the Keys residents value the reefs and to the extent that most understand it is not just the main reefs but the patch reef, the rubble, and the mangrove swamps are all interconnected.

Nothing says that residents care more than the tourist council of Marathon shelling out (I think it was) 4 million dollars to recieve matching funds from the Federal government to bring down the newest ship from Virginia to become a new artificial reef.

The awareness of how valueable the reefs are makes this still my favorite place to dive.

[Junkzoo]

Ditto Jerel,,,,seen it and totally agree with you,,, ( i have spent many dives just cutting and removing broken fishing lines from the reef,,,and freeing "trapped" fish from old abandoned lobster traps,,,(read: old -abandoned-no buoy-dilapidated,,)old keys rule,,,,,,"rather get caught molesting a trap by the Marine patrol , then by the lobster fishermen",,it's healthier,,

[MontanaRocknReefer]

For me, I cannot say enough about digital photography. It is nice to take pics of our tanks and show them off after all the hard work we put into them. It inspires us who take the pics and hopefully those who see them.
It is nice to have pics of your tank and as the years go by, to look and see the changes that have developed in your reef. It helps you discover more things in your tank as you pay more attention to details and that is where the discoveries are usually made. FWIW Johnny

[JennM]

*****I got baby seahorses to live more than 2 weeks****

That's my "pesonal" accomplishment this year. This time last year I was preparing a setup for Seahorses. Now I'm trying to rear the young, and breed pipefishes too...who'd have thunk?

I've taken enough of various specimens out of the wild in my 16 or so years in the hobby, now it's time to help propagate at home, so others can reap the same enjoyment, but we can let more wild creatures stay that way.

I've got a long way yet to closing the loop on these horses, but I've come a long way too.

I marvel at so MANY home hobbyists propagating corals, and fishes, it's amazing how far the hobby has come just in the last few years. Sharing information electronically has made MY life a lot easier, and made my success this year possible, for there just isn't that much info out there in my local library, etc., and unless one can find a local mentor, it's nearly impossible. I'm corresponding with people in my state, and across the globe, sharing and exchanging information to help each of us. LOVE THAT!

There have been many steps on a larger scale, but in my little corner of the universe, that's my progress!

Jenn

[Junkzoo]

YAYY JENN!!!! congrats!! , knew you have been at this for a while,,, glad to hear things are goin' great! keep up the good work , and Happy Holidays!:santa: :santa: :santa:

[Fishaholic]

Glad to hear it Jenn.

We had 3 seahorses in a 25 gallon eclipse and all were fine. one of the malea went through a 12 hour labor thatyeilded all dead births. It must had fould the water, after 3 days and waterchanges after we lost the first, we lost them all. All of our parimeters were 100%. Ivy and I have been able to nurse quite a few fish back to health over the years but this decided it for me, we got out of the wrangling game.

I am glad you are breeding them as I have heard captive born are much hardier. I was under the imressin mine were captive raised and they very well could have been.

I like MROK12 am extreemy happy LFS are propagating their own stock. I seriousely belaive this is the future of or hobby and the people who do it of their own accord will be that much further along than those that will wait untill they are forced to do so.

If Ivy and I ever decide to get out our spurs and take another shot at wrangling we will have to drive up to Atlanta and get them from the source so next time we know we have the best chance for success

[Brooke]

For me personally, it has been a great year. Getting our new tank going has been a challenge and raising baby banggai has been thrilling! Can't wait to see what happens next year on the reef!

Brooke

[Carpentersreef]

My own reef advancement was the addition of my double ended HQI lighting system to my system. At the time, I really wondered whether the $3500 investment was going to be a mistake. I have not regretted the purchase once! In fact, I had a request from a local reefer to look after their corals, because they were't thriving in their regular MH system. The coral colored up fully within a couple of weeks. I don't like the high energy useage, though, so I'm working on incorporating natural sunlight into my new setup, hopefully within the next couple of months. (I'm sure I'll be requesting some advice on how to best move a 240g system in the near future!) I'm planning on a 1 month overlap between moves, and doubling my system size.

The next hurdle I see for my system, is how to make it more nutrient-rich, not polished clean. I don't know whether it's going to take the form of a plancton reactor, or a large additional water reservoir with LR only, or what, yet.

Mitch

[FishDaddy]

Hey Carpentersreef,

Glad to have you with us!
Dick

[Carpentersreef]

THANKYOU!

Mitch