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AquariumHobbyist.com
Cheri Phillips, of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
Chuck Scannell, of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
John Brandt, MAC/USCRTF Representative
Panel on the Preservation of the Marine Aquarium Hobby

March 4, 2005

PHChristy: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at aquariumhobbyist.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Cheri Phillips (chatting as reefcherie), John Brandt, and Chuck Scannell (chatting as Omegatron) of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA) to our Seventh Annual Chat Week.

PHChristy: MASNA is a not-for-profit organization composed of more than 30 marine aquarium clubs, hobbyists throughout North America totaling over 1,200 individuals and 15 corporate sponsors.

PHChristy: Cheri Phillips is currently president of MASNA, and also serves as Co-Program Director for SEABay (Saltwater Enthusiast Association of the Bay Area) and is a moderator on Reef Central.

PHChristy: John Brandt is on the Board of Directors of the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS), MAC/USCRTF Representative for MASNA, and serves on the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) as MASNA Representative. He has lectured at two MACNAs and many more times for the Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society. He is involved in aquarium industry reform issues, which includes an active relationship with the United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) and the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC).

OneLittleRugRat: ?

PHChristy: Chuck Scannell is a member of the Chesapeake Marine Aquaria Society, and served MASNA as Director of Internet Promotion and President for two years in a row. He currently keeps five reef tanks.

PHChristy: Thank you so much for joining us Chuck, John, and Cheri, and welcome!

reefcherie: Happy to be here. Thank you for inviting us!

PHChristy: I was wondering if one of you could give us just a brief description of MASNA for our chatters who may not be familiar with it... what it does, how it impacts the hobby.

reefcherie: I can do that

PHChristy: go for it, Cherie!

reefcherie: MASNA 's membership consists of individuals, clubs and corporate sponsors

reefcherie: who believe in the idea of preserving the marine aquarium hobby

Maliyum: ?

reefcherie: Each year we sponsor a conference - MACNA

reefcherie: and one of our member clubs is chosen to host it

reefcherie: We are very dedicated to helping local clubs

PHChristy: If anyone has questions or comments at any time, they can just type a ? or ! and PHCatByte will call on you when it's your turn.

reefcherie: and educating hobbyists to be better aquarists

PHChristy: where is MACNA this year, Cherie?

reefcherie: We support reef captive breeding and coral propagation efforts

reefcherie: The next MACNA is hosted by the Washington D.C club

reefcherie: and will be held in Washington D.C.

MissDaphne: ?

reefcherie: September 16-18

PHChristy: John or Chuck, did you want to add anything or shall we go to questions?

Omegatron: questions are fine

PHChristy: Just a reminder, when you ask your question (or when the guests respond), please type "ga" at the end so we know you're done

PHCatByte: onelittlerugrat, you had a question?

OneLittleRugRat: What impact has the tsunami had on the coral reefs?

OneLittleRugRat: ga

John_Brandt_nr: Nothing to add from me.

Cinta_nr: ?

reefcherie: John I believe you were saying you had some information on the effect of the tsunami on the reefs

reefcherie: ga

John_Brandt_nr: The Indian Ocean tsunami had mixed effects on coral reefs...

Ty__bobba69_nr: it has effected the pet stores imports on salt water fish

Aquacare_nr: !

John_Brandt_nr: know that this natural disaster affected Western Indonesia, Thailand, Maldive Islands, India & Sri Lanka...

John_Brandt_nr: coral reefs in these areas were already affected and degraded by multiple insults...

John_Brandt_nr: the tsunami itself created great damages to some reefs and minimal to no damage on others...

John_Brandt_nr: even areas very near to each other were differentially affected...

John_Brandt_nr: there was a sort of 2-step impact of the tsunami...

John_Brandt_nr: first is the massive incoming waves with tremendous energy...

John_Brandt_nr: then there is the "backwash" as the waves return to the sea...

Ty__bobba69_nr: !

John_Brandt_nr: these waves travelled a considerable distance past the actual shore and beachline...

Ty__bobba69_nr: didn't the backwash kill a lot of the anglers

John_Brandt_nr: the backwash brought all sorts of debris and sediment with it...depositing it directly on fringing coral reefs...

CoralFan_nr: ?

John_Brandt_nr: Somebody needs to put a cork in Ty_bobba's mouth.

PHChristy: your wish is our command <G>

John_Brandt_nr: That is until I'm finished :_)

John_Brandt_nr: this debris included parts of buildings, cars, household items, and human bodies...

