CMAS: LAST YEARS NEWS

February 2007 Events and News CMAS February 17 Special Event! 1200g reef tank tour & reef management discussion ñ Dr. Steve On Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 PM, CMAS invites you to Sharkys Reef in Grayslake, IL to meet and hear from Dr. Steve Sissler! Dr. Steve will take us on a photo tour of his 1200g reef tank system, full of photos and explanations of how he created his not-so-little slice of the reef! Youíve got to see behind the tanks and his fish room! Dr. Steve has written several articles for the Sharkys Reef website and promises to share his Reef tank management insights with us! The meeting will be held at Sharkys Reef new store front on Rte 120 & Atkinson Road in Grayslake, IL at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 17! Dr. Steveís reef tour presentation will include photos and discussion of his 1200g project, with all of the details from the ordering and re-ordering of the tank to the skimmer, lights, fish-room and everything in between. If you havenít done a monster reef, you need to see this! Dr. Steve will be presenting the reef tank management topic from the viewpoint of disease prevention and environmental stability. Specifically, quarantine protocols and medications will be offered. Understanding concepts behind treatments of sick fish and corals will be discussed and demystified. Common medications will be discussed and critiqued. The plan is to present biologically sound explanations for things we may already be doing, but without fully understanding the underlying rationale. Dr. Steve will also discuss why dipping your decaying coral may be exactly what finished it off! Note: there will be some freebies and some great raffle items! RSVP to Boyd Corbett via PM or email at fiberlux@comcast.net. December 2006 Events and News CMAS December 9 Special Event! -- Clowning Around with Rod Buehler!!! On Saturday, December 9 at 1:00 PM, CMAS will have a special ìCMAS members onlyî meeting at Rods Reef in DeKalb, IL. Rod is well-known as a ìDiamond in the Reefî to saltwater hobbyists throughout the US. As the premier US breeder of Onyx Clowns and well known for his reefing knowledge and DIY capabilities, Rod will share some legends and some secrets at this meeting. Rod will speak on the basics of clownfish breeding. He will also talk about some of his favorite DIY projects, including his special Surge System. He will show us how to build it, than weíll give it away to some lucky reefer in the prize raffle. Rod may also give away a helping of his now nationally famous Rods Food. If thatís not enough, Rod will hold a Q&A, so we can ask the reefer guru about dosing or DIY or building light systems, etcÖ.. I hear that heíll get a special shipment of livestock in just prior to the event, in case anyone needs a Christmas gift for your favorite reefer! One more awesome reason to attend this meetingÖÖ Dennis of DTís told Rod that he will donate a 15oz bottle of Phyto (Premium Reef Blend Formula) and a small jar of their oyster eggs to every attendee!!! Thatís reason enough for me to take a drive to the country! This is a meeting you donít want to miss. Attendance will be limited to the first twenty-five CMAS members to RSVP. Note: Attendees are requested to car-pool, since parking is quite limited! RSVP to Boyd Corbett via PM or email at fiberlux@comcast.net. NOVEMBER 2006 Events and News NOVEMBER 18 MEETING (PLUS ELECTIONS): CMAS AQUARIUMS--SUCCESSES AND PROBLEMS Tom Sandercock will present ìThe Window Reefî A description of his reef tank maintained using only sunlight, temperature control, and a power head. This inexpensive reef tank is durable and easy to maintain. Doug Lehman will present a story of his reefs ìTo Hell and back again in just 28 years" Plus: One Free Coral Frenzy to each attendee (first 30 attendees) Two great raffle items from CMAS sponsors The meeting will be held at 1:00 pm in the Schaumburg Library, Rasmussen North. Directions. CMAS ELCTIONS FOR 2007-2008 The bi-yearly elections will be held this November, Sat 18, at the monthly meeting. In practice the elections depend more on volunteers for a position rather than competitive elections. If you would like to nominate someone for a position (self nominations are fine) please send an email to t-sandercock@comcast.net with your name and a couple of sentences describing why you would like to run for the position. As of 11/6/2006 the nominations are as follows: President: Boyd Corbett Statement: While relatively new to CMAS, I look forward to working with the Board, our committees, sponsors and our members to continue the great work that has been accomplished by our present leadership. We intend for everyone to have fun, learn and enjoy being part of the #1 reef club anywhere! Vice-President Robert Sosolik Statement: I would he happy to step up to VP. It will be a big spot to fill with John not in its place. Secretary: 1) Arthur Schattke Statement: As for remaining