tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064074443166837072024-03-13T15:32:50.432-07:00aquarium adventuresAquarium AdventuresFeliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-86840661767411039572023-04-22T18:36:00.006-07:002023-04-22T18:36:59.279-07:00<p>90 gallon reef update April 2023<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMN3EQJmC5Ogy3DtF3bFpDbK5C8vmM6fcBzBq0nr_fNFhvYnbjhwi-gsRHvNWa0m0wCPC9Ll7FKSZ-_ndWUsGTkVVbkcESx1W0NkWH8PZJT_oBVC0GHpbZrylFqe69uouIczMITmMYzLUDFy6FGB-njIQfNaEbgaUyvHIy6T5w7hYJhaAUP94s8vs/s2048/340005548_232300649290816_1911000692514900643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMN3EQJmC5Ogy3DtF3bFpDbK5C8vmM6fcBzBq0nr_fNFhvYnbjhwi-gsRHvNWa0m0wCPC9Ll7FKSZ-_ndWUsGTkVVbkcESx1W0NkWH8PZJT_oBVC0GHpbZrylFqe69uouIczMITmMYzLUDFy6FGB-njIQfNaEbgaUyvHIy6T5w7hYJhaAUP94s8vs/w640-h480/340005548_232300649290816_1911000692514900643_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-60671159712814996692023-03-03T18:56:00.008-08:002023-03-03T19:50:39.796-08:00Joculator Dwarf Angelfish - Reef Safe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_odVZfgDqGKGINMt-HwS08geFq81mbftUW1VVpSFXvIKywo3-cHUL0atDxXolC-HfR2pxLW8jYVJzNiMruEUy9HaubMrwLLIrqHKajsLGcZ0dft3iltBvtGmZYDbtqhVZ6ZAXdrw1jqvOQkjHbf9ODPFvOcayM21qj2vvHKoR3GGWZOFLaCetkqEg/s1107/Photobombface.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_odVZfgDqGKGINMt-HwS08geFq81mbftUW1VVpSFXvIKywo3-cHUL0atDxXolC-HfR2pxLW8jYVJzNiMruEUy9HaubMrwLLIrqHKajsLGcZ0dft3iltBvtGmZYDbtqhVZ6ZAXdrw1jqvOQkjHbf9ODPFvOcayM21qj2vvHKoR3GGWZOFLaCetkqEg/s400/Photobombface.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0iKZsFtHBS_kX3WLhjZ6pdbdbPbeFm8pYzBvFRsYglZInN7DKp1AVScceVNTk9L78smux7NRE0moDjsJ1xjlLIQFFilDaNlKtvzz5-vBBr_lygrVN_Hi_TXoDxMjPZUznLFYTtxVMjbLehdZMhkHqmetG7r1TbVIS7BloSZfhmnk_xSfm_CxRO1T/s2217/Photobombside.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="2217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0iKZsFtHBS_kX3WLhjZ6pdbdbPbeFm8pYzBvFRsYglZInN7DKp1AVScceVNTk9L78smux7NRE0moDjsJ1xjlLIQFFilDaNlKtvzz5-vBBr_lygrVN_Hi_TXoDxMjPZUznLFYTtxVMjbLehdZMhkHqmetG7r1TbVIS7BloSZfhmnk_xSfm_CxRO1T/s400/Photobombside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This is Photobomb. He is a Cocos Keeling Joculator Angelfish (<i>Centropyge joculator</i>). He came to live with me when my friend Tony Plasters took his tank down in early January 2021. He lived with Tony for 2.5 years, and Tony got him when he was just a little immature fish (and probably female at the time, but he's now transitioned into a robust male. Check out his magnificent forehead hump).<div><br /></div><div>I was hesitant to put him in my 90 gallon reef, but Tony assured me he would be a model citizen. Two years later, and Photobomb the Joculator Angelfish has proven to be a completely reef safe dwarf angelfish. <br /><div><br /></div><div>Tony's pictures of Photobomb: </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGbW8KcjA7sAxos4wTEAeSCVk9nd9o_sPB69fcpFBTBmptvRDspKieaEPbcAbCHVtbwCwiBPV3af0jgjzRbHRljFkEWRg_bgMGtG0lPTrI7MUmWkGWl0pNdfV3CqBcyI-WGmd-L0-q15vztX-jlvIhzJ8F6EtwNHt_LbXQ1hqdjq2EnfoEAXSulnE/s1200/20200515_063148_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1005" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGbW8KcjA7sAxos4wTEAeSCVk9nd9o_sPB69fcpFBTBmptvRDspKieaEPbcAbCHVtbwCwiBPV3af0jgjzRbHRljFkEWRg_bgMGtG0lPTrI7MUmWkGWl0pNdfV3CqBcyI-WGmd-L0-q15vztX-jlvIhzJ8F6EtwNHt_LbXQ1hqdjq2EnfoEAXSulnE/s320/20200515_063148_edited.jpeg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZetdPBJDea0b7n6npfa7SnogWqCg_nx5De-CP5O7necaAJIsxm23MuRQmTULvTKR7lmgJxQ5wrL9OJImKRIp629VitrKtUTp9ifmL9klCDBcuh8kffKqToe091mBUHI8-ovYq4n8o1wCxrzkHHAJmfhvdzGxn7kUMUuShsM1kbW4fLMy-olRuk4T/s1200/DSC_0148_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZetdPBJDea0b7n6npfa7SnogWqCg_nx5De-CP5O7necaAJIsxm23MuRQmTULvTKR7lmgJxQ5wrL9OJImKRIp629VitrKtUTp9ifmL9klCDBcuh8kffKqToe091mBUHI8-ovYq4n8o1wCxrzkHHAJmfhvdzGxn7kUMUuShsM1kbW4fLMy-olRuk4T/s320/DSC_0148_edited.jpeg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvOLj152YeLbY4Cfimz3KAPeu9NGt26Qp6HJWPJra-l4nXWvLYmB3YYdhGXzEKLXDgiCCOHcb2Kv0j4GXLvwXVe8ypSzfIHB3Z740WjKsTLPFbDjy41CmJfR8b732hjn4R1yrZ9cUBMJCpnB3_BHZ5tvukgvOZhWG-Eyesr5QRwamyXrcunOBP4oQ/s1200/DSC_0152_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvOLj152YeLbY4Cfimz3KAPeu9NGt26Qp6HJWPJra-l4nXWvLYmB3YYdhGXzEKLXDgiCCOHcb2Kv0j4GXLvwXVe8ypSzfIHB3Z740WjKsTLPFbDjy41CmJfR8b732hjn4R1yrZ9cUBMJCpnB3_BHZ5tvukgvOZhWG-Eyesr5QRwamyXrcunOBP4oQ/s320/DSC_0152_edited.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWpi8BpNJbHWqKWyPxqe6ZlyQoTaszv5PklArp_RLzQP4lVuYKGBPlnhD6JeBmcfFKq_9xOEen_1S9CfsOCcSLowMoxgUuhfgNQEnRH7QnuYjAK13JxOzBTd0aooX4Q4incZVbqjvSjvd9DUWDk7tHAxwklfPMz91s9f4m35Clmoztmqo_lmVBtlr/s1200/20190314_194301_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWpi8BpNJbHWqKWyPxqe6ZlyQoTaszv5PklArp_RLzQP4lVuYKGBPlnhD6JeBmcfFKq_9xOEen_1S9CfsOCcSLowMoxgUuhfgNQEnRH7QnuYjAK13JxOzBTd0aooX4Q4incZVbqjvSjvd9DUWDk7tHAxwklfPMz91s9f4m35Clmoztmqo_lmVBtlr/s320/20190314_194301_edited.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters © his first photo 2019<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdj16Bt-I4-QhzKUy-Ktu9WhRCX-BukrYqYqdHxstOpvftjgWOVZoTmYUaxenAEfgqAkpk-apzeDv97APYDjUR9kOA3t-sUoE145eF9fvB0LIwV7YXwAs7-tAdhlMUYss7nj40dj2osiCQuxh0Zis3bU8JZZl8J3o2H68qtnXBb2fY2LIP8UJV_td/s1200/20190402_145948_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdj16Bt-I4-QhzKUy-Ktu9WhRCX-BukrYqYqdHxstOpvftjgWOVZoTmYUaxenAEfgqAkpk-apzeDv97APYDjUR9kOA3t-sUoE145eF9fvB0LIwV7YXwAs7-tAdhlMUYss7nj40dj2osiCQuxh0Zis3bU8JZZl8J3o2H68qtnXBb2fY2LIP8UJV_td/s320/20190402_145948_edited.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9Hk_cjzCb4RIwNfV9t0d8WjCHq_77-uSfwka5UnVPYX_z7L7ssWcDP4YUjHaNu2HbsUf0_xwRETTX4PSyQs0WUb6gxpN1V-WpxbfL2JD-t71tMpuLy_4uYPOr4_BqyDfwctDSA3-jlgHrS6Rfki61K7sULYtkFI1KDfuoMaxz7hA-dQdx8zlljnn/s1200/20190310_205704_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="982" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9Hk_cjzCb4RIwNfV9t0d8WjCHq_77-uSfwka5UnVPYX_z7L7ssWcDP4YUjHaNu2HbsUf0_xwRETTX4PSyQs0WUb6gxpN1V-WpxbfL2JD-t71tMpuLy_4uYPOr4_BqyDfwctDSA3-jlgHrS6Rfki61K7sULYtkFI1KDfuoMaxz7hA-dQdx8zlljnn/s320/20190310_205704_edited.jpeg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tk03q0ChRx3Fn76yFMKdcb1ky2Nq_9-AYJfa1MhwoR621PxgQVdCtpI8NaA1RoV2rCjspIS_mI6iuBvUYIE5Titnq-G5YiYvQoTQqS48Rj9ijDXHrlzb5TDQAI0Hgv1T-2rB_vHaEZOjx8n7urKYF2yO8pd3Ay5snoOIk_sMCmIPnieMThgMxzG-/s1200/20190305_173834_edited.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tk03q0ChRx3Fn76yFMKdcb1ky2Nq_9-AYJfa1MhwoR621PxgQVdCtpI8NaA1RoV2rCjspIS_mI6iuBvUYIE5Titnq-G5YiYvQoTQqS48Rj9ijDXHrlzb5TDQAI0Hgv1T-2rB_vHaEZOjx8n7urKYF2yO8pd3Ay5snoOIk_sMCmIPnieMThgMxzG-/s320/20190305_173834_edited.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Plasters ©<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>Corals he has eaten: 0 </div><div><br /></div><div>Corals/inverts he has not eaten: </div><div><br /></div><div>Trachyphyllia </div><div>Xenia </div><div>Tridacna clams (one is big and tempting) </div><div>Mushroom corals </div><div>Mycedium Chalice </div><div>Echinophyllia Chalice </div><div>Acanthastrea (now Micromussa) Lordhowensis </div><div>Gorgonians </div><div>Leather corals Sinularia and Lobophytum </div><div>Cabbage Corals </div><div>Acropora </div><div>Montipora </div><div>Anacropora </div><div>Bernardpora (similar to Goniopora) </div><div>Fungia Plate Coral </div><div>Symphillia agaricia </div><div>Lobophyllia </div><div>Symphyllia wilsoni </div><div>Scolymia australis </div><div>Cyphastrea </div><div>Zoanthus </div><div>Blastomussa </div><div>Rhodactis mushrooms </div><div>Kenya Tree Coral </div><div>Peppermint Shrimp </div><div>Oxypora Chalice </div><div>(I'm sure I'm forgetting some)</div><div><br /></div><div> I can't say whether he'd eat any particular macroalgae or not because his friend Gemmy the Gem Tang eats macroalgae before it hits the water.
Here are some photos of Photobomb with his best friend Gemmy and their 90 gallon reef tank:
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXjSwznDOiKkjAH_gb7iq_ueotYZiO06F_Ol7VI6Nj9p5g2cxm0Tc5iEPQpFo7U4hORqjYw4pFeSO7cDmw13Adc-CT2MkC3HkR6s_Cy-jzLT8aoxwMQIAD0wlmgLOMU_oxzc0ONywx9tXbfAsHyiMYieMbnbf7kV1W-lVnXESt_r3wSAq0hVTyx5g/s1440/Bernard.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXjSwznDOiKkjAH_gb7iq_ueotYZiO06F_Ol7VI6Nj9p5g2cxm0Tc5iEPQpFo7U4hORqjYw4pFeSO7cDmw13Adc-CT2MkC3HkR6s_Cy-jzLT8aoxwMQIAD0wlmgLOMU_oxzc0ONywx9tXbfAsHyiMYieMbnbf7kV1W-lVnXESt_r3wSAq0hVTyx5g/s320/Bernard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bernardpora Flowerpot at night</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt43aKz5sGXDbu0h3_llol-NoEMXXhJTycYwLS7usRuVVHXNDCYB0amPD7YF8Kl6PUSxM3zAHZPegDzodUGP5ez7xzMs8KBGfeT0V1eMwxm3T41iahzchGUHt1nCEw7ZnOOEfQvxlwgCLE5-Cj2dfpAdGGIG-8pkZpGkQAmslB5yM-t5c-K7Cq7xQT/s1509/Crocea.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt43aKz5sGXDbu0h3_llol-NoEMXXhJTycYwLS7usRuVVHXNDCYB0amPD7YF8Kl6PUSxM3zAHZPegDzodUGP5ez7xzMs8KBGfeT0V1eMwxm3T41iahzchGUHt1nCEw7ZnOOEfQvxlwgCLE5-Cj2dfpAdGGIG-8pkZpGkQAmslB5yM-t5c-K7Cq7xQT/s320/Crocea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tridacna crocea</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea51-3CxYaQclLLq4SyVGe1kgZuxx-0YeUAaV8y0tc83_OkvrrJVUn_GTcE1lkt-mSrg-B_zdjOQdTVvzLdCHBTnMS4fEDQsesY7FK2EABXoaSQes1sLGC0KimRQJAFLWcNOZL4VhNowxMDrpqRNriTxIoZvNX-1rKaP2l28ohB7Qdaz_4BoNgPC9/s2620/Derasa.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea51-3CxYaQclLLq4SyVGe1kgZuxx-0YeUAaV8y0tc83_OkvrrJVUn_GTcE1lkt-mSrg-B_zdjOQdTVvzLdCHBTnMS4fEDQsesY7FK2EABXoaSQes1sLGC0KimRQJAFLWcNOZL4VhNowxMDrpqRNriTxIoZvNX-1rKaP2l28ohB7Qdaz_4BoNgPC9/s320/Derasa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tridacna derasa</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07MV-SfPq-snrCvLs_zU4XtKpORi9GbF1pOGPcCc0topFN7bEAWJF3E6gimQkBWJoASdGvE_p-RQJO8nCs50P-rI4IafGzAPpSZN1hijYQDnygPhhx-aT2x9dEFRfAlJ7iIEtGZCDpVLyqB7K7ZEAckDks6vLc9jxZUhZzHw_PRlofgaBVZNQDrm/s3872/DSC_0504.JPG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="3872" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv07MV-SfPq-snrCvLs_zU4XtKpORi9GbF1pOGPcCc0topFN7bEAWJF3E6gimQkBWJoASdGvE_p-RQJO8nCs50P-rI4IafGzAPpSZN1hijYQDnygPhhx-aT2x9dEFRfAlJ7iIEtGZCDpVLyqB7K7ZEAckDks6vLc9jxZUhZzHw_PRlofgaBVZNQDrm/s320/DSC_0504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trachyphyllia geoffryi</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f91xhgqiVK2aEAT44DDaCTAneILukuEHJ2YKqh0ri-f14pIvLRYFu7caQtPQVozeIp66CiveC0epoVQ5gq_-WorrTnDDaldN7oh2dlkmQg05WK-4AzQ7qWn0s5xppb9CqZoTlYeB5B50jlL7G2W4HsPrMyvgT424KssX8dmM2T5d51q45UNFzkiu/s3483/DSC_0523.JPG" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f91xhgqiVK2aEAT44DDaCTAneILukuEHJ2YKqh0ri-f14pIvLRYFu7caQtPQVozeIp66CiveC0epoVQ5gq_-WorrTnDDaldN7oh2dlkmQg05WK-4AzQ7qWn0s5xppb9CqZoTlYeB5B50jlL7G2W4HsPrMyvgT424KssX8dmM2T5d51q45UNFzkiu/s320/DSC_0523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How Photobomb got his name</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTpNMIUXKxSYOIiOpFsVbL-u63_fvCq3ItM2K2yRuKZSYCaO9B7CwDtcHPQfYFqcdk2LjK6F4J8iqqKHBdY-EcrcAzdF9QTn2qxkhg58WDNF9x58VO-hmA8rluXE8eLWO29bZWd5VKhR0natuU_orRy08uj6-neqF7jDtDTN4IwR6GFI8bobtMuAP/s2346/Green%20leather.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="2346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTpNMIUXKxSYOIiOpFsVbL-u63_fvCq3ItM2K2yRuKZSYCaO9B7CwDtcHPQfYFqcdk2LjK6F4J8iqqKHBdY-EcrcAzdF9QTn2qxkhg58WDNF9x58VO-hmA8rluXE8eLWO29bZWd5VKhR0natuU_orRy08uj6-neqF7jDtDTN4IwR6GFI8bobtMuAP/s320/Green%20leather.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neon Green Cabbage Coral</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cwRxsUVyfH1W-z6IeOPGkFYt459bnBFCTZIPuIw_E-hEWTIraFBzt6NrGYZ8tF2o80inC2k__7YyzoGj5iBa_0_UctsGCVitEGTJf1UJcxvXW1kfppE8aGX2joDNuXRy4wELslhd1DYPnCSrdLzuHQPP0fUXYyvm698y5vn8GFMR-vPzWYbLJLuJ/s1611/Lobo.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="1611" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cwRxsUVyfH1W-z6IeOPGkFYt459bnBFCTZIPuIw_E-hEWTIraFBzt6NrGYZ8tF2o80inC2k__7YyzoGj5iBa_0_UctsGCVitEGTJf1UJcxvXW1kfppE8aGX2joDNuXRy4wELslhd1DYPnCSrdLzuHQPP0fUXYyvm698y5vn8GFMR-vPzWYbLJLuJ/s320/Lobo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Symphyllia</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4JJBdA-EEoHiD5_sn6GAZVUl23b2w5q4Q-PH48v9-SthhyzkLrNPyS-G0Bwq1tg5T6mXgaRwinAGOhgFxwFRx56-fZgzkE-gKbnf8NBmgreemfyrOXiv-CitgIEWEcMgQ7uM5zG1wWGm92CuuB7PICVisB3WEfjtznbcZGHB_pfI1MNsTevnhse9/s3200/Monticap.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4JJBdA-EEoHiD5_sn6GAZVUl23b2w5q4Q-PH48v9-SthhyzkLrNPyS-G0Bwq1tg5T6mXgaRwinAGOhgFxwFRx56-fZgzkE-gKbnf8NBmgreemfyrOXiv-CitgIEWEcMgQ7uM5zG1wWGm92CuuB7PICVisB3WEfjtznbcZGHB_pfI1MNsTevnhse9/s320/Monticap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montipora capricornis</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKBn7N1UiIAprl35_t2PhVhmDEfwTCEpZmsglVpXXJCLmRFFRoYi2OJGUFelTf0XLs-yLEP5LQcGSBWaYglgFvYcvw2erKfQpBVRt_kxt1zTokeJtMk0L4Ta3cjnjIjWPW6SBA2bcpvC7c9T_p_oFDc1qB9Vxlo6AjJyE0b26TYpthP4tvBbcxc6_/s1440/October%202022.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKBn7N1UiIAprl35_t2PhVhmDEfwTCEpZmsglVpXXJCLmRFFRoYi2OJGUFelTf0XLs-yLEP5LQcGSBWaYglgFvYcvw2erKfQpBVRt_kxt1zTokeJtMk0L4Ta3cjnjIjWPW6SBA2bcpvC7c9T_p_oFDc1qB9Vxlo6AjJyE0b26TYpthP4tvBbcxc6_/s320/October%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full tank shot</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS5bhyfBZSUve_stIz1rRu8WWbJBuq6YqmrE5-keZ4ZWJsTWCzEA0VMNEyULTDRblBcDvtqi1Im8xhPFrubP9DDiRKqImdfFUlO84M5MDpyuWAieffgd1OmvGUaiKN5WupmhZxh8UGzTrwoOkgB8ZG0QKa53tD-lnBiiHUMUcYF07gyhbvh4R8ozz/s1158/Palau%20striataclose.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS5bhyfBZSUve_stIz1rRu8WWbJBuq6YqmrE5-keZ4ZWJsTWCzEA0VMNEyULTDRblBcDvtqi1Im8xhPFrubP9DDiRKqImdfFUlO84M5MDpyuWAieffgd1OmvGUaiKN5WupmhZxh8UGzTrwoOkgB8ZG0QKa53tD-lnBiiHUMUcYF07gyhbvh4R8ozz/s320/Palau%20striataclose.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acropora striata from Biota Palau</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRcVbp3X5hk9yThqKPqKX3a9vFlVdUsj7lB9JRtxGYYL551xCDedqxC-Sy12cvMAdgl2W7Oa9QnjBG4N7GCMn6fiLjLQrQAeqlhYk-u9YcXIfTvquQQvfgq4Dle4hfTH9uZllo4FhdTvrsVpqNvJwM3glL6cPlhe4d_cMW0oq3rwLnHS_nSGWWFk5/s3144/Palau%20turaki.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2336" data-original-width="3144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRcVbp3X5hk9yThqKPqKX3a9vFlVdUsj7lB9JRtxGYYL551xCDedqxC-Sy12cvMAdgl2W7Oa9QnjBG4N7GCMn6fiLjLQrQAeqlhYk-u9YcXIfTvquQQvfgq4Dle4hfTH9uZllo4FhdTvrsVpqNvJwM3glL6cPlhe4d_cMW0oq3rwLnHS_nSGWWFk5/s320/Palau%20turaki.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acropora turaki from Biota Palau</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh_XLAaWbNs18wHuzzkBxFy4oybQNAnha-2wWuYUHtFzHi3meF1WHIyWi4GnZVzGKE0MszYjAobDt4WbotfhfghtS2pjYwbGbm5WJNHzZB1YtSG3tkUyyUo83xb-bS4iuo-Tb-ApOUgW5wV_N1XV_muh0i4HEZJlbXh60vvTyriWPwKJ8fUBDRCTl/s2556/PSX_20220130_151533.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="2555" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbh_XLAaWbNs18wHuzzkBxFy4oybQNAnha-2wWuYUHtFzHi3meF1WHIyWi4GnZVzGKE0MszYjAobDt4WbotfhfghtS2pjYwbGbm5WJNHzZB1YtSG3tkUyyUo83xb-bS4iuo-Tb-ApOUgW5wV_N1XV_muh0i4HEZJlbXh60vvTyriWPwKJ8fUBDRCTl/s320/PSX_20220130_151533.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best friends - Joculator Angelfish and Gem Tang</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGegymDHRQEc89YpmsEbxlZJ_L19keRfUDpfdp_J8C7UHn2ng_uOOH8Kzc_aVBwDUW4t2xak_sDG-ywEIImV9AkDMOEu0ae1K8G5Ho1qLDeRO1JpRj0FbqBWCk8AdaCNbjKex191t4TCe3HdOwDCMLAHCVSUvJ0OVAlR2-qZ5BGtWCBfSESquGh8K/s653/Untitled-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="653" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGegymDHRQEc89YpmsEbxlZJ_L19keRfUDpfdp_J8C7UHn2ng_uOOH8Kzc_aVBwDUW4t2xak_sDG-ywEIImV9AkDMOEu0ae1K8G5Ho1qLDeRO1JpRj0FbqBWCk8AdaCNbjKex191t4TCe3HdOwDCMLAHCVSUvJ0OVAlR2-qZ5BGtWCBfSESquGh8K/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Planet Acropora</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd7aQrwZoT4AR0EGuPqpWwXEp7eRTyOm1XBmQxeR6JdwqQEWwnH0niUbAH0H_bQ356tN6tm4coFvMXcklNpaGrYwvjB5NS4QcC1xELm4k8W2t2U0ezW6UnxroVIzzk2Zfi_rZaZ42Gq1VQIY4dgUBKDnBwX8Y3yXdhKlwgYjY4jFDzcb67lNPYYsb/s1284/Wilsoni.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd7aQrwZoT4AR0EGuPqpWwXEp7eRTyOm1XBmQxeR6JdwqQEWwnH0niUbAH0H_bQ356tN6tm4coFvMXcklNpaGrYwvjB5NS4QcC1xELm4k8W2t2U0ezW6UnxroVIzzk2Zfi_rZaZ42Gq1VQIY4dgUBKDnBwX8Y3yXdhKlwgYjY4jFDzcb67lNPYYsb/s320/Wilsoni.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Symphilla wilsoni</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6SFSReD2HoaEIQCRxyavO3ehgaYTGeYkHU7nSDp8OaqgzX6TnYyrsargNKzIPIidCBZ3npWESmWG8-kbZAlimwNxvtIUiN4sWvq7lc_vAEL0A3agpWlhsX2X8IaTVkWtnZ_XNd03QlVQy8X6lokOzccN8gilx8YddCxFVNaaz_t1II0f88yO_qnm/s3872/Zoas.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6SFSReD2HoaEIQCRxyavO3ehgaYTGeYkHU7nSDp8OaqgzX6TnYyrsargNKzIPIidCBZ3npWESmWG8-kbZAlimwNxvtIUiN4sWvq7lc_vAEL0A3agpWlhsX2X8IaTVkWtnZ_XNd03QlVQy8X6lokOzccN8gilx8YddCxFVNaaz_t1II0f88yO_qnm/s320/Zoas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoanthus</td></tr></tbody></table>
</div></div></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-54756476055208068682023-02-19T14:39:00.010-08:002023-04-25T13:30:45.853-07:00Felicia's Unicorn Reef Bowl Update 2023<p style="text-align: left;">It's been 7 years since I started my first "reef bowl." I think I finally have the hang of it. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I temporarily disassembled this bowl in 2020 but revamped it in 2021 with the help from Unicorn Reef Bowl sponsor Aqua Illumination and from my job at Biota. I decided to do things a bit differently this time. I put many of the original corals back in like the Cyphastrea I got from my sister, the Red Monti cap, and the Sunny D Zoas. I also added a few Toadstool corals from Biota, but the main thing I'm doing differently with Unicorn Reef Bowl 2.0 is...captive bred Biota Gobies! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd5iSNAT8wVBehVdO7wGe0RAdDUtR1N_k0HBKhu6dPmMR-Y12ycn_18q0iiJbHlKEvaDGDpdtgi8MLAV9ub2YjaWASf3Vzty3gIFf5uQ0kkIe3FQ1H-owq6EJDIA_djBASQp92kDWzCvKEgZKjP7cYOYImbJ2MqwUHonp715pIyiMTnWE_b993_m6/s2826/PSX_20230424_213912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="2826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd5iSNAT8wVBehVdO7wGe0RAdDUtR1N_k0HBKhu6dPmMR-Y12ycn_18q0iiJbHlKEvaDGDpdtgi8MLAV9ub2YjaWASf3Vzty3gIFf5uQ0kkIe3FQ1H-owq6EJDIA_djBASQp92kDWzCvKEgZKjP7cYOYImbJ2MqwUHonp715pIyiMTnWE_b993_m6/s320/PSX_20230424_213912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">update pic April 2023 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-xGHjKJvIRRasQ_g6mW7fhk68JEuDD5c-loPf1rEtXoEthOXHHyv0fEtXjRRG_nVu_WBsT3Cp1yds6rZkds7keAbYh5uI3XCB3QPs8ZuU2YSzPirOkJ2uWM_gNHAgEjn0y7exgTOyR03jhaW6C7-kl1kF3ySgP-2Gamlehz9EqUwo5oE4tzrRAcI/s2912/20221230_174751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="2819" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-xGHjKJvIRRasQ_g6mW7fhk68JEuDD5c-loPf1rEtXoEthOXHHyv0fEtXjRRG_nVu_WBsT3Cp1yds6rZkds7keAbYh5uI3XCB3QPs8ZuU2YSzPirOkJ2uWM_gNHAgEjn0y7exgTOyR03jhaW6C7-kl1kF3ySgP-2Gamlehz9EqUwo5oE4tzrRAcI/s320/20221230_174751.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feb 2023</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFBXap3NnUzDGI1o8VrkA1SrGXu5bDZTSiDfUqXLTOLl0JWKziKN77WVmp28tC9xCKDg0dFfjuOS8M1BwLkz0HyW-JUFtUeea6iLh73fK7JKS2tRD8ebut4qPj6WndET5BsXQJVv269Xt8Po8VpcEfyM_tWG-7zYEj72fDc_8TeGM2UYxvpf1eLM3/s4032/20230120_174728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFBXap3NnUzDGI1o8VrkA1SrGXu5bDZTSiDfUqXLTOLl0JWKziKN77WVmp28tC9xCKDg0dFfjuOS8M1BwLkz0HyW-JUFtUeea6iLh73fK7JKS2tRD8ebut4qPj6WndET5BsXQJVv269Xt8Po8VpcEfyM_tWG-7zYEj72fDc_8TeGM2UYxvpf1eLM3/s320/20230120_174728.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Livestock: </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Since I have 3 other tanks at home, I change things around in the bowl sometimes, but most of these corals have been growing in here since the revamp. The Duncan, Red Monti Cap, Toadstools, Devil's hand, Zoas, Cyphastrea, Jawbreaker mushrooms, and Green stripe mushrooms all started as little frags. Now a little over a year later, and they're filling the bowl nicely. I also added about a dozen little gobies from work, 5 different species. They make the bowl so much more fun. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWupmpz7Kuua46YDuocA8vKkY45z40gklIIagx998jHwZnJRYdjjUJZM_X-PWCzyPFCjg6P3P57nrYfmXOs9klqYw98iDiqP7T4C88p8fPl84oAO47BS8PBhgeXWzyRtztziu_oj-m6rrv04l_qurjalP_BILEta3LHtbZ2501NXt3wHJRAE5gGLG/s4032/20230101_165100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWupmpz7Kuua46YDuocA8vKkY45z40gklIIagx998jHwZnJRYdjjUJZM_X-PWCzyPFCjg6P3P57nrYfmXOs9klqYw98iDiqP7T4C88p8fPl84oAO47BS8PBhgeXWzyRtztziu_oj-m6rrv04l_qurjalP_BILEta3LHtbZ2501NXt3wHJRAE5gGLG/s320/20230101_165100.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota White Willow Toadstool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8k1x8EZlYE2yYgOfJrt51tggxOnX5PTnnJ9y35v1h8xilnB59E157zpEJvqtt7XsUiiKXQA-p028_ORRJYgDiNEmQ_t0eRP7DiQ0tgDQ3ebMPesSS5wCOOmpuPgbaqjHaI3pqfLbMM2w6hMX5eOdQxGIoq9kT2c_LH8azXIrn_7W1WAbiUMY21mGy/s4032/20230101_165111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8k1x8EZlYE2yYgOfJrt51tggxOnX5PTnnJ9y35v1h8xilnB59E157zpEJvqtt7XsUiiKXQA-p028_ORRJYgDiNEmQ_t0eRP7DiQ0tgDQ3ebMPesSS5wCOOmpuPgbaqjHaI3pqfLbMM2w6hMX5eOdQxGIoq9kT2c_LH8azXIrn_7W1WAbiUMY21mGy/s320/20230101_165111.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Green Toadstool</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RI0qoy67l8RuUIvQDfXea4HDdNgjUjvXaU_nhESXzSUwVylls_B7wkrfrWU_N43ELj1N4e8V-eDJb0B9bmLpzSRMTJzGhMutTxhKenXOVLpfuQozUgrsX342ihwvGTCTQjV490kyL1esHtyHnGPuuMS9DbnY1KLUDVzmsMsnwpXae1gu1exoeLVb/s4032/20230217_202355.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RI0qoy67l8RuUIvQDfXea4HDdNgjUjvXaU_nhESXzSUwVylls_B7wkrfrWU_N43ELj1N4e8V-eDJb0B9bmLpzSRMTJzGhMutTxhKenXOVLpfuQozUgrsX342ihwvGTCTQjV490kyL1esHtyHnGPuuMS9DbnY1KLUDVzmsMsnwpXae1gu1exoeLVb/s320/20230217_202355.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duncan Coral</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1S5lPXo92tkkxqGvmAjkj1sGlW5wEnzqNbn-n78nTTGJjbPHE4vwDxPPZ2IsoePhKi8-ENPPSQoINQqDQvku0xmhagrfzP2_RvblI1swQNUXS7ptn67fUhWHjuRHon_rIFGG4eBQ0foMdBHL8w8bCWs2_1tYPJBa667p5EMvA2Jh0Dc9hCSUPBg/s4032/20230217_202403.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_1S5lPXo92tkkxqGvmAjkj1sGlW5wEnzqNbn-n78nTTGJjbPHE4vwDxPPZ2IsoePhKi8-ENPPSQoINQqDQvku0xmhagrfzP2_RvblI1swQNUXS7ptn67fUhWHjuRHon_rIFGG4eBQ0foMdBHL8w8bCWs2_1tYPJBa667p5EMvA2Jh0Dc9hCSUPBg/s320/20230217_202403.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some coral frags from the original 2016 bowl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5X_7MbYOU_I9y_y2f8Xdd2hXNY6Lf7SvadAgdrodBdu4-eDHxQtQJeUo8z0wm1MurbJubu_2aFGoe2fPduwWFKurlnqevlSDIAYHLPe43sW1E1xYA7FJgHOR53OBqfQt55AOn6GGsoUPkOrP0ODihgKTOOlE0sxqu7juUvvORAtmxoh6wg7AU1f3/s4032/20230217_202425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5X_7MbYOU_I9y_y2f8Xdd2hXNY6Lf7SvadAgdrodBdu4-eDHxQtQJeUo8z0wm1MurbJubu_2aFGoe2fPduwWFKurlnqevlSDIAYHLPe43sW1E1xYA7FJgHOR53OBqfQt55AOn6GGsoUPkOrP0ODihgKTOOlE0sxqu7juUvvORAtmxoh6wg7AU1f3/s320/20230217_202425.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Red Monti cap started in the original bowl in 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKFXCKOYvL7nEL7Buy0-z67NKx91T-I_IWggWdolALScPIuNDU8Z_LOK5pBv_QDyPTJCu1l0-2E-G3mEGtixO2Q0j7qs8qzfz8BXZN2cTKj2u6-7A8BNl7_dlgpULknhrLJHDXNURck60vm6PByC7Ba5mcs8lg1tksOB72nvPAEBpqIsz_L88TSPV/s4032/20230217_202442.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKFXCKOYvL7nEL7Buy0-z67NKx91T-I_IWggWdolALScPIuNDU8Z_LOK5pBv_QDyPTJCu1l0-2E-G3mEGtixO2Q0j7qs8qzfz8BXZN2cTKj2u6-7A8BNl7_dlgpULknhrLJHDXNURck60vm6PByC7Ba5mcs8lg1tksOB72nvPAEBpqIsz_L88TSPV/s320/20230217_202442.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a frag of Sunny D Zoa that started in the original 2016 bowl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukosfub9_zR00nxF6SBUAX1RYbd-129mG3E3y0tA8gP3gEwHnxCMGXPacxaK3gSuyX61rwdiOSvq1dvlqiSQRigDQW-MvlUoSaRSiAUmvEz_gkibHEqw3u0NqUwVtFsewpQ-LpjbsiBBZrrLlKqdzUBxTTHbfLABgxb9_XLME5drhvabgeWzliKic/s4032/20230217_202453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukosfub9_zR00nxF6SBUAX1RYbd-129mG3E3y0tA8gP3gEwHnxCMGXPacxaK3gSuyX61rwdiOSvq1dvlqiSQRigDQW-MvlUoSaRSiAUmvEz_gkibHEqw3u0NqUwVtFsewpQ-LpjbsiBBZrrLlKqdzUBxTTHbfLABgxb9_XLME5drhvabgeWzliKic/s320/20230217_202453.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tricolor Valida</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtWqPlB62kD9E1AXrOXyHyhtac_Y4p2YeY2K6Kg9UDTB9837P3BFH9NaWUTiUKuRKfemGeQXKVOmPFmdotMCtieTXVq8ema9z31nZBj32mDlnKptbVfskH96KSiDiwktiw8FZwt8lJvW48ObNvX3JVGqQqlZPlSs0GyiM6f12Ug4ocxsfhud4wvrl/s4032/PSX_20210904_214843.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtWqPlB62kD9E1AXrOXyHyhtac_Y4p2YeY2K6Kg9UDTB9837P3BFH9NaWUTiUKuRKfemGeQXKVOmPFmdotMCtieTXVq8ema9z31nZBj32mDlnKptbVfskH96KSiDiwktiw8FZwt8lJvW48ObNvX3JVGqQqlZPlSs0GyiM6f12Ug4ocxsfhud4wvrl/s320/PSX_20210904_214843.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy Fancy - new Aqua Illumination AI Prime 16 HD light</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamSotDpdhHoAhBMUMjieJ4EmE5Mknllxl7lEI_sqT6ZB7s4vbJ-0Gc-4kysIE2ODjn_Jid94uN0FLskBL7TimonBAPFPQH852T45NqRA9_dNL5DLkAtBuRyhPV4HJmshWmUjssNb_9qwxhSIdjdRj7xDf88XTurCgwEXINGYBZXyu_yBoNvXLIaVA/s825/Biota%20Lachdebere%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamSotDpdhHoAhBMUMjieJ4EmE5Mknllxl7lEI_sqT6ZB7s4vbJ-0Gc-4kysIE2ODjn_Jid94uN0FLskBL7TimonBAPFPQH852T45NqRA9_dNL5DLkAtBuRyhPV4HJmshWmUjssNb_9qwxhSIdjdRj7xDf88XTurCgwEXINGYBZXyu_yBoNvXLIaVA/s320/Biota%20Lachdebere%20(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Palau Cosmic Nano Goby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7_g9NIMg92FbSDup65tI-gJC5Occdjb_eLazOlhRhV9LwVMglx48XYbZx2SE6WuHIWgYWuuo0pli2sZLaXkDziOjt9bSunS4F6vvLuhRC6w3scRp4GQ9H3UIjffM6zlqGAA24fHRlrza3a2at6KdKalZ23Ly4cmuxfAZ99MYnCul65Y0urm0OeTs/s1474/black%20belly.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7_g9NIMg92FbSDup65tI-gJC5Occdjb_eLazOlhRhV9LwVMglx48XYbZx2SE6WuHIWgYWuuo0pli2sZLaXkDziOjt9bSunS4F6vvLuhRC6w3scRp4GQ9H3UIjffM6zlqGAA24fHRlrza3a2at6KdKalZ23Ly4cmuxfAZ99MYnCul65Y0urm0OeTs/s320/black%20belly.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Palau Black Belly Nano Goby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW_gIcsfhozSJ0UxK-nXbaJg89tSxUP0GGHKEFsCMXZgIRIRx9Q_7ZPEdtswL0pZqqNZu2rbA_rmw_v4UQAexyLJFuXwy0CCjVi0hdwWKUGvK6ztdPZRp4M55gJgHk3HI7oXh60EdJyjIXiyBX9sw9uqigF5Zugf0tmOIeV6V_GfiBcjlBz-LQ6dJ/s841/Brahmi%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="841" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW_gIcsfhozSJ0UxK-nXbaJg89tSxUP0GGHKEFsCMXZgIRIRx9Q_7ZPEdtswL0pZqqNZu2rbA_rmw_v4UQAexyLJFuXwy0CCjVi0hdwWKUGvK6ztdPZRp4M55gJgHk3HI7oXh60EdJyjIXiyBX9sw9uqigF5Zugf0tmOIeV6V_GfiBcjlBz-LQ6dJ/s320/Brahmi%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Palau Eviota brahmi Goby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoEaf_Flgc1q9oD5VxW2JeCTcc-Chc4HpDXP7g7KHKCnTl6YGiwoiQX5FwyRF0Hg6azYY89KRTdQ8_qh_eV-g27bSSKvLgzv0uYAwMIaWcUPi6h0_AzHh7Q7gkCu2XLVQSqrGEsdc0gpgAKnJEwz1-stppFm_yISlGOxBq-3cS18IeEbNqdHsrTjs/s789/Hairfin%20(5).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="789" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoEaf_Flgc1q9oD5VxW2JeCTcc-Chc4HpDXP7g7KHKCnTl6YGiwoiQX5FwyRF0Hg6azYY89KRTdQ8_qh_eV-g27bSSKvLgzv0uYAwMIaWcUPi6h0_AzHh7Q7gkCu2XLVQSqrGEsdc0gpgAKnJEwz1-stppFm_yISlGOxBq-3cS18IeEbNqdHsrTjs/s320/Hairfin%20(5).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Palau Eviota storthynx</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi5jliWsmD4ZAKdKcFjEQiJCl9rTUzNoIfuHIyhdK0FI32dZqXewzSBvqw045oHPF07LxeuKrxEw2Xkf6AQFwxILL_v_IN909pXv2qC-hcMK6gSAydSepQpyR8UX9sc4QDDFc4g0xf1jLwRpzqvnucYG_yShG_stj-EPjKpzs_vVZe7_BFXnD4Dkn/s1118/StarryGoby.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1117" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi5jliWsmD4ZAKdKcFjEQiJCl9rTUzNoIfuHIyhdK0FI32dZqXewzSBvqw045oHPF07LxeuKrxEw2Xkf6AQFwxILL_v_IN909pXv2qC-hcMK6gSAydSepQpyR8UX9sc4QDDFc4g0xf1jLwRpzqvnucYG_yShG_stj-EPjKpzs_vVZe7_BFXnD4Dkn/s320/StarryGoby.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biota Palau Starry Gobies are the stars of this show</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Equipment: </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Aqua Illumination Prime 16 HD LED light on a hanging cable kit</div><div>Aqua Illumination Nero Wavemaker with fish guard (no issues with microscopic gobies at all)</div><div>SunSun canister filter </div><div>Hydor ETH in line heater</div><div>Inkbird heater controller</div><div><br /></div><div>I love this new Aqua Illumination light! The colors are beautiful, and the new 16 HD is clearly much brighter than the original AI Prime.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVkaOCxVsrQclXAfeRoc7VFt0ZNB1GvK8ebt_DRRvPgSQ2VpeoodFTgDD8FNnUkYtxKfBeOOa8iip035tNXOIMxu2n_ZCcxCtZ2UkEv2lDyfLI92JJKgYlaeItLkvYeM-LISCiGLefRxO_HrEmiE8ENTFplrrFJqq9tWGklf-PqR_mQxRZwXmFQXA/s4032/20210810_173233.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVkaOCxVsrQclXAfeRoc7VFt0ZNB1GvK8ebt_DRRvPgSQ2VpeoodFTgDD8FNnUkYtxKfBeOOa8iip035tNXOIMxu2n_ZCcxCtZ2UkEv2lDyfLI92JJKgYlaeItLkvYeM-LISCiGLefRxO_HrEmiE8ENTFplrrFJqq9tWGklf-PqR_mQxRZwXmFQXA/s320/20210810_173233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AI Prime comparison</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The app is so easy to use, even for me, a 40 year old lady who usually asks my son for help with technology. When I want to take photos of the bowl, it only takes a few seconds to change the color temperature. Then I can set it back to my schedule easily. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_qmKGBfgkOZmk1HUey7jpQRvnxQoohopYcQxfJcST26jb5Hx0QAabhYlvMCgQZBT0bUUQaPwYQhIY7BdQptd_B4Pl7PpgVjEzxXWhboPxXHgzT0wgcpdV367B369ECJD7Fy28x0RbYyCUreYVEcz_G4w-rmC25bFDbuc0PWpQiK0q74ftXJV5TpV/s2280/Screenshot_20230219-170121_myAI.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_qmKGBfgkOZmk1HUey7jpQRvnxQoohopYcQxfJcST26jb5Hx0QAabhYlvMCgQZBT0bUUQaPwYQhIY7BdQptd_B4Pl7PpgVjEzxXWhboPxXHgzT0wgcpdV367B369ECJD7Fy28x0RbYyCUreYVEcz_G4w-rmC25bFDbuc0PWpQiK0q74ftXJV5TpV/w152-h320/Screenshot_20230219-170121_myAI.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyVJHCegiZHkzouQwSaYKwuwgu24ift860T8lZj7qC913VJrM1JtIMeE9GVirnLCHfkJFYR_5AwE85VzLz73UtPESR1d8-0_r-xMEFSWS2hQPIYRBSpJe2f_nGxWsEorzImpWpeq4Yztn1WeRkArL7pFmgdKSZhED-mW8avfaW-8hnyxd734UD_l0/s2280/Screenshot_20230219-170135_myAI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyVJHCegiZHkzouQwSaYKwuwgu24ift860T8lZj7qC913VJrM1JtIMeE9GVirnLCHfkJFYR_5AwE85VzLz73UtPESR1d8-0_r-xMEFSWS2hQPIYRBSpJe2f_nGxWsEorzImpWpeq4Yztn1WeRkArL7pFmgdKSZhED-mW8avfaW-8hnyxd734UD_l0/w152-h320/Screenshot_20230219-170135_myAI.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QX94GigNKwhfIHRSIpOmOTnF_tU84zHzi7JKGoevL3wi57Dx02hDmRhb3MOatEMUKh6327HIkzL3E-Clx_zmvu6QD90ChgsiR5CYFKEGMrNBH3HltbUdOP71cu7mvf5UpTSMk0gM8UYocRMCm1qgCbCY5hRg9vvCe5NPzgeC5gKhsnB8pmHwEMZD/s2280/Screenshot_20230219-170151_myAI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QX94GigNKwhfIHRSIpOmOTnF_tU84zHzi7JKGoevL3wi57Dx02hDmRhb3MOatEMUKh6327HIkzL3E-Clx_zmvu6QD90ChgsiR5CYFKEGMrNBH3HltbUdOP71cu7mvf5UpTSMk0gM8UYocRMCm1qgCbCY5hRg9vvCe5NPzgeC5gKhsnB8pmHwEMZD/w152-h320/Screenshot_20230219-170151_myAI.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br /><div>The Nero wavemaker is also awesome, and it connects to the same app so I can control the flow and set it to different flow rates at different times of day. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVKB9b9d2v-GyvXbYcIDEb11jiwYIZI6uHvw6mTRiRzuyYffVhUWyCGK_9I5L_eQk_jiTDvxI2bu4_4FiWHD39xef_74lwalOBwQCC0CRfPYcnUWzVVBfDIaxHWmqPN2ITj_2uo8iMKV72nn8u-Mzm7dGZIe9R7ka8KyZV1uLpqtnt-zKVrjdbHKH/s2280/Screenshot_20230219-170228_myAI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVKB9b9d2v-GyvXbYcIDEb11jiwYIZI6uHvw6mTRiRzuyYffVhUWyCGK_9I5L_eQk_jiTDvxI2bu4_4FiWHD39xef_74lwalOBwQCC0CRfPYcnUWzVVBfDIaxHWmqPN2ITj_2uo8iMKV72nn8u-Mzm7dGZIe9R7ka8KyZV1uLpqtnt-zKVrjdbHKH/w152-h320/Screenshot_20230219-170228_myAI.jpg" width="152" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Maintenance: </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Weekly (or when I remember) 50% water changes. Sometimes I use freshly made saltwater that I have mixing constantly in a 30 gallon vat, sometimes I take water from my 90 gallon reef. I mostly use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt. The gobies (and Duncan coral) feed on Easy Reefs DKI 0.8mm pellets, and the corals seem to be doing great with just goby waste. With fewer stony corals, I don't have to worry as much about alkalinity and calcium as I did when the bowl was mostly SPS. Of course, frequent top-off for evaporation is super important in a small tank like this. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do have some very minor issues with algae, but I have a clump of Caulerpa from Algae Barn and also some wild red hitchhiker algae that helps keep nutrients in check. