let the insanity begin

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9588129#post9588129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BallaBooyeaH
Mr Wilson.

Where can we contact you or where can we research your experience from other old threads about your operation "Moby Dick"
I am establishing the first wholesale operation in Ireland and I am sure some of your experiences could help me out A LOT. I am getting my first shipment this friday of 1000kg of live rock - now I know this will be easy enough but i plan on shipping in clen up crew, inverts and coral very shortly.
Is there a link to some threads you have that will allow me to investigate more of your experiences?

Thanks in advance O B 1 Knoby.

Andrew

Sorry Andrew, I never received notification of your post.

I would be happy to share my experiences and knowledge with you. I've recently started the importing business up again, so I've got new mistakes you can learn from.

You can send me an email through my website or PM through RC.

You should also try here for industry info. http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=35&sid=82261dc3a846f8b03914a1c85dc4e5c9

Shawn

 

[phil5613]

Any update from Rick?

 

[medic29]

I talked to him at IMAC and sounds like things are pretty much the same, although hopefully he will chime in here. I'm hoping to go up and check things out this next week here.

 

[eshook]

I just moved to the Urbana-Champaign area and found this thread while researching local groups. I have spent the past 3 days reading and I would just like to say ...

WOW!

It makes my humble beginnings (still ongoing) into this hobby seem like a piece of small cake (maybe only a crumb).

I do full heartedly agree with your ideals Rick. My tank will be aquaculture only, because I have read plenty on the devastation this hobby has created on our ocean's reefs. This brings me to a point I was thinking about while reading this thread: (and mr. wilson just recommended on this page) why are you not cultivating live rock for additional income? Not only would aquaculture live rock contribute to your goal, but it would also take up little to no space under your corals and would help in biological filtration (also pointed out in these past few pages). If you made your own aragocrete (crushed coral, portland cement, sand) you could make quite a profit. I know I would purchase home-grown (made?) aquaculture live rock, but I might be a minority. I have made small amounts of this live rock and would be more than willing to talk with you about it. I know garf.org sells it (I was thinking about purchasing some from them since there are few aquaculture sellers).

The primary problem with aragocrete is the curing process which requires a lot of flowing water and time. This got my wheels spinning. It seems you have a *lot* of waste RO water and a bunch of 55G drums. It would be trivial to pipe that waste RO water into a few 55G drums holding this LR outside the GH. Once the rock is cured you would throw it under your corals and after a few months it would be live rock that you could sell for $'s/pound. The CC is cheap (especially if you get wholesaler prices) the portland cement is $10 and sand is actually optional (but also not bad). It might be worth considering since you have the drums sitting around anyway.

Again if you are interested just shoot me a PM and I might even be willing to make the drive this summer and we can make some to see what you think. It would also give me an opportunity to take a peek at this impressive feat of patience and stubbornness.

 

[Rustylugnuts]

Very cool Ive only had a chance to skim for pics via pgdn but I am subscribin NOW.

 

[StevieK]

bump ... any news?

 

[honeybee]

I believe that Rick has shut down the green house project. Problems with critter growth and money.

Honeybee

 

[GuySmilie]

Ahh, that's too bad.
I wondered how he was doing with it.
Oh well, he can always raise chrysanthemums.

 

[soim34]

Without speaking for Rick, I think (actually I know) there was more to it than what honeybee says. Actually I think honeybee is mostly incorrect because Rick still is growing corals for retail sale and wholesale distribution. Try giving him a PM or an e-mail if you are interested in what he has.

 

[GuySmilie]

Well, I'm only interested in his well-being.
I know he had his heart & soul & a good chunk of his fortune tied up in that operation. But I'm not interested in his available stock. Got my hands full already.

 

[medic29]

Rick is doing okay. Talked to him a while back. I'm sure he appreciates your concern.

Maybe in the future he will be able to bring it back and have it be bigger and better!!!

 

[deluxe_noob]

Man i just have read this thread over the last few days and as the end pages i arrived i didn't see the end of this thread coming as it has.

Never the less i hope that this post finds you in good spirits Rick and that your present endeavors and working out for you.

On a whole different note there isn't a single reef club in Southern Illinois as i am aware of. SO would joining CIMA be an option for me?

 

[Vitaly]

Welcome to the club!

Things are very informal here. No lines, no paperwork, no fees...just post your questions and someone here will try their best to help.

 

[deluxe_noob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11953580#post11953580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vitaly
Welcome to the club!

Things are very informal here. No lines, no paperwork, no fees...just post your questions and someone here will try their best to help.

Great!! Appreciate the welcome

 

[medic29]

Greetings. You are more than welcome to post your questions and/or comments in this forum. There are a bunch of great folks around that are more than willing to help out as Vitaly had stated. There is a club in the Springfield area which is a little further south than C-U, but I don't know of any in the Carbondale area. The largest club probably closest to you are one of the St. Louis club such as SLASH.

Again, Welcome!!!

 

[deluxe_noob]

yea there actually arent any clubs in the area. Yes SLASH would be closer. Actually thinking of starting up a club here in the south . Sorry to semi hijack the thread.