Gatortailale

Just a side note, I know they are not to scale, but the diamond had a killer spread of light for the full 36" test area in Sanjay's test results data. I believe the test box was 36" x 36" with holes every 3 inches on the peg-board grid to allow them to stick probe in and take readings at each hole (Just remember it was like 4.5 hours per relector test to poke probe in all holes to test spread)

Alberto & others: The Diamond Lumenarc III, the one on the PSU tank is 19.5 x 19.5 x 8. Diamond also makes a compact Lumenarc 3; I'm trying to get dimensions - this is probably the one alberto got a price of $82 that is 12 x 12 [i got quoted $75 see my post in member section] Johnc, Sanjay runs 10k bulbs on both psu and his own tank. (10k ushio x 400w) The Diamond gives 12 reflective points of light and had the best reflective spread of light at the surface. My plan, if the dimension of the compact lumenarc is 12 x 12 is to get some and send Sanjay one to test, if he wants to test one that is. More money: well yes but if you get better light spread then you can run less lights and balance cost out over time. I don't think Sanjay tested the synthetic sun reflector; probably did not have it at time of testing. Craig

MAC News 4th Quarter 2002 Director's Note Greetings to you from all of us at MAC. The year 2002 finished up as an extremely busy and productive one for MAC. The success of achieving certification along a full chain of custody was tempered by concerns and debates over controversial aspects of the certification, especially the ability to verify that no chemicals were being used in certified collection areas. We are working on these issues and moving forward in improving the certification to address the concerns. For example, there will be significant developments on the cyanide detection issue in the next few months. A year-end letter from the MAC Board chair summarizes the MAC response and puts these issues in the overall context of MAC Certification development. Among other things, the Dec. 18, 2002, letter notes: 'There will be difficulties and problems as part of this process [of certification development and implementation]. Not everyone will be happy with all aspects of MAC and its efforts, and there will be strong emotions among stakeholders inside and outside the industry, hobby and conservation organizations. 'As the system develops and we learn, there will continue to be difficult issues that MAC must address; this includes issues such as the need to ensure verification of no cyanide use where this practice of fishing continues to be a problem; the need to expand net-training for collectors and reef management to ensure a sufficient supply of certified fish; and the need to insure that the collectors realize tangible economic benefits from certification. We recognize these as serious challenges that MAC and its partners must address as a matter of highest priority.' The full text of the letter is on the MAC website at www.aquariumcouncil.org under 'New Items' As we move forward, we appreciate constructive criticism and dialogue that identifies the gaps and weaknesses in MAC Certification and suggests how to address these. We look forward to working with the MAC Network and our partners to improve and strengthen the MAC Standards and Certification. Who Is Certified? While there are many who are working towards becoming MAC Certified and may prematurely or inadvertently create the impression that they have achieved this already, the only valid list of MAC Certified industry operators is on the MAC website at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/subpage.asp?page=130&section=3. In 2002, the Batasan Tropical Fish Collectors Association (Bohol, Philippines) and Manila exporters Aquarium Habitat, HD Marine World and Aquascapes Philippines were the first to gain MAC Certification. In October 2002, they were joined by six North American companies that became the world's first MAC Certified retailers and importers. They are US retailers All Wet Pets (Flushing, Michigan), Aquascapes/The Reef Shop (Portage, Michigan), Living Sea Aquarium (Park Ridge, Illinois) and Preuss Animal House (Haslett, Michigan); Canadian importer Coast Mountain Aquatics (Richmond, British Columbia); and US importer A&M Aquatics (Lansing, Michigan). Tubigon Municipality Celebrates Having the World's First MAC Collection Area and Collectors The 27 members of the Batasan Tropical Fish Collectors Association were publicly recognized as the world's first MAC Certified collectors during a 'graduation' ceremony on Oct. 8, 2002, at Tubigon in Philippine's Bohol Province. The collectors operate exclusively in the MAC Certified Batasan Island Collection Area, which is a part of Tubigon municipality. National, provincial and local Philippines government officials strongly endorsed MAC's efforts through their participation in the event. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director, Malcolm Sarmiento, graced the ceremony as guest speaker. His visit was the first by a national government official to Tubigon since the 1950s. He noted the profound sense of pride of the collectors and their families and reiterated his support for MAC and the collectors, expressing the intent to help ensure that Batasan had its own patrol boat. The offices of Gov. Erico Aumentado and Tubigon Mayor Paulo Lasco ensured the success of the ceremony. The governor sent most of his senior staff members, especially those responsible for coastal resource management and law enforcement. Manolo Prado, the Philippine Tropical Fish Exporters Association representative, promised to take a more active role in promoting MAC within and outside the organization. The leadership of Batasan Island announced their intention to