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbH5kC9fqS08NckXPtRy9-p0nD19y-EHzHJx9kKiYK7ZWHiO8YrKSjKVJUEydpbAhOl0248922h850ynPBcohaKVe2cvWfHIAjeeAo5v1-JTY-74x1wT46XRzooTJoT2IWed5v6F_BBOFGOyp2Pejf3NvwXBrRCaqaVtp5d2W5oz1jpsqM08Xa-6i/s4032/20211010_125428.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbH5kC9fqS08NckXPtRy9-p0nD19y-EHzHJx9kKiYK7ZWHiO8YrKSjKVJUEydpbAhOl0248922h850ynPBcohaKVe2cvWfHIAjeeAo5v1-JTY-74x1wT46XRzooTJoT2IWed5v6F_BBOFGOyp2Pejf3NvwXBrRCaqaVtp5d2W5oz1jpsqM08Xa-6i/s320/20211010_125428.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humble beginning - URB 2.0 revamp October 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V0GQ2khOVHE" width="320" youtube-src-id="V0GQ2khOVHE"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L8CKltiQ6z4" width="320" youtube-src-id="L8CKltiQ6z4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>History of Felicia's Unicorn Reef Bowl </b></h1><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTVZCZiMFLbAdLFAljsLeDHIFaAiDIxD0_hPqRbE6wgaCkC2-XjSePWywyDZ8yDXTNwEiCyKWiDe8E4xnHr6wneBZhZ4BB5M_JmgI9Cu7XH4Zp2Wk7IR55u22CEziHh_qhtEVFgGrmtMtKt7LeBm30TIwUkjEChMgSaxJQP8fknFthqH5cQ9LYbLj/s4032/PSX_20170629_094343.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTVZCZiMFLbAdLFAljsLeDHIFaAiDIxD0_hPqRbE6wgaCkC2-XjSePWywyDZ8yDXTNwEiCyKWiDe8E4xnHr6wneBZhZ4BB5M_JmgI9Cu7XH4Zp2Wk7IR55u22CEziHh_qhtEVFgGrmtMtKt7LeBm30TIwUkjEChMgSaxJQP8fknFthqH5cQ9LYbLj/w300-h400/PSX_20170629_094343.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reef Bowl 2017</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4yK-kD1HCAqS5mfwC5VpFpegY2CHh44K2wAsmzVN2v_lpvhj2eAcRUiOP8gu_6HPPWjyOKLbd3kE3DivOgnjyHighmMpRP4B2D6hlAoV1_U_ebDXwCD8QXM0XKe3x0jN5p8rQYZ8pxLJm_lSVKtmoJ7PumBcEmH7238mILZepgmwlIqxVPcUmN27/s4443/DSC_0912.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="4443" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4yK-kD1HCAqS5mfwC5VpFpegY2CHh44K2wAsmzVN2v_lpvhj2eAcRUiOP8gu_6HPPWjyOKLbd3kE3DivOgnjyHighmMpRP4B2D6hlAoV1_U_ebDXwCD8QXM0XKe3x0jN5p8rQYZ8pxLJm_lSVKtmoJ7PumBcEmH7238mILZepgmwlIqxVPcUmN27/s320/DSC_0912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>It's hard to pinpoint the "beginning" of the Unicorn Reef Bowl, because it evolved from other tanks I had over the years. In 2014, I moved from Connecticut back home to Pennsylvania after our first son was born. I had 3 long distance moves in under 4 years and ended up tearing down more than 30 tanks in the process, all more than 20 gallons. After moving again and having a baby, all I could handle was a small tank. I was keeping a few frags from some of my favorite corals in a 6 gallon cube, but it was a mess. It had an overfed Gobiesox clingfish in it, and the corals really needed a new home. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzr3QvlbseieQl1MKWHRSky76_WNh-eXcE147L07X9Xl7VTEYH9BWC7VHa7bPOxImK58EOQln7C119GZyCLow' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXOMgC4JgODc-eVXI5NtI_ejvWd8wuuc-SXfRDk96W1flv89c6izBDWDsXLNuoNo2S_TgVbhuVXRAD8m7jHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><p>My mom found a gorgeous 2 gallon pedestal vase while she was antique shopping and bought it for me. In October 2016 I decided to move those neglected corals to the vase and was very pleased with the result. The corals did much better in their own space without a hungry, overfed fish. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo-XzSzVltWWhntn7GTt-NDwO0jt_jIKKXjRuZU0uF4-bX2LSWZoxYewxKfm3wet8OZqwRjFdS0heqwio6xFQ2OI1k51NhC0j6XMfI2jjFy1T_u43LWooSUYgmg8Cm1Q2uWPMlDwUdTSeRTM-Ea1QlPbZbx6OvN7gpVWo_CGZi5ejI0aMOpayonJc/s4032/20161031_210017%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo-XzSzVltWWhntn7GTt-NDwO0jt_jIKKXjRuZU0uF4-bX2LSWZoxYewxKfm3wet8OZqwRjFdS0heqwio6xFQ2OI1k51NhC0j6XMfI2jjFy1T_u43LWooSUYgmg8Cm1Q2uWPMlDwUdTSeRTM-Ea1QlPbZbx6OvN7gpVWo_CGZi5ejI0aMOpayonJc/s320/20161031_210017%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my son's first words was "urchin"</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In June 2017 I wrote an article about the bowl for <a href="https://reefs.com/2017/06/19/felicias-unicorn-reef-bowl/">Reefs.com</a> when the reef bowl was only 8 months along.</p><div>Keeping a reef bowl is pretty simple. You need light, flow, nutrients, and proper water conditions. Most bowl keepers use an air pump for flow, but I chose a small powerhead that was hidden under the rocks. I also used a small Betta tank heater and an ABI Tuna Blue 38 PAR bulb that I clipped on to a shelf I hung on the wall above the tank. Each week, I'd feed the corals a big meal of coral foods in the morning, then later that day do a near complete water change with NutraSea natural seawater in a box from Petco. Occasionally I'd have to use fresh saltwater that I'd mixed at least overnight, making sure the water was the same temperature as the bowl. This kept the water clean and replenished calcium, alkalinity, and trace elements. I'd like to say I remembered to do this every week, but honestly I didn't always. The corals were forgiving and thrived. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ1qoEDemV2Q_bCkSHZHfM1iGfZSTdFQpGLey4f1v0P6aijNk41LFXHs4NjHin4ljv2W6ey_6F4-8OquN5KB9sl86Ix7GBJC9L2ATCa6bL7XmAivGNzLM3yLW-qtrui4-mWoFHpXJijAqyMyAqATRpBq0_nJHYaWHK88i_Meb9y6NwN9Mkh5By8PC/s4905/DSC_0932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="4905" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ1qoEDemV2Q_bCkSHZHfM1iGfZSTdFQpGLey4f1v0P6aijNk41LFXHs4NjHin4ljv2W6ey_6F4-8OquN5KB9sl86Ix7GBJC9L2ATCa6bL7XmAivGNzLM3yLW-qtrui4-mWoFHpXJijAqyMyAqATRpBq0_nJHYaWHK88i_Meb9y6NwN9Mkh5By8PC/s320/DSC_0932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IR3KBHUlYbpAsmrfbN0iOPRZq73vHu00cuerk1L2Pu4eKQhFpUkT_FiSojCWLNLuYPKB9RwREkpj6Ys_RNhc3hIDYw__Kc8Fgxrz0zzfZ6m4EY7F_mnxlBWF_TOYRrs2JPFnr3w_W4X2gU14VIv3SVkAzb3lcAxVpnJ-sIHorFkBhjIElnyMIK_Y/s4914/DSC_0545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4914" data-original-width="2707" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IR3KBHUlYbpAsmrfbN0iOPRZq73vHu00cuerk1L2Pu4eKQhFpUkT_FiSojCWLNLuYPKB9RwREkpj6Ys_RNhc3hIDYw__Kc8Fgxrz0zzfZ6m4EY7F_mnxlBWF_TOYRrs2JPFnr3w_W4X2gU14VIv3SVkAzb3lcAxVpnJ-sIHorFkBhjIElnyMIK_Y/w220-h400/DSC_0545.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z18lpdbK6c3nIMohBuazdTcjz_HXMyOaYKUTfa6vzzQbXjHuhxxvaeKp51zgVm02gkYVnS-VJlXBuL7EjgJJV0etzd9ABJX2IVbdUpUbbWRJtoZhJABl0OeSHseX-bz7B47esU4MCYHY3Abdhxttw3huKXrdV7qkwuwNZROJpMR4k3LBYV17vuSR/s2048/FB_IMG_1492630207613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1154" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z18lpdbK6c3nIMohBuazdTcjz_HXMyOaYKUTfa6vzzQbXjHuhxxvaeKp51zgVm02gkYVnS-VJlXBuL7EjgJJV0etzd9ABJX2IVbdUpUbbWRJtoZhJABl0OeSHseX-bz7B47esU4MCYHY3Abdhxttw3huKXrdV7qkwuwNZROJpMR4k3LBYV17vuSR/s320/FB_IMG_1492630207613.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div>How did the "Unicorn Reef Bowl" get its name? The stand I kept my bowl on was a very old, small rickety end table that started to crack. I knew I had to get a new stand. My step-dad is a hobby woodworker, so made a new stand for me for my birthday in 2017. The masterpiece he created was far better than I could have ever hoped for. He carved an adorable unicorn and hummingbird for the sides of the stand and even made a latched door for the front. We also ended up drilling holes in the back to hide cords and equipment. (Side note: he also built a stand for my 30 gallon cube that is even more impressive. It even has wheels.)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI8HOD3-eNf0m7WoHiWov34RgI_44kZyrRuwWFZL2fKCtFhKzOk9tVJNK3arFbVWpRAc4ITJM7-sDFaZrKV37krajyV0xiPQPFu0HOHqxrjteJnSf_hG4hED4orhML54IxNL0LwSEzUqs0ytUeiNIm1DyvSNZvXyytgkA_XW5EC9P53_aR86XxqbG/s4032/20170415_124049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI8HOD3-eNf0m7WoHiWov34RgI_44kZyrRuwWFZL2fKCtFhKzOk9tVJNK3arFbVWpRAc4ITJM7-sDFaZrKV37krajyV0xiPQPFu0HOHqxrjteJnSf_hG4hED4orhML54IxNL0LwSEzUqs0ytUeiNIm1DyvSNZvXyytgkA_XW5EC9P53_aR86XxqbG/s320/20170415_124049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The stand was quite a bit larger than my old one, so I thought maybe I could put a slightly bigger bowl on this stand. I found a huge 8 gallon glass bowl online that fit perfectly. The new bowl is about 18" across at the widest point, so it's definitely not in the "pico reef" category anymore. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfJPKrpfP_ZkhT-TXDo2TT5dWjJOLa4PtPHVVQ11h7DwSYXOGOlcyGzXeCM_vX8JVLMFafnF61xPA0dfMneAtk_fbytdYzVHCjj8XUitVL7b9AtUakc3mdrvFEfpbUu8_A1q-rjUTfj-lNlw-AOP9fzlDfed6buE31h_LCS1UYy5DwRECseAOXDTZ/s3263/20170419_231711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3263" data-original-width="2177" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfJPKrpfP_ZkhT-TXDo2TT5dWjJOLa4PtPHVVQ11h7DwSYXOGOlcyGzXeCM_vX8JVLMFafnF61xPA0dfMneAtk_fbytdYzVHCjj8XUitVL7b9AtUakc3mdrvFEfpbUu8_A1q-rjUTfj-lNlw-AOP9fzlDfed6buE31h_LCS1UYy5DwRECseAOXDTZ/s320/20170419_231711.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 2017</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By April 2017 the new bowl was set up. I had a bad hair algae outbreak, but with some fluconazole it cleared up, and by summer everything was settling in better. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-We48K8QQ4y0Jeo4bVdKfSWHSJdJgMaLfVdWMl9FomC-g7_jY-YO8LCNE6cc_HHbW1Kb31XgfKBItel16oLtoCQMd895G9x0AEe2AvF0vqmJWb15wEyHKHfylWKtb-8Zj1a_VbDTcV75mjsfCUPkoHVyTsJjRv5ThyJP5_VXoXGOrqD7Ad4xVOQX/s700/bowl2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="700" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-We48K8QQ4y0Jeo4bVdKfSWHSJdJgMaLfVdWMl9FomC-g7_jY-YO8LCNE6cc_HHbW1Kb31XgfKBItel16oLtoCQMd895G9x0AEe2AvF0vqmJWb15wEyHKHfylWKtb-8Zj1a_VbDTcV75mjsfCUPkoHVyTsJjRv5ThyJP5_VXoXGOrqD7Ad4xVOQX/s320/bowl2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjDDWIxkh1hcv66ZAvQHN1T8kuBgF63xXvB7o6D61azy9J9oYbjx64-LLhQNwzTA3zcGqXR_BMkaDL9PbVxULfexiWOdpLwojv3H4Ta5IuWdUaupN5fc3Y2tG77K8m8Rw2gif2-reqSQdTCYzJl9r2L_6fOGGfsyplSlQ4iJWYfS3bUMyEG0sRVZ7/s4032/PSX_20170816_134120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjDDWIxkh1hcv66ZAvQHN1T8kuBgF63xXvB7o6D61azy9J9oYbjx64-LLhQNwzTA3zcGqXR_BMkaDL9PbVxULfexiWOdpLwojv3H4Ta5IuWdUaupN5fc3Y2tG77K8m8Rw2gif2-reqSQdTCYzJl9r2L_6fOGGfsyplSlQ4iJWYfS3bUMyEG0sRVZ7/s320/PSX_20170816_134120.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVGcRFMTxvGbG9yGFmtys8ltfeOtt_39scXMaJGiivyflfqhCDgmJ1iLXB7Ru9OwAziwpq0OnScTaZOVoaMemT5SRjSyZ5-L7q8vItm4hOs8co2pp1dQ0dIW4WCytykqvxsPYoWXBR8LJX-5cNjxVIa_tSppk-U-NSMFZihK_fCU6akQ4ih4tpOBQ/s4032/PSX_20171107_162814.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVGcRFMTxvGbG9yGFmtys8ltfeOtt_39scXMaJGiivyflfqhCDgmJ1iLXB7Ru9OwAziwpq0OnScTaZOVoaMemT5SRjSyZ5-L7q8vItm4hOs8co2pp1dQ0dIW4WCytykqvxsPYoWXBR8LJX-5cNjxVIa_tSppk-U-NSMFZihK_fCU6akQ4ih4tpOBQ/s320/PSX_20171107_162814.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November 2017</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflcD-Fr10Hu1XkUmp8UvIq4y-C8MZ5va92Oqni95dytoZTWqoSF4g1G4vum0LkIjzvsLDojevXqN2iboqAhUW2zqhrzOZNl72Hxhy7zIljFXVOePmvelphlXQuhdg4ZeZ_mEMtKNobE9Jo9uQiU2y6fiWfb-NFXwUqHdDjgGUhvxFxoToZHvHR1ei/s4905/sunny%20D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="4905" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflcD-Fr10Hu1XkUmp8UvIq4y-C8MZ5va92Oqni95dytoZTWqoSF4g1G4vum0LkIjzvsLDojevXqN2iboqAhUW2zqhrzOZNl72Hxhy7zIljFXVOePmvelphlXQuhdg4ZeZ_mEMtKNobE9Jo9uQiU2y6fiWfb-NFXwUqHdDjgGUhvxFxoToZHvHR1ei/s320/sunny%20D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lnNTMkIO30v2Ipqr7RKHEUADmqkK9ZWwzXKsFWKuzImdl34fQnWsM96k3dohuRUmtPmPRigiEQTt4zPSRWfRbe8GQKkZxVv2NpWykgbtLcb0v9rF0JOcgiG_eJouqmWz2qzYsm45UWO86UGk2_gftkooGRfpisBoh0XVgtlIvw42kC8Szmf2s2k9/s3040/zoas%20orange%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3040" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lnNTMkIO30v2Ipqr7RKHEUADmqkK9ZWwzXKsFWKuzImdl34fQnWsM96k3dohuRUmtPmPRigiEQTt4zPSRWfRbe8GQKkZxVv2NpWykgbtLcb0v9rF0JOcgiG_eJouqmWz2qzYsm45UWO86UGk2_gftkooGRfpisBoh0XVgtlIvw42kC8Szmf2s2k9/s320/zoas%20orange%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMmSLEjxOmbOcRX6IGXzQBCdEr35DmYbPHUrr300Y_YyL7N6FUqcOFZ3-m_6jc1NoKDpDtzGrO_oNhoY6Cnd-ifCGyGGxD9QW-hn6vtt2bn74Xuey4GqUezoYGnIFvjev801Tq7f00DXSemi_GbMKHdi9Bfi0D6eNRUhYrVbpfCKCkiCwYZ5GABw-/s4334/zoas%20purple%20green%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3692" data-original-width="4334" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMmSLEjxOmbOcRX6IGXzQBCdEr35DmYbPHUrr300Y_YyL7N6FUqcOFZ3-m_6jc1NoKDpDtzGrO_oNhoY6Cnd-ifCGyGGxD9QW-hn6vtt2bn74Xuey4GqUezoYGnIFvjev801Tq7f00DXSemi_GbMKHdi9Bfi0D6eNRUhYrVbpfCKCkiCwYZ5GABw-/s320/zoas%20purple%20green%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcB9HBCM37o4XxwDgeg-zBpah8EA11Khl3YBNdaY2lyAslpDaD4DvfuJID_0rCYuxWGb74VZJSFQjHWf4EjHUoA5Ld4n7oNzKxhT9j-chNT2S0HZmBFVOmw7R8TrEY75u_q8PRHZoUVo_CI4Tb8G-MzWVMEf9uW9Pk_XlFpv1cGztcKZv-XRfITNkX/s3432/Zoas%20watermelon%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3432" data-original-width="3432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcB9HBCM37o4XxwDgeg-zBpah8EA11Khl3YBNdaY2lyAslpDaD4DvfuJID_0rCYuxWGb74VZJSFQjHWf4EjHUoA5Ld4n7oNzKxhT9j-chNT2S0HZmBFVOmw7R8TrEY75u_q8PRHZoUVo_CI4Tb8G-MzWVMEf9uW9Pk_XlFpv1cGztcKZv-XRfITNkX/s320/Zoas%20watermelon%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In January 2018, my son Lachlan became the first and only person to ever be featured on the cover of CORAL magazine. I've been a contributor to my favorite aquarium-related magazine since 2011, so of course I wrote an article about Reef Bowl for the magazine. I mentioned how reef bowls can be attractive to women, moms, or young people who might not have the funds, free time, or space to have a larger reef tank. The unique shapes of antique bowls and vases bring some visual interest to the tiny tanks, and they don't require a lot of maintenance. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yoSwpK64ycMiIOTx2sqmev4TQzVC154DiXImTDmOMWNjha-aG8wPxfojhLVdeGMg1pN9FlhZ5v9HvFCk1GTQiHbPmW6BqxxxB20M8vS9hLkgg4dqKKBaaMCDnzaLp3LpV751gPxZM1fmrtj0SLs6i70UfeW1fFjKuMkqJYKfFTjM5bANZZ-tCnzU/s806/FB_IMG_1513912317906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yoSwpK64ycMiIOTx2sqmev4TQzVC154DiXImTDmOMWNjha-aG8wPxfojhLVdeGMg1pN9FlhZ5v9HvFCk1GTQiHbPmW6BqxxxB20M8vS9hLkgg4dqKKBaaMCDnzaLp3LpV751gPxZM1fmrtj0SLs6i70UfeW1fFjKuMkqJYKfFTjM5bANZZ-tCnzU/s320/FB_IMG_1513912317906.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IbfCN4-9LrBeqswpuprfGjeqPEaoK-0vkXBkUj_1YovLJzzbc6CmOClDglXmVU4pCJXC6eO3Bi5uybhLO0BBy1OrRtcwUGKJLxdVzbeAxJbxq-wMWKg6xii1RwBoQQOFWjmDKGAMMn5QzHh3qfWdha97SuL5VAvMR-ywApLeGFSXKyFsx-2hqNxJ/s4472/PSX_20171211_123948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="4472" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IbfCN4-9LrBeqswpuprfGjeqPEaoK-0vkXBkUj_1YovLJzzbc6CmOClDglXmVU4pCJXC6eO3Bi5uybhLO0BBy1OrRtcwUGKJLxdVzbeAxJbxq-wMWKg6xii1RwBoQQOFWjmDKGAMMn5QzHh3qfWdha97SuL5VAvMR-ywApLeGFSXKyFsx-2hqNxJ/s320/PSX_20171211_123948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gPXula2NiRsT2LV9Ssslf6BdQU6wJ-HllXUzBqzgwaUGfl8JQdJ9AZo3p2NhRYR97QittqtCXy6RfTyZbNpPP-H2YYqRbZlZLLYCLhxX-whu4KzhwqCLFccEGsSyOdowLbDaiwGBHks4ciNIWMKIs-eV3ZGM-znJODiIuaNwm8_0hrFC-FfDgKD-/s2708/20171209_122743.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="2708" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gPXula2NiRsT2LV9Ssslf6BdQU6wJ-HllXUzBqzgwaUGfl8JQdJ9AZo3p2NhRYR97QittqtCXy6RfTyZbNpPP-H2YYqRbZlZLLYCLhxX-whu4KzhwqCLFccEGsSyOdowLbDaiwGBHks4ciNIWMKIs-eV3ZGM-znJODiIuaNwm8_0hrFC-FfDgKD-/s320/20171209_122743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunny D Zoas growth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oo-2VqKMTbhAfo76si1hcQVyVOpiCny6DxFmuKyvR_QNZogRMkSwQiXK1rs6dhBpx0fxhUzVoV-Vp2knXVI5OcJWi-x9GcLeK3ETwxLLbWuxy45KURjznf_IfQxBgnqaB5X-BWgUqu5QPlNZOx-sh3pd90iHAp5oIEokdnClxtOn_o7unDYbC5ya/s2965/PSX_20180405_214701.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2965" data-original-width="2965" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oo-2VqKMTbhAfo76si1hcQVyVOpiCny6DxFmuKyvR_QNZogRMkSwQiXK1rs6dhBpx0fxhUzVoV-Vp2knXVI5OcJWi-x9GcLeK3ETwxLLbWuxy45KURjznf_IfQxBgnqaB5X-BWgUqu5QPlNZOx-sh3pd90iHAp5oIEokdnClxtOn_o7unDYbC5ya/s320/PSX_20180405_214701.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 2018 </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>This is when the Montipora setosa started to RTN and die. I got a frag from my friend Ryan years before, and it always had a hole in it. It grew in a ring and then eventually covered over the bare spot in the center. Then it started to die there, and never recovered. I tried fragging it and moving the frags to other people's tanks, but those died, too, sadly. This coral's death still haunts me and made me very sad. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietcWXuVLVdpTYzZTHM9cAe9MtDAPu0XYRguBg9g8U3LGxPdhKoCcQ0BsUkBPt9lgj26cRpvup7Tz3fFk2jaRsWA2irDRYGSYLtCrSaoUUIwU_2b1nQPXjHYQx-MmNgd5NzBZIxdydBVy26sUvtFEIkMVM0kLknX6VsWoNpSIGg4EDHtonxlvU1Sdf/s4032/PSX_20180711_164338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietcWXuVLVdpTYzZTHM9cAe9MtDAPu0XYRguBg9g8U3LGxPdhKoCcQ0BsUkBPt9lgj26cRpvup7Tz3fFk2jaRsWA2irDRYGSYLtCrSaoUUIwU_2b1nQPXjHYQx-MmNgd5NzBZIxdydBVy26sUvtFEIkMVM0kLknX6VsWoNpSIGg4EDHtonxlvU1Sdf/s320/PSX_20180711_164338.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 2018</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I replaced the Setosa with a Red Planet my step-dad got me from our local shop, you can see it here in the center. I added a couple new frags I got from MACNA 2017 and Reefapalooza NY, also. Around this time I added a small Sun Sun canister that I keep in the cabinet under the bowl. The hoses go out a hole drilled in the back of the cabinet and sit on the rim of the tank. I also upgraded to a Hydor ETH in-line heater. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9o5nr-r2mULMAGwH0ae3eN4VWY9O7ND2ItEmvSQSJ0sQm8ep9wRMvNDpAwYaHvgi3JMZi642kxT_IYT2hUtQAguyhcDYnuup65TdZdyKqcRla5Cvv_V8aeaV3oFkfGYxUjK-_oUBV3YQ_ZsgbxlgCc5qqa6-xHgMCP8qOmkfh0IXA8k3CPQnRpB2/s4032/PSX_20180711_164244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9o5nr-r2mULMAGwH0ae3eN4VWY9O7ND2ItEmvSQSJ0sQm8ep9wRMvNDpAwYaHvgi3JMZi642kxT_IYT2hUtQAguyhcDYnuup65TdZdyKqcRla5Cvv_V8aeaV3oFkfGYxUjK-_oUBV3YQ_ZsgbxlgCc5qqa6-xHgMCP8qOmkfh0IXA8k3CPQnRpB2/s320/PSX_20180711_164244.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2018</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Around August 2018 <a href="http://aquariumadventures.blogspot.com/2018/08/aqua-illumination-prime-review-and.html">I upgraded my light to an Aqua Illumination Prime.</a> This was a big deal, and made my corals very happy. I did a slow acclimation to the new, brighter light. The color was much better, and the app for controlling the light was so easy to use. This was definitely one of the best things I ever did for the Reef Bowl. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusnr0UMxcr4KGx2AA_9fwIS5_xM5X0QK0CWScGaKQbIxRnyVgZ3lo-x5Iec_mxA2kIDKGcjTuRppRWbCMvE1m63fmIU89Qo75C8U7ZMCo-F9feEzWiWqNVUeSorQj9os5c8RQ6nX2Wcjh_uoqtw1WenAjSmO0km2mDHtWMI2AkW4SETgiWcxwWy4o/s3024/PSX_20180809_211641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusnr0UMxcr4KGx2AA_9fwIS5_xM5X0QK0CWScGaKQbIxRnyVgZ3lo-x5Iec_mxA2kIDKGcjTuRppRWbCMvE1m63fmIU89Qo75C8U7ZMCo-F9feEzWiWqNVUeSorQj9os5c8RQ6nX2Wcjh_uoqtw1WenAjSmO0km2mDHtWMI2AkW4SETgiWcxwWy4o/s320/PSX_20180809_211641.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrOhV74OJ-6ONK4cChYF92mIrV8cKtZK2mldok7zsUARayEN_5dorpCpjfYbe-t2185BT5KewtpcJnzBQIt1CGe_z5JBDNKmvBz-Px5K1KRBA0vhAQETxihSiauL3m3YlYqgr1lk3nYqcmPVW8rgmw2Sjid757CFj_7oOwmq0Yx8v8l2zNaesuDGB/s720/mewith%20bowl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="720" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrOhV74OJ-6ONK4cChYF92mIrV8cKtZK2mldok7zsUARayEN_5dorpCpjfYbe-t2185BT5KewtpcJnzBQIt1CGe_z5JBDNKmvBz-Px5K1KRBA0vhAQETxihSiauL3m3YlYqgr1lk3nYqcmPVW8rgmw2Sjid757CFj_7oOwmq0Yx8v8l2zNaesuDGB/s320/mewith%20bowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2018 just before my son was born</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In October 2018, I had my first big die off of coral in this bowl. My 2nd son was born premature, and we spent several weeks in the hospital as a result. My family was driving an hour one way each day to see us in the hospital, so the tanks kind of took a back seat. When I came home, I'd lost several SPS frags including the deepwater Acro and Monti undata I got from Ryan, and the awesome Acros I got from <a href="https://reefs.com/lfs-spotlight-tsm-corals-westville-nj/">my visit to TSM</a>. It got more and more difficult to maintain the reef bowl after my 2nd son was born. </p><p>In early 2020, I started having a lot of major issues with the reef bowl. The light started to overheat and turn itself off because the fan was going. A friend told me to remove the fan screen, and that worked for a while, but eventually the light gave out. I don't want to blame the light, after all, I did get it from the "returns" section at work, so who knows what it went through before I got it. </p><p>My 2nd son was now a toddler, and he seemed obsessed with putting random objects in the bowl. I pulled out stuffed animals, play-dough, hot wheels cars, yogurt, all sorts of fun things. When I took the bowl apart in March 2020, many of my favorite corals were dying, and I found some rusted metal under the rocks. Sadly, I decided to take the reef bowl down and moved everything to my 90 gallon tank. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqh-LY5uEKXPQQ4B5C87oay93BG27juloy5hle8tjsN7S6QFQyrxfJKiOUCovB8wyzgJZzvw5QFz4amUTZskGfuAFQoY_5d9eH7U74D_nISICQlBBgBsGUvoBeqe_4ISjJtRGSjkKjHD_XM23Y07yKI3n393vN7n9A-yNMhA7rQtZCJnG6yHJ-ni8/s553/Dying%20cyphastrea.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="553" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqh-LY5uEKXPQQ4B5C87oay93BG27juloy5hle8tjsN7S6QFQyrxfJKiOUCovB8wyzgJZzvw5QFz4amUTZskGfuAFQoY_5d9eH7U74D_nISICQlBBgBsGUvoBeqe_4ISjJtRGSjkKjHD_XM23Y07yKI3n393vN7n9A-yNMhA7rQtZCJnG6yHJ-ni8/s320/Dying%20cyphastrea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dying Cyphastrea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UQm0Q4c3s3wk0PdqIlCeGP-jt3VnRTj2uDrc-nuArrpsjxCxV4Qdkdf0PW7vKtEfBMzJs5uupgr80MM-BOPluJNHGFfK5XSIEgdu0to9jgm5HFPm6nP4Zb5zipN0bN_5xdVJGneGUiqfiZ2m_ffPuz5JIkVeQQH-FqBtugQXPOgcXIXYzCHyFk4a/s495/empty%20bowl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UQm0Q4c3s3wk0PdqIlCeGP-jt3VnRTj2uDrc-nuArrpsjxCxV4Qdkdf0PW7vKtEfBMzJs5uupgr80MM-BOPluJNHGFfK5XSIEgdu0to9jgm5HFPm6nP4Zb5zipN0bN_5xdVJGneGUiqfiZ2m_ffPuz5JIkVeQQH-FqBtugQXPOgcXIXYzCHyFk4a/s320/empty%20bowl.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 2020. So much empty.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfvpZtvkbeivhPiiOXJ9o7iY923dIcciWsWBDUB2SMI-gqUcF4BhP336mHHDdRyPPm7zCuFmz79hm_xdugIDEBhmpbKb-1pCaji_KKAKgaoFEdWF-O6XtQkCeKTlDqBjmQOBcXGqv25JjhS3facRq0KK0DXe84Z0OVYcfx10ODDKjQhLtJg5gIdPs/s490/mummy%20eye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="490" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfvpZtvkbeivhPiiOXJ9o7iY923dIcciWsWBDUB2SMI-gqUcF4BhP336mHHDdRyPPm7zCuFmz79hm_xdugIDEBhmpbKb-1pCaji_KKAKgaoFEdWF-O6XtQkCeKTlDqBjmQOBcXGqv25JjhS3facRq0KK0DXe84Z0OVYcfx10ODDKjQhLtJg5gIdPs/s320/mummy%20eye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad Mummy Eye Chalice. It recovered and is a beast now!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In 2023 I still have most of these corals in my 90 gallon tank. The Red Planet is now 10" across and 5" tall. The Red Montipora capricornis, if I had let it grow, it would be 3 feet across by now. The Mummy Eye chalice is now 8" across, and the Grube's Gorgonian would be 5 feet across if I'd let it grow. I cut colonies off of it every few months. The Sunny D Zoa, orange Zoas, and Rasta Zoas are also impressive. The small Superman Cyphastrea my sister gave me for the bowl is now spread over much of the 90 and the new reef bowl. The tiny nub of Tricolor Valida Acro I picked up from my friend who was fragging it is now a large colony about 10" diameter. The plate coral baby my friend grew from anthocauli that I kept in a shot glass in this bowl is now an 8" monster. The (super slow growing) tiny neon green cabbage I got from my LFS in 2016 is now front and center in the 90.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pi0MET_AEF7gr9yJb2mn7eoMOMCo-vIoYcDFDmIppjL-89FjdRhOMEzg6hHLReGiyS1diBRtE-6RIcwyYgnjZjAAhuqRy-KKrtY1ar7Bv2-L9kzqzF_6AoV5iDM0sgZY3OeO2jC8vZtxwKCzTtVqsivXUXbhIan48ADq1etFdaWimYosziyqIS12/s2391/cyphastrea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2391" data-original-width="2391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pi0MET_AEF7gr9yJb2mn7eoMOMCo-vIoYcDFDmIppjL-89FjdRhOMEzg6hHLReGiyS1diBRtE-6RIcwyYgnjZjAAhuqRy-KKrtY1ar7Bv2-L9kzqzF_6AoV5iDM0sgZY3OeO2jC8vZtxwKCzTtVqsivXUXbhIan48ADq1etFdaWimYosziyqIS12/s320/cyphastrea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX1iNZYfjIvJTa9h0Fn1TIGE4nzPu0u6QjoHAr8TSHwCDdiSxWFtmc5fZ-jVNVPm14U2kE_GJQ1Lfrqw_GSWpBYs72gvnNP1c5K-PTdNVmIVjKXpBxizvP0iwknNE-EGyxu1vR-0kIuo76GiRBswIQOnBwuRvGkwPthXjLVLFgvph0ekP90-B1SU0/s3200/Monticap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3200" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX1iNZYfjIvJTa9h0Fn1TIGE4nzPu0u6QjoHAr8TSHwCDdiSxWFtmc5fZ-jVNVPm14U2kE_GJQ1Lfrqw_GSWpBYs72gvnNP1c5K-PTdNVmIVjKXpBxizvP0iwknNE-EGyxu1vR-0kIuo76GiRBswIQOnBwuRvGkwPthXjLVLFgvph0ekP90-B1SU0/s320/Monticap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42l-iLqAE2fYaVJJzPNTF0fqbVin63PPZml3S9MqqpnRn3ykFw_Ih6r9p1leYroVDhr0XI12Gq7CmsT0GB_1739EVrQdZfc2rB7nQXCPE2DRyE9W5BZwe7jgGPeLXgBzSwjzkuHOxZte8Z5JjA0cT4ykQ6bokmDHsGgvSekGal_4HYdjuJt-7BZQ8/s4032/20230122_141017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42l-iLqAE2fYaVJJzPNTF0fqbVin63PPZml3S9MqqpnRn3ykFw_Ih6r9p1leYroVDhr0XI12Gq7CmsT0GB_1739EVrQdZfc2rB7nQXCPE2DRyE9W5BZwe7jgGPeLXgBzSwjzkuHOxZte8Z5JjA0cT4ykQ6bokmDHsGgvSekGal_4HYdjuJt-7BZQ8/s320/20230122_141017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCp1xbCDClZpw9cZyuF84yIJ9mjRy2bLTVgNCta_6B27q7rhxHfMn2Y2rhNt8zEVoBC7CiFZlz9LDni2r_bn4CopzOnaVQJF7h6iQlJgcFGmSIHYKDGZZrqjWiUfSEb3uDMUzSmco1ATG-uQnQ5yBfDqYM1RzJarlXYT41v8HEDO6q0AeX5H0fyD-/s4032/20230122_141404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCp1xbCDClZpw9cZyuF84yIJ9mjRy2bLTVgNCta_6B27q7rhxHfMn2Y2rhNt8zEVoBC7CiFZlz9LDni2r_bn4CopzOnaVQJF7h6iQlJgcFGmSIHYKDGZZrqjWiUfSEb3uDMUzSmco1ATG-uQnQ5yBfDqYM1RzJarlXYT41v8HEDO6q0AeX5H0fyD-/s320/20230122_141404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0v5-IZBUEgeFhDEuxbCpHVHIVmFwjyVGNfO1WoKDob5ZbS9h-1zySlwBvleVlQs8YVvqV6a2GkOaWJZx2WKN6YDj6idRBRWSbbx7ofjm98Wmfwz2RSvAfkkqMyA2dD3pL5TSVYs79jQ5WjUouVowyYm3IGayGCtkFvpMDLcMSspdtaL1iisL49np/s4032/20230123_183026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0v5-IZBUEgeFhDEuxbCpHVHIVmFwjyVGNfO1WoKDob5ZbS9h-1zySlwBvleVlQs8YVvqV6a2GkOaWJZx2WKN6YDj6idRBRWSbbx7ofjm98Wmfwz2RSvAfkkqMyA2dD3pL5TSVYs79jQ5WjUouVowyYm3IGayGCtkFvpMDLcMSspdtaL1iisL49np/s320/20230123_183026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7hUpQ8O9hbY1lj5txB220qdaLnNSb4215RG8NVIAT8nqIpOakmtZMZ13ReezSA4l107Kn16DBcKtCSL7ojkE_1V6jLSYvPMiw3eiC03ffatOunGpuS3Rwd8ihY3Wa0IqkkafX9fbgRzPAufGvHUQNpL8CXZ0n4KoneI3BsihXbwc8Osy8DXExEYo/s4032/20230123_183545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7hUpQ8O9hbY1lj5txB220qdaLnNSb4215RG8NVIAT8nqIpOakmtZMZ13ReezSA4l107Kn16DBcKtCSL7ojkE_1V6jLSYvPMiw3eiC03ffatOunGpuS3Rwd8ihY3Wa0IqkkafX9fbgRzPAufGvHUQNpL8CXZ0n4KoneI3BsihXbwc8Osy8DXExEYo/s320/20230123_183545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In September 2021, I felt like I had enough time and energy to rebuild the Unicorn Reef Bowl. I planned to use all my old equipment and coral I had lying around the house, plus coral and fish from work (Biota). I am a part-time work from home/stay at home mom, so I always have to reef on a seriously low budget. I reached out to Aqua Illumination to ask if they have repair services for their old lights, and they instead graciously offered to "sponsor" the reef bowl for me and sent the new light and Nero wavemaker. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjsJS9PE9wzCOzUpED-qL8yrsK_FI1Ke-iNv7qvenMfcx9tOoa1l9mAquX0m-4zpZzIGGyvV4QZR0xL7fZEVlqf4mLHEQ-ZN6BTL9M4AsLaJsQR8g4kPf8eMd-BaDwqvPeOfwmjk_ROm1A-Wo8JGsG7WNC3puuuSeXsgk8rkQ3nfd4fBoCDfMYJYN/s4032/20210803_203547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjsJS9PE9wzCOzUpED-qL8yrsK_FI1Ke-iNv7qvenMfcx9tOoa1l9mAquX0m-4zpZzIGGyvV4QZR0xL7fZEVlqf4mLHEQ-ZN6BTL9M4AsLaJsQR8g4kPf8eMd-BaDwqvPeOfwmjk_ROm1A-Wo8JGsG7WNC3puuuSeXsgk8rkQ3nfd4fBoCDfMYJYN/s320/20210803_203547.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD8JzsGPyHcAcWIUc-QEKio4jKCGEY5sLoJbm0dG63qOjIDBkVn-EjHn5Usyl8EJ2HRvz-IUGDJayxPfzk0_EetRGn_whDURfKCgHxSHBZCesQMLX63WA-26Tft1K7Qw7o4eYY-zn5BhwyfCR1laBJw4oJ_KleSdUPIMEEC5gD77GeimftM1C8wKO/s4032/PSX_20210904_214738.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD8JzsGPyHcAcWIUc-QEKio4jKCGEY5sLoJbm0dG63qOjIDBkVn-EjHn5Usyl8EJ2HRvz-IUGDJayxPfzk0_EetRGn_whDURfKCgHxSHBZCesQMLX63WA-26Tft1K7Qw7o4eYY-zn5BhwyfCR1laBJw4oJ_KleSdUPIMEEC5gD77GeimftM1C8wKO/s320/PSX_20210904_214738.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Much of the equipment I use on my tanks are hand-me-downs from beloved friends, or taken out of the literal trash bin or returns section at work! Some of the "higher end" equipment I use was donated directly from aquarium companies who believe in my projects. I don't consider myself at all to be a social media "influencer," but for 20 years I've been working in the aquarium industry and guiding customers to the aquarium products that will work best for their build and their budget. Without the brands and employers that have sponsored my reefing journeys over the years, I wouldn't be able to do all this. </p><p>Thank you for reading, and please feel free to ask any questions.</p><p><br /></p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-10310535495059957692023-02-14T18:04:00.001-08:002023-02-17T18:05:16.484-08:00Algae-eating, Sand-sifting Gobies<p> </p><div class="container hide-when-banner-enabled" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative;"><div class="heading-wrapper--article
