Merritt Adkins and the Crew   2/4/08
My Bio
Dear Bob,
Michael said you didn't mind me volunteering on WWM and that you needed a bio and a picture.
Merritt Adkins
Hello! I am a senior at Texas A&M University at Galveston getting a B.S in Marine Biology. I received my first freshwater aquarium at age 12. It was a simple setup including the blue gravel, plastic plants and a penguin bio-wheel filter. Now, eight years later I have become an avid aquarist with my planted freshwater tanks specializing in small (10 gallons or less) planted tanks. Some of my personal favorite fish are Bettas, Corys, glass catfish, kuhli loaches, and freshwater/brackish puffers. These are just my favorites but I have kept many other species of freshwater fish through the years. Right now I have two 15 gallon community tanks, three Betta tanks (two are 1 gallon and a 2.5 gallon), a dwarf puffer 5 gallon tank, and a 6 gallon brackish water tank for my baby figure 8 puffer. (He is less than an inch long!!) I have been slowly getting into the marine aquarium hobby, but I still consider my freshwater tanks to be my favorite types of tanks. I am currently breeding Bettas and I eventually want to breed my dwarf puffers. My future goals are being able to keep some larger fish like Tiger Oscars and Spotted Gar.
I will eventually send a better picture. I hope this helps!
Thanks!!
Merritt A.
<Indeed, I/we thank you for coming forward, sharing. I take it Michael will show you how to log in... Please take a read here re some conventions we use in responding. http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/crewsupwebmail.htm
Bob Fenner>

MerrittA returns - 03/06/09
Hello Mr. Fenner,
<Merritt! Geez, just Bob will ya?>
I wanted to let you know that I can start answering questions again cause I got my degree, a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology
<Ahh, congratulations on your matriculation>
and have ample amounts of free time to help with the queries. I am very proud of it and now I am starting the long road to graduate school. I missed answering questions when I was in school. If you don't mind, I made a folder for myself. I have below and updated bio for the crew member page. If you don't need my help that's fine, just email me if you guys are overloaded with questions and I will try to make a dent. Thanks for having such a great site, I remember using this when I was younger! :-)
<Dang!>
Merritt Adkins
Hello! I am 22 years old and a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston with a B.S in Marine Biology. I am now currently pursuing graduate school regarding coral reef conservation and marine invertebrate research with emphasis on cephalopods. I hope to eventually acquire my doctorate and conduct my own research. Soon I will be published in a scientific journal regarding my research with Capitella sp. (Polychaete) and it's larval stages. Hopefully this will help me with graduate school acceptance!
I started in the hobby with freshwater tanks and due to the help of my boyfriend, eventually got into saltwater tanks. I currently have a 6 gallon Nano Reef that has a maroon clown fish with a pink bubble anemone and lots of corals. (It looks like a miniature reef!) But, I don't consider myself to be very educated regarding saltwater tanks, I am still learning. I am better with freshwater tanks and have had them throughout my life. I have had tons of different freshwater fish ranging from guppies to a Mbu puffer. I still greatly enjoy freshwater tanks and will eventually setup a nice ten gallon planted tank, but haven't got the time. I have had planted tanks since I was 12 and have never looked at plastic plants again. I have had in my planted tanks Madagascar lace, Anubias, Java Fern, Anacharis and Cryptocoryne just to name a few. Before I did the leap to saltwater tanks, I had a brackish water tank with my figure 8 puffer with many brackish water plants. Hopefully, once life isn't so hectic, I can have more than one tank! I also have five Bettas which I have been trying to breed for so long, and I still haven't succeed. (Only the Polychaetes will breed for me!) Once I am done with school and settled down, I would LOVE to setup a Sepia bandensis (dwarf cuttlefish) tank and breed them. I have experience with all different species of cephalopods and would greatly enjoy having some in my home.
Thanks very much! :-)
Merritt Adkins
<Welcome back. BobF>

