Fish 'N' Chips
A Monthly Marine Newsletter
August 2001 Issue

Index

From Liz
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

eFishTank Reviews Wanted! Some time in the not so distant future, I will be publishing an announcement type article on eFishTank. As a back up to this article, I would like to publish a review of eFishTank. But, I need you to help me with that. I need someone to step up to the plate and come through with a review. I would like at least one decent sized review but would also gladly take any and all comments from the masses. Please visit eFishTank at http://www.efishtank.com/. The service is free for 30 days.

Visit This Month's Subscriber's Tank Showcase
Arthur's Reef Tank is this month's Showcase and can be seen at http://www.marinefiends.com/tankshowcase.html.

Submit your Tank - Email your tank photos to fishnchips@mindspring.com and you might be a future Tank Showcase! Only one way to find out...

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A Cowry Comment
By Roger Holt 7/30/01
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

A quote direct from Roger...

"I very much enjoyed the cowry article but my experience with them has not been so grand. I purchased a Tiger cowry which proceeded to decimate my pagoda cup corals. Luckily he was easy to remove and the corals eventually recovered. I wonder if others have had similar experiences."

Anybody else want to send in a comment on their Cowry experiences? Send an email to fishnchips@mindspring.com with your comments and see your name in print next month.

Editor Comments:
Editing was limited to spelling, grammar, and putting Roger's writing into html and the Fish 'N' Chips format.

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Avoiding Problems with Saltwater and Electricity
By Judy Shaner 8/7/01
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

Electricity is mandatory for those of us who keep saltwater tanks. We also know that it creates problems, both when it is working correctly and when it is not. As a long time hobbyist and shopkeeper, here are some of the tips I have learned.

Always use GFI outlets for everything electrical that you use, in, on, and around your tank. Electricity travels in a circle and "GFI's" or "Ground Fault Interrupters," measure that current constantly. If the same amount going in, is not coming back out, the outlet is shut off immediately! Not only does this protect you and your animals from some nasty "shocks," but it also protects your equipment. We all know that equipment fails sometimes, and that the power company is not "on" 100% of the time. Heaters are notorious for cracking, powerheads can't take the electric company "zaps," (instant off and on problems) and your GFI will protect you and your animals in these events. These outlets cost about $6.95 each and are easy to install if one is reasonably a Do-It-Yourselfer. One can just replace the current outlet with them, or an electrician will do it for approximately $30.00. The cost is definitely worth it!

Most of us use "tired" powerheads to mix and aerate our saltwater vats. One of my customers got a very nasty shock when dipping a hydrometer into his vat to check the salinity. The powerhead had gone bad and this could have been avoided with a GFI. So don't just protect your tank, but protect yourself also.

Another little tip on electricity and the shock factor. For those of you who have your tanks on concrete floors, wear rubber soled shoes before you put your hands in your tank! Concrete "draws" moisture and bare feet on damp concrete with a finger in any water with electrical appliances, will make you know it fast. Rubber mats in front of your tank will also work.

Even with these precautions, some of us will still get "zapped" occasionally, but prevention goes a long way to help. Any time you feel that "tingle," please investigate immediately! Your animals can feel it also, and it can kill them. Even a tiny bit, will stress them also. They depend on us to protect them and we need to be responsible for everything we do with their homes. Electricity and saltwater is a dangerous mix - be carefull!

Editor Comments:
The above was submitted by Judy Shaner of The Salt Box. Please visit Judy's site at http://www.coralreeftanks.com/. My editing was limited to formatting mostly.