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//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/articles/Shakerbreakers_buan_s_200x.jpg?v=1676411118 200w," style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in 0s; width: 939.859px;" width="620" /></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Photo courtesy @shakerbreakersreef</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Biota breeds many varieties of peaceful, reef safe "worker" gobies that eat algae and sift sand. These species are difficult to feed when wild caught, but Biota's aquacultured gobies are trained to eat pellet foods, so they will continue to thrive even after they've cleaned your aquarium. Find out which one is right for you and your tank's needs. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This article will help to answer these common questions: </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">What fish eats red slime algae Cyanobacteria? </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">What kind of goby sifts sand? </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">What fish eats green hair algae in a reef tank? </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">What fish eats flatworms in a reef aquarium?</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Amblygobius_phalaena_1_480x480.jpg?v=1676400641" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/sleeper-banded-goby" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: currentcolor; font-weight: 700;">Sleeper Banded Goby</span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The Sleeper Banded Goby is the classic sand-sifting goby. Over the many decades that this species has been a popular pet, aquarists have reported that they not only <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">sift sand</span> and eat <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">green algae</span>, they eat nuisance Cyanobacteria "<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">slime algae</span>" and even some pest <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">flatworms</span>. This is a bigger species with a big mouth, allowing them to get deeper into the sand bed and sift large amounts of sand. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Wild caught sand-sifting gobies have a reputation for being difficult to keep because they need so much sand to gather their food and often starve in aquariums. Biota captive bred gobies are trained to eat pellet foods and other prepared foods, so they're much easier to keep.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This peaceful species can grow up to 6" long and is perfect for medium to large aquariums of at least 30 gallons. They may fight with conspecifics, so they can be kept singly or in pairs. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Ashwin_Court_jester2_480x480.jpg?v=1676403624" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/court-jester" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: currentcolor; font-weight: 700;">Court Jester Goby</span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Not only is this goby beautiful, it's a perfect algae-eater for a nano tank. Their natural diet in the wild contains <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">green hair algae</span> (Bryopsis), so they're perfect for filamentous algae control. They also <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">sift sand</span> with their tiny mouths part-time, keeping the top layer stirred and preventing nuisance algae growth.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Wild court jester gobies are finicky eaters, but our Biota captive bred Court Jester Gobies are raised on pellet and frozen foods, making them easy to feed and keep.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This small species is peaceful and gets along great with other types of gobies, even in a nano tank. However, it can quarrel with its own kind if not enough territory is provided. It's best to keep just one Court Jester Goby in a nano tank, but in larger tanks you can keep pairs or groups if you need some serious algae control.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/DSC_0032_480x480.jpg?v=1676408629" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/bauns-nano-sand-goby" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: currentcolor; font-weight: 700;">Buan's Goby</span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Not too big, and not too small - Buan's goby packs the best characteristics of its cousins the Court Jester Goby and the Sleeper Banded Goby into a medium sized body. This <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">sand-sifting, algae-eating powerhouse</span> has a similar temperament to the Court Jester Goby - peaceful toward other species and can be kept in groups given enough territory. They typically reach a size around 3" in captivity, so they're a great fit for most home aquariums. Of course, they readily feed on prepared foods like pellets and frozen foods to help keep them healthy between algae and sand feeding frenzies. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Admittedly, our pictures don't do this fish justice. When young, they have grey bands on a white body, but as they age, they develop a beautiful red iridescent coloration starting at the head.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Another interesting tidbit about the Buan's Goby is that at the time of this writing, they are ONLY available from Biota and are not collected from the wild for the aquarium trade. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/DSC_0052_480x480.jpg?v=1676410320" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/products/links-goby" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: currentcolor; font-weight: 700;">Link's Goby </span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">The Link's Goby is another medium-sized <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">sand-sifting, algae-eating goby with an awesome work ethic</span>. They spend all day sifting sand and picking at algae like it's their job. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Link's Goby is white with contrasting black bands and grows to about 3", so they work well in most home aquariums. They're peaceful toward other species, but have a bit more attitude than some of the gobies on this list. They should be kept singly in smaller tanks, but can be kept in pairs or groups in larger tanks. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Like the Buan's, Link's Goby is also not collected for the aquarium trade from the wild and is only available as Biota captive bred. Another interesting fact about Link's goby is that they live in mangrove forests, mud flats, estuaries, and saline lakes in the wild. This makes them a phenomenally sturdy species that is tolerant of a wide variety of water parameters. They do well as a first fish in cycled aquariums for this reason.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Sand-sifting Goby Videos</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Watch this Link's Goby chow down on green hair algae: <a href="https://youtu.be/wcwUQfjBqAE" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">https://youtu.be/wcwUQfjBqAE</a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">A cute Court Jester goby living with nano gobies in a reef bowl: <a href="https://youtu.be/ODqosS9DNMc" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">https://youtu.be/ODqosS9DNMc</a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Buan's Gobies eating pellet foods at Biota Florida: <a href="https://youtu.be/M39W3YpHAGg" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">https://youtu.be/M39W3YpHAGg</a></p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-77637489960488090402022-12-19T18:03:00.001-08:002023-02-17T18:04:20.112-08:00Light Acclimation and Coral Coloration<p> </p><div class="container hide-when-banner-enabled" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative;"><div class="heading-wrapper--article
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//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/articles/Untitled_design_200x.png?v=1671247697 200w," style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in 0s; width: 939.859px;" width="1080" /></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Did you know it's just as important to acclimate new coral to your lighting as it is to have proper water parameters? Any time you move a coral from one place to another, even within the same tank, keep in mind that the coral will need time to adjust to the new lighting intensity and flow rate and pattern there. Newly shipped corals are especially prone to "bleaching" from being exposed to direct light too quickly.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">How to light acclimate a coral</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">When you receive your new coral, follow our easy <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/pages/acclimation-guide" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">acclimation guide</a>. Turn the aquarium lights off before placing your coral in the new tank. Keep the lights off until the next morning.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">A good place for new corals is at the very far left or right side corners of the aquarium where the light is least intense. If the frag has a plug, you can place a frag rack in a shady spot on the side of your tank for new corals. If it has a flat bottom, you can place it on the substrate (avoid letting sand collect on the coral).</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/PSX_20220203_232610_480x480.jpg?v=1671245815" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">If you want to mount your coral to its final placement right away, you can dim the light instead. Some LED lights come with an "acclimation mode." The standard is to start the light acclimation by dimming the lights by about 50%, slowly increasing the intensity by very small increments over the course of 30 days. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">If you don't have LED lights with an acclimation mode, you can shade the coral by cutting out circles of mesh window screen and stacking them above the coral on the lid of your tank so that they only shade that coral. Each week remove one of the stacks. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/mesh_window_screen_cut_out_480x480.jpg?v=1671245477" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">If your lights have a simple on/off switch and can't be dimmed, you can cut back the number of hours your lights are on during the day temporarily. Add an hour to the daylight hours each week for a month until the daylight hours are back to normal (usually 8 to 12 hours total, with actinic light coming on one hour before the white, and staying on one hour after). Another method is to adjust the height of the lights so they're further away from your water's surface. Over the course of the month, slowly adjust the height until they're in their original position.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Of course, you should observe your coral during acclimation and adjust as needed. It takes a bit of experience and focused observation to know when a coral is stressed. A coral that is pale, white, or translucent is "bleached" and should not be exposed to direct lighting. Bleaching happens when a coral is stressed, usually by bright light or heat, and loses its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Even a coral that is completely white can recover given proper conditions, indirect light, lots of coral food, and patience. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">an example of a pale, bleaching coral that needs to be moved to a shady spot and fed often for recovery.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/bleached_scoly_480x480.jpg?v=1671483081" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">What to expect when you're expecting new coral</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Shipping is the most stressful event in these animals' lives, even exponentially more stressful than chopping them up and gluing them to rocks! This is why we need to give them extra care and consideration when they first arrive. Luckily, most coral, especially aquacultured coral, is much hardier than expected as long as you know how to acclimate them properly.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Keeping this in mind, it's normal/expected for coral to arrive with less color after shipping. It's also common for smaller/younger frags to have a more subdued color than the mature mother colony they were cut from. Over time with proper care, conditions, and nutrition, these young frags will color up to look more like their parent colony. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Tricolor_valida_480x480.jpg?v=1671245646" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Corals can look completely different depending on the light intensity. A "Mummy Eye Chalice" will be bright yellow under intense light, but deep neon orange under less intense light.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/mummy_eye_480x480.jpg?v=1671245620" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">A Sunkist Oxypora will be dull green under intense light, but will be a beautiful velvety orange in the lower areas of a brightly lit reef tank. An Acropora coral might be dark green as a frag, but pink as an adult colony. A dark green Acropora colony can even turn a completely different color under a different type or intensity of lighting. It depends a lot on the health and concentration of the coral's many tiny symbionts and how the environment and feeding encourages the coral's coloration.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This Acropora turned bright pink after an upgrade to a newer "high end" lighting system.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Red_Planet_480x480.jpg?v=1671245626" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This Red Montipora Cap grew into a stunningly bright show piece with proper light acclimation and slow light intensity increase.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Monticap_480x480.jpg?v=1671245592" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">This Biota Helen's Smoothskin Acropora was grown in Palau from a bright blue mother colony. Young, small frags tend to be more green, and it's natural for coral during shipping to lose a little color, but they tend to color up again quickly. Here's a collage of this coral from the day it arrived until about one year later. It's hard to imagine the coral in the first picture is the same exact coral in the last picture.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" height="908" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/Turaki_480x480.jpg?v=1671245653" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="373" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">If you think your coral arrived DOA, please read our DOA policy <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/pages/faqs" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">here</a>.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There is no instant gratification when it comes to coral keeping, but that's half the fun of this hobby! The coral keeper must provide an environment similar to its natural habitat in order for it to thrive, and that isn't always easy. Of course, aquacultured corals are hardier and better suited to home aquarium life than wild caught corals. With patience, consistency, and research, you will be a successful coral grower! </p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-57484859219972534372022-11-28T17:59:00.001-08:002023-02-17T18:00:25.350-08:00The Secret to a Healthy Quarantine Aquarium<p> </p><div class="container hide-when-banner-enabled" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative;"><div class="heading-wrapper--article
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//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/articles/Multibar-Angel-1_e4a0e6b5-9edb-4539-901c-4243e3a73aea_200x.jpg?v=1669664004 200w," style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in 0s; width: 939.859px;" width="1080" /></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Have you been making these common quarantine mistakes? Contrary to popular belief, quarantine done properly is not dangerous or stressful to new fish. Rather, it should be a safe rest and conditioning period before being introduced to the established fish in the display tank who may not be happy about sharing their territory.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Aquarium hobbyists rely on healthy populations of nitrifying bacteria, clean up crews, microfauna, algae, fish, coral, and many other diverse lifeforms to process waste in their aquariums. It can take half a year or more for these populations to mature and stabilize, even with the help of pre-seeded media, live rock, and bottled bacteria. It takes time. We all know that a quarantine tank is the best way to introduce a new fish to your home, but how is anyone supposed to keep a quarantine tank from crashing without all the diversity in a mature system? </span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/DSC_0565_480x480.jpg?v=1669663330" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">The secret aquaculturists know is that organic matter left in the tank for any amount of time can turn deadly very quickly. It’s important to constantly remove waste from immature tanks. Failing to do so can cause acute ammonia spikes, ORP drops, pH swings, infectious bacteria growth, acute oxygen depletion, and other issues that may not be easily diagnosed or requires special equipment to test that hobbyists don’t have immediate access to. </span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">In addition to your regular maintenance, we strongly recommend siphoning the quarantine tank before and one hour after each feeding.</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> Thoroughly remove all detritus, feces, and uneaten food. Pay special attention to anywhere detritus can collect, like under rocks or hides. You will need to use a scrub pad to scrub the bottom of the tank as needed. Also frequently squeeze and rinse mechanical filtration like sponges in the tank water you removed during water changes, since organic matter can collect there quickly. Organic matter left in an aquarium starts to decay and attract bacteria almost immediately. </span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/IMG_5423_480x480.jpg?v=1669662881" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Even in quarantine aquariums that have "cycled" media or rock, the diversity, stability, and overall maturity is still lacking. This can cause temporary but deadly ammonia spikes that may not even register on an ammonia test because the bacterial action processed the ammonia quickly. Keep an ammonia badge in the tank to help alert you to ammonia spikes, but also be aware that having “cycled” media or rock in your temporary tank does not mean your tank is safe from ammonia spikes. </span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">You may be thinking, "This sounds a bit unnecessary. I always do one larger water change each day on my quarantine, and that has worked for me." Keep in mind, though, some fish are more hardy than others. Removing waste frequently is particularly important for more sensitive species like Regal or Multibar Angelfish, for example, that have a hard time tolerating swinging parameters and immature aquariums. If you're an advanced aquarist and an expert on the species you're quarantining, you might be able to avoid siphoning as often if you can keep meals small and make sure the food is eaten quickly, but this is a difficult balance even for experts. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/print_29_480x480.jpg?v=1669663164" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">We recommend feeding 3 - 4 x a day when fish are young or newly introduced. Keep feedings small, but frequent. If the fish isn’t eating at all, keep the portions tiny. You’ll want to give the fish enough time to notice and eat the food, but don’t leave the uneaten food in the tank for too long.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Some fish are more tolerant to water quality issues than others. Fish that have just been shipped and also sensitive species are sort of like "canaries in the coalmine," so they'll often be the first to show symptoms of water quality issues while other fish seem OK. Having one fish in the tank that is struggling while the others look healthy does not indicate good water quality, and it doesn’t mean the struggling fish is defective in some way. </span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">It’s extremely important to make cleaning and siphoning part of your feeding regimen. It can sound tedious to have to siphon and clean the tank so often to prevent these issues, but it only takes a few minutes each time to quickly siphon the tank bottom and scrub it with an algae pad as needed. You don’t need to remove a large volume of water around feeding times, just enough to remove the waste. Keep a small bucket and a thin siphon hose next to the quarantine so you can quickly and easily perform the needed maintenance. Also keep a large container with mixed saltwater on hand at all times so you’ll always have pre-made water on hand when you need it.</span> </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/conditioning_tank_db71e218-7414-4689-ad75-f18a2b0d5b9b_480x480.jpg?v=1669662827" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">An Acclimation Box is a Great Tool for EVERY Aquarium </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">If you can’t use a quarantine aquarium, an acrylic acclimation box can serve a similar purpose - conditioning new fish and letting them interact with your existing fish in safety. Even if you quarantine your new fish in a separate aquarium, we still recommend using an acclimation box when you move the new fish into the display.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">How to introduce new fish to a tank that already has fish</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">We strongly recommend introducing any new fish to a tank using an acclimation box; this is particularly important for smaller fish. This allows the fish to get to know each other. More importantly, using an acclimation box also lets you keep a close eye on the fish so you know it is getting food and isn't swept away by pumps or filtration while it's tired from its long journey. Make sure your acclimation box is large enough to accommodate your new fish comfortably for several weeks. Place it in an area that gets plenty of flow so the water inside doesn't become stagnant. Provide lightweight hiding places like PVC or macroalgae in the box. Observe the fish in the box for at least a week, and if the fish aren't acting aggressively toward it, try releasing the fish. If the fish fight, ideally you'd catch the aggressor and isolate it in the acclimation box to allow the new fish to get used to the tank. If you can't catch the aggressor, it's OK to put the new fish back into the acclimation box until signs of aggression are gone. With particularly aggressive fish, you may need to repeat these steps. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/acclimation_box_1dc99e29-6674-4487-b550-15341801ce62_480x480.jpg?v=1667422063" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Why do I need a quarantine aquarium? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">A quarantine aquarium isolates your new arrivals and gives them a chance to regain strength before going into the display tank with other fish they’ll have to compete with for territory and food.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Although our marine biologists practice strict biosecurity at our facility, we still recommend all aquarists use a quarantine and conditioning aquarium as good practice. We should all do our best to provide the best conditions for our pets, but it’s not possible to have complete complete control over all the lifeforms in our aquariums, including the ones we don’t want. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">There’s a scene in Jurassic Park in which Jeff Goldblum’s character warns the scientists that they can’t expect to control the dinosaurs, and we think it’s a great metaphor for our captive aquarium environments. -</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Dr. Ian Malcolm : “John, the kind of control you're attempting simply is not possible. If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously…I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way.”</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">How to set up a quarantine tank</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://humble.fish/community/index.php?threads/quarantine.2/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">https://humble.fish/community/index.php?threads/quarantine.2/</a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Dos and Don’ts of Quarantine </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://humble.fish/community/index.php?threads/the-20-dos-and-donts-of-quarantine.2036/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">https://humble.fish/community/index.php?threads/the-20-dos-and-donts-of-quarantine.2036/</a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Though proper quarantine is an excellent practice, we don't recommend using medications prophylactically on very young or newly shipped fish. Please give your fish plenty of time to grow and condition them well if you plan to use any preventative medications. </span></p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-16050317770990301742022-11-23T19:13:00.001-08:002022-11-23T19:13:25.769-08:00How to Mix Multiple Tangs in an Aquarium<p> https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/blogs/news/how-to-mix-multiple-tangs-in-an-aquarium</p><p><br /></p><div class="container hide-when-banner-enabled" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: Helvetica, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative;"><div class="heading-wrapper--article
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//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/articles/245917039_4587319044662654_3700569402252690553_n_400x.jpg?v=1667421858 400w,
//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/articles/245917039_4587319044662654_3700569402252690553_n_200x.jpg?v=1667421858 200w," style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in 0s; width: 939.859px;" width="1536" /></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Many aquarists have successfully added a young <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/collections/tangs-rabbitfish" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">captive bred Biota tang</a> to their tanks that have existing older, wild tangs. This Biota blog will help you learn some useful tips and tricks for keeping multiple tangs together.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Why are tangs aggressive toward conspecifics?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Some people tend to think of only carnivores as being aggressive, but tangs and other herbivores can be aggressive to protect their territory. Many tang species are considered to be “peaceful,” while some are “aggressive,” but even peaceful tang species can be aggressive toward other tangs, and sometimes even toward other herbivores like blennies if they feel their territory is too small or if their food supply is perceived to be limited.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">How do tangs fight?</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Most fish species will use their teeth to fight, so new tang owners might be surprised to see their fighting tangs line up side by side. Instead of biting, tangs typically use a sharp spine (scalpel) at the base of the tail (caudal peduncle) to slap and puncture their opponent. If you see your tang swim next to another fish while flaring all its fins and darting quickly back and forth, this is aggressive posturing.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/caudal_peduncle_480x480.jpg?v=1667419302" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">top and bottom left: various tang species' caudal peduncle weapons </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">bottom right: a tang with injuries </em></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">How</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> to introduce new fish to a tank that already has fish</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">We strongly recommend introducing any new fish to a tank using an acclimation box; this is particularly important for smaller fish. This allows the new fish and your existing fish to get to know each other in safety. More importantly, using an acclimation box also lets you keep a close eye on the fish so you know it is getting food and isn't swept away by pumps or filtration while it's tired from its long journey. Make sure your acclimation box is large enough to accommodate your new fish comfortably for several weeks. Place it in an area that gets plenty of flow so the water inside doesn't become stagnant. Provide lightweight hiding places like PVC or macroalgae in the box. Observe the fish in the box for at least a week, and if the fish aren't acting aggressively toward it, try releasing the fish. If the fish fight, ideally you'd catch the aggressor and isolate it in the acclimation box to allow the new fish to get used to the tank. If you can't catch the aggressor, it's OK to put the new fish back into the acclimation box until signs of aggression are gone. With particularly aggressive fish, you may need to repeat these steps. </p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/acclimation_box_1dc99e29-6674-4487-b550-15341801ce62_480x480.jpg?v=1667422063" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tang groups should be kept in a very large tank</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Your tank should be at least 6 feet long if you want to keep multiple tangs together. Very young tangs can be kept in a smaller tank together temporarily during quarantine or grow-out, but they grow quickly. Adult tang groups should ideally be housed in the largest aquarium possible. A tang that feels crowded may act out aggressively.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Have a lot of rock arranged with a lot of hiding places</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />The aquascape of your tank is important. Tangs are strong swimmers and need plenty of open space, but they also need lots of live rock with caves and crevices to feel safe.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/collections/tangs-rabbitfish/products/hawaiian-yellow" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/ashwinclement_480x480.jpg?v=1667418738" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Feed often</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">A well-fed tang is a happy, peaceful tang. In the wild tangs graze constantly. If they sense a lack of food, they will be more likely to fight. It can be a fine balance between feeding enough to make tangs happy and controlling organic waste in the tank. Especially when tangs are first introduced together, feed multiple stations of "grazing" type foods like nori seaweed sheets on clips or <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/search?type=product,page,article&q=masstick*" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Easy Reefs Masstick</a> at opposite ends of the tank and replace as often as possible.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Add tangs at the same time</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Your best bet is to add an odd number of tangs to the same tank at the same time. Two tangs will only have each other to fight with, but three tangs will disperse their aggression three ways. It’s better if you can find tangs that are already used to being together. <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/collections/tangs-rabbitfish" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">Biota captive bred tangs</a> are housed in our facility together with others of their species and tend to acclimate together better than tangs that have been housed alone. Younger tangs also tend to get along better than tangs introduced together as large adults.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Turn out the lights</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">When you open the shipping box, you don't want to shock your new fish with bright lighting. Turn off your aquarium lights and make your room as dark as possible. Adding new fish into a dark tank will also encourage the fish to rest instead of fight. Keep the lights off for the rest of the day and allow them to come on in the morning. Aquarium professionals use red light in dark dedicated acclimation rooms because fish don't see red light. You can use a red light at home or a red flashlight to view your tank at night.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/collections/tangs-rabbitfish/products/blue-tang" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><img alt="" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0421/4495/6567/files/blue_tang_480x480.jpg?v=1667418663" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Add tangs in order of size and each species’ aggression level</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">If possible, add tangs according to size. The smallest specimens should be added to the tank before larger ones. If you’re adding different species together in one tank, consider their aggression level. For example, a Blue Tang is considered to be peaceful while a purple tang is considered to be semi-aggressive, and a clown tang is aggressive. Add the most peaceful species first. Some individuals of the same species can be more or less aggressive depending on their personality and life experiences. If you can't follow these rules, be sure to use an acclimation box to introduce new fish! Adding multiple tangs in odd numbers helps break up aggression if you already have established, older tangs in the tank.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">It is usually easier to add tangs together when they have a different body shape, color, and are a different genus. For example, adding a captive bred Yellow Tang and a captive bred Blue Tang together at the same time is likely to be successful. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Distractions </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;">Aquarists use creative ways to distract their "bully" tangs. 3D printed "decoy" tangs, a mirror or a picture of a tang taped to the side of the tank can attract a bully to help keep it away from a new tang. Moving the rockwork around and breaking up a bully's territory can also help when adding a new fish.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If you have any questions about adding a captive bred Biota tang to your aquarium, please feel free to reach out to our <a href="https://shop.thebiotagroup.com/pages/contact" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2ea3f2; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;">support team</a>. </p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-20047714257929495862022-02-01T07:00:00.002-08:002022-04-08T07:03:00.713-07:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ldl0zv2_sOdy5dvcSVd1_hab5nb73SDS1YATbjeWEkZaigT6ZEGUeaMtxCf1YAh-dO8htJzU9hUZgzv57t06iXdVrAyUrtvt5iixBFwWJlgdYQl_noqCmavdU_yaAtj0td69LljynCk6SZ80utStQV_BXzcOcY8BVoyXQpdjbcWCsihXfFFNYffL/s900/273113688_10159772056642767_917074726564613548_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="900" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ldl0zv2_sOdy5dvcSVd1_hab5nb73SDS1YATbjeWEkZaigT6ZEGUeaMtxCf1YAh-dO8htJzU9hUZgzv57t06iXdVrAyUrtvt5iixBFwWJlgdYQl_noqCmavdU_yaAtj0td69LljynCk6SZ80utStQV_BXzcOcY8BVoyXQpdjbcWCsihXfFFNYffL/w640-h430/273113688_10159772056642767_917074726564613548_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 oo9gr5id lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/coralmagazine?