Never thought of this before...

[JustinReef]

I don't really post these kinds of things here (Im usually just in need of advice) but I thought this one was interesting and I wanted to see your reactions.

In a time when its becoming more and more important to conserve energy and environment, our hobby looks more and more selfish...

Until about a month ago, I had never really though of how selfish and wasteful this hobby really is. My brother, who is a marine biologist volunteering right now for some diving research of Mexican Reefs and reef fishes, brought a bunch of things to my attention that I had never thought of. He had called me about a month ago explaining how dire the situation was for the reefs he had been monitoring. I made a joke about how "dire" the situation was with my reef because I had not done a water change in a month! That didn't go over so well...

He does not actually agree with home REEF aquariums at all. He does not push his ideals on anyone but he did bring a few things up that I had never really thought of...

We keep many of the fish in this hobby in a fraction of their healthy habitat, we use enormous amounts of unnecessary energy to do so, reefs around the world are destroyed to collect these fish and corals and one of his biggest points was RO units, which waste ridiculous amounts of perfectly good water to make a small amount. There were many more but that was the main points.

Really got me thinking and I wanted to see how many of you have thought of these things and how you feel about them? I just can't believe I had never really thought of this before...

 

[demonsp]

Typical catch 22. It hurts to see people take this hobby forgranted.Manderian in a newly setup 20 gallon or triggers in a reef tank or adding fish at random with not any reason they fight so much and loose stock from this. They need to remeber that many of these fish are caught from the ocean and its our responsablity to give them the best possible chance for survival and in the most normal way they know.
In the right hands then we become a usefull tool in keeping this vital earth resource healthy and undisturbed by the hand of man.

I unlike many do understand how lucky i am to have a small piece of heaven in my living room. It just astouds me that i can do this.It shouldnt be...

 

[AMOAndrea]

My take is this:

One of the biggest hopes for saving many of the fish and corals that are endangered is the reefkeeping community.

However, I also agree that we cause a great deal of damage.

Also, the water I "waste" using R.O. is acutally recycled back into the water systems. This is used to irrigate the many parks around here. I don't believe it is waste anymore than I believe taking a shower or flushing the toilet is waste.

I personally try to stock only tank bred fish, frags from existing colonies. I also work in a fish store that does the same...tank raised/bred and grown colonies.

I'd say if all reefkeepers kept this mindset, and participated heavily in things like Project DIBS, we'd help more than harm.

How much do you think we actually contribute by educating and showing people what there is to save?

I have a hard time thinking we cause nearly as much damage as shipping, laying underwater cable for internet and communications, general pollution, and oil drilling.

 

[sjj80]

There might be a day where the only reef inhabitants left will be in aquarist's tanks, that's one reason why I think doing your homework long before starting a tank is important. With RO/DI there are ways to use waste water, I'll list some and I'm sure others have more ways to conserve.

1. Water plants or garden
2. Use in top load washers for laundry
3. Use to flush toilets
4. Use for mopping
5. Use to dilute cleaners in cleaner bottles

That's some of the things I plan on using my wastewater for once I get my ro/di unit.

Another thing to consider is the growing availability of low watt equip. like stream pumps and LEDs. Also, I'm hoping that the price of solar panels will come down soon. I've always wanted a house with solar panels and I know I'd feel less guilty about my tank's energy consumption.

 

[useskaforevil]

our hobby exploits natural resources, so all you have to do is buy from sustainable sources, yes you waste energy but who's to say you shouldn't? global warming is probably not in any big way caused by CO2 production.( feel free to prove me wrong) waste water occurs in great amounts, but its not like you waste as much water as a water park so unless you scowl everytime you pass one i would'nt worry. plus your not wasting water that way either, you're wastign energy again because the water doesent go away, it just needs to be filtered again.

if you'd really like to feel bad how about everyone realizing people still starve, there are still slaves there are still oppressive governments that deny basic freedoms. and you, like me, post on a forum using a computer that costs more than 2 years worth of income for some familes, about a hobby that cost far more than that. while havign enough food around that we actually go to great lengths too avoid eatign too much.


unless you join the peacecorp and give away all your money you are at least being a little selfish, it all depends on waht you're comfortable with

 

[kar93]

I have thought of this quite alot. I doubt in our lifetime but one day reefers may be called upon to help the trouble reefs. I do try to look for aquacultured frags and tank bred fish but there is no proof that they are AC or tank bred.

 

[seapug]

There are many efforts being made to reduce pressure on reefs created by this hobby. Captive bred fish and aquacultured corals are becoming more and more commonplace. Even then, I still feel that the impact of collection for the hobby is nothing compared to destruction caused by pollution and development. A single dropped anchor with a heavy chain can destroy more coral in a few minutes than I could ever put in my tank.

But when you look at it from a natural economic resource standpoint, the reefs being a source of income for people does more to encourage their proper management than if they are prohibited from collecting corals and fish from it. When a local population derives income from a reef, it is in their best interest to make sure it is not destroyed. When they don't derive any income from it, there's no reason why they shouldn't let a developer dynamite it to dredge a harbor for a resort marina.

There was a really good video from a CNN news story that someone posted a while back. It illustrates how the aquarium trade once was responsible for damange, but has now encouraged protection of reefs as a source of income. I just looked for it but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.