Podcast: MARS 4/08; Steve Tyree - Reef Farmers

Steve Tyree presented a talk to MARS (Marine Aquarist Roundtable of Sacramento) on Friday April 18th, 2008. Mr. Tyree is internationally known for his work relating to SPS species of corals and owns and operates Reeffarmers -a distribution site for captive farmed corals. Steve has been farming and distributing captive stony corals since 1993. Back then, the captive maintainance of reef building stony corals was still considered impossible by many. Today there are literally thousands of reef aquarist around the world that are not only maintaining these corals but they are successfully farming them. Over the years Steve has managed to acquire a large collection of rare and exotic corals.

Steve showed photos of some amazing coral pieces from the best collectors in the US. Including Eric Caamano of Frag Farmers, Greg Carroll and John Dakaan of Your Reef in Roseville, CA.

They all had some very unique and interesting names. Some of my favorites included Area 51, Pastel War and Peace, Blueberry Montipora, Strawberry Patch Montipora, Seasons Greetings Montipora, Red Hot Chili Pepper Digitata, Bazooka Joe Chalice, Bubble Gum Chalice and the Miami Hurricane Chalice.

Steve is bringing back the 2008 Bay Area Coral Farmers Market,Third Annual Event,
Sunday, May 11th, 2008, 10:30 AM to 4 PM, Hilton Newark/Fremont Hotel,39900 Balentine Dr., Newark, California 94560. From the Coral Farmers website: This 2008 Coral Farmers Market sanctioned event is the third annual event run by the Bay Area Coral Farmers Market company. Coral farming and exhibiting vendors will be selling or displaying their captive grown, cultured corals or reef related products to the public. We expect over 200 total attendees. Some of the best coral farming vendors from Southern California, the Bay Area, the states of Utah, Nevada and Arizona along with farmers from Sacramento will be setting up coral displays. Farmers include aquarists, retail reef shops, online coral shops and full scale coral farming enterprises. There will also be exhibitors present who will be demonstrating and selling their products. This SW-CFM event will also feature coral auctions, raffles and door prizes throughout the day. Reef aquarists new to the captive reef market can also expect to see a fine collection of easy to keep beginner corals. Aquarists and enthusiasts can attend this one-day event by purchasing a SouthWestern Coral Farmers Market day ticket online for ($15) up to one month prior to the event. Within 1 month of the event the online ticket price is ($25) per ticket. Tickets will also be sold at the door ($30) during the day of the event, but may be limited by occupancy restrictions. We are also encouraging our farmers to bring plently of farmed soft corals along with their usual excellent farmed stony corals.

Steve's presentation can be downloaded here. Use the links on the left of the page.

To listen, click the play button below.

Palytoxin

I recently read an article, Aquarium Science: Palytoxin and You: How and Why to Avoid a Deadly Zoanthid Toxin, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, and have noticed quite a few hits to my website in search of information on this nuisance chemical found zoanthid corals, which are in most reef aquariums. Although the title of the article includes the wording "deadly", I have yet to hear of anyone dying from exposure to palytoxin.

I have a client in Zephyr Cove, NV that has many beautiful zoanthids. They have propagated quite a bit over the past three years and have taken over much of the rockwork. They look absolutely beautiful, but in turn, every two weeks after I service his aquarium I break out with a rash from the contact while cleaning his aquarium.

Palytoxin is the most toxic natural product known, it is estimated that the lethal dose for a human is less than five micrograms. Supplies are extremely limited as it is only found at low concentrations in the corals that do contain it, although this may change if a microbial source is found.

Although I have worn gloves, Coralife from Bayside Aquarium Supply (Marine Depot's wholesale division) while servicing aquariums, they are quite cumbersome and difficult to feel what I am touching while working. They are great to use when I receive a new case of live rock and I need to scrub off the decaying sponges and algae though.