request Bohol's Provincial Tourism Development Board to include Batasan Island in its eco-tourism development plan. Among other things, they want Batasan Island's inclusion in Bohol's eco-tourism map and guidebook, citing the Island's recognition by MAC as the 'world's first certified collection area for marine ornamentals' as its major distinguishing feature. Barangay, municipal and provincial officials expressed thanks for the positive developments and honor MAC has brought to Batasan Island and Bohol Province. There was a solemnity to the ceremony when the collectors, led by the chief of police, pledged their commitment to comply to the code of conduct in their Collection Area Management Plan and, accompanied by their wives, received their MAC Certification identification cards. This was followed by lighter moments when the collectors' wives and kids performed modern dance numbers. Those attending were moved by the way the collectors and the whole village demonstrated their sense of pride and commitment to their sustainable fishery and MAC Certification. First MAC Certified Importers and Retailers Are Positive About MAC The world's first MAC Certified importers and retailers were certified in October 2002. These pioneer companies in the United States and Canada are responding favorably to the certified organisms they are receiving and their new certified status, while also recognizing that the supply of MAC Certified organisms will be limited initially. 'After retailing for over 20 years, MAC is the first opportunity we've had to be involved with a complete market distribution network; that makes me proud to be a retailer,' notes owner Rick Preuss of Preuss Animal House, Lansing Michigan. 'Having the assurance that these animals were caught and handled properly before they come under my care makes me a lot more comfortable when I sell them to my customers. For some more delicate organisms, I would rather wait for a MAC Certified one than have ones in stock that were not.' 'I definitely like the quality of the fish,' says retailer Brent Gardener, All Wet Pets, Flushing Michigan. 'Everything has turned out real well, and we are really happy with the MAC fish we are getting. A lot of our customers are calling wanting MAC fish. We have some customers with tanks that have only MAC fish in them.' 'Overall the quality of the MAC fish are better than non MAC fish,' says importer Kyle Nelson, Coast Mountain Aquatics, Richmond, British Columbia. 'Although the present supply is limited, we look forward to more supply in the future.' Mark Scheffler, owner of Aquascapes/The Reef Shop, praised the 'business aspect' of MAC Certification, noting the added 'professionalism' it brought to his practice of, for example, tracking and accounting of animals, personnel and equipment (e.g., maintenance). Philippines Update: Working with Collectors to Increase the MAC Supply The majority of MAC's effort and resources continues to be focused on working with collectors and their communities to achieve MAC Certification and increase the supply of certified marine ornamentals. During 2002, Ferdinand Cruz of the International Marinelife Alliance (IMA) was temporarily assigned to MAC to lead our work with collectors and their communities to develop collection area management plans and become trained in net collecting, use of logbooks and post-harvest holding and handling techniques. In addition to the preparation of several collectors groups and collection areas to be assessed for certification, the major output of Cruz's assignment is the group of young MAC field staff whom he trained and mentored and who has become the expanded team for MAC's field activities in the Philippines. They include MAC trainers Arnold Dano, Reginito Gador and Rito Taneo; community organizers Franklin Tinaan and Monica Piquero; and documentation and record-keeping specialist Arturo Olegario. With Cruz's one-year assignment to MAC ending in December 2002, we would like to recognize and congratulate his commitment to working with collectors and the communities and to transforming the marine aquarium trade towards sustainability. The MAC field staff has been working intensively with collectors in Coron, Palawan Province (six collection areas); Bagac, Bataan Province; Palauig, Zambales Province; and Clarin, Bohol Province, with the target of having these areas ready for certification in the first part of 2003. In the meantime, the results of efforts in the Philippines have led to the reassessment by an independent MAC Accredited certifier of two collection areas and collectors associations whose initial audits revealed some inadequacies. Official results of these audits are expected in January 2003, along with those for the first ornamental exporter outside Metro Manila. If these groups succeed, the results will be posted online at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/subpage.asp?page=130&section=3. We are also collaborating on training programs for collectors with local governments in Lubang and Looc Islands in Mindoro and Camotes Island in Cebu and developing the potential to provide training in parts of Mindanao and the provinces of Samar and Leyte. Even with the excellent work of Cruz during his secondment and the continuing efforts of the MAC field team, the amount of work with collectors ant their communities requires collaboration and we are always interested in exploring partnerships to address these needs. For example, MAC and the Coalition of Reef Lovers (CORL) are developing a partnership on collector training and reef management. Pacific Region Update Fiji In October 2002, MAC held the Regional Workshop on Certification Process and Procedures in Suva, Fiji, with representatives from export companies, government