question for Mr. Bob Fenner. A request for referral 12/01/08
Hi,
I'm Josh, a member of a forum called modernreefkeepers.com and we
are interested in boosting our member base. We are a free site but ask
members to donate to Coral Reef Alliance.
<http://www.coral.org/>
I know you and your team are a wealth of knowledge and would love it if
you could help spread the word. Ask anyone who joins to use me as a
reference. they only need to put my first name in the referral box. Any
help is greatly appreciated and thank you for even looking my email
over.
Thank you,
Josh Cyrus
<Will post. Bob Fenner>
Is <sic> there any saltwater fish retailers/brokers in south Africa?
9/20/08
<Mmm, yes. I have had occasion to "meet" with some
members of a great club/association in SA... Their URL here:
http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=95
I would peruse
their site, join, and get out and about with them to visit sources
there. Bob Fenner>
LFS in West Chicago Area -
7/1/08
Hi Bob,
<Peggy>
At the risk of imposing on your valuable time, I have a
good customer moving to the west side of Chicago due to employment
change who has asked me if I know of any good LFS's in that area. I
don't but naturally thought of you and assumed you would. If you'd
care to opine, I'd be grateful.
<Have been to the Windy City a
few times, even visited some very nice stores there, but can't
recall much re their actual names... But there are friends, WWM
Crewmembers who do reside there, and am asking them here to chime in
re. Cheers! BobF>
Thanks Bob.
Peggy
www.all-reef.com
Re: LFS in West Chicago Area
7/1/08
I
believe it is Olde Town Aquariums that everyone loves, I'm not sure
I have every been there. Most of the stores I have frequented I have
to walk around with my fingers in my ears to keep my blood pressure
down, by some nice livestock can be found. I've spent a bunch of
money at Old Orchard Aquariums and Aquarium Adventures. Living Sea
is probably the best known in the area, along with Scott's Petshop.
There are a few smaller shops like Beyond the Reef and Advanced
Aquatics around as well.
<Thank you for sharing Chris. BobF>
Re: LFS in West Chicago Area
Olde Towne has healthy
stock, but not too much of a selection. My two favorites are
Aquarium Adventure (Hoffman Estates, I believe) and Old Orchard
Aquarium (Skokie). Personally, I think Scott's (Westchester) keeps
fish in appalling conditions and I don't like to shop there. Living
Sea's OK (although I know Jeni disagrees).
Just my two cents!
Jorie
<Thank you Jor. BobF>
Re: LFS in West Chicago Area
Many thanks Bob.
<Welcome
Peg! I wish we were there eating at Pizzeria Uno (or Dewey!) right
now! Well, back to work. B> |
Just moved to San Diego, LFS search - 06/29/08
Hi Bob,
My wife, kids, Labrador, and reef tanks finally moved back to San Diego
after 11 years. Over that time I've fostered my own reef tanks and so
far, surprisingly, everyone has come through the move alive and well.
Can you give me any insights as to what the best reef stores are here in
San Diego?
<Will try... there are too few... Pat Hurley's Aquatic
Whse. in Kearny Mesa and Ron Elander's Octopus's Garden in Clairemont...
and the Hoffa's Fountain's Aquarium in La Mesa are the ones I'm most
familiar with... But there are a few others... Vet's Pets? out east... I
do encourage you to look up/attend the newly-rejuvenated SDMAS... they
can be found via the Net... Hope to see you about>
I've tried finding
Wet Pets without any luck.
<Ah, no... our stores closed down in the
early nineties>
We live in Rancho Penasquitos but I'm willing to
drive... Thanks for your time, Cliff
<Glad to share. Bob Fenner>
Red Sea Biotope 12/20/06
<Todd, I apologize for the delay
in response. We're having issues accepting certain types of email
formats, and very few of us are able to view them. I've been unavailable
for the last week, so things have been a bit delayed. Original message
is follows. -JustinN>
<Thank you Justin. BobF>
I am researching
a Red Sea Biotope that I am going to set up in my 360 gallon tank and am
looking for a little assistance. It is quite easy to find info on the
Indo-Pacific, Hawaii and the more popular places, but I am struggling a
little bit locating info on the Red Sea. I found your Red Sea Biotope
info on WetWebMedia,
<Ahh, good...>
I just bought "Coral Reef
Guide-Red Sea" which is a wonderful resource and have done extensive
Google searching online.
<Yes... Helmut Debelius' works just keep
getting better and better>
I am trying to make this a true biotope
down to being specific to a reef flat and reef slope. I really don't
want to mix coral and fish from different parts of the Red Sea. I have
come up with an extensive list of Red Sea coral and fish that I would
like to have in this display, but I need to get it down to what actually
co-exists in the same part of the reef and then weed out those that wont
co-exist in a closed system.