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" waprocessedanchor="true">#CORALmagazine</a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 oo9gr5id lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/insidelook?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" waprocessedanchor="true">#Insidelook</a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">: Author Felicia McCaulley and photographer Michael Vargas have done it again with an all-out tour de force, replete with glorious </span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gpro0wi8 oo9gr5id lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/MVargasCoralPhotography?__tn__=-]K*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" waprocessedanchor="true"><span class="nc684nl6" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">MVargas Photography</span></a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">, showcasing what seems to be the “coral of the year”, the Torch Coral, Euphyllia glabrescens. It’s this issue’s Species Spotlight.</span></span></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-58478914494421586432021-11-07T10:01:00.003-08:002021-11-07T10:01:38.433-08:00Melev's Reef - Let's talk with Felicia McCaulley about Reef Vases, Seahorses & Palytoxin!<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ub-l16pVfV8" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-2223726727685459062021-11-01T15:57:00.002-07:002021-11-20T16:03:21.436-08:00Acanthophyllia - Donut, Meat, or Deshay's Coral<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://portal.publishersserviceassociates.com/carts/coral/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgO7fq-l09w/YZmL4r6uAbI/AAAAAAAD7g0/RnR14nY29fI_vRY1Jd2TdoX7Xjg0x1X9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w486-h640/NovDec%2B2021.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /> November/December 2021 issue of CORAL magazine <p></p><p>Acanthophyllia - Donut, Meat, or Deshay's Coral - by Felicia McCaulley, images by Michael Vargas</p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-44283063869033165902021-09-26T10:25:00.004-07:002021-09-26T10:29:47.281-07:00ReefTools visits Drs. Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria part 2 - For Posterity<h2 style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">A post from the 2009 Reef Tools visit to LiveAquaria and Drs. Foster & Smith</h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">"<a href="http://reeftools.com/news/reeftools-visits-drs-foster-and-smith-and-liveaquaria-part-2/" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration-line: none;">ReefTools visits Drs. Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria part 2</a></h2><p> <strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Posted on</strong><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12px;"> Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 1:02 pm by </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://reeftools.com/author/reef-tools/" rel="author" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Posts by Reef Tools">Reef Tools</a></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-sMmLhObes/YVCsJTrG2ZI/AAAAAAAD1Ro/0HWwCYM5itsdNhbAnS2PuIWDJgwmZ42qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-sMmLhObes/YVCsJTrG2ZI/AAAAAAAD1Ro/0HWwCYM5itsdNhbAnS2PuIWDJgwmZ42qgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A lot of you have asked for the second part in this series, so here it comes. If you have not had a chance yet, check out <a href="http://reeftools.com/news/reeftools-visits-drs-foster-and-smith-and-liveaquaria-part-1/" style="color: black;">ReefTools visits Drs. Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria part 1</a>. We have visited LiveAquaria now for a second time this year, so we will incorporate photos from both visits into this article. If you haven’t had chance to read about LiveAquaria, you don’t know what you’re missing. Many of you have probably ordered both Dry Goods and Livestock from LiveAquaria and Diver’s Den, without knowing much about the company and their setup. Well, we’re here to give you a behind-the-scenes look.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We entered the facility and were immediately greeted by LiveAquaria’s director Kevin Kohen. The first thing we noticed when entering the “coral farm,” is just how clean and organized everything was. The coral farm is comprised of several raceways, where every inch is covered with healthy and colorful corals and clams. East bin in the raceway has a dedicated metal halide fixture on an automated track. The light is constantly moving back and forth to cover the entire tank. This allows the facility to provide the corals the light they need, while saving energy. There are 3 separate coral systems, each with their own controller, skimmer, calcium reactor, kalk reactor, etc. Immediately in front of you, is the quarantine and medication station for fish, where new arrivals are treated. The knowledgeable staff at LiveAquaria places a high priority to provide the livestock with excellent care.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nj_MygWxUhc/YVCsRUHYB_I/AAAAAAAD1Rs/zIltarqKfhUeGJL8DXvrfdrQgee-ytODACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nj_MygWxUhc/YVCsRUHYB_I/AAAAAAAD1Rs/zIltarqKfhUeGJL8DXvrfdrQgee-ytODACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To the right of the fish quarantine station, you will see LiveAquaria’s coral quarantine station, containing several large containers where each coral is placed after being dipped. This setup allows the staff to inspect each and every piece that comes in, and identify any pests that it might carry. The corals are left in the Quarantine station until they are ready to be introduced to one of the main systems. This prevents any pests from entering one of the large coral system. Pay attention here, EVERY CORAL IS DIPPED AND QUARANTINED!! If LiveAquaria puts forth the time, money and effort with 100,000’s of pieces of livestock each year, maybe you should do the same to any new piece you add to your system.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIo7YSUBeEA/YVCsZgBlW7I/AAAAAAAD1R0/E5IJqrcM0XEbFnvuohGj4FaNA3gc3lpggCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/DSC_0026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIo7YSUBeEA/YVCsZgBlW7I/AAAAAAAD1R0/E5IJqrcM0XEbFnvuohGj4FaNA3gc3lpggCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC_0026.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you walk out of the coral Quarantine station, you come face to face with an incredible show tank. This 265 (84 x 24 x 30) gallon tank is stacked with the most incredible SPS you’ll ever see. Large Acropora colonies “plague” this beautiful tank, along with a wonderful selection of fish and invertebrates (love the Harlequins). From Australian Echinatas, to Acroporas from Fiji and Bali, this tank is enough to make any coral enthusiast drool. If you can pull yourself away from the show tank, you begin your tour of the coral raceways.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koWzV4rW5ig/YVCsjXn1iEI/AAAAAAAD1R8/xxRjoLiiKhMvRVvABuT2JoG1JrF-MmGngCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="700" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-koWzV4rW5ig/YVCsjXn1iEI/AAAAAAAD1R8/xxRjoLiiKhMvRVvABuT2JoG1JrF-MmGngCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h294/DSC_0031.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I can’t say enough about how nice and healthy the corals, clams, and other inverts were. These are the items you see in the Diver’s Den section of <a href="http://www.liveaquaria.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">www.liveaquaria.com</a>. Each raceway provides a beautiful top-down view of the livestock, and you can see 360 degrees of pretty much every piece. The raceways seem to just go on and on, with every shade of color you could possibly add to your tank. Once you make your way through the raceways, you enter the Diver’s Den fish section. Most fish are kept in their own container, were they are continuously inspected throughout every day, until they are sold and shipped. Even with the massive quantity of fish, the staff knew exactly what was available, and where it was. We enjoyed seeing some rare species occupying many of these tanks. A huge advantage of this setup, is that it allows the staff to ensure that each fish is eating. LiveAquaria prides itself on selling healthy, almost all of which are used to eating frozen food. This greatly increases the likelihood that your new acquisition from LiveAquaria will do so in your system. This is very important, especially for finicky eaters, or difficult to keep fish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6H1gmbDEiI/YVCsvJDw13I/AAAAAAAD1SA/JSbwR0uLCZoNOkjJBHgCM1bdWNSUU2olACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6H1gmbDEiI/YVCsvJDw13I/AAAAAAAD1SA/JSbwR0uLCZoNOkjJBHgCM1bdWNSUU2olACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_0043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We can’t say enough about the amount of care given to the livestock, as well as the extreme attention to details provided by the LiveAquaria staff. LiveAquaria offers a 100%, arrive alive, stay alive, risk-free 14 day guarantee on fish, coral, plant, or invertebrates. A 30 day guarantee is offered for each Drs. Fosters & Smith Certified Captive Grown coral.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Stay tuned to part 3 of this series</strong>. Please check out their site at <a href="http://www.liveaquaria.com/" style="color: black;" target="_blank">www.liveaquaria.com</a>."</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQtlpAmM5A0/YVCtqv3-kiI/AAAAAAAD1SM/ZiW78GPukfcR_BHdG2Xguwifw1C74hAJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQtlpAmM5A0/YVCtqv3-kiI/AAAAAAAD1SM/ZiW78GPukfcR_BHdG2Xguwifw1C74hAJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC_0026.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCLYRcMO4pI/YVCtqliv1BI/AAAAAAAD1SQ/GoWQPundrtQW5dZWoCnmo1_rsSXhA7jvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCLYRcMO4pI/YVCtqliv1BI/AAAAAAAD1SQ/GoWQPundrtQW5dZWoCnmo1_rsSXhA7jvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_0038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GO9UFdrMY2g/YVCtqiq-HGI/AAAAAAAD1SU/msOeCvSKH_QVW60qsAPsCE5NgPh_VazlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s426/DSC_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GO9UFdrMY2g/YVCtqiq-HGI/AAAAAAAD1SU/msOeCvSKH_QVW60qsAPsCE5NgPh_VazlwCLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h640/DSC_0050.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlYqJLPushM/YVCtq-n4PfI/AAAAAAAD1SY/8tv6gAFl3UMcxqpdTdLUMO_HkjT-xHrPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlYqJLPushM/YVCtq-n4PfI/AAAAAAAD1SY/8tv6gAFl3UMcxqpdTdLUMO_HkjT-xHrPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_0051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtgNR4yRbtw/YVCtraCUmxI/AAAAAAAD1Sc/HyJNvTi5wLYqB52lt7s_ZTk1Nrv6yPNKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtgNR4yRbtw/YVCtraCUmxI/AAAAAAAD1Sc/HyJNvTi5wLYqB52lt7s_ZTk1Nrv6yPNKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_0052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1yi4UzrDy4/YVCtrnPx5oI/AAAAAAAD1Sg/SkQqYPgpf1MRYJpV1BRct-QIyT4pLkMzACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y1yi4UzrDy4/YVCtrnPx5oI/AAAAAAAD1Sg/SkQqYPgpf1MRYJpV1BRct-QIyT4pLkMzACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_0054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ppuWicUIgxc/YVCtr-RBg1I/AAAAAAAD1Sk/inkoE-cwZDM68LCUtFUCLwyhkKRPKbEqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s511/DSC_6318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="340" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ppuWicUIgxc/YVCtr-RBg1I/AAAAAAAD1Sk/inkoE-cwZDM68LCUtFUCLwyhkKRPKbEqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC_6318.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4_fo3z3YPI/YVCtsOIIHZI/AAAAAAAD1So/GxbtJc92kr8mnuzNUvK7joF_9tXzuy1NQCLcBGAsYHQ/s511/DSC_6325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="340" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4_fo3z3YPI/YVCtsOIIHZI/AAAAAAAD1So/GxbtJc92kr8mnuzNUvK7joF_9tXzuy1NQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/DSC_6325.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dxBd8LCNms/YVCtsJoqqCI/AAAAAAAD1Ss/6Wp59ifCMds9MxOFrsAEdvcO3lFZXC9VACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6371a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="700" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dxBd8LCNms/YVCtsJoqqCI/AAAAAAAD1Ss/6Wp59ifCMds9MxOFrsAEdvcO3lFZXC9VACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h422/DSC_6371a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsrNQmKVUbw/YVCtsOMGMfI/AAAAAAAD1Sw/qzj725q8kc8whpmdAXFQECdYW-5OyH0LQCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6375a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="700" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsrNQmKVUbw/YVCtsOMGMfI/AAAAAAAD1Sw/qzj725q8kc8whpmdAXFQECdYW-5OyH0LQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h422/DSC_6375a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YPlDwXH40s/YVCtseacutI/AAAAAAAD1S0/AmxQ7-SQC_U4BbpIrvmx6ql10oX0dqDmACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3YPlDwXH40s/YVCtseacutI/AAAAAAAD1S0/AmxQ7-SQC_U4BbpIrvmx6ql10oX0dqDmACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6386.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21mNWqf0VLU/YVCtsuQxuMI/AAAAAAAD1S4/7jldOdgv9ycD9XhIHp-zOz41QPsbWh4YQCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="700" height="330" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21mNWqf0VLU/YVCtsuQxuMI/AAAAAAAD1S4/7jldOdgv9ycD9XhIHp-zOz41QPsbWh4YQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h330/DSC_6403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4y5ANJGqNfQ/YVCtsq0TOKI/AAAAAAAD1S8/Mdtkz5wJVYcw4JvEg4s65Qk3NvUgF0AXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4y5ANJGqNfQ/YVCtsq0TOKI/AAAAAAAD1S8/Mdtkz5wJVYcw4JvEg4s65Qk3NvUgF0AXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJWAuPgA-bU/YVCtswtzBfI/AAAAAAAD1TA/tK6VtRkEVI4xnGw8eB7yJ44-qCUzL9-jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJWAuPgA-bU/YVCtswtzBfI/AAAAAAAD1TA/tK6VtRkEVI4xnGw8eB7yJ44-qCUzL9-jgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v5h_ljj3Ztg/YVCttXx0qMI/AAAAAAAD1TE/dZQl1cEXip4jz3XuRR4Kbgzn81G4TcbvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/DSC_6440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v5h_ljj3Ztg/YVCttXx0qMI/AAAAAAAD1TE/dZQl1cEXip4jz3XuRR4Kbgzn81G4TcbvwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/DSC_6440.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-11067678194857952072021-09-26T10:20:00.001-07:002021-09-26T10:20:11.129-07:00ReefTools visits Drs. Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria part 1 - For Posterity<p> </p><div class="title" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://reeftools.com/news/reeftools-visits-drs-foster-and-smith-and-liveaquaria-part-1/" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;"><h2 style="line-height: 32px; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px;">ReefTools visits Drs. Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria part 1</h2></a><strong>Posted on</strong> Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 11:35 pm by <strong><a href="http://reeftools.com/author/felicia/" rel="author" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Posts by Felicia McCaulley">Felicia McCaulley</a></strong></div><div class="the-tags" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></div><div class="entry"><div class="the-content" style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="postimage700" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52Oj7yGNzQQ/YVCpxViQedI/AAAAAAAD1Qg/mf_-ToyqoqkEAC6wvmSo5deFYxMou5WOACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/dfs-visit-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52Oj7yGNzQQ/YVCpxViQedI/AAAAAAAD1Qg/mf_-ToyqoqkEAC6wvmSo5deFYxMou5WOACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/dfs-visit-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm feeling nostalgic about Drs. Foster & Smith. Please enjoy this post from 2009 when my friend from Reef Tools came to visit our warehouse. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"We recently had a chance to visit <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/" style="color: black;">Drs. Foster and Smith</a> (DFS) and <a href="http://www.liveaquaria.com/" style="color: black;">LiveAquaria</a> in Rhinelander, WI, and decided to share what we saw and learned. We are confident that most of our readers are familiar with the <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/" style="color: black;">Drs. Foster and Smith</a>, <a href="http://www.liveaquaria.com/" style="color: black;">LiveAquaria</a>, and the new <a href="http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/" style="color: black;">Foster and Smith Aquatics</a> websites, but though you would enjoy a behind the scenes look.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">First off, we would like to thank Kevin Kohen, Director of <strong>LiveAquaria</strong>, for taking the time to show us around the DFS facilities, including the coral farm.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This part of the <a href="http://reeftools.com/news/reeftools-visits-drs-foster-and-smith-and-liveaquaria-part-1/" style="color: black;">Drs. Foster and Smith visit series, will focus on the Dry Goods warehouse facility</a>. The 300,000 square feet state-of-the-art warehouse, houses any imaginable pet supply items available (and some unimaginable ones too). The sheer number of products DFS stocks is truly staggering. We When an order comes through, a corresponding plastic bin is scanned and the process begins. The bin travels on the “green monster”, a computerized convoy system which travels throughout the massive warehouse.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkerBNTQpyc/YVCp0sNgxEI/AAAAAAAD1RM/Sv7mr4mypKYH0NA1CbRhG1K_Hi5jtnR6wCPcBGAYYCw/s700/dfs-visit-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OkerBNTQpyc/YVCp0sNgxEI/AAAAAAAD1RM/Sv7mr4mypKYH0NA1CbRhG1K_Hi5jtnR6wCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/dfs-visit-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-lxcctyQGU/YVCp0eVqCQI/AAAAAAAD1RI/IGmaP01UkYoLsJPjeq0vA-CSkuI9vnLTwCPcBGAYYCw/s500/dfs-visit-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-lxcctyQGU/YVCp0eVqCQI/AAAAAAAD1RI/IGmaP01UkYoLsJPjeq0vA-CSkuI9vnLTwCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/dfs-visit-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fwIbjX5eWI/YVCpz41kuzI/AAAAAAAD1RA/Fjt-9K_7Wegyccb39OEq-oxzZni-ama-gCPcBGAYYCw/s500/dfs-visit-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fwIbjX5eWI/YVCpz41kuzI/AAAAAAAD1RA/Fjt-9K_7Wegyccb39OEq-oxzZni-ama-gCPcBGAYYCw/w426-h640/dfs-visit-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRbmsMASDMU/YVCpz9uayhI/AAAAAAAD1RM/lAp6-4NclXozxJFklelqXtOMf4C9JLXfgCPcBGAYYCw/s700/dfs-visit-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRbmsMASDMU/YVCpz9uayhI/AAAAAAAD1RM/lAp6-4NclXozxJFklelqXtOMf4C9JLXfgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/dfs-visit-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="the-content" style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Controlled by scanners and a set of automated arms, the bin gets redirected to the correct isles. Once the bin arrives at it’s first destination, it pauses, while a series of lights indicate which items should be added to this order. Once the items are added to the bin, it is placed back on the belt, and continues on it’s way to it’s next destination. Once the order is completed, the bin is redirected to the packaging center, where the items are matched against the order before everything is boxed.</span></div><div class="the-content" style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHzWGxN7RYw/YVCpz7Cla5I/AAAAAAAD1RE/kcd-6tbUc1Mal0USxUqOP06h3rYtdGFbwCPcBGAYYCw/s700/dfs-visit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHzWGxN7RYw/YVCpz7Cla5I/AAAAAAAD1RE/kcd-6tbUc1Mal0USxUqOP06h3rYtdGFbwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h426/dfs-visit-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">With this kind of redundancy and automation, it’s not surprising that DFS is able to fulfill an almost absurd number of orders quickly and accurately. Each box is put together by a special machine, then an employee adds a catalog (of course <img alt="🙂" class="emoji" draggable="false" role="img" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.1.0/svg/1f642.svg" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial !important; background-repeat: initial !important; background-size: initial !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; display: inline !important; height: 1em !important; margin: 0px 0.07em !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; width: 1em !important;" /> ) and fills the extra space with bio-degradable packing peanuts (which they house is huge holding rooms). This Green approach to packing, is just DFS doing their part in conserving the environment. Once the orders are ready to be shipped, DFS employees load up a slew of FedEx trailers which have their own parking lot at the facility. DFS ships so many orders, that they actually sort the packages for FedEx, based on their destination. Overall, the operation is top-notch, with every detail carefully planned and accounted for.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD4Mkvuy1zk/YVCrEP4u5eI/AAAAAAAD1RY/bClIO8J3Kv0qRPIBaiHm2yyYo0xkL8CsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/dfs-visit-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eD4Mkvuy1zk/YVCrEP4u5eI/AAAAAAAD1RY/bClIO8J3Kv0qRPIBaiHm2yyYo0xkL8CsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/dfs-visit-8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMCdBvlTFgg/YVCrEAzX0YI/AAAAAAAD1RQ/L2VSlajCqR8vZBc_fc7BnUD2Um-xdZRxACLcBGAsYHQ/s700/dfs-visit-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMCdBvlTFgg/YVCrEAzX0YI/AAAAAAAD1RQ/L2VSlajCqR8vZBc_fc7BnUD2Um-xdZRxACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/dfs-visit-9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPf8pUxRMYI/YVCrEFeXvXI/AAAAAAAD1RU/BFa4BjlUm2gcxGRwTXcyLVZaMcQ_ktLAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s700/dfs-visit-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPf8pUxRMYI/YVCrEFeXvXI/AAAAAAAD1RU/BFa4BjlUm2gcxGRwTXcyLVZaMcQ_ktLAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/dfs-visit-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We hope you enjoyed this article and photos, please heck back soon for part 2 of this series, which will cover the LiveAquaria Aquaculture Coral and Marine Life Facility”.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-71433929747644339062021-08-05T07:57:00.002-07:002023-05-24T09:46:41.469-07:00Felicia's take on Reefing in Heels <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGpg3Kl242o/YZmGRh935rI/AAAAAAAD7f0/ff8s03zsl7AI3sWl57Zpny-8E8RP1QzPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1641/Reefinginheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGpg3Kl242o/YZmGRh935rI/AAAAAAAD7f0/ff8s03zsl7AI3sWl57Zpny-8E8RP1QzPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w422-h640/Reefinginheels.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Since posting the <a href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2021/08/02/reefing-in-heels/">Reefing in Heels blog on CORAL magazine</a>, we've had a lot of people ask questions about </span><a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/reefinginheels/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">#reefinginheels</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> like, “why the focus on footwear?” Well, it’s not about the heels, exactly. Our friend </span><a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/MetroKat/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">@MetroKat</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> noticed the guys ( </span><a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/scoobytu/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">@scoobytu</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ) posting pictures of their sneakers in front of their reefs, and she decided to join in and post pictures of her famous heels in front of her reef. The focus is less on the heels, and more on the fact that women in reefing exist! Let’s face it, women are still far less common in the saltwater aquarium hobby when you look at any statistic. But we are here, and we are passionate about what we do. Many of us have faced some stereotypes and negative experiences just for being women in a male dominated space. I would argue that the women hobbyists and women aquarium professionals I know have experience and talent equal to (or in some cases greater than) their male counterparts. </span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kat and I and many other ladies chose heels as our footwear in our </span><a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/reefinginheels/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="0">#reefinginheels</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> posts because that's what we like. To me, equality is not "being exactly like men." It's "being myself and still being treated equally." If I want to wear dresses and heels every day, that doesn't make me a less capable aquarist. I can do a water change, properly set up a quarantine tank, run a bandsaw, identify marine creatures by scientific name, raise seahorses, help you troubleshoot your protein skimmer, use scientific instruments to test water, write articles about complex reef chemistry and biology for CORAL magazine, and I can do it ALL IN HEELS.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Click here to see more women reefing in heels and read what these women have to say here: </span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2021/08/02/reefing-in-heels">https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2021/08/02/reefing-in-heels</a>/<div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhVcuhVbYeU/YZmFONbhkII/AAAAAAAD7fs/LFrDjb_PpzAI0BS-2c5ADRj1e9j-9aHFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/reef_felicia-scaled.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhVcuhVbYeU/YZmFONbhkII/AAAAAAAD7fs/LFrDjb_PpzAI0BS-2c5ADRj1e9j-9aHFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/reef_felicia-scaled.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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</div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-55538874708781143122021-08-01T09:46:00.069-07:002023-05-24T13:11:17.867-07:00Reefing In Heels - women in reefing for CORAL magazine blog Reef2Rainforest<p> </p><h1 class="title-post" style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reefing in Heels</h1><p class="date" style="border: 0px; color: #888888; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: -10px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">02 Aug, 2021</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There’s a new challenge taking over Instagram this week called<a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/reefinginheels/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> #reefinginheels</a> in support of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/womeninreefing/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#womeninreefing</a>. Inspired by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CR9EZ46LMUh/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Scooby Tu’s post</a> about <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sneakersandreefs/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#sneakersandreefs</a> (a hashtag started by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reefer_nyc/" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">@reefer_nyc</a>), influencer Kat Dhawan (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/metrokat/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@MetroKat)</a> posted a photo of herself lounging in front of her reef tank and famously wearing her legendary high heels.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivv7ilsdxQOIi6ai0dDj1yGcAC_BjCMZJeNczo6imor_Wu5EaiwinKbSyiOT2uurGgt_VuFnnB78hwdl_dQrd6xsXPiBMhPlffz0MZwi1HnL_-yRS2lEXmXT0BnhDbPrbfHKjWZT_MH7ozSoUjZ_Y6C0ZRbWmW9_N0xEOTkuI313Ie51MEQDLegGKo/s829/metrokat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="829" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivv7ilsdxQOIi6ai0dDj1yGcAC_BjCMZJeNczo6imor_Wu5EaiwinKbSyiOT2uurGgt_VuFnnB78hwdl_dQrd6xsXPiBMhPlffz0MZwi1HnL_-yRS2lEXmXT0BnhDbPrbfHKjWZT_MH7ozSoUjZ_Y6C0ZRbWmW9_N0xEOTkuI313Ie51MEQDLegGKo/s16000/metrokat.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kat says, “When I started in the hobby my avatar on forums was high heels. I was reminded of that when I saw the sneaker posts. They were by no means prolific or anything, but I reached out to my women reefers on IG chat with a picture of my heels. They all said YES! So we planned on taking pictures and posting them. It went viral of course. It was a subtle reminder of women reefkeepers in a male-dominated hobby. There was just no competition, you know. Haha. Subtle but strong, the community was reminded that women reefkeepers rock. Also, it was just a fun couple of days where the community came together to do something cool, there has been so much negativity lately, some positive fun vibes were needed.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a woman working in the male-dominated aquarium industry for around 20 years, I’ve had my share of both negative and positive experiences. I’ve had customers assume I wasn’t knowledgeable and been ignored when shopping at fish stores. At worst, I’ve been touched inappropriately at work by male coworkers and customers. I even had a scary close call with a customer who was angry that I turned down his advances too many times. Some women who have left the hobby cite incidences like these as the reason.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve also had some great experiences, especially in recent years connecting with other women in the reefing world. The #womeninreefing culture is so positive; we know that by lifting each other up, we lift ourselves up at the same time. I constantly see women on <a class="glossaryLink" data-tooltip="<h4 class=glossaryItemTitle>social</h4>in invertebrates, forming linked groups; a way of life in which multiple individuals of a species share vital body structures (for example, many sea squirt species, where multiple zooids create a common cloacal opening); opposite of solitary or colonial lifestyle (e.g., the polyps of most coral species)." href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/glossary/social/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Glossary: social">social</a> media stand up for and support other women reefers, helping them build confidence and to be the best reefers they can be.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://macna.org/product/women-in-reefing-meet-up-2021/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Women in Reefing</a> (WIR) is an official group and MACNA event that began in 2018. A large group of women decided it was time for a meeting, and MASNA offered them a scheduled meetup opportunity in order to attract new members. The group’s primary mission is to celebrate and acknowledge the successes of women in the reefing industry and hobby.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MASNA public relations spokesperson Joanne Vegas says, “WIR is one of a couple of special interest groups who have come together through the advent of social media to give underrepresented groups within the hobby a place to join with like-minded individuals and create community. At MACNA 2018 in Las Vegas, Women In Reefing held its first in-person meeting in which dozens of women joined the get-together, we shared stories, introduced ourselves to each other, and held raffles sponsored by supporting organizations. Since that MACNA, WIR has held a meetup; either virtually or in-person at every MACNA event. WIR continues to live and breathe through an online Facebook Group, giving women in the community, and their supporters, and opportunity to connect, build, and share in their reefing journey year-round, regardless of physical location.