agencies, universities and conservation organizations. Following the workshop four Fiji exporters, all who have signed the MAC Statement of Commitment, worked with MAC to develop policy and procedures manuals and draft collection area management plans as part of their efforts to be certified by mid 2003. WWF Fiji also worked with one of the communities to help develop a collection area management plan. MAC also worked to raise awareness of the responsible aquarium trade with the tourism industry---an industry that has repeatedly called for closing the trade in Fiji. MAC made a presentation to the Mamanuca Hoteliers Association that was well received, with the MAC Certification process seen as a way to help clarify and resolve conflicts in use. Vanuatu A one-day multi-stakeholder workshop followed by a one-day workshop on MAC Certification was held in Port Vila in November. The workshops brought out issues from the tourism industry concerning reef degradation as a result of bad collection practices; the need to raise awareness, especially on the concept of certification; and the need for community support on reef management. Following the workshops, MAC worked with the three marine aquarium companies in Port Vila, all of which reaffirmed their desire to become MAC Certified. Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), which is very supportive of MAC Certification, attended the Regional Workshop on Certification in Suva, Fiji in October, along with representatives of the Marau community and an environmental NGO from Solomon Islands. MAC has been working with communities participating in the aquarium trade in Marau Sound to help them become familiar with MAC Certification and the collection area management plan. The communities have requested training assistance to implement the MAC Standards. Indonesia Update Continuing with our focus on collectors and collection areas, we are increasing MAC capacity in Indonesia by developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (DKP), Republic of Indonesia, and by hiring Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley as the MAC Indonesia Country Coordinator, beginning January 2003. Gayatri worked as a long-term consultant for MAC in Indonesia in 2001, and stakeholders there welcome her return due to her extensive experience in marine conservation in the country and interaction with the marine aquarium trade. Report from the Reefs: Major Progress by Reef Check on Resource Assessment As reported in earlier issues of the MAC News, Reef Check has been developing ' MAQTRAC,' a monitoring protocol specifically designed to assess and track the status of marine ornamental populations and the reef habitat in collection areas. Reef Check scientists Domeng Ochavillo, PhD, and Renante Ruz have been conducting the final testing and refining of the methods by undertaking resource assessments in areas seeking MAC Certification and in 'control' areas where no ornamentals fishing takes place. In 2002 they spent 136 days (4.5 months) at 82 dive sites, during which they conducted 194 dives (a total of 388 person dives with two persons in a team) and 194 transects to generate data for 776 transect segments (each 100-m transect line has four segments). When Ochavillo and Ruz were not underwater, they were busy inputting, collating and analyzing the data. We are beginning to provide these results to the collectors and their communities to develop and improve the collection area management plans required by MAC Standards. The Reef Check team is preparing a paper on the methods and initial results that will be presented at the International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (ITMEMS), March 2003 in Manila. Demand Side Developments Make Headway Europe December 2002 was a busy time for MAC in Europe. Following visits by MAC Accreditation Coordinator Peter Scott, importers in Holland and Germany have committed themselves to becoming MAC Certified in 2003, and significant progress was made in discussions with importers and retailers in the UK. The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) conference held in Hull, UK, was well attended by several MAC representatives, as well as MAC Board Members Marshall Meyers and Keith Davenport. The level of interest for more information about MAC was reflected in the lively Q & A session following Scott's presentation. In Germany, presentations were also given on MAC and on the Global Marine Aquarium Database (a partnership between MAC and the United Nations World Conservation Monitoring Centre) at a major conference near Stuttgart attended by more than 17,000 visitors. United States In late September and early October, MAC Certification Coordinator David Vosseler and MAC Communications Coordinator Sylvia Spalding made presentations and staffed display booths at the US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) meeting in Puerto Rico and the Backer Christmas Pet Trade Show in Chicago. At the USCRTF meeting, MAC provided an update on Certification and the role of a certified responsible aquarium trade in achieving reef conservation. MAC also met with government officials and industry in Puerto Rico who expressed great interest in MAC Certification. The MAC booth at the Backer Trade Show was well visited, and about 50 companies joined the MAC Network. A&M Aquatics, the first MAC Certified importer, also had a booth at the event, which featured an enlarged copy of their MAC Certificate of Registration. Vosseler also made two visits to Los Angeles to work with importers interested in becoming MAC Certified in early 2003. Reaching Out and Responding to Hobbyists and Retailers MAC Certification Coordinator David Vosseler and MAC Communications Coordinator Sylvia Spalding made presentations and