John_Brandt_nr: after the tsunami passed (and it was not prolonged at all)...

John_Brandt_nr: this debris was grinded into the reefs by the normal wave action and surge...

John_Brandt_nr: in some areas, the impact was so great that it actually changed the physical contours of the coastline and river effluents...

John_Brandt_nr: in these cases, the "historic" flow of water through reefs was altered....

John_Brandt_nr: much of this affected area is remote and not easily accessed by anyone...

John_Brandt_nr: so surveys and specific information is coming in bit by bit, and almost silent from the most remote areas...

John_Brandt_nr: there has been use of satellite images to get a close looks at what happened where investigators cannot reach...

John_Brandt_nr: but still, it is difficult to get a complete understanding of the totality of damages to coral reefs at this very moment.

John_Brandt_nr: Done.

reefcherie: We may not see the full effect for some time because if mangroves, reefs and sea-grass beds were damaged fish reproduction may be impacted down the road - ga

PHChristy: thank you John and Cherie!

PHCatByte: maliyum, your question?

Maliyum: Ive always wanted a big tank, which alot of decor and such for my livingroom, would you have suggestions on the set up and what kind of fish? And what got you really liking fish at what age?

OneLittleRugRat: TY for your answer!!

reefcherie: Lots of questions there! I grew up w/ a house full

Maliyum: sorrry :-(

reefcherie: of tanks - all freshwater though

reefcherie: I always dreamed of starting a saltwater and started talking to a local fish store about 3.5 years ago

Maliyum: What size tank would you recommend?

Maliyum: ga, sorry

reefcherie: I personally think that starting large (55 gallons or more is easier

Maliyum: oh okay

reefcherie: I started w/ a 180 because I had the space and money. Larger systems are easier to get stable when you are learning ga

Omegatron: Recommended size is as big as you can afford is a good rule of thumb. Yes 55 being the minimum saltwater size for a beginner.

Omegatron: ga

shortstff467: ?

PHCatByte: cinta, you had a question?

Cinta_nr: I'd like to get an idea of comparitive numbers between salt and freshwater keepers in the US... it seems to me saltwater has been on the rise. Do you think that's true? If so, do you have a feeling as to why?

Cinta_nr: ga

reefcherie: I believe that is correct because I'm watching the

John_Brandt_nr: There are no accurate figures for number of hobbyists...

reefcherie: amount of newly forming marine aquarium clubs and I'm amazed how many are getting started now

John_Brandt_nr: it is true that the number of marine hobbyists is rising...

reefcherie: ga

John_Brandt_nr: this has been going on for decades...

John_Brandt_nr: there was a time in the past when just about everyone started with a freshwater thank, then graduated to saltwater...

Cinta_nr: yes, that's where I am

John_Brandt_nr: for about 20 years, hobbyists have begun with marine as their very first aquarium...

John_Brandt_nr: even more recently, reef aquariums have become extremely popular...

John_Brandt_nr: now, new aquarists are having a reef tank as their first aquarium. Done.

Omegatron: Being are discovering the sheer beauty of the corals and the wonder and amazement it can bring

Omegatron: ga

PHCatByte: aquacare, you're next

Cinta_nr: thank you all!

reefcherie: Techinical advances have made coral reefkeeping possible for the average hobbyist and that has popular appeal

Aquacare_nr: From an aquarium maintenance standpoint it has increased my commitment to keeping saltwater customers fish healthy .They will be tougher to replace. ga

reefcherie: ga

PHCatByte: coralfan, your question?

CoralFan_nr: This may be off topic, but I do beadwork and coral is "all the rage" right now, yet no supplier that I have found knows where the coral was harvested...is there such a thing as coral that has been harvested and NOT caused harm? ty /ga

reefcherie: I also do beadwork and

reefcherie: find that old coral - harvested many years ago I guess comes out of Nepal mostly

reefcherie: There is a lot of fake coral on the market now because importing new stuff is pretty much shut down

CoralFan_nr: yes, I have found some good synthetic, tyvm

reefcherie: ga

PHCatByte: shorty, you've got a question for the panel?

shortstff467: is saltwater more work or harder to handle then fresh? and how are they different? ga

reefcherie: I personally find that more maintenance is necessary - especially if the tank is small

John_Brandt_nr: "Black Coral" is a CITES-listed endangered species...it's actual status is "threatened".

reefcherie: I do more water quality testing than w/ freshwater tanks and my equipment is more complex

reefcherie: but that is partly because I've chosen to specialize in

reefcherie: corals and tridacnid clams - which have strong lighting and calcium requirements

reefcherie: ga

Omegatron: I would definately say it is alot more work although with the proper care and time taken on tank maintenance saltwater tanks run quite smoothly

PHChristy: Just to let those who aren't familiar with it know, CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Midask9: ?