Updated Bio/Pic
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:13:57 +0000
Hey Bob,
<Scotter>
Hope all is well with you!
<Ah yes>
It's been an amazing year for me...much has changed for the positive in my "fishy career". It's been an absolute joy traveling around the country to clubs and events talking fish! What an amazing experience!
<Ahh, as I tried to encourage you, others>
And this year looks even more amazing: MACNA, IMAC West, Reef-a-Palooza, and several other club events and mini-conferences! And...I may be speaking internationally for the first time this year, too. More articles being published, too, and all kinds of other potential opportunities are arising. I owe much of this success I am enjoying to the experience that I have gained through WWM. I hope that everyone on the Crew realizes how much the WWM experience can provide...The opportunities are limited only by one's desire to get involved in the hobby. I thank you and all of the Crew for the wonderful experience that my time at WWM has provided for the last 6+ years (can it really be that long?). Looking forward to the next 6 years with WWM.
<Good>
In the interest of keeping current, I did want to update a few things in my bio. Particularly a reference to my girlfriend being a "Big Island local" . As you may be aware, I'm in a totally different relationship now, and the update is most appreciated! The rest of my bio is just fine. I've attached a more recent pic, as well.
<Will amend>
Thanks much for your support and continued friendship. Looking forward to seeing you in Detroit..and Denver!
Regards,
ScottF.
PS- no need to run this email in the daily FAQs, please!
<All right. BobF>

Re: Speaking at MARS 8/9/05 Hi Alan and Pam:
Bob cc'd me about being available as a speaker to your club this fall. I would certainly be interested in presenting at one of your meetings. Unfortunately, the September 16 meeting corresponds to the MACNA conference, which I will be attending. October would be a possibility, if you are interested. I live in the Los Angeles area. I am a lifelong hobbyist with over 30 years of fishkeeping experience. I've been privileged to work with WetWebMedia for the past 3 years. In addition to answering questions on the "Daily FAQ" page, I am co-editor of our online magazine, "Conscientious Aquarist". I've had several articles published both online and in print media (FAMA), and have had the pleasure of working with Bob and Anthony on the "Reef Invertebrates" book. I am active in my local club, the Marine Aquarium Society of Los Angeles County.
My particular areas of interest are marine aquarium husbandry ( i.e.; Nutrient Control and Export, Nuisance Algae control, Quarantine of Marine Fishes and Invertebrates), Proper Stocking, and Planning and Creating Biotopic Marine Aquaria. If any of these topics would be of interest to your members, please let me know. By all means, do contact Steven Pro. He's a super-nice guy and an excellent speaker (in fact, Steve's visiting us in LA this weekend!) on a variety of topics. Also, Barry Neigut can give a great presentation on Clam Husbandry and Selection, and is also one of the nicest guys you'll meet! Very Truly, Scott Fellman

Here I am mit frauleins at InterZoo!

Now, that's better!

With all this talk of photos....
It dawns on me I've never submitted a pic.
I have only one photograph of myself, in Idaho, after swimming in my favorite spot in the Moyie river - and not certain at all that it is decent/acceptable for posting with my bio - too risqué? If so, I'll see what I can come up with. I know there's a camera around here, somewhere.
<What a babe! Schwing!>
If this *is* acceptable, to whom do I send it?
<Uhh, pet fish models inc. Actually this is it>
Also, of note, shrimp article is coming along well.
I'm not exactly full of time right now, with packing
stuff up an' all, but I'm hoping it will come out nicely.
<Bout time! Or we'll Photoshop out that rock and give you goose feathers!!!! Bob>
Thanks, -Sabrina

The "Salty Dog" and his most lovely wife.

Barred from meet the crew page
Hi Bob,
<James>
I see James is barred from the crew page again, heh?
<What? Are you on the inactive side again? Will check, fix>
By the way, saw your photo in the "More tasteful pics" wearing that leopard thing. What on earth were you drinking that day?
<Whatever it was... it was too much! B>
J

Michelle Lemech
     About Mich...  I’ve always loved the water and most of the critters in it.  I spent most of my time outside while growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  My favorite pastime was catching frogs, toads, tadpoles, salamanders and the like and building homes for them in the backyard.  My love of nature and interest in science lead me to Muhlenberg College where I earned an undergraduate degree in Biology.  I worked in a biochemistry lab doing immunoassays for several years before heading back to grad school.  I received a master’s in Genetic Counseling from Arcadia University and then needed to return to the Poconos.  With limited job opportunities due to geography, I went back to school again, this time for nursing.  I am a licensed RN. 
     While collecting degrees I was introduced by a friend to the saltwater aquarium hobby and fell in love.   I am currently active in several clubs and take pleasure in the educational, social, and collaborative aspects.  I enjoy helping others and  hope to contribute to and be a positive influence at WWM.  