The rash can be annoying for a couple of days after an outbreak, so I use a cortisone
cream. Okay, so I picked this product up one time when I was in Baja. But I know that it is 1%, the same as what one of my client's, a Doctor, gave me after my first exposure to the toxin.

I think that it is necessary to wear gloves in my line of work, but to be honest I haven't found the perfect pair. I have used these types of gloves,(photo off of an eBay ad) but they are a one time use and they only go up to my wrist.

It is really important to be careful while hands are in your aquarium. There are many occupants that can irritate your skin. Including sponges, gorgonians, hydroids and euphylias.

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Bob Fenner 4/6/08 - 1:05:10

This is the final Podcast recording from the Marine Aquarium Expo and it's a good one! Bob Fenner is an excellent speaker. The MAX talk he presented was on reducing negative captive cnidarian interactions. What the heck is that you say? Listen and you will learn in an entertaining way. His bio from the MAX page; Robert (Bob) Fenner is a content provider to the pet-fish (ornamental) aquatics hobby and trade, dive/travel adventure and underwater natural history genres; writing, photography and videography. Though retired since 1994, he continues to produce in this field as well as consult on aquaculture and public aquarium installations.

Bob has "lived" the science, hobby and business of aquatics in the Philippines, Japan and United States. All phases; collector, wholesale, jobber, retail, design, construction and maintenance. All levels; manager, owner, hatchery worker, retail clerk, technician. Except for a stint teaching high school sciences for four years, he has worked all his life in the field of ornamental aquatics.

Academic experience includes fifteen years of college, a couple of life science degrees and a teaching credential for chemistry, physics and biology. Published works include several studies on aquatic biological and chemical questions, and an extensive book and article publishing (helped author a few books, The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, Fishwatcher's Guide to the Tropical Marine Aquarium Fishes of the World, Natural Marine Aquariums Reef Invertebrates...) and photographic background in aquatic industry and hobby fields. Have taught High School sciences and Marine Sciences and Aquariology courses at the State University, University of California levels.

Bob has been an avid aquatic hobbyist since day one and is active in hobbyist and scientific organizations. He has served on numerous Boards, judged shows and given many programs.

Helped form and run (President) of the employee-owned corporation, Nature Etc., Inc. in San Diego, started in 1973; a turn-key operation in the field of ornamental aquatics, designing and building ponds, lakes, fountains and waterfalls (Aquatic Environments), designing, installing custom aquarium systems and maintenance (Aquatic Life Services), and operating retail outlets (Wet Pets).... currently does consulting, content provision to the trade, sciences and hobby of aquaristics.

To download his talk, click here and use the link on the left.

To listen, click the play button below.



Bob also runs Wet Web Media which contains a wealth of valuable information for the novice to the advance aquarist. Check it out!

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Marc Levenson 4/6/08 - 1:33:37

Marc Levenson, "Melev" on the web, gave an in depth talk on designing and building acrylic sumps. After his talk, I have a new found respect for the work that my acrylic fabricators do for me.



From the Marine Aquarium Expo speaker bio page; My real name is Marc Levenson, but online I'm known to many as melev. I've been in the hobby for about 10 years and my Percula clownfish (the first fish I bought) is still with me to this day. I run a website called www.melevsreef.com that is there to help hobbyists everywhere. My site started off as a single page many years ago, talking about my 29g, but then grew longer and longer. It was like a never-ending blog, until one day I started page 2 about a new project for my tank - a sump. Over time, the site grew to include additional topics of interest such as acrylic work, photography, solutions to pests, information about my tanks, lighting, feeding, and more. There is always something new being added as time permits. Now entire sections are themed so that you can stay in a particular line of thinking. I've even begun the task of translating some popular pages into other languages to reach more individuals globally.