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WIR is currently searching for more volunteers. If you would like to help, please reach out via the Women in Reefing <a href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2021/08/02/reefing-in-heels/womeninreefing@gmail.com" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">email</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/womeninreefing" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaqIEqiRqHuLWQ5eNKDdDR_droA1v9y0t" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/womeninreefing/?hl=en" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Instagram</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hIgK9OqKBiLD1KFWg0GZdp8u4LrXicHwwfFkN-wFGiyP6-Y__EoQHVa2cBqWmWrAD3x8TJvcRSfUcb9yM0UsDPR8Cm_Lhpb8dYl4MPSBWiM4b3HPPu9JjB1IyY4dmnY0TP7iu13RP4T4QeE6WXy5ALrX5yxG_tLqh73VQNPgRDUiE_aX_61L1nnV/s1024/reef_felicia-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hIgK9OqKBiLD1KFWg0GZdp8u4LrXicHwwfFkN-wFGiyP6-Y__EoQHVa2cBqWmWrAD3x8TJvcRSfUcb9yM0UsDPR8Cm_Lhpb8dYl4MPSBWiM4b3HPPu9JjB1IyY4dmnY0TP7iu13RP4T4QeE6WXy5ALrX5yxG_tLqh73VQNPgRDUiE_aX_61L1nnV/s16000/reef_felicia-1024x768.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reef_felicia/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@reef_felicia</a></strong>, my own submission to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/reefinginheels/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#reefinginheels</a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are so many women who have supported or inspired me personally. Kat referred me to work for Marine Depot, a job I loved and will always cherish. My friend Kelly Delevergne works hard on the <a href="https://macna.org/product/women-in-reefing-meet-up-2021/" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Women in Reefing event at MACNA</a> on top of a full-time job and twin girls. Some other women aquarists I’ve admired are <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saltwater Aquarium and Reefkeepers</em> admin Lori Johnson, marine biologists Hilary Jaffe and Paula Carlson, aquarium biologist Laura Canella, reef muse Caitlin Lee, Marine Breeding Initiative’s Kathy Leahy, aquaculturist/marine scientist Karen Brittain, entrepreneur Joy Meadows, GARF’s Sally Jo Headlee, entrepreneur Linda Close, SCUBA shop owner Jessica Pickering, artists Rachel Fogle and Michelle Renee Allbright, influencer Cyndi Reyes Taylor, seahorse breeders Alyssa Gabriel and Tami Weiss, PADI dive instructor Nicole Helgason, veterinarian Alyssa DeLucci, and so many more. Obviously, there are many other women in the aquarium trade and hobby who are not mentioned here…</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I can’t forget the men in the industry who have been especially supportive of my career and reefkeeping endeavors – Kevin Kohen, Bob Fenner, Matthew Pedersen, Richard Ross, Ben Johnson, and Kevin Erickson. Without you as advocates, I wouldn’t be where I am today.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Women In Reefing Share Their Experiences</strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I decided to ask some other women who posted a photo for the #reefinginheels challenge about their aquariums as well as their personal experiences as women in the hobby. I asked them, “Would you mind telling me a bit about your tank? How long have you been in the hobby? What have your experiences been like as a woman in reefing? Have any particular women or men supported your journey? Do you feel like the hobby is welcoming to women? Is it more or less welcoming now than it was when you started your tank?”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFHE9cNuViXnUtv8KyudewCBkL7zRZRy32JegMRYNtTNBsnFXwQDE7AEQAEG_5TfPUUTmcEayz9OW5Y6Fd4g8TGVf9MZ10yl_CPBUo24KCrd448VxalY75qYVu9fJ7F472iysE-l_7AvEWEhd7aVA8DN8G0pNn4aOquWwCiEinckEpIXETkUTas0p/s1024/c0ralista_-790x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="790" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFHE9cNuViXnUtv8KyudewCBkL7zRZRy32JegMRYNtTNBsnFXwQDE7AEQAEG_5TfPUUTmcEayz9OW5Y6Fd4g8TGVf9MZ10yl_CPBUo24KCrd448VxalY75qYVu9fJ7F472iysE-l_7AvEWEhd7aVA8DN8G0pNn4aOquWwCiEinckEpIXETkUTas0p/s16000/c0ralista_-790x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">c0ralista_</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/c0ralista_/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">c0ralista_</strong></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My name is Leianne aka @c0ralista_ on Instagram. I am a novice reefer with a passion for responsible fish keeping, social media transparency, and empowering females in the hobby. I have a mixed reef residing in a 40-gallon, 23 x 23 x 19, Eshopps Aqualine cube, a 10-g Lifegard Aquatics AIO softie tank, and a 75-gallon planted cichlid tank. I got my first freshwater tank at 8 years old and but only have been in reefing for 3 years. My experience being a woman in reefing has been mostly positive but there are occasional moments where I am not taken seriously or have been mansplained to like any woman in a male-dominated environment, but thankfully most of my interactions with others have been an absolute pleasure.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kat (metrokat) in particular has always been in my corner and encourages and drives me to be the best I can be… but honestly, I am inspired by the whole reefing community and their love for the hobby and their willingness to help each other. We all want each other to succeed and I think that is such a beautiful thing. I think the hobby is in general welcoming to women but definitely has grown to be more so since I started.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While I have always loved aquariums and the ocean, reefing has become a huge part of who I am and gave me the opportunity to grow and experience life in ways that I may not have explored otherwise. It is so fulfilling and humbling to watch my little piece of the ocean grow and thrive but what I didn’t expect to find was the camaraderie and support the reefing community has for each other and the hobby. This love is what inspires me to help others in whatever way I can.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lYYh7CNcgXY8yHzEnYo4jDghG1i3VMFn4trvzVF7p2_15Ao4k5NKomNzT_z13qCvw8H45Y3v7F071XGCeM9XeoFKgfBBDYtEV5JPgSRAvZ2eBnH6R9-lHrwIe1xAJNYoImFFC82ON24lRZLw_c6mUhHQihpNs703HOb8QAQBehVdpPMxKEKzNYAr/s1024/xtishtishx-1024x672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lYYh7CNcgXY8yHzEnYo4jDghG1i3VMFn4trvzVF7p2_15Ao4k5NKomNzT_z13qCvw8H45Y3v7F071XGCeM9XeoFKgfBBDYtEV5JPgSRAvZ2eBnH6R9-lHrwIe1xAJNYoImFFC82ON24lRZLw_c6mUhHQihpNs703HOb8QAQBehVdpPMxKEKzNYAr/s16000/xtishtishx-1024x672.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Natisha Hall <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@xtishtishx</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Natisha Hall, <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/xtishtishx/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@xtishtishx</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My tank is 9ft long, 3ft wide, 2ft tall, and its total volume is 20,000 litres [528 US gallons]. It will be a mixed coral reef eventually with a few oddballs. I plan on having a stingray and a ribbon eel along with all the beautiful fishies. I have been in the fish hobby for three years and doing saltwater tanks for one year. I did not want to start a salty project without doing ample research, so I spent a year on that before I set up this tank. Marines are a big jump up I have found—in patience, money, and time. It’s a lot more difficult to recreate a sea environment than it is a freshwater environment, so I wanted to be absolutely sure I know what am I doing before I even started.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have been quite lucky in this hobby as a whole, I know there is a lot of sexism surrounding women in this hobby, but I have never had any bad experiences with it personally; no bad comments on insta or anything, but I see a lot of girls’ accounts that get rude comments if they post pics of themselves alongside their tanks. A lot of men in the hobby assume the tanks are their boyfriends’ and things like that, or say, ‘You wouldn’t have this following if you didn’t have boobs.’</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“So it is an issue for girls in this hobby I know, but personally, I just get a lot of surprised males. I keep some predator fish as well, and this especially is a man’s world. Girls are few and far between, but I think we are getting more women lately. I have found that women care more for the animals and men care more for ‘the setup.’ I have worked in an aquarium shop where the customers were 90 percent male, I was the only female staff member as well.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICKYKVXhlbIem-tYFqEq2WNKHVLwNafIO1TTGrjCoI9rNM31Fw4-hCU5PdHyRZRmRWvZhyxJqx1eUaNyfCDRcl3ZdzPymBBMi0h5lJDon0yATL7pVI4eGvgXU9DasSnPDDsoqIabc-fEe9TOXHdY3SI4e-tmKcor-P7m9ozV76HHlZwJY5TqhqyMf/s1024/nano_karen-819x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="819" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICKYKVXhlbIem-tYFqEq2WNKHVLwNafIO1TTGrjCoI9rNM31Fw4-hCU5PdHyRZRmRWvZhyxJqx1eUaNyfCDRcl3ZdzPymBBMi0h5lJDon0yATL7pVI4eGvgXU9DasSnPDDsoqIabc-fEe9TOXHdY3SI4e-tmKcor-P7m9ozV76HHlZwJY5TqhqyMf/s16000/nano_karen-819x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@<a class="glossaryLink" data-tooltip="<h4 class=glossaryItemTitle>nano</h4>very small. In aquariums, usually means under 30 gallons (114 L); in fishes, usually under 2 inches (5 cm)." href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/glossary/nano/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Glossary: nano">nano</a>_karen</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nano_karen/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@nano_karen</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My current setup is a 4-year-old, 65-gallon mixed reef aquarium. It houses many different types of corals, several inverts, 4 starfish, and 15 fish including my original pair of clownfish from when I started the hobby 6 years ago. Throughout my reefing journey I have asked myself, ‘Am I in the right hobby?’ many times. Because some men can be really nasty towards a woman, especially if she’s doing something better than them. Aside from that, I do believe that a lot of the exposure I got, in the beginning, was because I am a woman and that helped me grow in the hobby in many ways. I’ve had a lot of support from both men and women through my reefing journey and made many friends. I am proud to be part of the ‘women in reefing’ community because it’s full of support and positivity. I believe the hobby is much more welcoming towards women now than it was years ago when I joined, and that makes me happy. I can now answer my own question, I definitely am in the right hobby!”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yNBCsE1YRtKjJSyQMaia-wvyt5JMy7kP8VAvZRZQUYkmtSj5MHDyVu78YKO6X4tl9EUsm-9bU6XVTXbOOfY8rZMVOM2kQmDMmmJFx72a7p170Z7HxcTNaNOf7HI3vUCm54Zq7R6c1rcSwSrJS_Sqp-c0c-6BdkhS-dLGTHdXh_XETc0a1E6TRVgM/s1024/bombchellecreations-1024x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yNBCsE1YRtKjJSyQMaia-wvyt5JMy7kP8VAvZRZQUYkmtSj5MHDyVu78YKO6X4tl9EUsm-9bU6XVTXbOOfY8rZMVOM2kQmDMmmJFx72a7p170Z7HxcTNaNOf7HI3vUCm54Zq7R6c1rcSwSrJS_Sqp-c0c-6BdkhS-dLGTHdXh_XETc0a1E6TRVgM/s16000/bombchellecreations-1024x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michelle Renee Allbright @<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bombchellecreations</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michelle Renee Allbright, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bombchellecreations/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bombchellecreations</strong></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve been a saltwater hobbyist for about 10 years now and an overall hobbyist for about 14 years. I started with freshwater, and then moved to saltwater.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“At the start, being a woman in reefing presented a lot more challenges. 10 years ago it was a lot more male-dominated than it is now. I didn’t really discover Facebook groups until about a couple of years after I started in saltwater, but I definitely had my fair share of struggles. I’ve been harassed, dismissed, laughed at, bullied, etc. But over the years many people learned to respect me. People’s words or actions never interfered with my passion for the hobby. It never made me afraid to continue to be involved. It’s funny, since I was a little girl I’ve been a huge Disney fan. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Mulan, when the emperor says, ‘no matter how the wind howls, the mountain will not bow to it.’ I always remembered that and that’s how I carry myself today. How ironic that it’s a movie about a woman who can fight right along with the men!</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Not to say I didn’t have my moments of weakness but that’s where friends came in. I made many along the way. I used to help manage a small Facebook group with my friend Page Foster, and that was always my safe space where my gender was never a factor. Lori Johnson was another who immediately became protective over me in the page she used to manage. She was an immovable force of a woman and I loved her. Her passing was incredibly difficult.<br />Metrokat too has continually been a huge advocate for women in the hobby and has spent a great deal of effort helping others be recognized for their talents.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In 2018, I became involved in Aquashella and greatly supported and respected by Shawn Hale and George Mavrakis both as a hobbyist and a UV aquatic artist. Obviously, my biggest supporter throughout the years has been my husband, Jimmy. He’s loved watching me grow within the hobby and has carried an infinite amount of water buckets for me.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Personally speaking, I feel like today women don’t face nearly as much resistance in the hobby compared to when I started. We still face our challenges but we face those no matter where we go. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this community and all the growth it has gained. No matter the gender, it makes me so happy when more and more people fall in love with the hobby and I can’t wait to see where it goes.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4oJtMPRhSuTN9xjUFmgMvqU8T00xzbM7w9-YD3LvbVmWcnangq9SYHN574ehEKd5M8hyN3rPowt2s-0x9TmvXSqIkazOP_pkRgyKwaFZaXp_8uCF5GwO-52R8BrTPNLZEwCIdwJkWVYK9ukpBCY7ru5swXDPbakEJvRNEGcL-oP1I5MbrQWBd91s/s1024/@HeyShannon-768x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4oJtMPRhSuTN9xjUFmgMvqU8T00xzbM7w9-YD3LvbVmWcnangq9SYHN574ehEKd5M8hyN3rPowt2s-0x9TmvXSqIkazOP_pkRgyKwaFZaXp_8uCF5GwO-52R8BrTPNLZEwCIdwJkWVYK9ukpBCY7ru5swXDPbakEJvRNEGcL-oP1I5MbrQWBd91s/s16000/@HeyShannon-768x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@HeyShannon</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/heyshannon/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@HeyShannon</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve been in the reefing hobby for about 6 years now. My partner, Andrew with Sin City Corals, and I jumped into the hobby together with our first tank being a 20-gallon. We now together have a main display of 60-gallons, an anemone tank of 120-gallons, and a 170-gallon frag tank.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have supported each other, but he’s always teaching me the most with all the new corals he brings home because, you know, it was a good deal! Being a woman in reefing has definitely been different than some other hobbies. It has been welcoming, but other women that also enjoy the hobby can sometimes be hard to find and we’re always shocking the male community. This hashtag, #reefinginheels, has opened my and others’ eyes to the many women that are out there and killing it! I say hats off and keep it up.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFHhjwS_WjVCPo_gu5JG117RstpyBpbhCROJPZHcjneyxt25NMv8ePH5IYR7uc_UA4kK88AKIxX8sXPkoDHklTAWb0y-aGGxD8q8VA0Wk5wA4NAAoMUuLaMYjFrFojsI38JUu1kLKUObzVo7BqgpbCpa494ABYm9xdgWRmxClxMbZLHnAFUfpLLtZ/s1024/my_saltwater_chronicles-768x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFHhjwS_WjVCPo_gu5JG117RstpyBpbhCROJPZHcjneyxt25NMv8ePH5IYR7uc_UA4kK88AKIxX8sXPkoDHklTAWb0y-aGGxD8q8VA0Wk5wA4NAAoMUuLaMYjFrFojsI38JUu1kLKUObzVo7BqgpbCpa494ABYm9xdgWRmxClxMbZLHnAFUfpLLtZ/s16000/my_saltwater_chronicles-768x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Monique Heyward @my_saltwater_chronicles</figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Monique Heyward, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/my_saltwater_chronicles/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@my_saltwater_chronicles</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I have a Red Sea Reefer 750 XXL, 200-gallon mixed reef tank that I started in August 2020 as a gift to myself after graduating from UCF in Fall, 2020. I transferred over all livestock and live rock from my previous Reefer 350.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My parents have always had freshwater and saltwater tanks in the house when I was growing up, so in March of 2019, we broke down our 55-gallon cichlid freshwater tank and started with a Marineland 60-gallon reef tank using a canister filter.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If it was not for the huge saltwater hobby community on Instagram, I personally do not believe I would have been where I am right now with the tank. There is so much to learn, the hobby is consistently evolving! When my father and I first started the reef tank, we were using the knowledge and expertise he had from the late 80’s early 90’s. We did not know of the vast amount of stores in the Orlando area dedicated to the hobby; there is Top Shelf Aquatics, World Wide Corals, Living Reef Orlando, etc. So the Instagram community has definitely pointed me in the right direction.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“As a woman, I have found other women in the hobby who have tons more experience in the hobby than I do and felt very comfortable reaching out to them in times of need, and just for pure understanding of how this hobby works. </p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I would definitely say that this is a welcoming hobby for all genders and all races. In the beginning, I learned a lot from two particular hobbyists I met on Instagram, a woman out of Massachusetts and a guy from California, I am forever grateful to them! I learned all about skimmers, proper lighting, the benefits of live rock, creating and maintaining a refugium. They truly helped me get to where I am today. All across the world, I have met tons of people who are happy to share with me, answer any questions I may have, and even ask me for my advice on their builds/projects. The men in the community are very respectful of the Women In Reefing footprint and it is always exciting to have friendly competition like the most recent #SneakersAndReefs vs #ReefingInHeels, the guys support us just as much as we support them, it is a beautiful thing.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“When I first walked into a local fish store as a new member of the hobby, it was a very overwhelming experience. Between the price tags and fancy equipment, it was a lot to comprehend. About a year later I tried again after having more conversations with fellow hobbyists and gaining personal experience in the hobby. I felt more confident to go into an <a class="glossaryLink" data-tooltip="<h4 class=glossaryItemTitle>LFS</h4>Acronym for Local Fish Shop or Local Fish Store; a shorthand generally used to describe an independent aquarium retailer's brick-and-mortar location." href="https://www.reef2rainforest.com/glossary/lfs/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Glossary: LFS">LFS</a> with a plan and allow them to execute my goals within my budget. Here I am a little over two years later and filled with much more expertise, experience, and knowledge to walk into any LFS. This hobby is always changing and always growing.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Attending the reef shows, watching YouTube videos, and having conversations with multiple people in the hobby I am certain I learn something new every day and I owe it all to everyone I follow and those that follow me on Instagram. We are a community and I could not be more appreciative of everyone I have crossed paths with. This hobby will take you on a wild ride but I do not regret any of the twists, turns, or loops it has sent me through, I am looking forward to the next 50 years.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0CyxrtEkPxNRiCnqMloQaa3i2159KaJA1Y9dHBH3SnhbseyS02ULgkvtJ-xQLPYCDb_G19lTRNOPNdXQ_CrIyMhFcN0ZBRtiJ0J7bAmd6xocynWecOJc0YK7AEX7sShsEr0q2G6n6blfNrxpwoVd_UT5x7Ifh68BvLj89l9oXPTN1owIiO5Wyj1H/s1024/Jacqueline_Reefmom-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0CyxrtEkPxNRiCnqMloQaa3i2159KaJA1Y9dHBH3SnhbseyS02ULgkvtJ-xQLPYCDb_G19lTRNOPNdXQ_CrIyMhFcN0ZBRtiJ0J7bAmd6xocynWecOJc0YK7AEX7sShsEr0q2G6n6blfNrxpwoVd_UT5x7Ifh68BvLj89l9oXPTN1owIiO5Wyj1H/s16000/Jacqueline_Reefmom-1024x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@Jacqueline_Reefmom</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacqueline_reefmom/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@Jacqueline_Reefmom</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve been in the hobby for eight years now. My experience about being a woman in the hobby has always been nice. Men were surprised that I was the one knowing a lot about corals and fish whenever I walked in a shop, but I’ve always had nice talks and have made some friendships with men and women thanks to this hobby. And I’m lucky to have made friends all around the world via Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I don’t have any particular person who supported me; I get so much support, I love every encouraging word that’s been sent to me. And I read every message. I try to respond to them all. The hobby is welcoming to women more and more, we just have to work a little bit harder to make sure we get heard. It’s becoming more and more accepted that women can be coral and fish nerds just as much as some men in the reefing hobby.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmEh3jNeQC7Dp9fpbwWRmQpG690VuSfXOMAMCPlW4AWJ-EL0mu4iSK5jMogkxS1zD4pVofpfQCmbTorUqP1Z0YLfMX9wpQyFSsjPRnEsA8eUrErxR1M__TRm6KT3hUPJqR7p0WEH7_Gi3lNIVIX_WDBsKz7UvzoJKyNaZDCCaHeOno5YTQ4KyNDyA/s1024/caffienated_reefer-1-1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmEh3jNeQC7Dp9fpbwWRmQpG690VuSfXOMAMCPlW4AWJ-EL0mu4iSK5jMogkxS1zD4pVofpfQCmbTorUqP1Z0YLfMX9wpQyFSsjPRnEsA8eUrErxR1M__TRm6KT3hUPJqR7p0WEH7_Gi3lNIVIX_WDBsKz7UvzoJKyNaZDCCaHeOno5YTQ4KyNDyA/s16000/caffienated_reefer-1-1024x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Andrea Christine <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@caffeinated_reefer</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Andrea Christine, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/caffeinated_reefer/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@caffeinated_reefer</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The tank pictured is a RedSea 750xxl. It’s been running since April and was an upgrade from a custom 90-gallon I’d had running for three years. I also have a 32-gallon bio cube, a 40-gallon cube in the kitchen, and a 13.5-gallon softie tank. All were set up within my first year of the hobby, and I’ve been in it for 3 ½ years. My husband jumped from years of freshwater to saltwater. I figured I should jump on the train with him or risk getting run over. Before long, it became more my thing than his. In the beginning, it was obvious it was a male-dominated hobby but it didn’t deter me from asking questions or keep me hiding behind my husband at the LFS. No matter how embarrassing, I asked all the noob questions and asked them again when I was confused. </p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve always been more comfortable around men than women, so I’m sure that colors my experiences differently. I have encountered men with a snobby attitude. Some I walk away from. Some I stand my ground and prove I know what I’m talking about. I think it has more to do with their prowess as a reefkeeper than it does with me being a woman. I’ve found myself more comfortable as time has passed, but again, that’s just time spent learning, growing, sharing, and communicating unrelated to sex.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I do feel the hobby is open and welcoming to women. Social media seems even more accepting of women than men but I think that’s a whole other monster. </p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’ve been blessed by falling into the right path with the right people. Marc Levenson, Hilary Jaffe, Kat Dhawan, and Travis Wilkinson (Fish of Hex) are some of the more recognizable names who were mentors in the beginning and have blossomed into true friends. Countless others, men and women alike, have become friends and a brain trust when something needs discussion.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguldqoZ52C-lsTkmMFfAaZFhzsBcjcxldSbLQqRDeT4qKqt3fY-twSUGdciBLdswtrvQlaeTVJUyW3HWG5DICvjQw2vJ2ToZsSWpt2qOYKQ4e38bIskubxS09m3m3ddmtRyIWqqAroXMQtNl9IUAsn_GnPNBNNUuOf9M66SQOMZOSjfDKTv2GRCou_/s1024/@jaegers_reef-1024x833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguldqoZ52C-lsTkmMFfAaZFhzsBcjcxldSbLQqRDeT4qKqt3fY-twSUGdciBLdswtrvQlaeTVJUyW3HWG5DICvjQw2vJ2ToZsSWpt2qOYKQ4e38bIskubxS09m3m3ddmtRyIWqqAroXMQtNl9IUAsn_GnPNBNNUuOf9M66SQOMZOSjfDKTv2GRCou_/s16000/@jaegers_reef-1024x833.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brooke Hering, wife of <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@jaegers_reef</strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brooke Hering, wife of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaegers_reef/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@jaegers_reef</a></strong></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Not gonna lie, I used to hate the tank,” said Brooke Hering, wife of @jaegers_reef. But over the years I’ve grown to (secretly) like it. Our kids love to watch the fish and crabs. They get so much joy out of it, so seeing it through their eyes has really made me appreciate it.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Other Noteworthy #reefinginheels Contributions</strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0aPCrznw5XQKCuIMHjawE6zvFVgjhTOv9ZIVP_wq8DqK1CFaMNMZIBIdV5l619i630iKRj8wXYUZNOgJbdAoc3ZMJSMxqI4vLtb6t8uxcg4QRPJHaTL9wSck1hSRmPmYzDdliqguW_pRF6MlX3ZcNkN7ylAsHKkfy_1ij0ID2JKzk5v5YERablNy/s1024/Waterlogged-765x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="765" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0aPCrznw5XQKCuIMHjawE6zvFVgjhTOv9ZIVP_wq8DqK1CFaMNMZIBIdV5l619i630iKRj8wXYUZNOgJbdAoc3ZMJSMxqI4vLtb6t8uxcg4QRPJHaTL9wSck1hSRmPmYzDdliqguW_pRF6MlX3ZcNkN7ylAsHKkfy_1ij0ID2JKzk5v5YERablNy/s16000/Waterlogged-765x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marine biologist <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/waterlogged1313/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@waterlogged1313</a></strong> posted a picture of her classic black heels in front of her famous Cowfish named Frank.</figcaption></figure><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBd6FL-i3XvAS2ZQaQYlHonK0v9a7GGNwIkkCZMV1SEnd8wbYWGKY7WHcCd03xvAB9Wor9EKEKtIm_eS-1s7EcQ1bRgAkJ9kRhRLDn5btJ81wEzy_e4qldVGVmJy2x4AeCFHq6Op66gnr5r8dvTKZWPMJCcmiS2z3lchfVUOdDSMU0VUKkiVO0NeQ/s1024/cyndir-768x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBd6FL-i3XvAS2ZQaQYlHonK0v9a7GGNwIkkCZMV1SEnd8wbYWGKY7WHcCd03xvAB9Wor9EKEKtIm_eS-1s7EcQ1bRgAkJ9kRhRLDn5btJ81wEzy_e4qldVGVmJy2x4AeCFHq6Op66gnr5r8dvTKZWPMJCcmiS2z3lchfVUOdDSMU0VUKkiVO0NeQ/s16000/cyndir-768x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cyndir_/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@cyndir_</a> aka CoralGal posted her trendy nude heels at SeaQuest in Fort Worth, Texas.</figcaption></figure><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F60H5BpSU4y16Do_EEVsUuJXtFSk3FCXv1VGngDwv4HOuH-NnFHIOmQzlPo1ki84NgCjp8yjif0HDGZEQHbaMWgqUYVwJ-v-BCmYYdp_ZlkAMCknORPW17qfqHaZcQoqjHjfJ27EjF3u5ANVabhIOZDkSSnD90lZfRi77j_2Z5h4s33Q729lCmVC/s1024/fishanista-822x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="822" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F60H5BpSU4y16Do_EEVsUuJXtFSk3FCXv1VGngDwv4HOuH-NnFHIOmQzlPo1ki84NgCjp8yjif0HDGZEQHbaMWgqUYVwJ-v-BCmYYdp_ZlkAMCknORPW17qfqHaZcQoqjHjfJ27EjF3u5ANVabhIOZDkSSnD90lZfRi77j_2Z5h4s33Q729lCmVC/s16000/fishanista-822x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fishanista/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">@fishanista</strong> </a>shows off her studded platform espadrilles and UV reactive nail polish in front of her mixed reef tank.</figcaption></figure><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ahOhDmT3GNoaIHcfOnkxVI1K80JZiLCoyjUgV8oERbsH0FTkx8ULYdWi5luA4589dQtBCuyjVGifahVeGPoOFJaQCQkvxSdpPEvVLcC0Rx4UuB665lcx6Fk1M6QR1CDc6BtW_1_nEfQHY9RXdV4s1wSqoE3xdp9kaZ7dJloZM3IO_b2wlX_L12F3/s1024/davesreef8-811x1024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="811" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ahOhDmT3GNoaIHcfOnkxVI1K80JZiLCoyjUgV8oERbsH0FTkx8ULYdWi5luA4589dQtBCuyjVGifahVeGPoOFJaQCQkvxSdpPEvVLcC0Rx4UuB665lcx6Fk1M6QR1CDc6BtW_1_nEfQHY9RXdV4s1wSqoE3xdp9kaZ7dJloZM3IO_b2wlX_L12F3/s16000/davesreef8-811x1024.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">David Lemus, <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/davesreef8/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@davesreef8</a></strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even some of the men reefers participated in #reefinginheels. Some posted photos or videos of themselves in their wives’ heels, and some chose to pose in other types of footwear. David posted his flippers in front of his reef tanks with the hashtag #reefinginheels.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y2G-MEog6mB8-aUisUnCjF47Klvc4liDhnJQ4BgdmphrLexY0WK-djiu-v6sUkfDf9BfNojUa-9P7vWgW648hsAckDOmnxuc_eXQc1bHOKRAY11fJi_bUQBNvNMKCdV7p_Kfftz9sxWLS5yFTnKhw_etSrOQ8r_q-Ta4lS30-dpK8Ucm8gCusHOe/s1024/saltwateraquariumdotcom-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y2G-MEog6mB8-aUisUnCjF47Klvc4liDhnJQ4BgdmphrLexY0WK-djiu-v6sUkfDf9BfNojUa-9P7vWgW648hsAckDOmnxuc_eXQc1bHOKRAY11fJi_bUQBNvNMKCdV7p_Kfftz9sxWLS5yFTnKhw_etSrOQ8r_q-Ta4lS30-dpK8Ucm8gCusHOe/s16000/saltwateraquariumdotcom-768x1024.jpg" /></a></div><br /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; max-width: 96%; padding: 10px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><figcaption style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltwateraquariumdotcom/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #006666; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.2s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@saltwateraquariumdotcom</a></strong></figcaption></figure><p style="border: 0px; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Greg Trax, the art director for SaltwaterAquarium.com, posted this hilarious picture of the famous leg lamp from the 1983 holiday classic movie “A Christmas Story” next to his tank at home to show support for women in reefing.</p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-75175885740511170932021-06-30T06:57:00.005-07:002021-06-30T09:13:57.500-07:00How to Keep Your Aquarium Cool in the Heat of Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUDp6RyPrhI/YNx4FLP5epI/AAAAAAADuZ4/MVIttsJoWVAL8PCSL8Uos6TP-tgR-a3rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/640px-High_resoulution_contour_chart_of_the_global_Sea_Surface_Temperature-Colored.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUDp6RyPrhI/YNx4FLP5epI/AAAAAAADuZ4/MVIttsJoWVAL8PCSL8Uos6TP-tgR-a3rwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/640px-High_resoulution_contour_chart_of_the_global_Sea_Surface_Temperature-Colored.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest are reporting record high temperatures this week. It's been in the 90s on the East coast of the US. <span>Most reefers and aquarists aren't prepared for this relentless heat. Aside from buying an aquarium chiller, what can we do to help keep our aquariums cool?</span></span></p><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">1. Freeze as many water bottles as you can and float some in the tank or sump. Rotate thawed bottles with frozen bottles. Repeat.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">2. Use a clip on or standing fan to blow across the top of the water in the tank or sump. You can get up to a 4 degree drop down with a fan. You'll need to top off frequently as water evaporates. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">3. Wrap the tank in insulation - layers are best. You can use blankets, cardboard, and/or Styrofoam. Secure the materials with packing tape.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">4. Reverse your light cycle. Turn on the lights during the cooler night and turn them off during the heat of the day. You can throw a blanket or two over the top of the tank during the day to help insulate the tank. Monitor your pH and oxygen levels. Having a refugium with macroalgae and a small light can help increase oxygen when using a reverse light cycle. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">5. If you're in full emergency mode and just can't seem get your tank's temperature down, start unplugging the tank equipment that gives off the most heat - usually the highest wattage gadgets. Make sure to leave wavemakers or air pumps turned on in the tank and sump for proper circulation. Leave your protein skimmer on.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">6. Remember your fish need MORE water circulation and oxygenation right now as the temps rise. You may want to turn off high wattage pumps, like pumps that need to battle head pressure in the sump. But should add some additional low wattage powerheads, WaveMakers, air pumps. Break the water surface with the flow. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">7. Dosing hydrogen peroxide in an aquarium can help raise oxygen levels, but can be risky if you aren't familiar with this method. Familiarize yourself with the proper dosage and warnings before using hydrogen peroxide in your aquarium. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">Can you think of any more ways to help keep your tank safe during a heat wave?</span></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-14885763363860207162021-06-23T08:07:00.001-07:002021-11-12T08:07:37.150-08:00WIR Episode 4: Pico and Vase Reefs<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_q597k9m_Sw/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/_q597k9m_Sw" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-60316255777035292562021-04-30T15:51:00.000-07:002021-04-30T15:51:37.979-07:00Reef Beef Episode 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="517" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/94amr6UHzhQ" width="622" youtube-src-id="94amr6UHzhQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-44821606858812794102021-04-30T08:01:00.000-07:002021-11-12T08:01:25.890-08:00Seahorse Macro Algae Tank DISASTER! | Matthew Gets Educated By Professio...<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/p9TJP3YjlE0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-65830849589879088032021-04-27T08:02:00.001-07:002021-11-12T08:02:43.576-08:00Two Experts: How To Build a Macroalgae & Seahorse Tank, The Gallery Epis...<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/T7VFqEasLeQ" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-52661017154870226102020-11-20T16:17:00.003-08:002023-02-17T18:24:30.692-08:00Publications - updated Nov 2021<p class="MsoNormal">Species Spotlight: Goniopora June 1, 2022 CORAL Magazine</p><p class="MsoNormal">Species Spotlight: Torch Coral January 1, 2022 CORAL
Magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Species Spotlight: Acanthophyllia Nov 1, 2021 CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ICP OES Water Testing: A Reefkeeping Revolution in the
Making May 1, 2020 CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Xenia & Xeniids Jan 1, 2020<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hardy Sea Fans Nov 1, 2019 CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ugly Duckling Corals Discovering Pectinia Jul 2019<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reef Dosing Simplified May 2019<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rockstar Acropora Oct 2018<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hats Off to Monti Caps Sep 2018<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pocilliporidae: Pocillopora, Stylophora, and Seriatopora Jul
2018<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Micro Reefs - Bowling for Corals Jan 1, 2018<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL Magazine - Original article and photos detailing my micro reef vase</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Standing Watch: Coral Guard Crabs and Other Symbionts Jul
17, 2017<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL Magazine - A sidebar complementing Dr. Ron Shimek's Acropora article</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seahorses, Syngnathids, and the Scourge of Vibrio Mar 1,
2016<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tropical Fish Hobbyist<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aquarium Portrait: Dan Rigle's Acropora Obsession Sep 1,
2012<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are not Plecos! Captive breeding of Gobiesox punctulatus Mar
1, 2012<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CORAL magazine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seahorses - tank bred vs captive bred Mar 1, 2010<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fusedjaw.com<o:p></o:p></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-14069184016103048362020-09-20T07:57:00.001-07:002021-11-12T07:58:29.996-08:00MACNA 2020 Online Seahorse & Pipefish event - Felicia McCaulley<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdAJkIcDejA/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/gdAJkIcDejA" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-31269941031512384922020-07-13T17:14:00.002-07:002021-07-01T16:27:59.465-07:00Women in Reefing Part 2: A Trail Blazer, A Love Story, A Content Creator, A Whisperer, A Writer<ul class="list-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><ul class="list-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">By MetroKat</span></ul></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">https://www.marinedepot.com/blog/2020/07/women-in-reefing-part-2-a-trail-blazer-a-love-story-a-content-creator-a-whisperer-a-writer</span></ul><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span face="Cabin, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;">I had no idea that</span><span face="Cabin, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://blog.marinedepot.com/2020/05/women-in-reefing-part-1.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Part 1</a><span face="Cabin, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="Cabin, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px;">of our Women in Reefing blog would become the most shared blog on this website. In a time of disheartening news, focusing on the good in the world, and on ladies that bring that good in their own way to everyday people has been a journey of self discovery for me. It has taken longer to write Part 2 because I wanted to be sure to do justice to the incredible ladies that have allowed me to peer into their personal and professional lives.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />We begin with a Trail Blazer, the incredible Dr. Amanda Vincent.</span></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda Vincent: World’s Top Conservationist Prize Winner</span></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In May 2020, Dr. Amanda Vincent became the first marine conservationist to win the prestigious <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Indianapolis Prize</span>. Cataloging Amanda’s extensive experience needs more than one article but hopefully this truncated blog about her accomplishments will inspire our readers to learn more about her work. It’s an honor to feature this trail blazer.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="amanda Vincent Indianapolis Prize" class="wp-image-14723" height="889" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Amanda-Vincent_credit-Matt-Mays_Indianapolis-Prize4.jpg-1024x889.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Dr. Amanda Vincent. Image credit Matt Mays</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The Indianapolis Prize is the world’s leading award for animal conservation. Every other year, the Indianapolis Prize recognizes animal conservationists whose heroic work has helped save vulnerable and endangered species from extinction. The Indianapolis Prize Winner receives $250,000, and five Finalists are each awarded $10,000. Since 2006, the Indianapolis Prize has administered more than $1.3 million in unrestricted cash awards to support the work and livelihoods of animal conservationists around the world.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Spdgbg3Oblc?feature=oembed" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 1050px;" title="Channel Trailer" width="500"></iframe></span></div><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Project Seahorse</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda is the director and co-founder of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.projectseahorse.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Project Seahorse</a>, an international organization committed to conservation and sustainable use of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems. Project Seahorse is an alliance of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://oceans.ubc.ca/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">University of British Columbia</a> and the <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.zsl.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Zoological Society of London</a> and represents a lot of people; collaborators in countries across the world, students and volunteers. Everyone has a constant desire to build the number of people involved in conservation by exciting and influencing projects in 6 continents.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and a Hons. B.Sc. from the University of Western Ontario. She was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, England and on faculty at McGill University, where she was named a William Dawson Scholar in 2000. The same year, Amanda was named a <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation</span>, the world’s pre-eminent award in that field.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aQ9QFtybvQ0?feature=oembed" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 1050px;" title="Amanda Vincent wins the 2020 Indianapolis Prize" width="500"></iframe></span></div><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From Indianapolis Prize</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda considers this prestigious award as the closest she can come to a Nobel Prize so she is absolutely thrilled to be the recipient of the “<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">biggest best boldest prize for animal conservation</em>“. She feels happy to be able to have a platform to talk about ocean conservation issues. Seahorses are riveting subjects – a story of male pregnancy and gets your attention. Seahorses are flagship species for the ocean, according to Amanda and Project Seahorse. What threatens them threatens everything, and consequently, what saves seahorses, saves everything. They have a saying at Project Seahorse; Save the seahorses to save the seas, save the seas by saving the seahorses.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Philippines Marine protected area" class="wp-image-14739" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Marine-Protected-Area-guardhouse-in-the-Philippines_Credit-Mai-Yasue-Project-Seahorse.JPG-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Marine Protected Area in the Philippines. Image Credit Mai-Yasue</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda is most proud of the collaboration in the Philippines with social workers and biologists that has resulted in 35 marine protected areas under community management. These are ‘no take zones’ and fish are recovering their populations.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Amanda Vincent CITES" class="wp-image-14740" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Amanda-Vincent-at-CITES-CoP-12_Credit-Bayne-Stanley.TIF-574x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="574" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda at CITES 2002. Image Credit Bayne Stanley</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Another proud accomplishment has been getting the United Nations convention, CITES, to regulate the global export for marine fishes. CITES had categorically refused to get involved in marine fishes. With persistence, Dr. Amanda and her team have now got 182 countries committed to regulating the export of seahorses, limiting it to levels that will not damage wild populations and that are legally sourced.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">That breakthrough opened more doors to a new international instrument that allows sharks, rays, European eels, and other reef fish that are now experiencing the same controls so that there is global sustainable export.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oufqoLdJd0Q?feature=oembed" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 1050px;" title="Saving seahorses, saving the seas" width="500"></iframe></span></div><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From Project Seahorse</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amanda was the first to study Seahorses under water and has set the standard of conservation for people all over the world that care about the animals in our oceans. When asked what she would do with the prize money, Amanda replied, “<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I want to swim with the Seahorses.</em>“</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Dr. Amanda Vincent’s determination to protect our oceans and the species that inhabit it is nothing short of heroic. Dr. Vincent brings a collaborative, culturally sensitive and solutions-focused approach to ocean conservation.She inspires people to action and drives positive outcomes for marine species. It’s our privilege to recognize and reward her for her immeasurable impact on ocean conservation and the future of seahorses around the world.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />-Dr. Rob Shumaker, President/CEO of the Indianapolis Zoological Society</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia McCaulley: A Writer Extraordinaire</span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicia McCaulley coral magazine" class="wp-image-14748" height="807" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/felicia_article-e1594605347670.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="540" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia is a long-time aquarium hobbyist who has been working in the industry for 15+ years. Her experience working in retail, wholesale, aquarium maintenance, aquarium photography, fish and coral aquaculture and livestock purchasing gives her a 360 view of the hobby and the industry that powers it. This hobby has been her <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">raison d’etre</em> for most of her life (besides her children). She started her journey in the hobby in 2001 working at a PetSmart in Pittsburgh. Felicia got her “big break” working for Kevin Kohen at Liveaquaria first as a customer care agent in 2006, and then as the Diver’s Den photographer and marine life identifier in 2008.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicial Mccaulley cover" class="wp-image-14750" height="806" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Felicia_cover.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Felicia_cover.jpg 600w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Felicia_cover-223x300.jpg 223w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="600" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia’s son on the cover with her Micro Reef</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia has been interested in breeding marine fish and propagating corals for many years. With the help of Kevin, Steve Krogh, and Paul Poeschl, she started breeding and raising H. erectus seahorses in 2009. In 2011 Felicia was one of the first to raise the Clingfish species Gobiesox punctulatus, which was documented in the March/April 2012 issue of CORAL magazine. She has successfully kept more than a dozen species of Syngnathids, and kept or worked with nearly every saltwater fish species available in the aquarium hobby today – even the rare Dr. Seuss fish and some little known oddballs like Red Brotulids Dipulus caecus and other coldwater or subtropical species.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicia Mccaulley shrimp" class="wp-image-14747" height="595" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/felicia_shrimp2-1024x595.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Gnathophyllum americanum</span></em></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia has been an aquarium photojournalist for over 10 years, providing content for magazines like <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.coralmagazine.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">CORAL magazine</a> and websites like <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.reefs.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Reefs.com</a>. She has been a writer for CORAL magazine since 2012 with 12 articles published. You may have read some of them like Hats off to Monti Caps (Sep 2018), We are not Plecos (Mar 2012), Hardy Sea Fans (Nov 2019) to name a few. Her articles have also been published in other magazines like Tropical Fish Hobbyist, and a college level microbiology textbook.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="felicia mccaulley" class="wp-image-14752" height="807" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FB_IMG_1571012370583-e1594605672193.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="807" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia’s specialties are aquarium husbandry, seahorses, taxonomy/identification, disease treatment, and chemistry. She has managed or worked in 8 different local aquarium shops, most notably House of Fins in Greenwich, CT in 2013 where Robert Bray graciously let Felicia experiment with her aquatic medicine knowledge with a generously sized quarantine and hospital system in the basement. She teamed up with friends to form a facebook group dedicated to hobby fish and coral disease diagnosis and treatment called “<a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/542057955950616/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Fish Doctors Reef and Aquarium Health.</a>” She has continued to experiment with different medications advocating for proper quarantine and prophylactic Cryptocaryon treatment.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicia mccaulley richard ross" class="wp-image-14751" height="685" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Felicia_rich-1024x685.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Richard Ross & Felicia</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia enjoys attending reef shows and conferences. She has worked in the booths of Boyd Enterprises, CoralVue/ICP- Analysis, CORAL magazine, and Iconic Aquariums as well as given presentations to many aquarium clubs about seahorses and photography. She has spoken in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York City, Virginia, Connecticut, and Texas. Felicia was also part of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://blog.marinedepot.com/2020/05/the-unforgettable-bob-fenner-one-of-the-founding-fathers-of-the-hobby.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Bob Fenner’s</a> Wet Web Media Crew about 10 years ago.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia is currently a part of the Marine Depot family and works in the customer care department helping customers solve technical problems. She also writes articles and video scripts for Marine Depot. She co-authored Part 1 with me and continues to be a part of this blog series. She considers herself lucky by being able to turn her passion into a career that has changed her life. Felicia’s passion and love for the aquarium hobby only grows with time.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicia mccaulley" class="wp-image-14749" height="530" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/felicia-1024x530.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Callianassa armatus</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I had the pleasure of working with Felicia as her manager and mentor for several years. Her passion, enthusiasm and fascination with Syngnathids, unique invertebrates and unusual fishes was inspiring. I always went out of my way to point out unique hitchhikers and other unusual marine life which she appreciated, as we would then research the genus and species of animals not seen very often.”</em> Kevin Kohen, Live Aquaria</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hilary Jaffe: Educational Content Creator</span></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="hilary jaffe" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14530" height="960" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hilary8.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hilary8.jpg 720w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hilary8-225x300.jpg 225w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="720" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white;">Hilary is the thoughtful woman behind the educational content for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/waterlogged1313/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">@Waterlogged1313</a> on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Even at a glance, her wealth of information and knowledge spans many topics and yet her heart belongs to the aquatic animal industry. She is passionate about aquatic ecosystems and teaching others how to protect and care for them. Her training and experience have paved the way for her to work in animal training.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white;">Hilary graduated from the Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, SC. As a Marine Biologist, Hilary was able to bring the ocean with her when she left the coast and moved inland to Charlotte, NC. Using her degree and the experience she gained as a hobbyist she worked as a service technician and a social media manager for Fintastic, a local fish store before moving to Nevada and becoming a fisheries biologist. Hilary currently works as a biologist at an aquarium where she takes care of nearly 25 systems. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="hillary jaffe scuba" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-14536" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hilary2-765x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="765" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white;">Hilary was one of the speakers at the first Women in Reefing meeting at MACNA 2018. She has been a familiar face at reef shows and enjoys the chance to meet people that she has interacted with online. She has worked professionally in the industry as a social media manager and as a biologist. She has trained animals such as fish, stingrays, sharks, and…a pig! She has an inherent instinct for animal training but learnt a lot from amazing trainers like Lara Joseph from The Animal Behavior Center to train her pet pig, Piggles. Hilary applied the same principles and techniques to working with other animals.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-14533" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/hilary5-689x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="689" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white;">Initially she started working with a Spot Fin Puffer- Diodon hystrix. When the other species of puffers were becoming aggressive and biting the divers, Hilary brought them into the training routine and rapidly saw the biting behavior disappear. Because of her success, she was selected to train stingrays for different feeding techniques. Her training not only provides enrichment for the animals, but it also helps to build trust and during the training sessions, allows the public a glimpse into how intelligent animals can be. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white;">Hilary is also a content creator for her <a href="http://waterloggedlife.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">website</a> along with her channels on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8wCmtyZBt1-31jh6RHDcfg" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/waterlogged1313/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a>. Some of the well known people that Hilary has interviewed include Dr. Jamie Bursa about her research on Weddell Seals in Antarctica. Josh Munoz, a photographer and videographer, who studied and sailed through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Dr. Margaret Miller Research Director at SECORE and most recently, Warren Carlyle founder of the largest octopus fan club – OctoNation. </span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Frank the cowfish" class="wp-image-14712" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/hilary7-1-705x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="705" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Frank</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A freshwater puffer fish captured her interest nearly 15 years ago. Since then she has had a mix of saltwater, brackish, and reef tanks. In addition to the tanks she takes care of at work, Hilary personally has 5 saltwater tanks including a nano reef and FOWLR system that is home to her comical cowfish, Frank.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hilary’s advice to hobbyists is not to be afraid to fail or to admit you don’t know something. The times she has experienced failure are the times that she has learned the most. This field is full of amazing people who are always willing to help teach you- take advantage of that. </span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Piggles the pig" class="wp-image-14713" height="581" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/hilary1-1024x581.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Piggles</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I have had many people that reach out to me for various help over the years. One that truly stands out to me is Hilary. She was bit uncertain in regards to putting herself on social media platforms. Through our conversation, I saw how passionate and knowledgeable she was. In my opinion, her personal educational blog called waterlogged is easily one of my favorite blogs in our hobby. Her live streams with museum professionals has brought a different perspective of reef keeping that was sorely missing until her arrival. I am extremely happy and blessed to call her a friend and I am excited to see how she continues to educate and inspire other people with her love of animals and our oceans</em>” – Richard Back</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kristine Turnier: A Typical Love Story</span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-14605" height="576" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Chris_Kristine_at_Camel_Rock_1-1-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="768" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kristine grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Feather River College to work with horses, where she met Chris Turnier and this love story begins. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kristine has been fortunate to be a part of this industry in so many aspects over the years. She followed Chris to Los Angeles in 1996 for his first job out of college, working for a fish and coral transhipper before they were married. Just by luck, a new company, Flying Fish Express, the first online fish and coral retail store, was renting office space above the transhipper and within about six months both Chris and Kristine started working for Flying Fish Express. She knew nothing about saltwater aquariums back then, but she learned on the job and did everything from customer service over the phone, to packing orders, to picking out fish at the local wholesalers. Flying Fish Express pioneered the WYSIWYG and Cleanup Crews, and Kristine wrote the shipping and return policies, which became standard in the industry and are still commonly used today. After a few years, the company was purchased several times and eventually dissolved.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The Turniers moved back to Southern California and opened Reefer Madness, an online coral website, in partnership with Walt Smith International. The business was small but well known for their WYSIWYG corals and beautiful photography. At Reefer Madness, in addition to managing the office, online orders and shipping, Kristine also glued frags of some of the most beautiful Acroporas. Kristine credits her husband for starting the trend for crazy coral names.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Walt Smith, Deb Smith Kristine Turnier" class="wp-image-14716" height="548" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Walt_Deb_Chris_Kristine_Tokoriki_1-scaled-e1594410686955-1024x548.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Walt & Deb Smith with Chris & Kristine Turnier</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">By then the Turniers had known Walt and Deborah Smith for years through visiting the local wholesalers to pick out fish and corals for Flying Fish and Reefer Madness. When the manager of Walt Smith International’s supply station in the Fiji Islands left, Chris was offered the job, and the family moved to Fiji. The farm at Walt Smith International was truly impressive, with dozens of racks of aquacultured frags growing up into larger corals that were then exported to the US. As Kristine did not hold a work permit, she home-schooled her kids; Bryce who was five when they moved there, and Roxy, who was three. Kristine continued to learn about corals and aquaculture as she had many opportunities to visit the farm and see the process first hand.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Kristine Turnier family" class="wp-image-14709" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kristine-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Living in the Fiji Islands was an adventure. The highlights of her time there was snorkeling in pristine, dense coral reefs, getting her SCUBA certification, and swimming with a Manta Ray. Fiji had many challenges too, such as hurricanes and tropical depressions, water shortages, power outages, feral dogs barking all night, and the chore of shopping for food in high heat and humidity. Kristine then worked for the Smiths’ for a short time filing paperwork and helping with billing for Walt Smith International. </span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Kristine Reef-A-palooza" class="wp-image-14715" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kristine2-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">After four years in Fiji the family moved to Tennessee and then Florida where she was offered a position to manage Reef-A-Palooza Orlando and New York as Chris began working for World Wide Corals. Her position has expanded and grown and now also includes managing the new Chicago show. She is the friendly face that exhibitors see as soon as they approach the desk for their badges. Her work includes helping exhibitors sign up for booths, working with the web and graphics designers to create sponsorships, print and social media graphics, make arrangements with the hotel and expo companies, manage ticket sales, and keep every aspect of the show organized and moving forward. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Although she is not directly working with fish and corals, she continues to learn about the industry through the companies that exhibit at the shows. Kristine says she loves helping to bring people together who all have a common interest, and it is exciting to see an entire year of planning and hard work come together for just two days of Reef-A-Palooza.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Fiji reef" class="wp-image-14719" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_7440-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Fiji Reef</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She has seen the online retail sector grow from its humble beginnings. Perhaps the biggest change she has noticed is the desire for aquacultured corals over colonies. When she started, the availability of aquacultured corals was so small. Big, bright wild colonies were all the rage. Indeed, it is amazing to see how aquacultured corals are now the mainstream, and how new varieties, patterns and colors continue to capture people’s attention and become so desirable.