<I understand>
Here is an abridged
list of the coral that I would like to center this display around after
figuring out which should be together. I will only list the families as
there are too many individual corals to put in this e-mail. If you would
like to see the entire list I can send that.
Pocilloporidae
Acropora
Acroporidae
Milleporina
Stylasteridae
Agariciidae
Fungiidae
Pectiniidae
Faviidae
Dendrophylliidae
<Mmm, yes...>
Fish:
Sohal Tang
Purple
Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Many Orange Anthias
This was a lot of
typing already just to get to the reason for this e-mail. I am looking
for some reference material (hopefully with pictures) that show portions
of the reef and not just individual coral or fish. Everything I have so
far only shows the individuals, and I am going to need general pictures
of reef flats and reef slopes in order to make this as true as possible.
<Mmm... well the invertebrate tome by Peter Vine (see Amazon.com re) is
worthwhile here for sure... There are some nice books that I've seen
while visiting the area... but not available as far as I'm aware of in
the West... Perhaps a sojourn to SeaChallengers.com site... an email to
Dave or Diana Behrens there will be productive... And a big offer... to
come travel with us thereabouts... two Mays hence... following the
Interzoo show in Germany. Bob Fenner>
Thanks in advance for you
assistance
Todd L.
Red Sea Biotope 12/28/06
Bob,
Thanks for the reply. I will follow up with SeaChallengers.com
and would love to dive the Red Sea if possible.
<Is>
The book
"Coral Reef Guide - Red Sea" is actually written by Ewald Lieske and
Robert F. Myers
<http://www.amazon.com/Coral-Reef-Guide-Red-Sea/dp/0007159862/sr=8-1/qid
=1167330330/ref=sr_1_1/002-5564169-9292019?ie=UTF8&s=books>
just in
case anyone else wants to find the book. It is an awesome reference for
the Red Sea.
<Thank you for this>
I think one of my biggest
challenges now will be finding coral that actually comes from the Red
Sea.
<In the U.S., yes... you may want to become friendly with folks
in the frag/hobby side in W. Europe... they likely can supply you best
with the beginnings of pieces>
Most of the coral is also found in
other seas throughout the world and most dealers and wholesalers don't
list many, if any specimens from the Red Sea.
<Again... not in the
U.S., but these can be found in some supply in Europe>
If you have
any recommendations where I could find actual Red Sea coral I would
greatly appreciate it. I am in the grow-out phase of starting a coral
farm and have a few wholesale contacts, so recommendations can be
wholesale, or otherwise if need be.
<The hobby groups... the Net...>
I understand that virtually no-one would know the difference if I put an
Indonesian, Fiji, etc. coral in place of an actual Red Sea coral, but I
would know and I would like to exhaust all avenues to acquire Red Sea
specimens before I am forced to go with others.
Thanks again
Todd L.
<Bob Fenner>
Re: Red Sea Biotope, pet-fish friends on
the Net 12/29/06
Sorry to bother you again. Do
you have a list of Hobbyists groups (online hopefully) or the like from
W. Europe. Unfortunately, I only speak English so I hope that's not too
much of a hindrance.
Thanks
Todd L.
<Mmm, don't have... Not
to worry re the English-only angle... many folks there read, speak it...
Look on the Net... Bob Fenner>
Petfishing in San Diego
6/26/06
I had no Idea that you all were here in San Diego, quick
question.....what's your favorite LFS ?
<Mmm, a toss-up tween
AquaFauna, Octopus' Garden and Fountain's... for various good aspects.
BobF>
have you been to brilliant reef? I love it there
<Ah, yes.
Very nice fellow who bought it from Vic of VJ's. BobF>
A
visitor to San Diego 3/19/06
I just wanted to thank you for
your great website, already have a tank but am thinking of upgrading and
have a thousand questions but am reading and reading more first to find
the answers I need.
One question I would like to ask if may, my
partner and I are hoping to visit California later this year, and from
what I've read I believe you live in San Diego ?
<Yes>
Could you
recommend an Aquarium for us to visit ?
<Of a
certainty... I would go to the Stephen Birch... a program of the
University of California at San Diego... and take in the original
SeaWorld (opened in 1963), as well as a few of our nicer retail
stores... Aquafauna, Octopus' Garden, Fountain's...>
From what I can
tell there are several but would like to visit a really good one. Will
be flying into San Francisco and driving down the coast to San Diego so
any recommendation you can make would be much appreciated.
<Mmm,
many facilities that you might tour in Los Angeles (LAX) area. Do you
have a specialty? Bob Fenner>
Many thanks
Martin
Re: A visitor to S. Ca.