staffed the booth at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA) in Dallas. There was strong give and take during a lively open forum that highlighted MAC Certification developments and valuable input from MAC Certified retailers Rick Preuss (Preuss Animal House) and Mark Scheffler (Aquascapes/The Reef Shop). To help improve the flow of information about MAC and respond to concerns that had been posted on the Web, MAC Executive Director Paul Holthus presented an online talk and open forum in mid December at www.reefs.org. About 40 of the questions submitted by the participants could not be addressed during the allotted time, but were answered and posted online. The responses to the questions can be found at http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=52 and also, in a condensed version that organizes the questions by topic, in the New Items section of the MAC website at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/webmediainfo.asp?whatsnew=on . Among the topics covered are verifying compliance, ensuring no cyanide use or destructive fishing practices and MAC Certification of collections areas, collectors and companies. MAC Board Developments: Standards Interpretation, Complaints Process, Elections During the 4th quarter of 2002, the MAC Board of Directors authorized the 'MAC Certification Core Standards Interpretation Document,' which reflects the understanding that the first few years of implementing MAC Certification is a 'development phase' that requires flexibility and practical adjustments to the MAC Standards, as warranted and authorized by the MAC Board. In response to concerns about the standards raised by stakeholders in early 2002, e.g., regarding mortality limits and traceability requirements, MAC worked with industry to address these issues and the Interpretation Document was issued by the MAC Board. The full document is available in the Aquarium Industry section of the MAC website at http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/subpage.asp?section=3. The MAC Board also authorized the 'MAC Certification Objections Procedure' as part of the implementation of MAC Certification. As with all certification systems, a procedure is needed for dealing with complaints about the results of certification and appeals of certification decisions. The Board authorized the complaints procedure and explanatory document, which illustrates the kinds of complaints and appeals and the process by which MAC would respond to them. This document and the MAC Objection Form are available online at www.aquariumcouncil.org/webmediainfo.asp?whatsnew=on The MAC Board of Directors met by conference call in December. Among the key issues addressed was the election of Board members and officers for the upcoming openings. Outgoing Board members Bruce Bunting (WWF), Keith Davenport (OATA), John Dawes (OFI) and Marshall Meyers (PIJAC) were elected to new three-year terms, and Bruce Bunting was re-elected as the Chair. Spanish Translation of MAC Documents MAC is now in the process of translating many of its key documents into several different languages, beginning with Spanish. Currently, three informational sheets Beneficios de negocios de la Certificación de MAC, Porqué la Certificación es Necesaria para la Industria Marina de Acuarios and a background on the Marine Aquarium Council have been translated and can be accessed online at www.aquariumcouncil.org/webmediainfo.asp?whatsnew=on. Upcoming Events Marine Aquarium Hobbyist Day at the Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach, Jan. 26, 2003) Julian Sprung will be the keynote speaker at an exciting event to highlight the responsible marine ornamentals hobby and the role of MAC Certification. On Jan. 26, 2003, MAC will co-host the 'Marine Aquarium Hobbyist Day' at The Aquarium of the Pacific at Long Beach, Calif. Marine aquarium hobbyists will have free admission to the aquarium with a coupon being distributed through Southern California aquarium societies, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazine, Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, local live fish stores, etc. Aquarium visitors will be treated to a special series of talks and an assortment of exhibit booths featuring local marine aquarium retailers and other relevant organizations. The event is being co-sponsored by MAC and the Aquarium with assistance from Marineland's Speakers Program and SeaWeb. Plans are being developed for similar events in one or two other venues in 2003 as part of the launch of MAC Certified marine aquarium organisms in the US market. MAQTRAC Training (Cebu and Bohol, Philippines, March 31-April 2, 2003) Reef Check has worked with MAC to develop the 'Marine Aquarium Trade Coral Reef Monitoring Protocol' (MAQTRAC). It was initially field tested in the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, Hawaii and the Maldives from mid-2001 through mid-2002 and peer reviewed in two international workshops. MAQTRAC enables reef areas to be assessed and monitored on a consistent basis within the framework of MAC Certification, and, as reported above, it is being finalized through final testing in the Philippines. Reef Check will conduct training in the use of MAQTRAC from March 31 to April 2, 2003, in Cebu and Bohol, Philippines. The MAQTRAC training will take place following the International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (Manila, March 24-27). Registration information can be obtained at the Reef Check website at www.reefcheck.org. MAC in the Scientific Literature Sadovy, YJ and ACJ Vincent. 2002. Ecological Issues and the Trades in Live Reef Fishes. Pages 391-420. In Coral Reef Fishes: Dynamics and diversity in a complex ecosystem. PF Sale, ed. San Diego: Academic Press.