I've been online for years, originally running a BBS called The Kingdom, run on an Atari STe back when high speed was a 2400 baud modem. That site was up for 7 years. More recently, I've been a part of a podcast for reefkeepers, www.reefcast.com which now has 25 different episodes available for download. Most of them are audio only in mp3 format but there are a few vidcasts mixed in for your viewing pleasure. We keep it casual, fun, and still cover a variety of topics to help you be successful reefkeepers.

I've been a fan of MACNA since 2002, been on the BOD for MASNA.org for over a year, then on the BOD for DFWMAS for at least 4 years. I've been the club president of DFWMAS for three of those years, working to keep the membership growing and provide interesting content both online and at our monthly meetings. I’ve also, written a few magazine articles, and was a contributing author to an e-book called Reefkeeping Basics. www.reefkeepingbasics.com

To download, click here.

Click below to listen.

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Ike Eigenbrode 4/6/08 - 56:27

Ike Eigenbrode did a fantastic talk on electrical usage in a reef aquarium. He really broke it down and I walked away with the need to figure out exactly how much it costs to run my shop.


From the MAX website; Ike Eigenbrode is currently the VP of Marketing at Current USA, Inc. of Vista, CA. A 17-year veteran in the aquarium industry, Ike has a B.S. degree in Biology from University of Central Florida and studied Aquaculture at the Florida Institute of Technology.

While in college, Ike worked at a tropical fish hatchery as a fish pathologist worked extensively on a large scale marine fish and invert holding system. He has taught classes on numerous subjects including aquaculture system design, aquaponics and water quality monitoring systems.

Ike is also an avid marine fish hobbyist and personally has a small scale coral fragging system.

Click here to download.

Click below to listen.

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Mike Paletta 4/5/08 - 1:27:37

Mikes topic: Factors Affecting the Coloration, Health & Growth of Captive Corals



From the MAX speakers Bio: Michael Paletta has been keeping marine tanks since 1980 and reef tanks since 1985. During the past 20 years he has written over 180 articles on marine fish and invertebrates in both the US and Europe. His first book “The Modern Marine Aquarium” is an attempt to simplify marine fish keeping for the beginning hobbyist while at the same time incorporating advances that have been made due to reef keeping. This book has sold over 140,000 copies. His second book “Ultimate Marine Aquariums” illustrates how far the hobby has come in the past 15 years. In this book are examples of just about every type of reef tank using different methodologies and technology. Michael has enjoyed speaking at over 120 marine societies and national conferences in North America, Canada, South America and Europe. Michael has appeared on both local and national radio shows to discuss the hobby and to help new hobbyists become successful. Currently Michael has 1,200 and 40- gallon reef tanks set up in his home. He has helped in the set up of over 200 tanks throughout the U.S, including several tanks over 4,000 gallons in capacity. Michael also acted as a consultant with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium. Michael has B.S. from Dickinson College and a Master’s degree from Yale University. Michael has also been a technical consultant for several equipment manufacturers and online companies. Michael is currently employed in sales in the biotechnology field.

Link to download.

Click button to play.

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Adam Blundell 4/5/08 - 27:07

Adam Blundell, Reef Filtration.

(I only shot off two photos of Adam, unfortunately one with his eyes closed and this one with a young Nemo fan in the foreground.)

From the MAX page.

Adam Blundell M.S. works in Marine Ecology, and in Pathology for the University of Utah. He is also Director of The Aquatic & Terrestrial Research Team, a group which utilizes research projects to bring together hobbyists and scientists. His vision is to see this type of collaboration lead to further advancements in aquarium husbandry. While not in the lab he is a presidency member for one of the Nation's largest hobbyist clubs, the Wasatch Marine Aquarium Society www.utahreefs.com. Adam has earned a BS in Marine Biology and an MS in the Natural Resource and Health fields. Adam can be found at adamblundell@hotmail.com.

Here's the archive.org link

Or, click below to play.