Thanks so much for a very quick
reply, never expected to hear from you so
soon. No specialty
here, but marine displays here are few and far between
so would
like to take the opportunity whilst we are on your side of the
pond. At the moment I only have a 200 ltr tank with two percula
clowns,
some yellow polyps, some pulsing xenia and some
mushrooms, so pretty much a
beginner (been going about 12
months). Oh and a Goniopora which I bought
under recommendation
from the LFS, now I know I should have read up about it before
taking their advice !
Cheers
Martin
<Ahh! There are many
such shops that you'd enjoy seeing... but they are spread about. My
advice is to use directories like the telephone companies Yellow
Pages and Net map services to find, make itineraries... lay out
where you want to go... leave plenty of time for traffic... Call on
local folks to show you about (perhaps there will be club meetings,
even "tank tours" during your visit) to get you about, make
introductions. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Glossary - 3/7/2006
Hi everyone,
<<Hi Ian.>>
Does a glossary exist anywhere that
explains all your acronyms and "tank talk", so a newcomer can come to
grips quickly with what is being discussed?
<<Yes. Read here:
http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?actionRequest=articleView&articleID=253. Lisa.>>
Regards,
Ian
Chi town LFSs 28 Jun 2005
Bob:
<Ben>
Is there a fish/coral store-supplier in the greater
Chicago area that you
trust? I have visited two stores near my house
(Hinsdale) and both make me
cringe with overheard advise to
customers.
Sincerely,
Ben
<Am unfamiliar with the stores
there... I would check on the Net, through pet-fish BB's, and fish clubs
for other members endorsements here. Bob Fenner>
Abbreviations
Hi crew:
<Alfonso>
Looooong time reader, not
much of a question poster, basically because someone else always seems
to ask first. ;). Any way, due to the fact that many of your readers are
new to the hobby, and others not so new, but still learning a lot (like
me), and also because I have always been an abbreviation illiterate, I
will like to submit the following link (found in Reef Central) which has
been very helpful. Hope it helps someone as much as it has helped me.
Cheers!!
http://www.megapathdsl.net/~fmariani/abbreviations.htm
Alfonso
Garza Vasconcelos
<Thank you for this. Bob Fenner>
Michigan Local Stores 4 April 2005
I'm moving to northern
Michigan this summer (Petoskey). Any recommendations on marine aquarium
stores or resources to find stores.
<Let me begin with suggesting
www.michiganreefers.com. Its an amazing source of information.
Including places to shop. Also there is a great conference getting ready
to take place up there that would be a great source of information.
Check out
http://www.masm.org/MMC/default.asp.>
Thanks
<Good luck,
MacL>
Looking for fish stores
in your area
Do you Know any good/reputable Fish stores in New
York/New York City,
particularly Queens
Jahner
<Nope, I'd
run this question by the BB's like ReefCentral, Reefs.org for a broader
input. Bob Fenner>
Article
Hi Bob,
I've made
the changes you were so kind as to suggest and sent the article to Rob,
who forwarded to the TFH editor. Also, as promised, here are .doc and
.rtf versions for the WetWebMedia site.
Thanks again for your time
and guidance, on this issue and many others.
Travis
<Thank you my
friend. Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Re: Article
Bob, I found my way to the article and your comments. They are all much
appreciated. I wanted to see how bad the damage was before saying this
:) but yes, you may certainly leave the article posted!
<Very well.
Will remove the suggested changes parts at your direction, supplant the
piece with your changes...>
If you have any other comments about the
article in general, I'm quite used to criticism (constructive and
otherwise...) of my writing, so please fire away! It can only make the
end product better.
<It is fine. Useful, literate as it is>
Do you
have any general advice for submitting such an article to the
publications? Specifically, should I submit to all at once or only one
at a time and wait for response?
<One at a time... to your fave,
choice first... and if rejected (which I doubt), off to the next.
Perhaps you might include a scan, graphic of your design to go along
with the submission>
This has been a real pleasure, Bob, and I can't
thank you enough.
Travis
<Thank you my friend. Bob Fenner>
Article (reefkeepers best friends)
Hi Bob,
I've been reading
your FAQ's for months and thoroughly enjoyed the Conscientious Marine
Aquarist. I could have many questions to ask about reef tanks and the
care of our inhabitants, but my real purpose today is to ask you about
writing. I find your style to be captivating, more so in your FAQs than
in the CMA due to necessary differences in tone.
<You are correct.
Thank you for your kind words>
Either way, you're the writer I'd like
to have help me if possible.
<Gladly>
I'm an advertising writer
by trade, but have always aspired to be published in other fields. I
found myself wondering why the following article hadn't been written yet
(to my knowledge), so I did it myself. I'd love to hear your advice,
opinions and criticisms. I'll attach the article with the hope that you
have the time to work with me a bit. If not, I completely understand.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge so openly with the aquarium world
either way.