WAMAS Spring Meeting Special Guest: Sallie Jo Boggs from Pittsburg to speak on breading of marine fish and shrimp. Date: Saturday April 12, 2003 Location: KOC in VA (same location as winter meeting) Time: 2-5pm We hope to get a bio and more information up soon.

Keep up the good work. If you need a place to park your 220 you can put it in my basement :p . Just kidding. Welcome to the club. Glad you enjoyed the meeting. Craig

<font color='#000080'>Building Your Own Calcium Carbonate Reactor http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/s_joshi_062997.html Hope this helps Craig</font>

If you need to get them out asap then if they ready for the meeting, I'll take them then. I was operating under the impression that you would try to raise them a few weeks to a month to improve their chance of survival. We can talk more at meeting :] Craig

I will buy a few(2) off of you if you have success. Please put me on a list I think it is awesome that you are giving it a try to raise them. Craig

honestly, I have never used the sunburst bulb. However, I have read commercial sites (Champ) and several posts by reefers that have had the sunburst bulb blow up. On our old board - before it crashed, we had a member have a 250w one blow up after a few months of use. Never hear much about ab or ushio's exploding. In reading lots of threads of peoples light systems, I'm of the opinion that iswakis give best growth less color. 20k radiums give best color but less growth. I love my 10k ushios; good color and growth. I just bought 3 250 ab's from TRT during the power-buy and will try them later this year when I switch out my ushio once I get full year or more on them. Just my .00002 Craig