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What's Up @ ReefsUK
- http://www.reefsuk.org -
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

8/2/01:

• Reefs UK has announced that it will be making changes in the way the site and organization are run. In order for them to continue to provide their visitors and members with all the services they offer and introduce new ones, Reefs UK needs to change the way it funds itself. Reefs UK has stated that none of the changes planned will affect the organization and its members in any great way. Some important notes on this follow:
  • Reefs UK will now be trying to raise funds to pay for its upkeep and expansion plans.
  • No membership fee will be charged for participation in Reefs UK.
  • Enterprise Network Services, Reefs UK's creator and owner, will become more visible on Reefs UK and will promote Reefs UK through it's own marketing.
  • Reefs UK will begin contacting companies to place ads on the Reefs UK website. They will concentrate first on marine related manufacturers.
  • Once some income is generated from other means (advertising, etc.), Reefs UK merchandise is planned to further support the "Reef Conservation" message and Reefs UK itself.
  • Revenue from advertising and merchandise sales will go into investigating the creation of a Reefs UK certified captive propagated corals program. Reefs UK would then sell the propagated corals. Reefs UK promises to still promote captive propagation and explain their techniques.
• Visit the "Captive Breeding" section of Reefs UK for an update of Clayton Smith's article on breeding Orchid Dottybacks.

To join the ReefsUK Mailing List, send an email to post@reefsuk.org.
To join ReefsUK Chat (Email Discussion Group), visit the ReefsUK Website for instructions.

Editor's Comments:
Information in this section covers the latest happenings at Mark T. Taber's ReefsUK Web Site. Mark has given me permission to publish any information from his mailing list that I feel would be of interest to Fish 'N' Chips subscribers. So, the above, although reworded by me, should be credited to Mark or to Derek Scales who works closely with Mark on the running of ReefsUK. The dates in bold coincide with Mark or Derek's mailings and are provided as a reference.

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Caught In The Net
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/29/01

Marine Aquarium Council

In the better late than never category, I've got an update for you on the happenings with the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC). I've had their newsletters since March and July so the delay is mine.

• The "Core Standards" and "Best Practice Guidance" have been finalized and are available on the MAC Website.
• The MAC standards include: Ecosystem and Fisheries Management; Collection, Fishing and Holding; and Handling, Husbandry and Transport.
• Now that the "Core Standards" have been released, the "Full Standards" will be developed. The "Full Standards" will handle issues and approaches to ensure the sustainability of the marine aquarium, mariculture, and aquaculture trades in a more comprehensive manner.
• MAC is forming a Science and Monitoring Advisory Committee to assist in the science, research, assessment, and monitoring of coral reefs and marine aquarium organisms in relation to certification, sustainability and environmental impacts.
• A Reef Monitoring Protocol in being developed. This project was initiated when MAC contacted the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). GCRMN requested that Reef Check lead this project so MAC and Reef Check will be partners in this project which plans to determine which species need to be monitored, design the protocol for monitoring, test the monitoring system, and analyze the data and revise the MAC ecosystem management and collection standards.
• A draft of the Reef Monitoring Protocol and species list has been developed. MAC-Reef Check/GCRMN invites anyone involved or interested in monitoring coral reefs and reef animals in relation to the aquarium trade to collaborate with the development of an international monitoring protocol.
• At the International Workshop on the Coral Trade in April, the drafts of the MAC Standards and Monitoring Protocol played a major part in the discussions on collection, management, and monitoring.
• To assist each other in ensuring a sustainable future for the coral reefs, MAC and the International Marinelife Alliance (IMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which they agree to work together on partnership projects.
• Progress has been made in the first MAC-IMA Partnership Project, a Feasibility Study in which a large number of collection areas and collectors in the Philippines are reviewed and assisted so they have the chance to comply with MAC "Core Standards."
• The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the IMA randomly test fish awaiting export in the Philippines for cyanide and if no cyanide is detected, a certificate is given. Unfortunately, these certificates have been used to claim that the certified net caught fish are now available. MAC and IMA have stated that it is inappropriate to use the term 'certified' except when dealing with MAC Certification and that fish tested for cyanide in the Philippines should be noted as Tested Cyanide-Free.
• MAC is establishing a Chemical Detection Methods Committee that will identify accurate and reliable methods of detecting chemicals suspected of being used to collect marine aquarium organisms.
• In February, MAC, along with government, industry, and conservation organizations attended the Pacific Regional Workshop and Fiji National Workshop on Aquarium Trade.
• The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and MAC have agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding and pledge to collaborate on achieving a sustainable ornamental fish industry in the Palawan Province of the Philippines.
• Participants are wanted for MAC Certification Test Cases in which trial runs will be conducted of the entire certification system. Participation from companies involved in transshipment and retail are especially wanted.
• Data from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Palau, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, UK, and USA have been added to the Global Marine Aquarium Database. The database is a result of the partnership between MAC and the UNEP - World Conservation Monitoring Center and will be the world's database on the international trade in marine aquarium organisms. It is requested that companies which haven't yet provided their data do so.

