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

Reef Podcasts

So I really don't want to admit it, but I feel like I have been out of the loop with the what's available on the internet lately. I do spend a lot of time checking out the "local" websites, Reef Central's MARS & Reef Monkey's Sierra Reefer's forums. They provide me with a wealth of information as to what is going on with the local scene, but these three websites provide some great listening info while driving between service jobs.

These Podcasts, listed in no particular order are available to subscrbe to and download on iTunes (as well as other avenues).

The three Podcasts include great interviews with some of the top authors & conference speakers, along with product, animal and supplement reviews.

Also included are video Podcasts of DIY's (design it yourself) projects, fragging demos, tank tours and video documentation of conference speakers. The three of these Podcasts are great learning tools and another avenue towards aquatic perfection.

Take a look at their websites, they include a wealth of information. And they are FUN!

reefvideos.com
talkingreef.com
120gallons.com

Happy Holidays!

I spent a little time with my underwater camera to create this year's Holiday card for my clients and suppliers. The miniature "tree" ornaments came from minichristmas.com. The decorated coral is a Sierra Saltwater Systems propagated Montipora Digitata. I used Shutterfly to print the cards.

Montipora
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Montipora is a genus of coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Depending on the species and location, montipora may grow as plates or ridges, appearing to some as a bowl or flower. Undisturbed, the plates expand radially and may encrust over surrounding rocks, shells, or debris.

Biology
Like other corals, montipora corals are colonies of individuals, known as polyps, which are about 2 mm across and share tissue and a nerve net. The polyps can withdraw into the coral in response to movement or disturbance by possible predators, but slightly protrude when undisturbed. The polyps usually extend further at night to capture zooplankton from the water. These corals have zooxanthella, a symbiotic algae that lives in the corals' cells and produce energy for the animals through photosynthesis.

Habitat
Montipora genus corals are most common in shallow reef environments with bright sunlight and moderate wave motion. Small reef fishes, such as the hawkfish live near montipora colonies and perch on the ridges of the coral. Environmental destruction has led to a dwindling of populations of montipora, along with other coral species. Unlike Acropora corals, montiporas are more stress resistant, and not especially susceptible to coral bleaching when stressed.

In aquaria
Most montipora corals are brown, pink, or green but variants with bright colors or having a ridge color with a high contrast to the core color are more prized by aquarists. Captive propagation of montipora corals is widespread in the reefkeeping community. Able to endure varied conditions, montipora corals can be grown by enthusiasts without the use of metal halide lighting. In a well lit reef aquarium, finger-sized fragments can grow into basketball-sized colonies in 2 to 3 years.

Tim & Tracy's WYSISYG

Here are a few shots of some corals I recently added to Tim & Tracy's 650 gallon mixed reef tank.

These were just quick snapshots for my client to get an idea of what I have in stock, "What You See Is What You Get". I sent Tim thirteen photos of various soft corals that I had in stock and he purchased all of them.

The Clavularia Clove Polyps are also commonly referred to as Eight Tentacle Polyps, or Encrusting Polyps. They are brown, tan, pink, green, or white in color and their polyps have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles associated with all the members of this family. They are colonial animals with several individual polyps attached to a single piece of live rock and are often stung and damaged by other aggressive corals. Therefore, they need adequate space between themselves and other corals.

They are not difficult to maintain and require moderate lighting combined with moderate water movement. They require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water. They will grow rapidly in the established reef aquarium by encrusting over adjacent rock work or even other corals.

NOTE: This specie was being harassed by Tim & Tracy's Emperor Angel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and was removed today. While it is possible to keep many "impossible" species with the large Pomacanthus Angelfish, the Emperor most likely got a bit hungry and picked around a lot over the extended holiday when Tim & Tracy were on vacation. A well fed angel is a happy angel.

Sun Polyp Coral: Orange, Tubastrea, Tubastrea faulkneri, Commonly called Sun Coral or "Sun Polyp", this is not a "polyp", as in a type of "Zooanthid" or "Polyp Rock", rather, it is a hard coral. It is non photosynthetic and should be fed for successful long-term maintenance. Offer frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, finely chopped shrimp, seafoods, etc. Has been known to thrive for years in public aquariums, but requires dedicated care. Requires good water movement and dim or indirect lighting. Preferably, place in shaded areas of the aquarium. Pieces run small, larger pieces are seldom available.

Note: This coral is thriving in Tim & Tracy's aquarium.

Xenia sp.; Pom Pom, Very popular among xenia species, it's very attractive . It does not grow as fast as some other xenias, but it has a nice white/pink color, another one of the premium strains of xenia. They grow best in medium to high lighting, and feed on phytoplankton (marine plankton) and reef supplements, such as iodine, iron, strontium and trace elements. Photosynthetic, no direct food required, but Phytoplankton does accelerate growth and color.

NOTE: These guys were pulsing big time today, looking great! Tim has been feeding a smorgasbord of my fresh/frozen food mixture and the Reed Mariculture Roti Feast, Phyto Feast and Artic Pods.

If you're a client checking out my page, please let me know if you would like to receive a WYSIWYG email of what I have in stock.

NACL WDR

Anybody know what my plate means? When I first got my new van not too many people could come up with the chemical formula breakdown, NaCl, sodium chloride (salt) and the molecular compound H20 (water).

My plate frame is from Tropical Penguin Scuba in Reno where I maintain their three aquariums. Their showpiece fish is the football size porcupine pufferfish "Hootie". If you're a diver in the area, Kevin's store is the best in Northern Nevada and you probably already knew that. Or if you are just planning a vacation to Hawaii or the tropics, stop in and pick up some snorkeling gear. Do you really want to breath through a rental snorkel?

Visit their website at: tropicalpenguinscuba.com

I have taken a number of photos of "WYSIWYG" (what you see is what you get) corals for Tim & Tracy's aquarium this week and will try to post a few soon.

New Times

It has been a good while since I have updated my blog. Due in part of my work schedule, but more importantly because of my "dial-up only availability" in my part of Lake Tahoe.

Well, things have changed! After living with dial up for over ten years, AT&T has arrived to my neighborhood! So...hopefully I will update more often, even if it is only a quick photo and a few words.

Here is a photo of my new 2007 Chevrolet Express van I purchased from Dave Smith Motors in Kellogg, Idaho. If anyone is thinking of buying an American made vehicle, I would recommend looking into this dealership. They saved me over $4000 compared to what the dealer in Reno was offering.