With about 15 fish in the 125, including a sixline, I don't think I will have much of a chance to catch any, but I'm thinking of putting a little eclipse 6 on my canopy plumbed to the main system for refugium and if lucky, some babies. Would have to pick up the book and learn how. Also pay attention at the spring meeting and learn the tricks. I really want to get my black percs in my 29 to deveop into a pair and raise them. Now that would rock. Thanks for the kind words. Michael, now that I think about it, I remember you saying they will eat the first batch when you came over to see tank.

My perc pair laid their first batch of eggs yesterday. I came home from TRT and was acclimating my new clam and shrimp when I saw the male fanning the eggs. My female also had a nasty wound on her side. My guess she was defending them and one of my other fish hammered her a good one. They host in a anchor bubble coral in the DSB and also in a favia brain / candy-cane coral head up on the rocks. Looked like they ate the eggs by the end of the day.

Mac does not send us a list of frags he will provide at the meeting prior to the meeting. He has attended probably over 8 WAMAS meeting so he has a good idea what sells and what doesn't. At the meeting, he has several copies of the "price list" of the frags and inverts he has for sale. He generally brings 6-8 giant boxes of sps, lps, softies & inverts. Last time he had few seahorses too. If he has specific items you want, please contact him in advance of the meeting to "special order" the item. Craig

PLEASE CONTACT MAC FOR YOUR "SPECIAL ORDER" ITEMS that he will bring to the meeting at $0 shipping cost. ========================================== Dr. Mac Corals New Arrivals Specially selected TOP PICK Corals. Jan.11: New Arrivals: pics will be posted on the web site in a couple of days. Mailing List Subscribers SPECIAL--take 10% off listed prices on orders of $300 or more, please mention discount when ordering. Also available: Tons of Tank-Raised Fish-check out the web site for a complete list, http://www.drmaccorals.com ---------------------- 1. Sm. Red Lobophyllia, $49 2. Lg.-XLg. RARE Bright Lavender Lobophyllia, $149 3. 2 Lg. RARE Bright Pink-Orange Lobophyllia with Lemon-Lime Centers, $129 each 4. Show Size-Jumbo Red Lobophyllia, $179 5. Lg. Lime Lobophyllia, $99 6. Lg. Green Center Lobophyllia, $79 7. XLg. Red Lobophyllia, $129 8. Md.-Lg. RARE Metallic Blue Xenia, $99--SOLD 9. Md. Bright Green Torch, $79 10. Md.-Lg. Pink tip Bright Green Frogspawn, $89 11. Md. Green Daisy Polyps, $54 12. Md.-Lg. Green Daisy Polyps, $59 13. Lg. Bright Orange Zooanthid Colony, $69 14. 2 Bright Lime Pipe Organ, $79 each 15. XLg.-Show Colt Soft Coral, $89 16. Lg. NEON Orange and Lime Zooanthid Colony, $79 17. 3 Lg. BRIGHT Green Center Pipe Organ, $69 each 18. XLg. BRIGHT Green center Pipe Organ, $79 19. XLg. Yellow-Green Toadstool, $59 20. Lg. BRIGHT Red Carnation (Non-Photosynthetic!!), $59--SOLD 21. Md. Green Finger, $49 22. Lg. RARE Red Zooanthid Branch Colony, $99 23. Md. BRIGHT NEON Yellow Platygyra Brain, $64 24. Md.-Lg. NEON Lime Platygyra Brain, $69 25. Lg. NEON Lemon-Lime Platygyra Brain, $79 26. Lg. Pink Pocillopora, $89 27. Lg. Branching Hardy Purple Goniopora, $79 28. Lg. RARE BRIGHT NEON Metallic Pink Zooanthid Colony, $129 29. Lg. Double headed BRIGHT Yellow Leather, $79 30. Md. BRIGHT Yellow Leather, $45 31. XLg. SUPER NEON BRIGHT Electric Green Elephant Ear Mushroom Colony, $129 32. Lg. RARE BRIGHT Purple Tonga Mushroom Colony, $99 33. Md.-Lg. RARE Blue Pimple Rust Red Mushroom Colony, $69 34. BRIGHT NEON Lime Spaghetti Leather, 1 XLg. $99, 4 Md.-Lg. $79 each, 3 Lg. $89 each 35. Show Size--JUMBO Violet Acropora, $259 36. XLg. Fluorescent Green Polyp yellow branch Purple tip Acropora, $159 37. XLg.-Show Size BRIGHT Blue-Teal Acropora with Yellow highlighted branch and Bright Turquiose Polyps, $249 38. XLg. Shelf Acropora--Exceptional shape--Pink with Blue tips, $179 39. Lg. RARE BRIGHT Blue-Purple Encrusting Montipora, $198 40. XLg. ELECTRIC BRIGHT NEON SUPER Lime Acropora with slight Violet tips, $199 41. Lg. BRIGHT Teal Staghorn, $129 42. XLg.-Show Size RARE--BRIGHT NEON Green Hat-shaped Brain, $179 43. XLg. Pink Pocillopora, $149 44. XLg.-Show Size Pocillopora, $179 45. XLg. Light Lime Acropora, $129 46. Show Size-Jumbo Pink Seriatopora "Bird's Nest", $229 47. Md.-Lg. Blue-Purple Acropora gem., $99 48. Lg. BRIGHT Teal Staghorn with Blue tips, $129 49. Lg. Hardy Bushy Polyp Purple Photosynthetic Gorgonians, $39 each 50. XLg. RARE Encrusting/Pillar BRIGHT Blue Montipora, $269 51. Lg. BRIGHT NEON Lemon-Lime Pocillopora, $129 52. Lg. Unusual NEON Green Encrusting/Pillar Merulina, $99 To Order call Dr. Mac 443-614-1955.