Omegatron: There are alot of regular tasks to consider like water quality salinity etc but the work is well worth it

Omegatron: ga

PHCatByte: missdaphne?

MissDaphne: What legal issues are involved in hobbyists collecting marine species on the U.S. coast?

MissDaphne: ga

Omegatron: Tha issue can get quite complicated

John_Brandt_nr: MD, there are local state laws on collection by hobbyists...

Omegatron: There are certain laws that prohibit the importation and collection of certain species of organisms

John_Brandt_nr: for the most part you can personally collect just about anything except stony corals...

PHSplendens: ?

reefcherie: At a minimum I think a permit is likely to be required in all areas

shortstff467: ?

MissDaphne: thank you!

PHCatByte: midas, you're up!

John_Brandt_nr: for certain animals there are "daily limits", this would probably mostly apply to gorgonians and other soft corals...

Midask9: For a beginner in saltwater, are there any "easy keepers" you would recommend that might be relatively "idiot proof"? ga

reefcherie: Are you talking about fish or corals?

Omegatron: Fish soft coral hard coral?

John_Brandt_nr: you can find info on this tpoic on the Internet with the state agencies.

Midask9: either? fish for starters I guess.....?

John_Brandt_nr: Permits are not necessary for non-commercial collecting (ie personal use).

reefcherie: There are some great "beginner" fish, but the best best IMO is to plan out a little bit what you want in

reefcherie: your tank eventually, since the order you add fish is important

reefcherie: Many people have great luck w/ clownfish early on

reefcherie: Damselfish are hardy beginner fish, but if you

reefcherie: start with them, they are very territorial and aggressive little buggers and adding more fish can be tough

reefcherie: ga

Midask9: ty ga

PHCatByte: splendens?

PHSplendens: Are poisons such as cyanide still being used for collecting?

reefcherie: Yes, that is unfortunately true in some areas of the world

PHLaure: ?

John_Brandt_nr: PHS, yes in the Philippines & Indonesia...

reefcherie: ga

John_Brandt_nr: the extent of use is largely unknowable..

John_Brandt_nr: there are reports of cyanide use in the Solomon Islands and the Red Sea. Done.

Pyewacket: ?

tex_parrot_nr: ?

John_Brandt_nr: Whoops...not done yet...

PHCatByte: shorty, you had a question?

shortstff467: do you think "beach replenishment" will have a negative effect on marine life down the road?ga

PHCatByte: sorry, john!

John_Brandt_nr: there is a fairly recent increase in the use of "clove oil" to collect fish in Indonesia..

John_Brandt_nr: almost nothing is know about its affect on fish or invertebrates...

John_Brandt_nr: obviously it's used similarly to cyanide...

John_Brandt_nr: it could be less harmful to reefs but little is known about it...

John_Brandt_nr: it is illegal - because collecting with ANY chemical is outlawed....

John_Brandt_nr: there might be a slow but stready conversion to the use of clove oil...

John_Brandt_nr: especially if functional tests for cyanide are used in Indonesia...

John_Brandt_nr: there is presently no "test" for clove oil exposure. Now done.

PHCatByte: thanks, john! shorty, want to repeat your question?

shortstff467: okay

shortstff467: do you think "beach replenishment" could have a negative effect on marine life

John_Brandt_nr: Short...yes...

shortstff467: thats what i thought

John_Brandt_nr: "beach replenishment" threatens nearby reefs because of sediment influx...

John_Brandt_nr: there is a BR project slated right now for Ft. Lauderdale FL.

shortstff467: we have one here in Pensacola too

John_Brandt_nr: there is a grassroots opposition to it, because some of the most pristine So. FL. reefs lie directly off of the proposed BR area. Done.

PHSplendens: I'm afraid that's all we have time for. Cheri, Chuck and John, on behalf of all of us at aquariumhobbyist.com, thank you so much for being our guests tonight!

PHSplendens: For a link to the transcript from tonight's chats, please visit http://www.aquariumhobbyist.com/FishChat7.html tomorrow. We hope you'll stick around for Morrell Devlin of the American Cichlid Association's chat on Central and South American Cichlids, which begins in a few minutes.

reefcherie: Thank you for the opportunity!

Midask9: ty all for coming

Omegatron: Thanks for having us