Marco's moray eels 1/6/2008
http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~mlichten/Geo/morays.htm
That's a link to pictures of some of my morays for http://www.wetwebmedia.com
/WWMAdminSubWebIndex
/wwmcrew.htm.
Enjoy and take care.
Marco Lichtenberger.
<Thank you Marco. May I ask, in some of your earliest correspondence, you mentioned selling us/WWM some to-be-transliterated written works... Did you ever get around to these? Bob Fenner>

Mike Maddox Bio. for WWM Crew posting  - 1/31/08
I'm a premed Junior at Texas A&M Galveston, majoring in Marine Biology. I've been keeping some form of aquatic life on and off (mostly on, with a recent sabbatical I've recently returned from) since I was six years old (that would be eighteen years now...I'm old) and marine life for over fourteen years. I'm intimately familiar with the needs of virtually every ornamental aquatic fish (and have had almost all of the marine ones at one point or another) as well as most common reef invertebrates (Cnidarians, crustaceans, molluscs), and how to provide proper care/feeding/water chemistry for said animals. I currently have only one aquarium (I'm a student with a negative cash flow living in an apartment with the kitchen built into a closet!). My tank houses a Starry Puffer and a Commerson's angler, which I spend time watching when I should be studying. I will gladly help anyone with any question they may have about aquatic life, be it a frog, fish, turtle, or otherwise (I've kept more random aquatic animals than I care to name), but I feel I'm most knowledgeable about marine life, and most lacking in the freshwater fish area. I'm always willing to help someone long term with a known difficult/"impossible" to keep species, as I've done a lot of research regarding these types of animals, though not necessarily tried to keep many of them. I do feel that this is how we progress in the hobby, and if someone is taking a responsible, informed approach in doing their best to keep a particular species that's known not to fair well in captivity, and is trying to learn for the sake of the hobby, I will do what I can. I don't recommend this for the average aquarist, though!

And Updated Update! 3/09

Well, I'll take you up on the offer, then. :) I made myself a folder, and here's an updated bio:

<Ah, good. Glad to be able to share your input, facts and learn from your writing style... Now, my next question is... when are you joining, or better, supplanting me on the petfish conf./hobby presentation circuits? BobF>

-----------------

My name is Mike Maddox, and I’ve wanted to be a marine biologist since I was six years old, and kept marine aquariums since I was ten. A lot of what I’ve learned has been through trial and error, and it was always a source of frustration to me that there wasn’t more information about actually keeping marine animals alive in captivity when I was learning about the hobby. I have never forgotten that frustration, and have endeavored to help hobbyists not repeat the mistakes I’ve made (and I’ve made a lot – this hobby can be very trying at times) ever since.

As far as my hobby experience goes, I tend to only count my marine aquatics experience, because I still don’t know anything about freshwater, except for the fact that you don’t have to check the salinity! I’ve been keeping marine aquariums for fifteen years, and writing about it (mostly on WWM) for five. I’ve kept waaay too many species to name them all individually, but my favorites are pufferfish, carpet anemones, and T. maxima clams. I love really big aquariums (for cool things like stability, big puffers, sharks, eels, and giant anemones) and really small nano aquariums (like my 8 gallon BioCube) because I like the effect of having a compact reef. I currently have a 175 gallon FOWL setup with a DSB and 60 gallon sump/wet-dry filter housing a map puffer, and a zebra moray, and then there’s the aforementioned (stock bio cube 8) nano reef, which is filled to the brim with various corals, clams, anemones, and anything else that catches my eye or that people want me to save for them (stock as I say, not as I do!).

I’m a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in marine biology/pre-med. My “former life” so to speak was almost a decade in the IT field, and when I left the field completely to go back to school, I left as a systems and networks administrator.