From TRT's email: New shipments of SPS corals and other corals. Check the website for updated pictures. http://www.reefstore.com Also check out the new clams Arriving tomorrow URI VHO 48" and 72" bulbs

Peabody, This meeting there will be 2 raffles (with 2 different tickets). One set of tickets will be for coral frags and mics. items; the cost of these tickets are $2 each ticket or 6 tickets for $10. 2nd Raffle: For this lighting meeting, we are having a special lighting equipment raffle. Ticket prices are still to be determined. More details soon I hope. To answer your question: we do not give out "door prize" tickets; you must buy a ticket to enter raffle. We try to separate the items and place a small cup in front of the item and let folks drop a ticket in for that item; that way you have better chance of getting what you want and folks with low light systems don't get a sps frag with random drawing. Hope this helps Craig

Another update. I was able to get Champion Lighting to donate 2 Blueline MoonLight ststems for our raffle. Blueline MoonLight I'll keep you posted on any more updates. Thanks to all the companies that have donated equipment to WAMAS for our special raffle. Craig

Have any updated pictures of the split? Interested to see what size they are now and how they are healing up. Thanks Craig

snap, It's nice to see that have turned this board into a flame site with your posts about MS. :( I thought you were all about sharing information about reefkeeping in a way that others can learn. Instead, I see nothing but negative comments & flames from you, all because you disagreed with the prices at a LFS. As for your planned boycott of reefs.orgy, you DON'T speak for me. I can make up my own mind about what sites I will surf. Perhaps in the future you should engage the safety locks on your heat seeking missiles, and try a more civil tone if you want people to have an open flame free discussion. C

The joys of having a free board. We do take up a lot of bandwidth for free. But sure is a bummer when it's down. Sorry for the down time folks. The Officers