PODCAST: MAX (Marine Aquarium Expo) Jake Adams 4/5/08 - 34:37

This is the first of six recordings from the Marine Aquarium Expo, Orange County Fair, this past weekend. The speakers for this conference were set up outside, near the children's touch pool and the Orange County Airport is not too far from the venue. So there is a bit of background noise, but I consider the recordings information worthy enough to post. I have started posting the length of my recordings in the titles from here on out. Jake's talk was 34 minutes, 37 seconds.


This is Jake's bio taken from the MAX page. He spoke on the importance of flow in the aquarium.

Jake Adams is a professional, practicing aquarist who has been an active participant in the national marine aquarium community for over 10 years. He has been educating aquarists of a wide range of marine aquarium topics through frequent articles, podcasts and presentations around the country. He recently founded www.coralidea.com which provides a free downloadable guide to coral identification for mobile devices and home computers. Jake has a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Science and he will be returning to graduate school to further pursue research in the field of coral reef ecology.

Although aquarists may be developing a basic understanding on the properties of light, they are still very much in the dark when it comes to understanding water flow. This presentation will review some of the science on the interaction of water flow and corals. By applying the properties of moving fluids, it is possible to provide better and more relevant water flow for corals. By offering aquarists some background understanding of how water moves, I hope to encourage coral aquarists to re-evaluate water movement in their aquaria.

I have downloaded Jake's Coral I.D. information and consider it a useful source. I would recommend any hobbyist with an Ipod, PDA or cell phone to download it and bring it along to your local fish store when you go coral shopping.

To download, use this link and navigate on the left hand side of the archive.org page .

To play, click the play button below.

Podcast: MARS 3/08; Randy Reed - Reef Nutrition

Marine Aquarist Roundtable of Sacramento was fortunate to have Randy Reed, owner and marine expert Gresham Hendee of Reef Nutrition speak to our club this month. Sierra Saltwater Systems has been using Randy's products for many years. I have tried other phytoplankton, but to be honest, Reef Nutrition's Phyto Feast and Phyto Feast Live are a superior product over any other phytoplankton that I have used. A simple eye dropper test under a microscope will prove it. Using Phyto Feast in a refugium with Chaetomorpha algae will not only feed the algae, but will also feed your Copepod population and their reproduction rate will multiple if used daily.

I use Reef Nutrition's Tigger Pods to seed a new aquarium and kick start a pod population. Tigger Pods are Tigriopus califoricus and they are live animals. They were originally collected from California tide pools which go through numerous water quality changes daily which make them perfect for the home aquarium. They are now reproduced at Reef Nutrition's farm.

Randy also introduced Reef Nutrition's newest product, "Fuzzy Phytes". Fuzzy Phytes are little balls of Red Acrochaetium algae that float in the water column. Tangs especially love them.

To download Randy's talk, use the download link on the left hand side of the Archive.org page. Click HERE to go to the Archive.org page.

To listen, click play below.



If you are not a client of mine, use the STORE LOCATOR to find a supplier near you.

Future 800 Gallon: Renown Medical Center

Genesis Systems Inc., Graeagle CA, is currently fine tuning the design of Renown's Regional Medical Center's new 800 gallon display aquarium located in the lobby of the Tahoe Tower, 1155 Mill Street
Reno, NV. Renown, formerly Washoe Medical has undergone a major two and a half year reconstruction process.

Renown Health is a not-for-profit Nevada health network and a nationally recognized healthcare leader.

Renown Health is northern Nevada's largest healthcare network and includes four hospitals, eight Medical Groups, eight locations for X-Ray and Imaging, and much more.


Standing in the aquariums core is a photograph of the Genesis Systems built artificial and live reef owned by Tim & Tracy in the Arrow Creek sub-division, Reno, NV. I look forward to stocking and maintaining this aquarium soon.