<Mmm, how best to proceed? The piece has definite merit
in content and a good format. I would make a few mechanical changes...
and place/submit it with/to your favorite hobby magazine (any: TFH,
FAMA, AFM...) for publication. Might I post the article and my suggested
changes (in emboldened italics) on WWM with links, a note back to you?
If you prefer that it not be permanently archived there I can remove it
after our going back and forth. Bob Fenner>
Sincerely,
Travis E
Staut
RE: Article
Wow. The rumors of your
response time are true!
Thank you so much for taking the time.
Proceed however suits you best- your suggested plan is fine with me!
<Real good. Will go over, send URL later today. Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Travis
Marine BB's
thanks for info do u
know of any online chat rooms for marine fishkeeping. dave
<Oh yes:
http://wetwebfotos.com/talk/, reefcentral.com, reefs.org... Bob
Fenner>
Ending it all - 1/24/04
Hi guys,
Right now I am very very annoyed!!! <Sorry to hear. What's up?> You
see I have a 75 gallon tank with only a tang, a clown, a cardinal fish,
and a wrasse. <Okiday> Sounds ok but not if you've gone through 9 fish.
<Whoa! OK. Back the truck up here, how old is this tank and when was
your last death??> All which died from freak accidents. <Does happen
from time to time> e.g.. sucked up in power heads, <That is why power
heads are such a pain> tank temp gone up. <Hmmm.... Any idea why this
happened or at least what actually was the cause? I use an AquaLogic
dual controller - one with the heater connected to one side and the
other side connected to a fan (or better yet a chiller)> So anyways I
cant take this anymore and am thinking of selling the tank. <Hold on
here.... have you at least learned from your mistakes? I totally
understand getting frustrated, annoyed, angry, saddened, and depressed
over the loss of our pets and the various charges in our care, but this
is a hobby based on experience. It takes time to learn what works and
what doesn't. I too, have experienced moments of doubt and regret over
this hobby for many reasons. (actually quite frequently) Deaths, ethical
issues, expenses, time, and of course the stress of it all drives me to
self doubt and thoughts of selling it off and letting it become someone
else's problem. When I really sit down and think about the joy of the
science, the beauty of the animals, and all the people I have met and
had the pleasure to discuss the hobby with, I actually come around to
the conclusion that this is a wonderful experience and it makes me a
better person for doing it. I have been thoroughly educated on the
plight of the ocean and its inhabitants, I have become a diver and seen
many wonderful cultures in far off places and some of the most
magnificent reefs on earth, met a few of my best friends through this
hobby, and more times than I can count exhibited extreme excitement for
what wonder my tank may next hold within, and all of this makes all the
loss, frustration, and stress worth while. It is a marriage of sorts.
You just need to find some middle ground and talk yourself through what
you like and dislike about your situation.> Do you think I should do
this or just live with stress of things dying....<I think you need to
look at what the issues are and do your best to prevent them. There is
more education, not only on this site, but at your local reef clubs,
forums, websites, and books. Get involved. Learn from experiences (your
own and others) and educate yourself for the what the future might hold.
Create a plan (what it is you want your tank to look like, what it will
cost, and how much time it will take to maintain) then execute with some
diligence and patience mixed in. Scott, I would re-evaluate, find the
issues and try to prevent them. Think beyond the fish and the
environment the best you can. The decision is yours my friend, just do
your best and with time comes knowledge. Keep your head up in all you
do. ~Paul>
Scott.
- WWM Kudos -
Hi
Ladies and Gents,
Thanks for putting up with dumbasses like me
(especially J.) asking dumbass Q's (Brown sand for instance!?!).
<Appreciate the kind words - but you do realize the only dumbass
questions are the ones that remain unasked.>
Having read and re-read
a lot of the information on this site, I have my 100 Gal tank up and
running for 5 weeks now.
100 Lbs LR, going pink and busting with
life, 2 Orange Dartfish, Green Xenia, Anemonestone and 10 Turbos and
that's it for now.. EVERY person I spoke to beforehand furrowed
their brow, sucked a deep breath and said "oohhh, y' don't wanna do
that.", Then listed a plethora of 'reasons' why keeping a marine tank is
a waste of time, money and far too difficult to provide any enjoyment.
Not one person said "good on you, bet it'll look great". The point
I'm trying to make is, you don't only provide a valuable service from a
purely practical point of view, but you also act as psychological
backup.
Here in the dark, wet Northwest of England our services are
somewhat limited. No marine club or society. Only one inadequately
stocked LFS and I have no friends who are into the hobby, so your
collective efforts have and will continue to be my primary source of
information and support. <Glad we could be of help/service.>
Thank
you very much.
BTW, am Setting up a 'fuge, so....I'll be back.
Cheers,
Duncan McCombie.
<Cheers, J -- >
