"If you are pulling live rock, sand and other organisms from the natural reef, keeping it in captivity using NSW for a month or two and witnessing the majority of live on the substrate gone... STOP IT."
No. Why should I give up my hobby because the predator / prey relationships/balance in an enclosed, very tiny space is going to become unbalanced regardless of what I or anyone in this hobby does. Keep in mind, I am talking about ALL the diversity of life that is found on a reef, not just a few corals and hardy inverts parked on top of some rocks, any basic idiot can do that now adays. Your statements show a clear lack of understanding in this area, there is just no way, anyone, is going to keep a perfect balance between the sand infauna and not have to step in with either reseeding the sandbed or changing out some sand to repopulate it. Same with live rock, with the multitudes of worms, decapods, tunicates, sponges and on and on, there is just no way you are going to keep each and every such possible live rock denizen in balance for any length of time. Toss in the assorted algae as well, add some herbivores, and you can kiss the twenty odd species of algae found on a given rock goodbye as well. A live rock is not going to withstand the near constant grazing and predations that a rock will be subjected to in a tank. and another thing, save the holier than though speech for the less informed / experienced. You know not of what you say. And another thing, why should I stop posting? If you have a valid reason, then it would apply to you just as well. Have a nice day.
Chuck: You have no idea about animal husbandry. You have no clue as to aquarium keeping. You admit to not understanding the basic biotope associated with successful aquarium keeping. You have no soul for the live of the animals within your reach.
You say NO to stopping your behavior!
What movie are you living in?
Your last post should be the mast head for any and all organizations that promote the wholesale genocide of marine life.
__________________
Michael Del Prete
CEO Aqua Craft Products www.AquaCraft.net
And again, you have not a single clue as to what you are talking about and your statements are totaly redicoulous. How you come to your assumptions is astounding, as is your obvious lack of knowledge in basic biology. But lets not let that detract from the fact that your disdain for Eric has not a thing to do with his innocence or guilt. Its obvious you just like to rant and make a fool of yourself. Its quite comical actualy.
Chuck - maybe it would help if you told Michael that you're a retired LFS owner and thus know a thing or too about the hobby. I think part of his skepticism is that you don't keep an aquarium the way other hobbyists do. You don't have to mix your own water and you get absolutely everything straight off the reef (sand, rock, water, etc.). I mean, it's almost as if you have a mariculture system. Don't get me wrong, I think that's awesome... but you can't exactly compare your system to those of other hobbyists.
Yeah, I don't know... I think this article probably has even less information than my site. And I'm not sure I agree with the way they make it sound like just as many corals were returned as were taken. What they don't seem to be accounting for is the variation in the sizes of the "pieces" of corals taken vs. the ones that were returned (at least that seems to be the case when you compare the two inventories). So just comparing the #s of "pieces" taken and returned *could be* a bit misleading.
I do think it's interesting though that this was the first time in *17 years* that the FKNMS has ever recalled corals taken under a research permit. At least that affirms what I've been saying all along... that this was a BIG deal.
Overall, honestly, I'm a little disappointed... I thought the media would be able to get much more information than this. IMO, this article is even less satisfying than my website.
A small quote from the above article...please read the whole article.. BOLD are mine!!
Quote:
Borneman came to the Keys and carried the 499 specimens to Texas. There were questions raised about the size of some specimens - species such as brain coral, mountain star coral and blushing star coral, among others - Borneman removed from a storage facility. Sanctuary staff concluded it could have been a verbal misunderstanding.
In February 2005, Borneman alerted the sanctuary staff that was barred from the commercial facility where the sanctuary specimens were held.
Then-Sanctuary Superintendent Billy Causey formally demanded the specimens be sent to the University of Florida facility. An inventory showed 487 colonies were received. Some loss was expected, said the report.
“It's important to note that these were corals which would have been destroyed in the Truman Annex work if they had not rescued,” Heck said.
There was no indication that any of the research corals had ever been improperly offered for sale, the staff noted.
I believed that everyone can now understand... Not only the corals were saved by Borneman but he also was the one who alerted the sanctuary when problems started with the facility... The loses were minimal...
Please hear the voice of a hobbyist from the other side of the world...the voice of someone unaware of the politics of the hobby... this thread is bad for RAG and not for EB who repeatedly proved his value to hobbyists all around the world.
I'm not convinced that article is entirely accurate. Personally, I'd go by the FOIA documents the article is claiming to be referencing... for example, all of Mr. Causey's emails stating that he was not informed by Mr. Borneman.
I have personally seen marine aquarium keepers in the Philippines, Indonesia and Cuba set up basic systems, take live organisms from the sea, place them in their tanks and then replace them every a few weeks to months as they die off!
...
MDP, could you clarify this statement? Are you talking about fish, corals, live rock or other livestock?
Also, was this rather recent? I'm keeping in mind that until some SW aquarium basics were understood, that was about all everyone was doing. In the 1960s - 1970s many were doing well if they kept a damsel alive 6 months.
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