That is why we have repeatedly asked in the past to post comments about stores in the "WAMAS MEMBERS" section. Your are free and welcome to bash there. Everyone has the right to publish their opinion, I just ask that you keep it to the "member section" so that our few members who do shop at stores that others bash, will at least have an enjoyable experience. Craig

The Winter Meeting of The Washington Area Marine Aquarist Society (WAMAS) will be on Saturday January 18, 2003 from 1:30-5p.m. in Vienna, VA (immediately outside Washington, DC) This meeting will focus on Aquarium Lighting with special guest speaker Sanjay Joshi. In conjunction with his presentation, we will also be having a Reef Light Expo with Icecap, Sunlight Supply, Fulham, and others. Along with lots of frag swapping, a great raffle, and Dr. Mac's traveling coral store, this is sure to be a meeting NOT to miss! For further information on WAMAS and the Winter Meeting visit our web site http://www.wamas.org/ Who: W.A.M.A.S. (Washington Area Marine Aquarium Society) When: January 18th, 2003 (Saturday) Time: 1:30 P.M. - 5 P.M. (EST) Where: Knights of Columbus Vienna, Virginia Cost: Members - Free / Non-members - $6.00 Special Guests: - Sanjay Joshi (featuring a presentation on Metal Halide Lighting) - Fulham (a ballast manufacturer) http://www.fulham.com/ - Icecap, Inc. http://www.icecapinc.com/ - Sunlight Supply http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aquarium/index.shtml -Dr Mac of Dr. Mac & Son's Corals Special Raffle of Lighting equipment from: - Special raffle items by Icecap, Inc. (full metal halide lighting system) - Bulbs from HelloLights http://www.hellolights.com - Many other awesome items! Miscellaneous Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Directions: The hall is located at 214 Lawyers Road NW, Vienna, VA Here's a map from Mapquest The map link Please park across the street or in the Post Office parking lot.

From the Cafe Shop store $5 Super Saver Shipping" "Purchase as many items as you wish and shipping is only $5 flat with our Super Saver Shipping option." more details: http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/help/shipping.aspx View of some of the new items added to the store!

NOTE: I just talked with Grim at TRT: He said people can still order the "Power-Buy" items now until the end of the meeting Saturday (12/07/02) He noted that Mike had the sheet on the # of bulbs ordered for each category, so I do not have an update on whether we will make the quantity needed. I don't want to put words in Mike's mouth, but when I ordered my MH & PC bulbs a few weeks ago, he informed me he would honor the price even if we didn't meet the quota. [My advice, oder the bulbs you need; worst case - is that we don't meet the quota - BEST CASE - you get get awesome bulbs & support a local store and TRT honors price even if quota not made] Bottom line - if you need bulbs and want to support a local store - call b/w today and meeting to order. :p

As of Today: As a group we have ordered: 3 - MH bulbs 2 - PC bulbs 0 - VHO Great prices listed above. Stock up now.

I have arranged for a group Power-Buy for the Club. Here is the power-buy information: NOTE - as a club we need to order 12 of each type of item for The Reef Tank to honor this price. Example - if we do not get orders for 12 MH bulbs, then the deal may get called off for that items power-buy. PLEASE contact The Reef Tank with your orders. DO NOT POST HERE. I'll check with TRT from time to time to see how many more of a power-buy item we need to buy to meet the minimum 12 quantity. http://www.reefstore.com (703) 978-1700 "Power buys for WAMAS meeting at The Reef Tank Dec. 7, 2002- AB MH bulbs-12 lot mix and match 175w 10k $54.99 ea 250w 10k $89.99 ea 400w 10k $105.00 ea PC Bulbs-12 lot mix and match 96w PC (any color) $39.99ea 65w PC (any color) $29.99ea URI VHO Bulbs-12 lot mix and match 48" 03 $21.99 48" 50/50 $24.99 72" 03 $31.99 72" 50/50 $31.99 Orders must be in before Nov. 7. We need a credit card number before ordering. Orders will be charged upon arrival of goods. Thank You, Mike" HOPE This helps! Craig