Cerith Eggs

These snails lay their eggs on rocks and glass in the same zig-zag pattern that they clean with. Most don't survive but you might get lucky and have one or two live. Otherwise, they'll make good food for fish and corals. The Cerith snail is a small scavenger with an elongated spiral shell that is usually black with tiny white dots covering the entire shell. One of the most ideal scavengers, detritus eaters, and algae eaters these snails are perfect for the reef aquarium, quickly devouring detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, fish waste, and several types of nuisance algae. Cerith Snails will often bury themselves in the sand, which will help maintain adequate oxygen levels in the substrate.

Gomez the Goby; It's All In A Name

There is a lot of love in my clients aquariums, so much so that many of the animals have their own very unique names. Some are understandable, yet at times when a client speaks of an animal by its given name, I am often confused.

Gomez, a Y Bar Shrimp Goby lives in Jennifer's 70 gallon reef tank in Glenbrook, NV.

Here is a list of some of my clients animals given names, common name and scientific names.

Gomez; Y Bar Shrimp Goby; Cryptocentrus fasciatus
Picaso; Painted Fairy Wrasse; Cirrhilabrus solarensis
Doc; Mimic Tang; Acanthurus pyroferus
Thermador; Purple Lobster; Enoplometopus daum
Scampi & Louie; Scarlet Skunk Shrimp; Lysmata amboinensis
#2; Black Sea Cucumber; Holothuria atra
Nemo; Um...Nemo? Clownfish; Amphiprion ocellaris
Blueman; Yellowtail Damsel; Chrysiptera parasema
Gumby; Blue Sea Star; Linckia laevigata
Legs; Banded Brittle Star; Ophiolepsis superba
Blue Suede; Emperor Angelfish; Pomacanthus imperator
Sponge Bob; Yellow Tang; Zebrasoma flavescens

Jennifer's 70 Gallon Reef (Click on the play button below to watch.)



Update: 2/11/08 I stopped by Creative Concepts in Truckee, CA today and discussed this thread with Lillian and she supplied me with a few additions to my list. To the left, is Regina a Green Bubble Coral. The Green Bubble Coral is a beautiful LPS coral that originates from the reefs of Fiji. It has a white-ridged hard skeleton that can be seen when the polyps are deflated. When inflated, the large fleshy polyps will cover the entire skeleton, and are neon green in color. Like many other LPS corals, they do have sweeper tentacles that can harm other corals within reach.

Regina; Green Bubble Coral; Plerogyra sinuosa
Tiny; Yellow Clown Goby; Gobiodon okinawae
Mailbox (from Blues Clues); Pin Cushion Urchin; Tripneustes gratilla
Celeste; Blue Sea Star; Linckia laevigata
Foreskin; Purple Tube Anemone; Ceriathus sp.

MARS Podcast: January 2008 - Kelly Jedlicki

MARS (The Marine Aquarist Roundtable of Sacramento) was treated to a special presentation by Kelly Jedlicki (not my photo to the left) of Louisville, Kentucky last night on Fish Disease, Husbandry and Treatment.

I have decided to take on the role of providing the MARS members an audio podcast of each months speakers presentation, which I will also share with my customers or anyone that stumbles upon my website via a search engine. I am not taking on the Historian board position with the organization due to potential conflicts with my business, but rather just providing a service.

Kelly is a long-time aquarist and hobby contributor working in the medical profession with a very long of list of credentials. She brings her knowledge and empathy for all animals and life to the practice of aquariology. Areas of expertise include pathology, disease prevention and management, predatory marine fishes, elasmobranchs and seahorses. Her special love and study of pufferfishes earned her the moniker "puffer queen' by the highly respected reef photographer and writer Scott Michael. She applies her practical wisdom daily to an aquatic collection totaling around 3000 gallons of seawater. With seventeen years of industry experience, her accreditation includes elected board positions such as President and Vice president of the Louisville Marine Aquarium Society, which has successfully hosted three MACNAs, and Vice President of MASNA. Kelly has her own forum, “Disease, Health & Wellness, on forum.marinedepot.com. She has published articles on puffer husbandry, dentistry and cholelithiasis as well as shark husbandry. She has presented both nationally and internationally.

