We are terrible people....

[Biocubehqi]

With the scares of global warming and polluting the earth, we are on a roll people. It occurred to me there are many countries out there with no access to fresh water. We play n it, we turn perfect drinking water into saltwater, plus we throw most of it from the rodi units into a drain. With freshwater getting less and less it makes me feel irresponsible.

Not to mention the havoc we cause in the reefs, either by depleting or by mixing. Example would be the lion fish in the Atlantic, pretty sure we are to blame for that one, and the mysterious tangs in the keys.

I run mh which isn't gentle wit power, while many use LEDs and make ourselves feel like we are making a difference, I run LEDs to lol. But only cause I'm cheap. These things still eat power.

As I'm a new parent I can't help but worry about what kind of world I'm leaving for my son, makes me wanna make a difference. I'm not suggesting extenction of the hobby, I love it. I've been racking my brains trying to think of something to make a difference. Who else would like to join me?

Maybe the only right thing to do is eradicate the hobby....

Am I Insain? :headwalls:

 

[potterjon]

I am sure everyone on here has asked themselves these questions before. I know I have, but to shed light on another view, we in some ways, have become the advocates for preservation of the reefs. The knowledge learned in the industry is what will help the reefs in the long term. That is how I look at it anyway. It is all driven by money like everything else in the world and without people learning how to aquaculture corals and breed fish in captivity, etc. the reefs won't stand a chance. I don't think it is just the hobby to blame for the loss of ecosystems around the world. Although it may be a small part of it.

 

[KafudaFish]

Then join a local group who has a focus on improving water quality or other similar issue and volunteer your time, effort and or money. You don't have to go halfway around the world to have an impact to your environment.

For example, Illinois is the #1 source for total nitrogen (16.8%) and total phosphorus (12.9%) entering the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[Biocubehqi]

Potter I agree. But it stems to more than just frag swapping and captive breeding.

There must be a way to recycle water from water changes or a more efficient way to deal with the waste of rodi units. Or a alternator that I can run our systems with just a jump start of electricity. Many cities get their power from water movement... We should be capable of the same feet.

As far as the aquaculture goes, we have made great feet in that.... That dollar bill can be a nasty thing.

 

[pinnatus]

Then join a local group who has a focus on improving water quality or other similar issue and volunteer your time, effort and or money. You don't have to go halfway around the world to have an impact to your environment.

For example, Illinois is the #1 source for total nitrogen (16.8%) and total phosphorus (12.9%) entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Stoopid Illinoisians.

 

[Biocubehqi]

Oh yeah, I don't get it twisted, Illinois has some pollution issues. You can smell most of our cities before you can see them lol. I heard souther Illinois is nice though.

The whole reason I'm on this soap box is I would like to find a way to make a difference.

 

[disc1]

Many cities get their power from water movement... We should be capable of the same feet.

You mean power the tank with the water you are pumping and circulating? There's a real basic law of thermodynamics that says you can never ever do that. Now if you have a stream with a waterfall in the backyard then go for it. But it cannot ever happen that you will pump water over anything and make more energy than the pump consumed to get it there.

 

[Biocubehqi]

Wouldn't increasing the size of an overflow be the same concept?

 

[rrasco]

Wouldn't increasing the size of an overflow be the same concept?

Same concept as what? Whether you make it super wide or super narrow, the same amount of water goes over it either way. There is limited potential and less than what was consumed to create it...

 

[Biocubehqi]

Depressing...

 

[slipknottin]

Us using less water doesnt mean more water is available for others in other countries who need it.

The two things arent related.

In another 50 years time we might be the only ones with living coral left.

 

[Squidmotron]

Oh brother.

 

[Biocubehqi]

Us using less water doesnt mean more water is available for others in other countries who need it.

The two things arent related.

In another 50 years time we might be the only ones with living coral left.

Of course they Are not. But us using less water is us to contaminating less freshwater. I wasn't saying wells well start popping up in the desert.

 

[Saltydrip]

Time to invest in clean energy. Our tanks are a form of preservation at this point. Chances are (as said earlier) this hobby may be the only way our grand kids ever see the world we love.

 

[sponger0]

It isnt us using water, it what we do with water and then put it back into the ocean. The fact is your normal person isnt the problem with natural habitat destruction. Its usually due to large business wanting to cut corners or governments unwilling to accept what is going on cause it would cost more money and they wouldnt be able to get their gold rimmed pool until next month.

 

[celamb89]

I had been thinking on installing a battery bank and solar cells to run the tank, no dependency on the electric company, no power outages, etc... for lighting I would love to run solartubes but most of the times its not possible... LEDs do make a difference, the corals may not have the 400w MH look but will do fine...

If you have a wind or water flow generator that who cares what you run, MH, T5, LED it would be clean energy... Of course to run MH you would need one heck of a generator...

 

[celamb89]

For the water recycle part.... I dont believe its that much of a problem, if we dump our water in the backyard, garage somewhere where it can evaporate then you just add it to the cycle... Evap then rains, etc... As stated where water is scarce there is not much to do but appreciate the water we have...

 

[Heliman]

How to make a difference ???

The subject has two main issues...micro (what can we do in our own home/based reefs) and macro (what can we do for the Planet in total)

For your home set-up (micro)...invest in solar power and reduce the need for the Utility to spend money using non-renewable energy to make your power. I have 5 KW of solar power and have not paid a Utility Account for 3 years, I generate enough power during the day to cope with 24 hours usage. Under the Australian Model, the Utility pays me for the excess power I generate during the day, this money is then used to buy power from them at night when the solar system is not operating.

Other than that...invest in DC pumps and slash your energy requirements, run your reef at 1 degree higher in summer and 1 degree lower in winter...makes a big difference to power usage and the coral will adjust.


In a Macro sense, I dont think there is much we can do. The medium term future of the Planet has already been irrevocably decided by Natural forces that have been at work for billions of years, asisted one way or another by what humans have done over the past few hundred years.

It is interesting to note that out of all the species that have existed on Earth, 99 % are now extinct. Evolution, life and extinction are unavoidable.

If the coral reefs go extinct in the wild (for whatever reason...natural or man-made) then we at least can preserve the species in out home environment...so we have done something really good !!

But coral has ben around for millions of years...I dont think we will push it to extincion for many millions of years yet.

 

[slipknottin]

Of course they Are not. But us using less water is us to contaminating less freshwater. I wasn't saying wells well start popping up in the desert.

RO does not add pollutants to the waste water. Just concentrates the waste that is already in it.

And adding salt is not "contaminating" water. It just makes it a bit more expensive to treat. But if we are that worried about contaminating water, you should stop using a toilet too.

Water is a totally renewable resource, the only issue is the cost of making it safe for drinking.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I think this thread should be in the 'Responsible Reefing' section, or the 'Lounge' and not here. We all do our part in messing up the planet and some of us try to make it better. Good luck with your effort... you'll probably need it. I've watched the reefs off the Florida Keys get much worse over just the last 12 years.