Went to the zoo

[Kent E]

Some people think I should have stayed there. :wildone:


The tank looks decent. I can see past damage from the lights. But everything looks to be recovering well. The birds nest is humungous! the pictina (I think) looks weak, and a few other pieces look weak. But most things do look good. The anemone is out of this world and so is the sohal!

There was an oldtimer there who was telling everyone, and their brother, about the reefclub and how they made it happen, so credit is going where it is due.

Thanks to all who have been putting time and effort into the tank, it means alot to many people. I'm certain that things are looking up for the tank. :thumbsup:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Went to the zoo

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7512410#post7512410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E

There was an oldtimer there who was telling everyone, and their brother, about the reefclub and how they made it happen, so credit is going where it is due.

Who was the "oldtimer"?

 

[Kent E]

I don't know. He came in a cart, and left in one. He had a very likeable demeanor and he also had a geriatric entourage with him.

 

[Kent E]

I forgot, we ran into him later with the cart and the entourage. He was explaining to the ladies about an elephant, my son (left in the avatar) overheard him, "that's not an elephant! That's a rinocerous! see the sign." The ladies laughed and laughed. He was very gracious and also laughed.

 

[RandyO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7513766#post7513766 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
I forgot, we ran into him later with the cart and the entourage. He was explaining to the ladies about an elephant, my son (left in the avatar) overheard him, "that's not an elephant! That's a rinocerous! see the sign." The ladies laughed and laughed. He was very gracious and also laughed.

So what was it? An elephant or a Rhinoceros?

 

[Kent E]

It was a rhino.

 

[Kent E]

BTW that thing is HUGE.

 

[ReeferMac]

I saw one them this week... That's a big animal.
Wonder if they're going to walk them around in the morning like the elephants.

- Mac

 

[LFS_worker]

funny funny stuff kent ... does anyone else get that look from their spouse when laughing at the computer screen???

B

 

[Guy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7525212#post7525212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LFS_worker
funny funny stuff kent ... does anyone else get that look from their spouse when laughing at the computer screen???

B

No, but my co-workers don't come into my cube anymore.

 

[Arik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7525212#post7525212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LFS_worker
funny funny stuff kent ... does anyone else get that look from their spouse when laughing at the computer screen???

B

Yea, I used to try to explain why I was laughing but that only made it worse!

 

[zanclus]

Re: Went to the zoo

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7512410#post7512410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
Some people think I should have stayed there. :wildone:


The tank looks decent. I can see past damage from the lights. But everything looks to be recovering well. The birds nest is humungous! the pictina (I think) looks weak, and a few other pieces look weak. But most things do look good. The anemone is out of this world and so is the sohal!

There was an oldtimer there who was telling everyone, and their brother, about the reefclub and how they made it happen, so credit is going where it is due.

Thanks to all who have been putting time and effort into the tank, it means alot to many people. I'm certain that things are looking up for the tank. :thumbsup:

I need to get me a piece of that birdsnest!!!

 

[ReeferMac]

That coral's been in the club for a loooooooooong time.

- Mac

 

[Kent E]

That piece is literally larger than many aquariums in the club! Very kewl. In 5 or so years it will be the only coral at the zoo.

 

[zanclus]

I had a piece of it, which grew from a 1" tip to the size of a softball in 8 months ,but lost it to a temp rise last summer while I was away. I really wnat to replace it.

 

[dreaminmel]

I have a couple pieces of it... it really is sweet. The main piece has doubled in size and now I have 2nd 1inch piece from a lil accident. Under certain lighting the polyps actually look purple. There's a pic of it on page 2 in my photo gallery and, yes, the weird bubble growth has miraculously disappeared.

 

[ReeferMac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7529841#post7529841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
That piece is literally larger than many aquariums in the club! Very kewl. In 5 or so years it will be the only coral at the zoo.

LOL! We'll see if we can't prevent it from getting quite that big. I think the Xenia will give it a run for it's money, if the Aptasia don't get it first.

- Mac

 

[puter]

I'm betting on the E. quad...

 

[Kent E]

This brings up a good question. How large does a coral get before you frag it?
It's kinda a mixed bag at some point. Huge colonies are fantastic but the larger they are the fewer there can be.

 

[ReeferMac]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7534057#post7534057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
How large does a coral get before you frag it?

That's a dicey issue....
They are a county funded and accredited zoo, which add's layer of complexity.
Livestock is very tightly monitored, and changes to it need to be explained.... Unfortunately, we can't just yank frags out of the tank - their accredation is tied to the livestock. We've had to fill out official reports for snail shells found on the sandbed.

We brought some of this up for discussion w/ the zoo staff a few months ago when we had the change-over of people in the URS. As funding is usually an issue w/ anything done there as well (incidentally, that's the reason nothing drastic's been done to the tank), they were torn about what to do, as we did discuss w/ them the concept of pruning (for aesthetics as well as health). They absolutely cannot condone or support URS member's pulling live organism's out of the display, dead one's need to be turned in w/ a report detailing the reason's why... And simply stating "the Frogspawn killed the Merulina w/ some sweepers" isn't good enough - the body that accredits the zoo, is going to claim 2 incompatible organisms were kept in the same display, and they rank that as 'bad' as keeping the Lemur's in w/ the Tiger's. There are a lot of little things like that, that impact how and what can be done at the zoo tank, that we as hobbiests never come across.

However, as you all know, and has been observed at the Seneca Park tank, some corals are growing remarkably and doing very well. This create's competition for resources (space), and the staff there did tell us, that adjustments to the display can be made to ensure the health and safety of all the inhabitants... (we know the micro-level, but at the macro-level, alleopathy is a real concern as well). I also related to them how I haven't spent a single penny on my tank in over 2 years, because I can take fragments to the LFS and trade them in for credit towards my purchases. They were dumbfounded by that concept (again, $$$'s constantly an issue), and you could see the wheel's turning in their heads.

There was a lot of glancing, winking, and nudge-nudge going on at that point.

There's a term I'd like everyone to get a good handle on for the closing of this discussion, it's called "Plausible Deniability".

Our immediate plans for the zoo (once we get some money), include a food-making demonstration, likely to be carried out at Seneca Park (stink up someone else's kitchen instead of mine for a change). We're looking into a Borneman style mix to replace the flake/frozen that's been in use up there until this point. I'm also hoping to have a frag-plug making demonstration soon. (say no more, say no more)


- Mac