Double click on the PLAY button to hear her presentation.


If you would like to download the presentation the link is available here:

DOWNLOAD HERE

Use the links to the left on the archive.org site to download.

The 2007 Posts That Didn't Happen

Here are a number of posts that I started, yet didn't complete last year. With my new high speed internet connection I am hoping to avoid getting new posts started and then not completing.

These posts are as far as I got in the text writing and design, so they are not complete. I just want to share them as they are.

If you have any questions about any particular images, shoot me a comment at the end of the post.

A Trip to ASAP and Pan Ocean
1/28/07
I recently spent a day whith Marshall Grattan, Pet Station, Truckee & South Lake Tahoe, at the only "real" two saltwater wholesalers in Northern California; Aquatic Specialties and Pets and Pan Ocean in Hayward.

Sales at ASAP up until earlier this month have been handled by Steve Robinson. Steve recently cut back his schedule to focus on getting his exporting business, Cortez Marine back in order in Baja, MX.


California Academy of Sciences
2/18/07
I spent a few hours last week at the California Academy of Sciences and the Steinhart Aquarium's temporary resting spot on Howard St (next door to Bucca di Beppo's) in San Francisco. The new aquarium will host the worlds largest reef aquarium filling up to 20,000 gallons. I have a few friends working/volunteering with the coral propagation operations to fill the new tank and all they can say is, "how awesome" it will be. Look for the aquarium to open in the fall of 2008. The Steinhart Aquarium is the oldest, continually operating aquarium in the United States.

Kelloggi tank raised Sea Horse.



Coral Propagation tanks. These tanks are growing the necessary corals to fill the new 20,000 gallon aquarium that is under construction.








Dive Hawaii
4/30/07

Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures, Ed Robinson has made a great business catering to travelers of Maui for over twenty three years and his mission statement of "Our reputation speaks for itself ... ask around." certainly holds true in my daughter Madison and my experience with his company. I contacted my good friend and divemaster of over twenty five years, Greg Harrs of Kona, HI, about dive operations on Maui and Robinson's operation was declared a must in his opinion. Greg is above with his son. Departing from the Kihei Launch at 6:30 AM, we dove Tako Flats at the Molokini Crater and as the crowds and the swell picked up the decsision to move inward to Wailea Point was made.

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles - Honu (pronounced hoe-new in Hawaii) All sea turtles in Hawaii are fully protected under state law in addition to the Federal Endangered Species Act. These laws prohibit harassing, harming, killing, or keeping sea turtles in captivity without a permit allowing these activities for research or educational purposes. Divers should be aware that riding turtles is illegal and puts these animals under stress. When returning from foreign countries, U.S. citizens may not enter the United States with any sea turtle products. Violators may receive penalties of up to one year in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Idaho Aquaculture
9/17/07



Idaho Aquaculture is now producing the best, most diverse and healthy stony and soft coral fragments in the aquarium industry. Idaho Aquaculture coral frags (fragments) are well encrusted to the base on which they are grown. Our corals are true hobbyist frags, designed to be grown-out in the home aquarium. They range in size from 1"-2" (small) or 2"- 4" (medium), and are mounted on 1/2" to 1" rock plugs. Idaho Aquaculture frags are truly aquacultured specimens, 6 or 7 generations removed from the original wild colonies. No tissue or skeleton of wild brood-stock corals remain.











Unlike wild caught corals, Idaho Aquaculture corals are all aquacultured. That is, they are raised under aquarium conditions with synthetic sea salt, and artificial lighting. Only a small percentage of sunlight is used to increase growth rates. Prior to distribution, all corals are fully acclimated to artificial lighting.







Avalon Dive Park & The 2007 Catalina Triathlon
11/10/07

Underwater Shots (In an Aquarium)
12/3/07