Red sea crazy

[Azzee]

Hello,

My name is Azzee. Im from Saudi arabia jeddah city

Im building a basic shallow reef tank for coral frags which i intend to take from the sea (the source). Reason why im starting this is to learn as much as i can and understand these beautiful creatures that inhabit our oceans and seas. By doing that i can then start to create awarness on their importance for marine life, because practically people here dont give a shiz or just randomly and wrecklessly destroy reefs without knowing the bad side of killing these animals. Be it pollution. Stepping on them or taking them out of the water thinking they'll keep their color and use as decoration wherever they please.... that is quite sad. I'd like to prevent that and get people to know and understand these beauties...

So my main question would be which corals from the red sea are recommended for a begginer in this hobby. Any images for reference would be greatly appreciated...

My tank is still being built. So i have nothing to show yet...

Some tips to get me kick-started would be greatly appreciated...

Thank you and hope to be a productive memeber of reefcentral

Azzee

 

[BeachVacationer]

Personally, I don't like the idea of collecting corals from the ocean/sea for our tanks. You say you will but put down people that do. I don't know what percentage of corals that end up for sale in LFS are aquacultured but I hope it's a high percentage. Anyone know?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Personally, I don't like the idea of collecting corals from the ocean/sea for our tanks. You say you will but put down people that do. I don't know what percentage of corals that end up for sale in LFS are aquacultured but I hope it's a high percentage. Anyone know?

I think you read the OP wrong

 

[thegrun]

Look here:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/coralcare/ig/15-Easy-Corals/index.htm

 

[CStrickland]

Hi Azzee, welcome to the forum!

You might also check your country's conservation agency, there might be a website or office that handles reef management. In the US we need permits to take from the ocean.

 

[Mark9]

I think you read the OP wrong

The Op clearly intends to take from the ocean.

Hello,
My name is Azzee. Im from Saudi arabia jeddah city
Im building a basic shallow reef tank for coral frags which i intend to take from the sea (the source).

Good luck with that Azzee, but IMO, your regions of the world has way way bigger problems than people stepping on corals.
You may want to start with those first.

 

[Xxero]

Oh wow.....RC gets political? :uhoh3:

 

[CStrickland]

Good luck with that Azzee, but IMO, your regions of the world has way way bigger problems than people stepping on corals.
You may want to start with those first.

ahahahahahaha
*deep breath*
Ahahahahahahaha

It's pretty early, but I'm confident that's the silliest thing I'll read on here today.

 

[Azzee]

There is one area that i go snorkeling and swimming in that happens to be extremly damaged from fishing, pollution and many other reasons... what i intend to do is frag damaged corals and propagate them. Its as simple as that. And if this will help reduce amount of harvesting in my country. Then im thankful. And if i succeed in making people understand corals and watch out not to destroy reefs then ive accomplished more than one goal...

The whole world got problems btw. Literally... not just my country

Thanx for the advice and link

 

[Bent]

Do what makes you happy and what fits with your conscience and morality.

You don't have long on this earth, enjoy it while you can. Ignore everyone else.

 

[Shawn O]

Good luck, maybe you will become successful enough to be able to replant some frags back on the damaged reefs.

 

[Azzee]

Thank you for the encouragment

 

[Azzee]

Thnx to you too for encouraging me to do what i believe is right and u knw wat maby some big ones too including frags

 

[ebow3d]

Unfortunately I can't help you with the best selection of corals, but it could be a really interesting project. I, for one, would like to follow your progress.

 

[stingeragent]

Azzee, I think what your trying to accomplish is great. I was in the military and spent 3 years in Iraq. Not sure which side of SA you are on, but in the many houses I was in there, I never saw a fish tank.

Mark9, I think your comment was way out of bounds. Whatever is going on in his country, or any middle eastern country, or in the US or anywhere shouldn't have any relation to wanting to keep a reef tank. You also stating he may want to work on his country's problems first as if he has any correlation with what is wrong or not wrong there and how that's his responsibility first before worrying about a tank is idiotic.

The US has a corporate billionaire with no political experience as well as more than 1 lady running for office in a male dominated political sphere. Guess we better all shut our tanks down and go work on the politics. If the poor guy has artillery shells hitting his neighbor's house, and he's wanting a reef tank and posting on here, that is what should be important. It is not my business or anyone else's any other situation except him wanting to set up a tank and get advice in doing so.


Off of my much needed and deserved rant, back to the op:
I don't know of specific corals from that area, but generally speaking soft corals are the easiest for beginners. Their tank requirements aren't as demanding. That could be mushrooms, zoanthids, kenyas, etc. LPS would be next. Hammers, candy canes, trachys, galaxea, etc. I don't think you'll find much experience on this board ( IMHO ) with members proficient in corals that live in that area. If you do go in the water often, get some pictures if you can, if not just try to remember what they look like, and see if you can match it up with something online to see what it is.

Edit: Just did some looking at red sea corals. Looks beautiful. It seems they have even discovered corals within the last few months with never before seen pigments. A lot of the corals I saw are typical of reefs world wide, so I would just familiarize yourself with soft corals, lps, sps, so that you have a better idea what your looking at if/when you do go picking.

 

[CStrickland]

amen
or Insha'Allah, I guess

 

[stingeragent]

I think the language is so unique. I know a lot of the words, but for some you have to make a real noise with your throat and I just couldn't do it. The Iraqi Police used to always laugh when I tried. Good times.

 

[Scubaken]

The Red Sea is one of my fave dive destinations around the world, I would advise against taking anything from the sea until you have fully investigated the conservation areas. Large areas of the Red Sea are nominated as conservation areas and carry very harsh penalties to those who breach the rules, good for you trying to do something positive and repair some damage being done.
Maybe a better opportunity would be to canvass local people and fishing industry into seeing the destruction being caused and try and change the mindset of those doing the damage.
The Red Sea as far as I'm concerned has the densist fish, coral and shark populations I have seen anywhere in the world, quite simply, it's stunning.

I envy your ability to snorkel anytime you wish, lots of photos please

 

[platypusklr]

First off this isnt a political site, that said i agree with stingeragent above. I spent 3 years in Iraq, 2 in afganistan and 6 months in kosovo back in 1998. If a beautiful tank is what you want, go for it! Please share the benifits of your harvested corals with others. And dont listen to ignorance......we all have our idiots......Its about reefing, the spread of interest in the hobby, and a shared interest in our tiny aquatic worlds. As a caveat your country(SA) is amazing. I visited there in 2007.

 

[CStrickland]

Btw, thank you for serving platy and stinger!

No matter what different political ideas we all have about why you guys/gals were over there, Im very glad that you made it out and I think it's very very cool that you are using your experiences to correct ignorance when you see it.

When you only hear about places like SA on the news it's easy to forget that they are full of regular folks of all different sorts with normal probs just trying to like raise their kids and maybe have a hobby too. For us without first-hand experience its tempting to lump everybody into one stereotype of what a Saudi is. It's really great you guys can help us see a bigger picture.