The Elegance Coral Project

Not to be a jerk but an update would be nice, It would be nice to know if all the money donated was put to good use! If you ask for donations, results of how the money is spent is just being curtious.
 
Hi John,

I don't know why Eric hasn't responded either, but I'm sure he has good reason and will share when he can.

As far as the money that was sent to me, I can tell you that the only money that has been spent is the money that Eric sent me receipts for. The rest is still sitting in the bank waiting for Eric to either tell me how he used it for the project or to tell me that the project is complete and we need to start refunding the money or get direction for the donors that we should direct the funds to other research.

I agree with you ... it would be nice to hear from Eric and it has been a while.

Cathy
 
It is the obligation of any research investigator funded by public or private funds to present progress to the funding body to assure that body that the funds are being appropriately spent and to demonstrate to that body the usefulness of the funds given so that future funding will be offered if needed. Without such feedback, the funding body will assume any number of possible problems including:

The project is not what was expected, has little or no merit

The researcher is too busy with other projects and the money should be released

The researcher lacks the skills to make progress on the project and thus there is nothing to report.

The researcher is using the funds inappropriately (buying cars, making trips, gifts etc.)

I am sure that these items are not at issue, but silence is the worst possible response from Eric, especially if he tries funding this way again. At the very least a financial report showing what was spent, what remains and what is planned is appropriate on a quarterly or at least semi-annual basis.

I am a researcher/clinical physician, I work 60-80 hours a week, have four kids and still manage to write and fulfill financial disclosure and grant accounting requirements. (I have no secretary or research nurse and publish 2-3 times per year) Unless Eric was diving off of the west Indonesian Islands last month, he has no excuse.

I must admit I was excited about this type of funding organization when this began, and still think it has great potential, but am concerned that the lack of feed back will make it impossible to seek this route again.

My utmost respect goes to crpeck who has been a driving force in this, but I will have great difficulty funding this way again, at least without firm ground rules in place (and perhaps for a different scientist?)

To Eric I say, let us know what is going on. You have the opportunity to save this potentially great, freely given and flexible funding source for future uses and for other investigators. Don't ruin it for the others that may need it in the future! You certainly were on the board enough when funds were trickling in telling us of how much you have helped reef enthusiasts solve problems etc and asking for something in return to help the coral and the hobby. We responded, now its time to let us know what is going on. We don't ask much, but silence leaves only those little voices in our heads reminding us of how foolish it was to trust and donate. Telling us we should be wise with our money and slowly dousing the idealism and enthusiasm we felt with your first passionate cries to save the ellegance corals! It is time for some communication!.......past time.

Ron
 
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Ronald and others,

I know that all who donated money is seeking some sort of information and explanations on either how money were spent or what the results from research are. Silence from principal researcher may be disappointing to some and contributed to some remarks that I had read so far.
I too donated some funds to this project and very much interested to know of any results, but I am willing to wait as long as needs be and have little more faith in Eric and his abilities, however. I am also willing to wait and see what Eric has to say himself about what happened and why there was delays in responses before I pass any doubts about his abilities or lack of interest in this project.
I am a bit worried about him and hope that everything is OK with the man, it is not like Eric to never post on this board for many month.
 
I appreciate your comments Gene and also have been waiting. Having no personal experience with Eric I only express concerns that may be a consequence of the silence in myself and perhaps in others that are less informed than those close to Eric or who have met him. I am sure from reading his books that most concerns are not well founded, but communication should be forthcoming if not from Eric than a collaberator or other coworker so that confidence in this funding process will not be lost. I hope sincerely there is no personal or other crisis that is occuring as well.

Ron
 
I spoke to Eric last week. The project is moving along and he does have some information to share. He will be posting an update as soon as possible. Thank you all for your patience and support.
 
I was going to unsubscribe from this post. But I am waiting to see what comes from it.

Still waiting....

Meanwhile my elegance is still eating and looking OK - not great as it did for a while, but still beautiful.

CC
 
curtisc63, How long have you had your elegance? I have one that i've had for 5 months and is doing well and growing. I'm wondering if i'm out of the woods or not as far as getting a "good" one.
 
Mine is going on 8 or 9 months in my tank. The first month or so it looked OK. Then it blossomed - long flowing tenticles, great color, etc. It stayed this way for 6-8 weeks. Then the tenticles started to receed. It looked bad for a couple weeks then rebounded to where it is now - Great color but not very good extension. I have left it in the same place in the tank the while time - on the sand bed, good light and moderate flow. Growth? Not much to speak of. They seem to be so fragile I do not want to mess with it and move it around and risk losing it...

They are beutiful corals. I am hiping some good will come out of this project - ideal conditions for captivity, feeding parameters, water parameters, etc.

CC
 
Wow Ron!!!!

I emailed Eric just a few days ago too see if there is anything TARE could do to help here was his reply;

Actually, yes. Right now I am in a holding pattern for technical
reasons involving registering corals for work without a specific CITES
permit attached to each coral (which is always the case when they are
donated by aqarists or purchased from rretail stores - funny how this
works) - I will post to my RC forum in a few minutes and you can read
about it.

What I would like to do is several more contagion experiments and some
treatments. This would entail obtaining elegance corals and doing the
required protocols. I have not developed the drug treatments yet, but
could get to work on it soon. I can provide all the drugs if you guys
could do the tests. I can also get the corals. Let me know if this is
something you want to participate in.

Best,

Eric Borneman

I posted it in TARES forum if I knew it was this important I would have given the info sooner.
 
TARE is a Texas based club Eric is in Texas. So I was going to try to get volunteers for him.

What it means is he is still pending volunteers to finish the experiment.

I was going to talk to him during his speaking engagement in Austin but, Something came up and he canceled it may be weeks before I know anything more?
 
Eric...your site to retrive pics on healthy and poor is having to be non existant....?can you help us out in your pictures of the difference between healthy and un-healthy elagance corals.... thanks and wishing you success in your much needed project....we need your help... scincerly .. charlie w.
 
Eric im also waiting for your research results. I have read your books and heard many LFS employees talk about your knowlege of the sea. I know your the right guy for the research job. Please keep the ppl at RC informed. Thank You.
 
I just had an elegant coral die of the same mysterious condition. I have pictures and the skeleton if you are interested.

Looking forward to the update, these are a beautiful species that I hope to keep again someday.

Christina
 
Christina, Just out of curiousity how long did you have your elegance? I've had one in my tank for 5 1/2 months now and I'm hopeing he will last.
 
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