Remember to visit the MAC website at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/ for more information and to subscribe to the newsletter.

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Marine News
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

7/27/01 - England, Huge areas of coral at Rangiroa Island in French Polynesia died during three months of exceptionally warm weather in 1998 (sea temperatures averaged 32 degrees centigrade for the first time). New research has revealed that it will take at least a century to recover. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2001/2001L-07-27-02.html.

8/10/01 - US, For the first time, laboratory raised sea urchins have been released on an experimental site at Little Grecian Reef in a Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in an attempt to restore the health of the Atlantic coral reefs. The first phase of the project is the return of the sea urchins because they eat coral smothering algae. The next phase is an attempt to re-seed the reef with lab cultured coral larvae. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-10-09.html.

8/14/01 - US, A study has identified that historical and current over fishing causes many of the problems facing coastal ecosystems today. Researchers have linked the ecological extinctions of marine megafauna to over fishing on a global scale. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-14-06.html.

8/21/01 - Australia, Australia's Environment Minister Senator Robert Hill has left open the possibility that oil drilling will occur near the Great Barrier Reef in the future. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-21-05.html.

8/23/01 - Israel, It has been discovered that Brittlestars of the species Ophiocoma wendtii use crystal lenses to spot approaching predators. This is a unique visual system which is the the first of its kind to be discovered in animals inhabiting the earth today. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-23-09.html.

8/24/01 - US, The environmental groups Cry of the Water and the Global Coral Reef Alliance have documented the coral cover and coral reef species in the shallow reefs off the Broward County shoreline in Fort Lauderdale. This area is now threatened by a dredge and fill project. More than 25 acres of fish habitat, hard bottom and coral would be buried. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-24-09.html.

8/29/01 - US, A National Aeronautics and Space Administration funded study has shown that Saharan dust clouds travel thousands of miles and fertilize the water off the West Florida coast with iron which feeds blooms of toxic algae. The study shows that the dust contributes to the deadly red tides that can kill millions of fish and other sea creatures. The entire news release can be found at http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-29-06.html.

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Chips...er...Tips
RO Membrane Life
Tip By Bryan Crenshaw
Edited By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

It is very difficult to answer the question of how long an RO Membrane will last. This is due to varying water quality in different areas. There are steps you can take to prolong the life of your membrane. Change your filters before they are exhausted and keeping a replacement schedule of every four to six months should be sufficient. If you have high levels of hardness in your incoming water supply, this can cause scaling on your membrane and a water softener for the whole house is usually recommended in this situation. In proper conditions, your membrane can last you two to three years.

Editor Comments:
The above was written by Bryan Crenshaw of Aquatic Reef Systems. Please visit Bryan's site at http://www.aquaticreefsystems.com/. My editing was limited to formatting mostly.

To Submit Your Tip: Send your tip via email to fishnchips@mindspring.com and I'll publish it in an upcoming issue of Fish 'N' Chips. I'll write it up for you or you can do it yourself if you are so inclined. Make sure you let me know if I can include your name and email address or if you'd rather go anonymous.

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Upcoming Events
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

Seahorses At Sea Update

Be among the first to talk with the man who has just discovered a new kind of seahorse! He will be a guest speaker at the "Seahorses At Sea" Seahorse Conference and Cruise (11/26/01 to 12/1/01 leaving Tampa, Florida, USA). For more information, visit http://seahorsesatsea.homestead.com/Seahorsesatsea.html.

To Submit Your Event: Send your event and all the specifics (date, time, location, pricing, contact info, etc.) via email to fishnchips@mindspring.com and I'll publish it in all issues of Fish 'N' Chips prior to the event.

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Prove It!, a Bibliography
By Elizabeth M. Lukan 8/31/01

Article: Caught In The Net, Marine Related News Section

• Environment News Service, http://ens-news.com/

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