To keep up my "expert" appearance, a quick 'bragging rights' paragraph: I’ve been published in Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Advanced Aquarist, The Conscientious Aquarist, and Aquarium Explorer, moderate here at the WWM BB, run a blog at Microcosm Aquarium Explorer website, and freelance for various other aquatic and non-aquatic sites/publications. I am also published in the American Journal of Rheumatology, for my medical research on systemic lupus. ----------------

Thanks Bob,
Mike

Neale Monks
Neale Monks began keeping fish in the early 80s, and since that time has tried out most of its specialisations, but his favourite bit of the hobby is brackish water fishkeeping. He is fascinated by those fishes able to adapt to environments with varying salinity, and quickly learned that the boundary the hobby places between "saltwater fish" and "freshwater fish" is an arbitrary one that doesn't mean much in the real world. After ignoring the aquarium books of the time and going by the scientific literature, he learned that many aquarium fish supposedly strictly freshwater or saltwater fish are also brackish water fish in the wild, and put this to the test in two 200 gallon tanks at the university he was studying at. Communication with fish collectors, ichthyologists, and experienced aquarists has reinforced his view that much of what is published in the aquarium literature about brackish water fish is hopelessly inaccurate and out of date. Neale began keeping an online compilation of his observations in 1995 as the Brackish Water Aquarium FAQ, and in 2006 TFH published Brackish Water Fishes, a book edited and partly authored by Neale describing the variety of brackish water fishes in more depth and more authoritatively than ever before. Besides brackish water fish, Neale enjoys keeping coldwater marines, catfish, dwarf cichlids, pufferfish, and oddball livebearers, particularly halfbeaks.

Offer of WWM help?  - 03/10/07
> Please do let Jeni (or whoever) know that I'd me more than happy to  help out with any brackish/oddball Qs that come up. Obviously gratis.
> <Oh! Neale... is this an offer of help in responding to such queries on WWM? We would definitely be interested in your help here... and I do think you will be greatly motivated to "fill in" the enormous gaps/missing articles et al. as you see/come to find them... Please do make it known if this is your intention.>
Robert,
Precisely so. Happy to help answer the "post bag" as and when things come in. I just did a couple today for PFK, and they're fun. I can't pretend to be as expert on pufferfish as Jeni, but I flatter myself that my general knowledge of things brackish is adequate for most tasks.
I shall endeavour to uncover such gaps in the WWM web site article roster that I can! Feel free to point me in the direction of bits you'd like me to focus on. I'm very much at your disposal.
Sincerely,
Neale

Andrew Nixon joins the WetWebMedia Crew 1/6/2008
Dear Mr. Fenner,
I am writing to you, via a suggestion by a member who actively posts on a website I moderate on called aquariacentral.com , and that member is a part of your crew ( Jeni - aka PufferPunk ).
<Ah, yes>
By way of a little introduction about myself. My name is Andrew, 34 years old and I live in U.K, England. I am Head IT Manager by trade for an estate agency group, have a daughter who is aged 6..I have been fishkeeping for about 7 - 8 years, started of will a good few freshwater species tanks, was never really that much into the planted side of things. The tanks ranged from 10 gallons, up to 90..About 3 years ago, I decided that after a good few years of researching, learning and understanding marine fish, corals, inverts I branched out and start keeping marine. These tanks ranged from 46 gallons upwards in varying sizes, could not get enough of et.al tanks have always been very successful and I put that down to the few years of knowledge building I did while I was keeping freshwater. Since then, I moved over to the side of passing on my knowledge and helping others by joining Aquariacentral.com and head the marine forums there ( my member name there is Reefscape ).. I spent the vast majority of my time there now, helping and supporting the existing aquarist's and new starters alike, and would like to branch out and help other sources too. I enjoy this with a passion, I feel at home discussing, debating, advising people on now to solve an issue with their tanks, advise on how to go about setting up marine systems, advise on stocking compatibility issues etc etc..corals / invert and their feeding, lighting and behaviour...Equipment choices, recommendations, why some work better than others, and the things for people to avoid. So, all I wanted to do was put an offer to you, that if you ever feel that you have room for a junior member on your team to help out on all round issues of the marine aquaria side of the site, then I glad offer my services and knowledge over to you, would certainly be an honour and a privilege.
With kind regards Andrew Nixon
<We do have a need for a person of your apparent background, interest... I do hope/trust that helping as part of WWM will not interfere with time better spent with your family, work, other endeavours. Do send along a likeness and other Bio. mat. if you'd like this posted, and thank you for coming forward, offering to help others. I welcome you to our association. Bob Fenner>