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kristine has noticed more women attending Reef-A-Palooza every year which is exciting. Her advice is to utilize the resources out there, such as reefing clubs, forums, frag swaps, trade shows, and local fish stores, and to keep learning. One of the women Kristine admires is Keri O’Neil, Senior Coral Scientist at the Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation. Keri will be one of the key-note speakers at Reef-A-Palooza Orlando.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kristine is a nature girl at heart, and she feels protecting the ocean for the health of our planet and future generations is vital. Her favorite quote is by the person she admires most, Sir David Attenborough, “<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.</em>”</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Kristine has an amazing affinity for coral reefs, the ocean, and all of its inhabitants. She is one of the hardest working individuals I have ever worked with. She is <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">selfless</span>, kind and always has the best interest of customers & co-workers in mind.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />-Lou Schiavo, World Wide Corals</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kelly Delavergne: Seahorse Whisperer</span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Wine Wednesdays with seahorse whisperer" class="wp-image-14707" height="576" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WINE-WEDNESDAY-basic-1024x576.png" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If you’ve been searching for women that host livestreams, there aren’t that many so when a livestream with Wine came into the hobby, it immediately got attention. Kelly is the fun lady behind the weekly livestream called Wine Wednesdays on YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/SeahorseWhisperer/videos" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Seahorse Whisperer</a> where hobbyists of all experiences gather to share, help each other and promote a community atmosphere. Kelly is the founder of the <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/womeninreefing/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Women in Reefing group</a> that was first recognized at MACNA 2018.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kelly grew up in a fur-baby loving family and when asked about what led her to the hobby, “<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">In one word: Fascination. I was literally hooked before a splash of water hit my first aquarium</em>.” Her life was changed by an Angel…fish. See what we did there. She never expected to be taken in by the first sight of her mother-in-law’s seven year old Angelfish that seemed to follow her every move with her eyes and it was then that Kelly decided to keep and care for her own aquarium species.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Kelly delavergne reef tank" class="wp-image-14708" height="540" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_8929-1024x540.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Like many of us, her first foray into the aquatic hobby was with freshwater. After a few years of keeping planted discus aquariums and breeding angelfish, she was introduced to saltwater, coral and seahorses. Keeping difficult fish like Discus, NPS corals and macroalgae successfully provided such a sense of accomplishment that it seemed obvious to Kelly that her next steps should be to learn how to culture coral and macros and eventually to breed seahorses.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Seahorse baby" class="wp-image-14703" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Copy-of-DSC07814-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kelly has kept various Syngnathidae like Ghost Pipefish and DragonFace pipes. The seahorses she bred were h. Erectus, h. Kuda, h. Barbouri, h. Reidi, and a hybrid erectus-reidi mix. The most difficult were fry, and breeding the seahorses. Discussions on her live stream range from all kinds of topic for seahorses and macroalgaes such as building a seahorse fry nursery, growing macros that are appropriate for seahorse tanks, setting up a dwarf seahorse tank.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="sea horse on branch" class="wp-image-14702" height="660" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/0100a6a2a44a7aeef3c0a73fd639b2b691cfdeb29e-1024x660.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kelly was fortunate to have some amazing mentors like Cruz Arias in reefing, Dan Underwood, Tom Hornsby and Cheryl Taylor in Seahorses. She was pleasantly surprised when her macro algae tank was noticed by <a href="https://www.reefhobbyistmagazine.com/magazines_files/4dfd2a142d36707f8043c40ce0746761-issue-39.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Reef Hobbyist Magazine</a>. The article about her seahorse-macro tank helped Kelly realize that she could help other hobbyists who wanted to learn about these salty subjects. Ten years later, Kelly says she has been honored to share her experiences and knowledge events such as the Marine Breeding Initiative (<a href="http://www.mbisite.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">MBI</a>), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/embassy-suites-by-hilton-chicago-naperville/midwest-aquatic-convention/398448853905019/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Midwest Aquatic Convention</a> and <a href="http://macnaconference.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">MACNA</a>. Kelly creates videos and articles on <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.youtube.com/seahorsewhisperer" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">YOUTUBE</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seahorsewhisperersociety/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">FACEBOOK</a>, to help anyone interested in keeping seahorses, macro algae or reef tanks.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Macro algae tank kelly delavergne" class="wp-image-14710" height="683" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/macrotankbest2-1024x683.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kelly considers her ultimate accomplishment to be contributing to the Women in Reefing movement. Teaming up with other great women to promote and hold the <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmR_xzKhbrg" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Women in Reefing</a> events at MACNA. Seeing the number of women succeeding in the hobby and industry makes her proud. She is more determined than ever to support women who venture out into the hobby and industry.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Women in Reefing Macna meeting" class="wp-image-14704" height="599" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Copy-of-Women-in-reefing-cover-1024x599.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I have had the opportunity to work with Kelly and she is dedicated to providing state of the art information in regards to keeping and caring for seahorses and pipefish. Her dedication to helping others become successful shows in everything she does.</em>”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />-Cheryl Taylor m</span></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-47897351863151366272020-05-22T07:58:00.001-07:002021-11-12T07:59:09.414-08:00Women in Reefing LIVE w/ Felicia McCaulley, MetroKat, Nicole Helgason, H...<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/DXon2OTH2e8" frameborder="0"></iframe>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-88683817405693481962020-05-12T17:11:00.002-07:002021-07-01T14:58:30.617-07:00The Unforgettable Bob Fenner – One of the Founding Fathers of the Hobby<p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob Fenner 1952 – 2020</span></h2><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="bob fenner" class="wp-image-14272" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/bobcover-768x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="768" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“To you, the aquarist. May your brush with captive marine fishes and invertebrates enhance your appreciation of the living world, inspire you to share your experiences with others, and foster stewardship of our planet.”</em> – the Dedication page in Bob’s celebrated book The Conscientious Marine Aquarist.</span></figcaption></figure></div><p class="has-small-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Co-authored by Metrokat and Felicia McCaulley</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">One of the greatest reef aquarium and diving legends we’ve ever known unexpectedly departed this world on May 7th, 2020, and the entire aquarium community is grieving. Bob Fenner is best known for what many call the “saltwater aquarium Bible” – his book The Conscientious Marine Aquarist and his website <a href="http://wetwebmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">WetWebMedia.com</a>. He received the prestigious MASNA award in 2005 and was an avid book writer/photographer and a regular contributor to many magazines including CORAL magazine, FAMA, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, and many more. Most aquarium hobbyists today can trace their “roots” back to Fenner in some way – he either inspired you directly, or he inspired someone who inspired you. </span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-weight: bolder;">The Connector</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob loved people. Hobbyists and friends all have similar stories about their first time meeting him. He was superbly friendly, upbeat, and smiling, and usually invited his new friends to go diving by the end of their first conversation! He loved to collect friends, taking note of their interests and introducing compatible friends to one another. If you ever met Bob, he remembered your name. He likely remembered small details about your aquarium and your life. Maybe he even remembered your birthday. He was passionate about humans as well as the natural world. </span></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Bob Fenner diving" class="wp-image-14302" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/bob-diving-michelle-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Picture courtesy Michelle Lemech</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In his WetWebMedia bio, he said, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The central thread to everything I have attempted in writing, presentation or action in the interest has been/is “to enhance people’s love of their own lives through an appreciation of the living world.’” </em>– a lofty goal, certainly achieved over a lifetime of passion and patience.</span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-weight: bolder;">The Maven</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There is no denying Bob Fenner’s brilliance and genius. We in the marine aquarium hobby are lucky he chose our field to focus on and that he graciously shared his knowledge with us. He spent 25 years painstakingly and patiently answering countless emails from hobbyists on his site WetWebMedia. He was the “go-to guy” if you had a question about aquariums that no one else could answer, but he never resented answering beginners’ tedious questions, too. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">His first job was as a local fish store employee, and he started an aquarium maintenance business that helped him through college. After receiving his Zoology BS from San Diego with a minor in chemistry, he went on to teach high school science and then was an instructor at University of California San Diego. He also worked in aquatic wholesale, Betta culturing, and later started his own business, Nature, Etc. Inc. designing habitats. </span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-weight: bolder;">The Innovator</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The first thing many people noticed about Bob was his charisma and infectious excitability. He was known for being “socially contagious” with a unique laugh and sometimes “off color” sense of humor. Able to express empathy and relate to others sincerely, he built excellent rapport with many in our community over the years to collaborate on projects and form bonds with other industry leaders and hobbyists.</span></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="bob fenner book conscientious marine aquarist" class="wp-image-14269" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/bobbook-916x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="916" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Revised second edition</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob was a prolific writer with a copious body of work. He produced more than a dozen books in print and an uncountable number of web and magazine articles over his lifetime. His writing style can be described as “stream of consciousness,” but easily understandable with visual imagery and philosophic inspirations. He was a staple at frag swaps, trade shows, and conventions like the International Marine Aquarium Conference, Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, and Interzoo, often attending as a speaker or person of honor. Bob was the Vice-President of Marine Aquarium Societies of North America and presented at eleven MACNA events between 2001 – 2018. He also recently helped set up a marine ornamentals collection station with Walt Smith in Fiji. </span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-weight: bolder;">The Representative</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">There are some who believe you can’t be a defender of reefs and a defender of the aquarium hobby at the same time. Bob set out to prove that idea wrong. He believed that responsible and conscientious aquarium keeping (and diving) fostered a love and respect for aquatic species and reefs; he knew that humans were more likely to protect what they love. He has been on thousands of dives, observing, documenting, and reporting on the health of the world’s natural reefs. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob strived to be the best human that he could be while responsibly pursuing as much enjoyment and excitement as he could fit into his life. He called for all of us to make more responsible decisions to help mitigate and amend the destruction caused by humans to coral reefs and other natural habitats. </span></p><p class="has-medium-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-weight: bolder;">Leisure </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob led an extraordinarily active, energetic lifestyle. He lived for adventure! Close friends referred to him as “the most interesting man in the world.” He had a full and colorful life, vacationing in tropical locations, diving, and visiting beloved friends all over the world. He was a talented underwater photographer with a vast collection of photos from nearly 40 years of diving. He’d recently been attempting to catalog them with the help of friends, and he posted beautiful, educational photos of fish, corals, and inverts on his facebook page each day. When he was home from his dive trips, he didn’t sit still for too long – he was a Hash House Harrier, comically referred to as a “drinking club with a running problem.” In his downtime, he enjoyed playing guitar, drums, and reading science fiction (even writing some himself). He was always up for a beer or some quality sushi with a friend to talk fish or philosophy. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob Fenner’s passing is a devastating loss to our hobby and to his friends and family. We at Marine Depot want to extend our deepest condolences to all who loved and looked up to him. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thanks for all the fish</em>”.</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="macna" class="wp-image-14310" height="680" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/michelle2-1024x680.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">MACNA. Image courtesy Michelle Lemech</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob was a dear friend and mentor to me. He played an influential role in the story of my life. My life would not be as full or rich if he were not a part of it.</em></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The first couple of times I met Bob, he invited me and my former husband to Hawai’i to stay at his house. I thought it was a gracious gesture but didn’t really take him seriously till he inscribed my copy of his book, “come to Hawai’i and get SCUBA certified.” Since I had it in writing, I did. We arrived in Hawaii with Bob’s phone number, e-mail address, and no other contact information. With great anticipation, I called his number. There was no answer. I left a message at the beep. As I hung up, panic started to seep into my thoughts. Maybe my friends were right. What kind of hare-brained idea was this? About twenty minutes later Bob called to let us know he was on his way to pick us up. Thus began the first of many adventures with Bob.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob invited me to be part of the crew responding to the daily FAQ’s on WetWebMedia. I was pretty new to the hobby and didn’t feel I had much to offer, but he encouraged me and I found my niche. He encouraged me to write, though that was/is not my strong suit. I much prefer photography. He mentored me there as well, allowing me to use his secondary underwater photography gear when we dove together. </em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Most people who have met Bob know him as full of energy and charisma. He most certainly was, but he could also be quirky and moody. I learned not to talk to him before he was at least half-way through his morning vat of coffee, frequently in a 4 cup measuring cup. He would read queries, and if they had a lot of spelling or grammar mistakes, he would send them back telling the writer to fix it and send again. “Alot” was a pet peeve of his. He had a distinctive writing method which can be seen on every query on WWM, which he carried over into email, occasionally confusing people.</em></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="michelle lemech craig bingman bob fenner" class="wp-image-14274" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/michelle-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Michelle & Craig with Bob and his sister Donna</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob enjoyed cooking and never met a processed meat he didn’t like. His home was decorated with all things fishy, yet I have never seen more than a freshwater set up there. His library is astounding. I doubt there is anyone with a more vast collection, at least in the US. For leisure he enjoyed reading sci-fi’s. He was particularly fond of Frank Herbert and read his Dune series many times over. At conferences, you could always find him at the hotel bar, beer in hand, speaking to any number of friends new and old. Had I not met Bob, I would not have met my significant other, Craig Bingman, or had our son, Kai. I am greatly saddened by the future opportunities lost I had looked forward travel and dive adventures when our now 3 year old son might remember them. I am disappointed that Kai will never have the pleasure of knowing Bob or having him as a teacher. Bob touched lives all over the globe and he will be deeply missed by me and so many others.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />So here’s to you, Bob. Cheers, mate!</em> – Michelle Lemech</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Felicia mccaulley bob fenner and friends" class="wp-image-14263" height="685" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/felicia-1024x685.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Felicia with Bob and friends</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob was easily the biggest titan of the reef aquarium hobby, but he was so down to earth and cool. He felt like a celebrity to me, but he was also my friend. One of my favorite memories of Bob is when we went to the Reef Conservation Society frag swap in 2012 and met a little boy, maybe 9 years old, who was a big fan of Bob Fenner. That little boy was completely star struck and even brought his copy of Conscientious Marine Aquarist for Bob to sign. Bob was so sweet and gracious, he chatted with that boy for a long time and made him so happy. He took the time to get to know the boy, and when we all left, I bet that boy felt like Bob Fenner was his friend, too. That is how Bob made us all feel. Like we were friends with our favorite rock star. He never acted like he was better than anyone else, though, in my opinion, he was.”</em> – Felicia McCaulley</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Bob was so many things, but what made him so truly remarkable (in my mind) was how effortlessly good and kind he could be. He made it look so easy. It made you want to be a better person.”</em> – Sara Allyn Liva, OG hobbyist, diver, and very good friend of Bob.</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="walt smith deb smith bob fenner" class="wp-image-14306" height="605" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/waltsmith-e1589303916149.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="807" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Walt & Deb with Bob and Long Beach Aquarium curator, Sandy Trautwein</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Yes, Bob Fenner was one of the most genuinely sincere people I have ever known. How many times have we all seen Bob surrounded by a crowd yet focus on one in need or his deep style of greeting by putting his hand on your shoulder and looking you straight in the eye (head tilted) and wanting to know how you are? I mean really wanting to know how you are. That was Bob Fenner. </span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It is hard to sleep tonight as I keep hearing his unique voice and humor in my head. I can’t believe he is gone. He was a great and instant friend to almost anyone he met and he never stopped giving of himself until his last hours on this planet. His quiet and peaceful passing can be seen as a gift we all hope for when it’s our time to join him. </span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rest in peace Bob. The choir of aquatic souls sing praises in tribute to your full and dedicated life. You had more fun doing what you loved than anyone I know. </span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our many times together, over the past 40+ years, have given Deb and I memories that highlight our lives and your friendship, generosity and advice always came from deep in your heart. The many that knew you know this to be true and you have touched so many. Your books and continuous contributions to our aquatic world as well as your encyclopedic memory have marked you as one of the most memorable “characters” we were lucky enough to know. </em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I know you will always be with us … always!”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In loving memory of Mr. Bob Fenner ~ Walt and Deb Smith</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“I don’t know how to open this; it seems like there should be something epic to say, but there’s no statement that sums up the immensity of loss that is the passing of Bob Fenner. There isn’t a way to say it right, so I’ll just say it.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">A few days ago, my friend Bob died.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If you’re reading this, he was probably your friend as well. There are likely hundreds of people mourning as deeply as I am right now, and thousands upon thousands of others that are touched by this loss. You know what I’m feeling, because you’re feeling it, too.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob was… (Was. I can’t get over the use of past tense, here; this is a real struggle.) Bob was just amazing. He was a charismatic presence stronger than any other. To say he was the life of every party is inadequate; he knew everybody, and everybody knew him, and he had a sort of an inescapable gravity that drew people to him.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">It’s an odd and magical feeling when you meet your hero, and he turns into a friend almost instantly. I know I’m not the only one who has felt this with Bob; it was just his way. To meet him was to befriend him. He tried to include anyone and everyone around him in conversations. He was constantly engaging; put a hand on your arm, or an arm across your shoulders, anything to be close and in contact with any friend, new or old.</span></em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Bob Fenner" class="wp-image-14315" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/michelle3-768x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="768" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Image courtesy Michelle Lemech</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">One of my fondest memories is when I spent a few weeks at his house in Hawai’i; the mornings we spent working on WetWebMedia. Once he’d gotten about halfway through a cup of coffee, it was the right time to ask a simple question. Any question. About anything. It would spark a two hour conversation that touched on every topic imaginable, from fish to science to science fiction to life. I learned more from him in those mornings than I can convey.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob changed my life. It was because of him and WetWebMedia that I became a SCUBA diver; I travelled to Egypt and dived the Red Sea with him and other friends. It was one of the highlights of my life to date. For you fellow fish geeks, get this: on one of our dives in the Red Sea, I even saw a colony of Anthelia spawning. I know a lot of us had once-in-a-lifetime experiences that went on to become twice-in-a-lifetime, three times, more…. Bob set me on a course to try more, do more, change more. To live more.</span></em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="portrait bob fenner sabrina celeste sharpe foxx" class="wp-image-14270" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/bobpainting-768x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="768" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Portrait by Sabrina</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I can’t believe how different my life has been since Bob entered it almost 18 years ago, derailed it, and set it on a more lively course. I can’t believe how so many others have experienced the same. I can’t believe how one single person can make such wide-reaching, enormous waves that have changed so very, very many lives so dramatically. I can’t even begin to conceive of the innumerable, countless lives of fish and invertebrates he bettered through his books and writings and correspondence via WetWebMedia. And I can’t believe he’s gone.” – </em>Sabrina Celeste Sharp-Foxx</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="james fatherree bob fenner" class="wp-image-14259" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/james2-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Red Sea 2019</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Bob was a world traveler, diver, photographer, aquarist, author, and speaker; both of us Army vets and science teachers, too. He was a genius, a living encyclopedia, as friendly as friendly gets, and always looking for opportunities to help others in any way he could. We were friends, and being vastly more knowledgeable and experienced, he was also a mentor.</span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Today, rolling back the tape of memories, I’m thinking about all the conversations, advice, and encouragement. Trips, dives, eating, drinking, and joking around. Thinking about just how much of an influence he had on me and countless others, personally, and through his books and articles.</span></em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="james fatherree bob fenner in egypt" class="wp-image-14260" height="683" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/james-1024x683.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Egypt 2019</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s far from exaggeration to say I wouldn’t be who I am today, where I am today, if it wasn’t for Bob. I’m one of many people lucky enough to have known him.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">My condolences go out to his family and other friends. We’ll miss him.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />-James W Fatherree</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="scott fellman bob fenner" class="wp-image-14303" height="680" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/scott-1024x680.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">MACNA with Scott</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Bob’s greatest gift was his ability to relate to people. He had a genuine affection for people, and was amazing at facilitating relationships. If you were trying to find out some information, or accomplish something in the industry, he was an amazing resource… he’d freely introduce e you to the right people, and they’d always be eager to help. Many aquatics industry careers- including my own- were started with his encouragement, advice, and connections.”</em> – Scott Fellman</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob was an excellent mentor and an incredible human, he had a knack for making you feel like family. He picked up like not a day had passed, no matter how long it had been since you’d seen him last.</em> – Josh Solomon</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“Today, we lost a valuable asset to the saltwater hobby. Bob Fenner was a friend of mine, one of the first speakers I ever heard way back in 2002 (MACNA – Fort Worth). He loved SCUBA diving, traveling the world to photograph underwater creatures. He was always willing to explore various locales on land as well, and learn their history. </span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">His passion for the hobby was well known, and he was literally loved by many for his sharp wit, his friendliness, and his willingness to help anyone that had a question about our hobby. He also wrote articles for the freshwater hobby, and was an avid writer for the travel industry. His reviews, his insight, that’s what people wanted.</span></em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="marc levenson bob fenner" class="wp-image-14275" height="546" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/marc2-e1589292819164-1024x546.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Always a hoot</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bob wrote many articles, and ran his own website WetWebMedia that he updated on a daily basis. His book “The Conscientious Marine Aquarist” is a must-read for anyone that loves saltwater aquariums. I’ve been seeing his daily posts on facebook for the past couple of years where he shared a picture (or three) of something he photographed in the ocean during one of his many trips. </span></em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We dove together a couple of times. He told me “No matter what, always know that I know where you are.” That’s what a dive buddy does. However, he merely meant that he knew I was somewhere in the ocean. lol Our dive last year was on an island called Bonaire. We dove a total of 14 dives that trip, and enjoyed food and drink late into the night. The next day, he was quick to get his camera gear ready, as well as his scuba gear, to see what else we could find.</span></em></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="bob fenner marc levenson bonair 2019" class="wp-image-14299" height="807" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/marc-levenson-bonair-2019-e1589302435755.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="605" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bonair 2019</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is personal to me, as he was my friend. I’ve stayed in his home, I’ve borrowed his car, I ate his cooking, and we’d meet up at least once a year at one of the major marine events. Bob spoke to DFWMAS several times over the past 18 years, and his infectious love of aquatic life was invigorating. He knew what he was talking about, as he’s as seasoned as they come. He’d answer any question, and he had the best stories. He told me back in the 90s he was a LFS owner. Later, in 2005, he received the MASNA Award, which recognizes someone who has been exceptional in furthering the marine hobby. He excelled at this then, and never stopped; not for a single day.