as the Secretary, If I must. 2) Sara Bertolino (SaraB). Statement: I am looking forward to helping CMAS grow and will bring my enthusiasm and some sanity to the CMAS Board. Treasurer: Marelet Kirda Statement (written by Tom Sandercock): Marelet stepped in by request of the board to fill a sudden need for a new CMAS treasurer. She has been business like and efficient. All in all she has done an outstanding job and has agreed to continue as treasurer. Other positions: all other positions are appointed by the CMAS board. In practice all volunteers are needed. NEWS BRIEFS by Marty Bash Shedd Aquarium and ABC's Good Morning America Shedd Aquarium and ABC's Good Morning America have teamed up to name our new beluga calf. You can join millions of viewers from around the country choose a name by going to the news network's website at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2600890. Volunteers (and of course family and friends) are encouraged to submit names for consideration. Late next week, Diane Sawyer, Robin Robinson and the other ABC anchors will unveil their "top four names" and ask America to vote on one of them. We'll announce the name "live" from Shedd around Nov. 9. So vote early and often and help choose our little beluga's name! CMAS FRAG SWAP: OCT.21 CMAS sponsored a frag swap on October 14. This is the first time in 8 years the event has been held outside the Schamburg library. The swap was held at a new location in Alsip at the VFW hall. Fig. 1) VFW hall. Fig 2) Bob Sosolik and Doug Lehman Fig. 3) Searching for frags. Fig. 4) Setting up. There was plenty of room and the south-siders enjoyed the location. MAPS. Location: VFW Hall, 11800 S. Cicero Avenue, ALSIP, IL RANDY REED: OCT. 7, 7pm to 11pm Randy Reed, owner of Reed Mariculture, was in Chicago for the Backer trade show and agreed to meet with CMAS members to discuss nutrition in the reef aquariums. The meeting was at Giuseppe's Restaurant, 1062 Lee Street, DesPlanes. Fig 1) Randy Reed. Fig 2) Meeting room Randy Reed gave an excellent talk about marine nutrition. I highly recommend checking their web site to get additional information (www.reed-mariculture.com). I will mention a few things here that I found very interesting. I have not done any fact checking so some information may be inaccurate and must be checked. Microalgae is the start of the food chain for marine organisms. Surprisingly, this is not true in freshwater. Microalgae are now so cheap to buy that it is not worth trying to grow. Most large public aquariums and commercial ventures buy their algae from Reed Mariculture. Green algae is easier to grow but not as nutritious as brown algae. The green algae have a thick outer wall that is not easily digested. Surprisingly the dead algae are nutritionally superior to live algae. This is because the live algae tend to degrade over time (eats itself in the attempt to remain alive). Of course Reed Mariculture does sell Phyto-Feast. Rotifers are eaten by most marine organisms and are the candy of the aquarium. They are easy to culture but a separate tank is needed. Mysid shrimp are carnivores so are hard to grow. Copepods are fairly easy to culture if kept in a separate refugium. Reed Mariculture sells a type called ìTigger Podsí. Reed Mariculture is starting a research program to identify the nutritional needs of each species of coral. This may make a huge difference to reefkeepers. By knowing the nutritional requirements of a particular coral, one mystery about its care will be eliminated. Tom Sandercock For more information about Reed Mariculture check : DETAILS REED-MARICULTURE. 0CTOBER 2006 Events and News RANDY REED: OCT. 7, 7pm to 11pm Randy Reed, owner of Reed Mariculture, will be in Chicago for the Backer trade show. He has agreed to meet with CMAS members to discuss nutrition in the reef aquariums. We will meet at Giuseppe's Restaurant, room 35, 1062 Lee Street, DesPlanes pizza in one of their party rooms. CMAS members only. Please make a reservation with Doug Lehman at fishnut0159@comcast.net . If you don't have access to email call Doug's home at home number 847 299-0597. Reed Mariculture produces microalgae super-concentrates for feeding rotifers and other zooplanton, for direct feeds, and for greenwater technique. Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Pavlova, Tetraselmis, and Thalassiosira weissflogii. For more information about Reed Mariculture check : DETAILS REED-MARICULTURE. CMAS FRAG SWAP: OCT. 14 CMAS will sponsor a frag swap on October 14. The swap will be held at a new location in Alsip. so the noise will not to offend the library patrons. The room holds only 80 people. If the limit is approached only CMAS members will be admitted. MAPS. Location: VFW Hall, 11800 S. Cicero Avenue, ALSIP, IL Date: Saturday, October 14, 2006 Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Fine Print: Tables will be limited. Sellers need to register - Email or PM me to sign up! Boyd Corbett - fiberlux@aol.com CMAS member sellers - No charge Non member sellers - $25.00 Non member cover - $10.00 Doors will open to CMAS members at 1:00PM, Non-members at 2:00 PM BTW, the annual cost for CMAS membership is only $15.00, so now is the time to sign up - Go to http://www.cmas.net/cmas_membership_info.htm There will be some great door prizes and a few freebies from one of our sponsors, so mark your calendars now! SEPT. 16: ALLEN LAPOINTE--Water Quality Monitoring and Life Support Systems After hearing and seeing a brief history of the Shedd Aquarium, Allen LaPointe spoke to forty CMAS attendees for almost two hours on water chemistry. He was both informative and entertaining. He even told us of a few of his own water chemistry blunders, proving that even the experts occasionally slip up! Allen's presentation included lots of visuals and he even discussed pros and cons of different filtering systems, chemical additives and reef systems. There was plenty of valuable information for the novice and the expert reefer. All in all, it was an excellent meeting! Boyd Corbett NEWS BRIEFS by Marty Bash Shedd Aquarium and ABC's Good Morning America Shedd Aquarium and ABC's Good Morning America have teamed up to name our new beluga calf. You can join millions of viewers from around the country choose a name by going to the news network's website at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2600890. Volunteers (and of course family and friends) are encouraged to submit names for consideration. Late next week, Diane Sawyer, Robin Robinson and the other ABC anchors will unveil their "top four names" and ask America to vote on one of them. We'll announce the name "live" from Shedd around Nov. 9. So vote early and often and help choose our little beluga's name! August 1st New York Times: Alaska's Fragile Coral The National Marine Fisheries Service has moved to protect coldwater corals off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, banning the use of trawls, dredges and other such gear in certain areas across 280,000 square nautical miles. The ban, which went into effect at the end of July, affects fishing for cod and other bottom-dwelling species. Fragile coral gardens were discovered off the Aleutians in 2002 at depths of about 1,000 feet. They are thought to be among the most diverse cold-water coral collections anywhere, with at least 25 species or subspecies. From Abby Murray at the Shedd aquarium to the Shedd Aquarium Volunteers Subject: Key Stingray messages in the wake of Steve Irwin tragedy Animal safety is our top priority at Shedd and our animal care staff and divers go through rigorous training sessions to lean about every animal and their behaviors. We must always remember that even the "gentlest" wild animal is still wild and unpredictable. We must appreciate and respect nature, not fear it or harm it. What happened with Steve was a very, very rare case and unexpected from this type of animal. The zoological world lost a great conservationist. If asked about Shedd staff being stung, remind them that animal safety is our top priority and that 99-percent of the time people survive, it can just hurt really bad. About stingrays: First and foremost, stringrays are very graceful and docile animals, not considered "dangerous" in the terms we use that word. Stingrays are not designed to attack, but rather have a barb at the end of their tail to be used as a defense mechanism. Again - used for defense against would-be predators if they feel threatened or provoked. These gentle creatures feed on shrimp, clams, crabs buried in the sand and have flat teeth like molars for crushing shells. The defense mechanism however is a barb on the end of their tail that is bony and in some cases, can reach up to 15 inches. The Bony spike on tail is pointed and serrated and carries a venom which is injected. It's not poisonous which is absorbed. Stingrays are masters at concealing themselves in the sand. In 99% of stingray "incidents," an unknowing wader steps on the animal and they whip their tail around and typically sting the victim in the foot or ankle. Some tips for avoiding a Stingray encounter: Be aware of your surroundings, where you walk, play, dive, and snorkel in the water. Shuffle your feet as you walk in the water and through the sand. Nearly every time the stringray will swim away before you encounter it. Respect wildlife and don't play with or touch wild animals. They are unpredictable and can be harmful. Steve Irwin case: It was a tragic loss to the zoological world as Steve was a wonderful spokesperson for wildlife conservation. Steve's case is very rare and unique - one in a gazillion chance. Shedd stingray experts and others believe that if Steve were stung in the ankle, like most people are, he'd still be alive today. This is the common way most people are stung. There can be allergic reactions to the venom, but it is treatable if a victim gets to a hospital in a timely manner. Home