Welcome Joshua Solomon to the WWM Crew 4/24/09
Re: Referred to contact you by Linda Close
First off I am a college student at University of Central Florida in the field of Biology. This is my fifth year of school, I am six classes away from a degree in forensics, but my real passion is reef aquariums, hence my pursuing Biology instead.
My background is in scuba diving, and my instructor rating in scuba landed me my job at the Living Seas Aquarium at EPCOT (yes I know the aquarium is a mess). In the mean time I had been an avid hobbyist for several years reading everything I can get my hands on. I keep three reef aquariums in my home, and my knowledge gained from personal experience as well as reading and asking questions found me a position working as an aquarist rather than a diver at the Living Seas while I continue working on my Biology degree.
On a daily basis I work on trying to recover mistreated reef tanks and educate people I work with about what not to do. The well being of the animals we keep are of great importance to me.
I am just a committed hobbyist that is happy to help others. I certainly am not an expert, but everyday I am amazed by how much I have yet to learn. In my mind my best talent is I am not afraid to admit when I don't know the answer, and I find it out.  After watching WetWebMedia for so long, I have a pretty good idea of what you all are about, and I would love to be a part of it.
Josh
<Ahh, thank you for coming forward Josh, and thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Welcome Scott Vallembois to the WWM Crew!   10/20/07
Hi Bob, this is Scott Vallembois from momsfishsupply.com/glass-holes.com. It was great to finally talk with you today. Thank you for all your advice and input. As we had talked about, I would be happy to spend some time helping out with the replies on Wetwebmedia.com. I have close to 25 years aquarium experience ranging from goldfish to planted discus tanks to full blown SPS reef tanks and just about everything in between (never anything brackish). I would be happy to answer anything, but as you know the last few years I have come to specialize in reef tank set up. Let me know if you need anymore from me to get set up and I look forward to hear from you.
Thanks much Scott
<Thank you for coming forward Scott. As we chatted over the phone, I am very glad to have you help us respond to queries at WWM, and to help you and your partner in furthering your business endeavours.
Do please send along a brief bio. for posting with a pic/likeness if you wish. Am hoping to "goose" you and EricR into writing "complete" pieces on (marine) aquarium engineering, assembly... BobF.

Here's ScottV down in Cozumel, diving, making pix 3/09.

Christine Williams joins the WWM Crew
... am following up, hoping you were not joshing re possibly helping on WWM... and re the poss. of your joining some of the Crew ahead of the ORCA event:
http://www.o-r-c-a.com/modules.php?name=GCalendar&file=viewday&y=2009&m=7&d=11&e=4
Do please make it known if you're interested! We're still undecided whether to dive/stay about the W. Palm Beach area or maybe head down to Pennekamp/Key Largo or... Maybe for three-four days of diving in front of the time of the event.
What say you?
BobF
Yes, I'd be happy to help out on WWM, just putting together a bio. Here's something CTARS is using http://www.ctars.org/default.aspx?uc=nextMeeting . Areas of interest? Likely fish diseases (always a needed thing), but I can write about marine microbial ecology (because we know EVERYONE finds that fascinating--not) and consequent nutrient cycling, micro and macroalgae, particularly phyto culture, fish and invert immunology, probiotics in marine systems, and the odd industrial or commercial uses of aquarium species. And seahorses. :) Right now at work I'm working on developing skin care ingredients (treatments, UV protectors, pigments) from marine or marine biotransformed raw materials, at home I'm rebuilding a few systems--all low-tech, little-equipment balanced ecosystems.
<Yay!....
I'll make an in-folder for you... "Christine">
Diving? As long as you don't mind a dive neophyte coming along I'd love to if it's a shortish trip (and by neophyte I mean I truly will be open to any and all advice and suggestions on equipment etc).
<Am always willing to chat re>
 Send me more info as you get it and I'll see fi I can get everything in order to go.
<Will definitely do so>
 Are you all attending the conference as well?
<Yes, as far as I know>
Also switching to my home email address for easier access--thanks everyone.