</span></em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Marc Levenson Bob Fenner 2010" class="wp-image-14271" height="480" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/marc_cali2010.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/marc_cali2010.jpg 640w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/marc_cali2010-300x225.jpg 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="640" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Marc with Bob, California 2010</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">This generous man would help anyone. He never turned down an opportunity to hang out with others, he loved to drink, his humor was constantly at the ready. Based in San Diego, he was an active member of the SDMAS club, but also was a constant volunteer with the Hashers running club, providing food and beverages for their members at their weekly meet-ups. Today (5/7/20), he died in his sleep. One thing I’ll never forget was how he’d tell me was that he “was ready for his next dive.” Why? Because he was dry. For him, that was much too long. I hope he’s found a perfect reef and will be “blowing bubbles” there forever.”</em> – Marc Levenson</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“If you met Bob even once, once was enough. That is pretty much all it took to never forget the vibrant person that was Bob. You can be sure he remembered you, and some detail about you. Quick to laugh, even quicker to make you laugh, Bob was an extraordinary human. Liked by everyone, respected, and certainly loved by many, Bob made the time for every one of his countless friends. Every photo he posted on Facebook was great, I commented on so many over the years and he never forgot to like the comment or reply back.</span></em></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="marine depot tribute to bob fenner" class="wp-image-14257" height="141" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MD_bob.png" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MD_bob.png 349w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MD_bob-300x121.png 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="349" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Marine Depot logo change to honor Bob</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I got a chance to chat with him about the love of his life – diving – and some of his favorite diving spots for <a href="https://blog.marinedepot.com/2017/02/bob-fenner-underwater_pictures-fiji.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">an article</a> I wrote about him in 2017. He shared pictures from Fiji. Chatting with him always felt effortless, no matter the topic. If you had an odd critter in your tank or a strange reef curiosity, Bob had the answers. I remember offering to help him update <a href="http://wetwebmedia.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">wetwebmedia.com</a> if he needed someone, he said it was going to be near impossible to catalog the sheer volume of information on the website. Indeed, you can fill several books with the information on the website</em>. <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">He was a walking aquatic encyclopedia and we are lucky to have his knowledge at our fingertips.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">As Felicia and I reached out to Bob’s friends for this article, there were many for whom his loss is still too raw. He is missed deeply.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hope the oceans are deep blue and endless where you are. Happy diving Bob.”</em> – Kat</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="autographed book bob fenner" class="wp-image-14262" height="647" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/richard-e1589293078755.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/richard-e1589293078755.jpg 522w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/richard-e1589293078755-242x300.jpg 242w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="522" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Richards copy of Bobs book</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Like many other’s first encounter with Bob, I met him online via his website Wet Web Media, seeking his expert advice when I still in college, just starting to get into the hobby in the early to mid 2000s. Like many new hobbyists, I had tons of questions and looking back, some of them were just down right silly, but he was patient with me and shared his knowledge and made the learning experience enjoyable with his easy going attitude and jokes. His passion and enthusiasm was obvious even through the screen and I was extremely grateful for his help and bought his book to support his work and to learn more. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A few years went by and while I was doing my reef press full time, I ran into Bob at Super Zoo. Even though we had just met, he treated me like an old friend. We had an absolute blast while we sat, drank, and talked about various fish, their behaviors, natural habitats, corals, and scuba diving. He invited me to his scuba diving group where we shared photos (I just mainly watched and asked questions), stories, and grew our friendship through our mutual love for the ocean.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Throughout the years, we would bump into each other at trade shows and almost each time, he would tease me that he could take better photos with his cheap underwater digital point and shoot camera… so I should just buy one of those and join him on one of his scuba trips. Looks like I will never get that chance and I am heart broken about it. He like many others in this hobby embraced me fully when I was just a minnow and helped me grow on my reefkeeping journey. I just want to say thank you and that I will miss him. I still can’t believe that he’s gone. It was just a few days ago that we were talking about Genicanthus semifasciatus. I and many others will miss his knowledge and jokes, his infectious laughter and his positive outlook on life.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="Richard Back bob fenner" class="wp-image-14261" height="807" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/richard2-e1589293139372.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="605" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Superzoo 2015</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here’s to you Bob. May you rest in peace and may you be surrounded by the amazing sea life that you loved so much. “</em> – Richard Back, Afishionado Channel</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Circa 2002 I found a website called wetwebmedia where I gathered a lifetime of new information in quick succession. Eventually I started exchanging messages with a moderator named Bob, who miraculously had an answer for every damn question. These initial interactions were the catalyst to my never ending search for more salty knowledge, which led to the launch of my first business. – Bob had such a dramatic impact on so many lives personally and professionally. My life would look very different without Bob and WWM, and for that, I am forever grateful.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">We love you, Bob. Rest easy.”</em> – Austin Lefevre</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“My first introduction to Bob Fenner was an interesting one as Bob apparently preferred them that way. I had started my first Coral farming company and the name I came up with was Dynamic Ecomorphology. Thought the name applied real well to stony corals as they can dynamically adapt to changing environmental conditions, within limits. Well, Bob was a strict evolutionists and he did not take well to any suggestions outside that point of view. So here I am at a small conference with at least 100 other people in San Diego. Bob singled me out of the crowd. He was talking about fish as he typically did, and he was referring to a fish that did not do too well. So Bob says, “the fish was obviously not dynamic and not ecomorphologic.” He always got some laughs, and he knew I wasn’t talking about a fish. But even I chuckled.”</em> – Steve Tyree</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob was a gentle aquarium giant who’s love and passion for the hobby will reverberate forever. The sheer number of people he educated through wetwebmedia, forums, blogs, books and talks cannot be quantified. His love for others and the aquarium hobby was that of legends. He will be missed for countless generations.”</em> – David Hammontree, R2R</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><div class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="bob fenner jake adams house of fins" class="wp-image-14314" height="680" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/michelle4-1024x680.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Image courtesy Michelle Lemech</span></figcaption></figure></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s often said that someone lives hard and plays hard, but for Bob, that really was the truth. Few people lived life with the passion he did, whether sampling sushi, cross-country running, or diving in the Red Sea. But he had applied that same level of passion to his work, educating hobbyists and promoting the fishkeeping industry across the world. Working with Bob on the WetWebMedia site for fifteen years was both inspirational and tremendous fun, and the gap he leaves will be impossible to fill.</em> – Neale Monks</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bob, loved the sea and all the creatures that dwelled there. He never met a stranger and especially loved talking to others who shared his passion for sea creatures. He worked tirelessly to educate the public and the hobby with information on the animals we keep. He will be missed by everyone in the hobby.</em>” – Ed Wiser</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The things I will remember most from my times with Bob Fenner include his boisterous, gregarious warmth, always an arm around your shoulders, and his unique voice. I consider myself very lucky to have had him in my life, and I will miss him. Bob was simply one of those people who I always looked forward to seeing. He was also always eager to lend a hand, to support a fellow aquarium writer. His profuse amount of writing is obvious in WetWebMedia.” </em>– Matthew Pedersen, Coral Magazine</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“If the aquarium industry was a corporation, we would consider Bob Fenner a founding member. His love for all things aquatic was beyond apparent and his willingness to share the vast vaults of knowledge he had was unprecedented. Bob Fenner was so much more than an Aquatic media giant; to so many, he was an undeniable source of information but more importantly a friend.”</em> – Peter Cherrick, RNN</span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From the Marine Depot Archives</span></h4><p class="has-normal-font-size" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Blog: <a href="https://blog.marinedepot.com/2017/02/bob-fenner-underwater_pictures-fiji.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Catching up with Bob Fenner.</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Blog: <a href="https://blog.marinedepot.com/2017/11/interview-with-bob-fenner.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Where in the world is Bob Fenner?</a></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img alt="marine depot reefapalooza parking lot" class="wp-image-14258" height="480" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RAP2006.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RAP2006.jpg 640w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RAP2006-300x225.jpg 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="640" /></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">2006 Reef-A-Palooza with Bob as a speaker</span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The 3rd Reef-A-Palooza California w</em>as held in 2006, in the parking lot of the old Marine Depot office building. Bob was a speaker at the event and has been a friend of Marine Depot ever since.</span></p>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706407444316683707.post-17324056510787348002020-05-08T17:17:00.002-07:002021-07-01T14:59:26.453-07:00Women in Reefing Part 1: A Tribute, A Legend, An Icon, A Titan, A Coral Lover<p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 14px;">https://www.marinedepot.com/blog/2020/05/women-in-reefing-part-1</span></p><div><div class="post-entry mt-4" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cabin, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Co-Authored by Metrokat and Felicia McCaulley</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">We are excited to start a series of blogs on Women in Reefing. There are so many incredible, talented achievers in the hobby, we wanted to take the time to highlight the magnitude of their love for this hobby and what makes these women memorable.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">In Part 1, we begin with a Tribute to one that we lost very recently.</span></span></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lori Johnson – A Tribute</span></span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Lori Johnson reef" class="wp-image-14218" height="718" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lori1-e1588970228607.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="807" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Loris Reef</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lori Johnson was a prominent figure in the reef aquarium hobby for many years. She kept reef aquariums for decades; her first tank was set up in 1992 when she built her house. Lori was active on message boards and facebook groups where she helped countless hobbyists find success with their own reef tanks. She was an admin of several facebook groups – Saltwater Aquarium and Reef Keepers, Saltwater Aquarium Lounge, and Fish Doctors Reef and Aquarium Health. She was passionate about reefing and her cats – Boo, Bae, and Buddy.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="lori johnson harlequin tusk" class="wp-image-14220" height="687" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lori3-1024x687.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Harlequin Tusk</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lori left our world on April 9th, 2020 and will be missed by countless friends and her family. She was best known for her kind heart and her sometimes “dark” sense of humor. She was frank and honest with hobbyists about any mistakes they were making, but she was always helpful. She was a hard worker who compiled many authoritative guides on reefkeeping and medication regimens. Lori was a brilliant medical nurse for most of her life who valued peer reviewed literature and scientific evidence and applied that to her reefkeeping. She was an invaluable asset to our hobby and will be sorely missed.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Lori Johnson Torch coral" class="wp-image-14219" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/lori2-1024x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lori loved her Torch Corals</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lori was my online friend for many years. Originally a customer, she purchased a large sump that was under her reef tank to this day. She loved helping others, and was really good at connecting people with the best source to find what they needed. Her sense of humor was always there, ready to lighten the mood, but more importantly she never seemed to take offense no matter the person. The more she learned, the more helpful she was, and I often thought she reminded me of me, in the facebook world that was hers. My interaction with Lori was nearly daily, and I’m really missing having her in my chat. The funniest thing to me was how she could destroy electronics, almost like it was her superpower. We really lost a hero, and no-one will fill her spot.</em>“<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Marc Levenson</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“She was always happy to help any type of person at any stage of reefkeeping. She was as patient and generous as they come. She did things behind the scenes that no one knew about (like offering to pay vendors to send people things they needed), never seeking the recognition. She was extremely active and despite whatever she had going on in her own life always found a way to make others feel valued, heard, and cared for”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Chris Weinreich</span></span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Joy Meadows – A Legend</span></span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Joy Meadows albert thiel gary meadows" class="wp-image-14198" height="504" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/gary-meadows.jpeg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/gary-meadows.jpeg 680w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/gary-meadows-300x222.jpeg 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="680" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Joy Meadows, Albert Thiel, Gary Meadows</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Joy has been an avid aquarium hobbyist for nearly 4 decades starting in the late ‘70s. In 1996, with her husband Gary, she formed one of the first commercial/ retail online companies to sell live rock, corals, clams and other assorted invertebrates to the public. She still remembers that her favorite coral from the ‘80s was the Elegance. Their greenhouse facility was the first facility of its kind and helped set the standard for livestock facilities of today. Her intuitive use of lighting began during the design phase of Harbor Aquatics and continues to this day. Harbor Aquatics was so highly regarded for the quality of their livestock it became the ground for many aquarium products sold in our industry today.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="joy meadows harbor aquatics green house" class="wp-image-14199" height="480" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/joy.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/joy.jpg 640w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/joy-300x225.jpg 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="640" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Harbor Aquatics Greenhouse</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">When Gary passed in 2000, Joy continued to manage the company till 2004 when she sold after getting burnt out. In 2002 Joy was introduced to LED lighting designer Tullio DellAquila and they formed a professional friendship implementing LED moon lights at the Harbor Aquatics facility.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">In 2006 Joy Meadows teamed up with PFO Lighting to launch the Solaris.The Solaris was really the first true full spectrum LED lighting system in the hobby. In 2008 Joy Meadows teamed up with Tullio DellAquila to form what is now known as <a href="https://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium-lights/reef-brite" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Reef Brite</a>. Joy is VP Sales at Reef Brite.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">When asked about the changes in the hobby from when she first got into it to now, Joy observed that today’s hobbyists make it too complicated. They spend a lot on equipment and her best advice is to keep it simple. She ran a 20,000 gallon facility with just live rock and skimmers back in the 1990’s. She wants to encourage every hobbyist to read the books that are out there, her favorites are the ones published by <a href="https://www.marinedepot.com/algae-a-problem-solver-guide-by-julian-sprung" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Julian Sprung</a>.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Joy Meadows with Carlos Chacon" class="wp-image-14200" height="522" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/joy3-e1588960925271-1024x522.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Carlos Chacon and Joy</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">“<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I met Joy back in 1999 on my first visit to Harbor Aquatics. The local reef club had organized an outing. Little did I know then that I would meet someone that after 20 years, can still call a friend. From sharing a meal at Harbor Aquatics to spending Thanksgiving together, to attending industry trade shows, Joy has been an influential figure in my life. She is one of the most selfless, kind, and loving people I know. She is determined, but always making sure everyone around her feels at home. She is driven, but will not hesitate to lend a hand. I feel fortunate to know her and will ever feel privileged to call her my friend.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Happy Mother’s Day, Joy. Love always, Carlos.</em>“<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Carlos Chacon</span></span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Rachel Fogle – An Icon</span></span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="Rachel Fogle Reefweeds Deathdopus" class="wp-image-14209" height="1008" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/deathdopus-1024x1008.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">ReefWeeds Deathdopus</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Rachel Fogle is the creative icon behind ReefWeeds, reef inspired UV art. She got into reefing in 2015 as a 10th anniversary present for both her husband, Jeff, and herself. It ended up being Rachels hobby even though Jeff continued to have his own tanks. Rachel cares deeply about all the livestock in her care and it fuels her creativity when it comes to her art.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="rachel fogle reefweeds acropora walt disney" class="wp-image-14208" height="703" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/achel7.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/achel7.jpg 714w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/achel7-300x295.jpg 300w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="714" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">ReefWeeds Walt Disney</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Rachel started ReefWeeds in 2017 as the first reef-inspired UV art in the hobby. It was interesting for her to see the industry side of the hobby since she enjoys meeting people at shows and seeing their reaction to her art in person.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="rachel fogle red sea peninsula" class="wp-image-14206" height="641" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel5-e1588962969797.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="807" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Red Sea Reefer 500 Peninsula</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Rachel’s favorite tank was a SCA 66. She loved that tank and mentions it often as the system that hit a stride she hasn’t been able to reach since. We all have faced that problem with our tanks at some point or another. Rachel currently has a <a href="https://www.marinedepot.com/red-sea-reefer-500-peninsula-105-gallon-rimless-aquarium" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Red Sea Reefer 500 peninsula</a> which is in her studio at home. She had a wall cut out so the peninsula looks like it’s built in and can be seen from the whole kitchen as well.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="rachel fogle bevo cowfish" class="wp-image-14207" height="816" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel6-e1588961954955.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="807" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Bevo</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">She enjoys keeping LPS and Softies – mushrooms, zoanthids the most out of all corals. We saw many videos and pics of ‘Bevo’, her Longhorn Cowfish. He ended up stuck in a maxi mini carpet anemone and didn’t make it unfortunately. Another of her favorite tanks was a macro algae tank and she hopes to someday have another one again.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="rachel fogle reefweeds reef koi series" class="wp-image-14205" height="768" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel1-1024x768.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The Iconic Reef Koi Series</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">She has definitely set the trend for UV art. We can all agree that she is often imitated but never duplicated, her vision, composition, talent is #OG all the way.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="rachel fogle with friend" class="wp-image-14203" height="851" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel3.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel3.jpg 640w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/rachel3-226x300.jpg 226w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="640" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Rachel with a friend</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A reef tank is a work of art on its own, however Rachel Fogle can translate that to canvas with a purpose and passion that is unparalleled. Many people make art but few are truly artists that embrace their muse and are able to give joy to so many through it. It is a pleasure to have been able to experience the hobby through her art, but most of all to call her a friend and inspiration.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Peter Cherrick, RNN</span></span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Karen Brittain – A Titan</span></span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="karen brittain bandit angelfish captivebred" class="wp-image-14211" height="480" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen5-scaled-e1588965060726-1024x480.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Bandit Angelfish</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">We get so excited whenever we hear of new species of fish being captive bred right? Karen Brittain is one of the incredible people we can give credit to for working on some of the most challenging fish species. Karen was born and raised in Hawaii and is a marine ornamental fish breeder specializing in breakthrough captive breeding and larval rearing. She earned her marine science degree from the University of Hawaii and for more than three decades has done some truly amazing things in the field of marine ornamental aquaculture.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="karen brittain fish" class="wp-image-14213" height="768" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen3-scaled-e1588964968888-1024x768.jpg" srcset="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen3-scaled-e1588964968888-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen3-scaled-e1588964968888-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen3-scaled-e1588964968888-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen3-scaled-e1588964968888.jpg 1076w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Bodianus Sanguenius</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Brittain gained experience during her employment at Waikiki aquarium, where she had the opportunity to do larval rearing work. Then in 1997 she formed Reef Friendly Fishes breeding and raising fish in her home in Hawaii.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="karen brittain borbonius" class="wp-image-14214" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/karen2-713x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="713" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Borbonius Anthias</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">She joined Rising Tide Conservation in 2013 from her facility in Hawaii to help the University of Hawaii with questions about larval rearing.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">She has successfully spawned and raised some of the rarest and most sought after fish in our hobby such as the Sunrise Hogfish, Masked Angelfish, Candy Basslet, and Hawaiian Yellow Anthias. She earned the prestigious MASNA Aquarist of the year award at the New Orleans MACNA in 2017. Karen is truly a Titan in our hobby.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Karen has been a life-long inspiration. She is the aquaculturist I always wished I could be.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Todd Gardner, MASNA 2013 Aquarist of the year award recipient</span></span></p><hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-radius: 50px; border-right: 0px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-top-style: solid; box-sizing: content-box; height: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 1rem; overflow: visible;" /><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 2rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Nicole Helgason – A Coral Lover</span></span></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="nicole helgason" class="wp-image-14222" height="1024" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/unnamed-1024x1024.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Steve Acropolis outdoor coral farm</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Nicole Helgason is a professional scuba diver and can often be found photographing corals and sharing her passion about coral reefs around the world. Tela Honduras ranks as one of Nicole’s favorite dive spots.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Originally from Canada, she now lives in Colorado and is <a href="http://www.reefbuilders.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Reef Builders</a> Event Manager and is responsible for running <a href="https://reefstock.show/denver/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">ReefStock</a> shows in Denver and Sydney. Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and runs her own <a href="http://www.reefdivers.io/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">blog</a> dedicated to teaching people about corals. Nicole has a Bachelors degree in Coastal Geography from the University of Victoria.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="nicole helgason diving" class="wp-image-14221" height="537" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/nicole2-1024x537.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Sanur, Bali, Indonesia at the Ocean Gardener Coral Nursery</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Nicole started the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/829734760538414/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Girls With Reef Tank Group</a> on Facebook as an empowering place for women to share their knowledge of reef keeping with others. The aquarium hobby is predominantly a male audience and sometime women are shy to post and ask questions in larger reef aquarium group pages. Sometimes the response in these groups is critical rather than helpful. The group has a mix of experiences reefs, shop owners and professionals in the aquarium hobby as well as new members just starting out.</span></span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="nicole helgason" class="wp-image-14225" height="814" loading="lazy" src="https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/nicole3-1024x814.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 1050px;" width="1024" /></span></span><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Nicole started a Coral Restoration Project in Bazaruto Island, Mozambique</span></span></figcaption></figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Nicole is especially proud of her work on the <a href="https://reefdivers.io/guide-caribbean-coral-identification" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Caribbean coral identification</a> section of her blog. Nicole wants to inspire scuba divers to explore the reefs with new eyes. Resilient as a coral, that’s how one person describes her.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Nikki continues to be at the top of her industry. As a PADI Dive Instructor with many years of professional dive experience, she has quickly become one of the top specialists in the world for Caribbean Coral identification as well as having the ability to identify corals from anywhere around the world. When it comes to coral restoration and coral reefs, she is one of the most passionate individuals that I ever met and is a great stewart of coral reefs around the world.”</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />-Lou Schiavo Jr., WWC</span></span></p></div></div>Feliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05995452713519628365noreply@blogger.com0