Christine Williams Bio
The serious:

Christine Williams is an avid hobbyist and seahorse keeper who, when not doing water changes, works as an industrial marine microbiologist. Currently she balances leading her laboratory team in the search for marine-derived biologically active molecules, and pursuing a PhD in marine biology at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Prior to joining the industrial world, she spent significant time in the veterinary sciences including clinical laboratory diagnostics, exotic animal husbandry, and emergency and critical care. Her aquarium interests cover a wide range with special focus given to macroalgae and plankton, the breeding and reproduction of aquarium specimens, piscine and invertebrate immunology, and the treatment of ailing fish. Christine actively mentors hobbyists on diagnostic pathology and lectures internationally on subjects of aquatic science, and has the pleasure of serving as a moderator for the Marine and Ornamental Fish and Invertebrate Breeders forum.

The not very serious:

Christine Williams started keeping fish while she was still a fetus. While the aqueous environment did lend itself to the hobby, it limited her to freshwater species, and so she decided to be born several weeks early. Through sign language she demanded that her parents convert her crib into a reef aquarium and thus started her illustrious career in marine ornamentals. After completing her studies in biochemistry and molecular microbiology she went to work at “Animal ER” where unfortunately she was not filmed for the Animal Planet channel (though her feet did make a cameo during a rescue segment). Currently she is the head of the Industrial marine Microbiology team for her division of a “very large international chemical company,” where she spends her days mixing chemicals, microorganisms and plankton together and seeing if they will A) explode, B) glow in the dark, or C) make a good salsa. In order to further her skills she is also a PhD student at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. She has lectured and given workshops on fish diseases and treatment techniques, seahorse keeping and breeding, marine microbiology, and algal culture and bioprospecting in the US and abroad.

Lynn Zurik 4/2/07
Hi Bob!
   We met when you were up here in Seattle last year giving a seminar for the local club. I really enjoyed meeting you and getting a chance to chat for a bit. Regarding my joining the crew, yep, I'd love to give y'all a hand however I can.  My main strength is ID'ing critters but I'm sure I could help in the other areas as well. LOL As long as it's not FW, it's been way too long since I've done that! I started off with SW in '73 when I was in HS and never went back ;-)
<Ahh!>
   As for the article(s), we've been trying to come up with things to do to help newbie members at WWF so we've decided to write some short articles to post there.
<Wiki fashion? Or individual effort, or?>
We're hoping to get a lot of member participation in writing these articles, but in the meantime, I'm working on some critter ones. The first will be "Things that go 'click' in the night". Part one will be on Pistol shrimp, part 2 will be on mantis.
<Sounds good>
Right now I'm doing the research and hoping to get it posted later this week. While it's not going to be something that will be long enough (or probably technical enough) for WWM/CFA, it should be helpful for a newbie who's been wondering what those sounds were!
<Mmm, actually... will make the offer to conspire with you, give you use of my image work if it will help... Edit, lengthen and help you market such pieces to the pulp and e'zines>
I would, though, like to write something in the future for possible submission.
<Please do>
I love taking photographs, so perhaps I could submit something there as well(?). Here's my profile page - if you have a chance you can check out some of the photos I've taken. LOL But they're nowhere as good as yours or Zo's!
<Mmm, a matter of practice, gear and opportunities taken...>
   http://wetwebfotos.com/Home?action
Request=userview&userID=2470
<Very nice... really like the close-ups of the polychaetes>
   Thanks and have a great week!
   -Lynn
<And you as well... And thank you for coming forward. Our webmail log-in: XXXX
And a link to familiarize yourself with a few of the conventions we use:
http://wetwebmedia.com/WWM
AdminSubWebIndex/crewsupwebmail.htm
Welcome to our association. Bob Fenner>

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