Well, its time again to do a post about the MACNA festival. If you are not in the know, MACNA is the Marine Aquatic Conference of North America. Its the biggest North American industry-driven, elbow greasing conference that allows all types of people to experience the hobby on a whole new level.

This year it is going to be in Atlantic City, NJ, a place where gambling meets reefing. It will be three days of madness, excitement, and free-for-all. You do have the time to purchase your tickets, as it is held on September 25th, 26th, and 27th. But, the tickets will go up in price as the dates near.

This years speaking engagement list includes Anthony Calfo, Bob Fenner, Frank Marini, Martin Moe, Scott Fellman, Jake Adams, and much more.

If that’s not enough, there will be raffles, and exhibitions, and fun activities presented by the industry leaders.

So buy your tickets, head to NJ, and look for us roaming around. It would be fun to meet you all. Plus it will be easy to spot us, two guys wearing our Fragd.it gear!
See you all in September!

They are calling it the prefect predator. It gulps fish in seconds. It can destroy ecosystems. Huh? Are sharks that hungry now?

Many media outlets are calling for immediate action against an imported species into the Caribbean Seas. The Volitan Lionfish (Pterois volitans) has been unfortunately introduced into the wild, what they suggest, by hobbyists who just couldn’t take care of them anymore. They continue to say that because there are not any natural predators who can control their population, the whole fishing industry will be experiencing a hit like never seen before.

Hmm… you figure with that many marine scientists that are now a part of this ‘Caribbean catastrophe’, we would see some normal resolutions. But no, we get a suggestion that the only way to even control them is to over fish them for the seafood industry. Fine, but how does that solve the problem where according to the reports, this fish just gulps fish for breakfast.

“Lionfish are eating their way through the (Atlantic) reefs like a plague of locusts,” said Mark Hixon, a coral reef ecology expert at Oregon State University. “This may well become the most devastating marine invasion in history

Scientists fear the lionfish will kill off helpful species, such as algae- eating parrotfish, allowing seaweed to overtake reefs

Really? Seaweed? You think that there isn’t any docile, algae-eating, less proliferous fish species that can mabe take control of that seaweed? I know of at least 3 species that could replace the parrotfish in question (that is if it ever came down to it that the parrotfish became extinct in this region). So why are marine biologists offering these types of solutions? Are they too scared to take some risks or are they just following the general rule that applies to all foreign species?

We as hobbyists have done a LOT to propel research of marine animals, fish, inverts and coral alike. We as hobbyists, are like ‘marine biologists lite’. Like ‘diet’ scientists. With lots of practice around our tanks, utilizing them as lab experiments. It is very difficult to produce a successful experiment where fish and coral from many different places in the world are intertwined and forced to exist in cohesion. Those who exceed and succeed could easily call themselves MB Lite.

So having said all of that, I suggest to all reading this in respect to this ‘catastrophe’, you all (marine biologists) should ask a few well experienced hobbyists on what their suggestions may be in actually solving this potential problem. Why doesn’t anyone ask Bob Fenner or Anthony Calfo? What about many other successful reefers that reside in the world? A modest reefer like myself could easily throw a couple of cents their way. Could introducing Hawaii’s yellow tangs or convict tangs help with the fish numbers? What about introducing their natural predators such as eels, frogfish and scorpionfish? Could they displace the lionfish population while keeping smaller fish to reproduce?

Just ask yourself this.. if this lionfish can exist in other parts of the world without ruining their ecosystems, then why can’t we emulate the same here?

Continuing the reshuffle at Ice Cap, Inc.. we follow a story that was recently posted on ReefBuilders.com. Anthony Calfo, a newly appointed co-prez, named his good friend Steven Pro the VP of Sales and Service. Steven was a regular contributor for Reefkeeping Magazine, Reef Central, Marine Depot Forums, and other speaking engagements. Here is the official press release:

Hamilton, New Jersey – With a 17-year reputation for quality, value, and innovation, IceCap Inc. is once again demonstrating its extraordinary mettle. Amid tough economic challenges, IceCap has been expanding operations categorically from new product development and classic customer service to increased personnel. In continuation of those efforts, IceCap Inc. is proud to announce that industry veteran, Steven Pro has joined the Executive Team as Vice-President of Sales and Service. Co-President Anthony Calfo says, “For over a decade, I have known Steven Pro as a personal friend, friend to the aquarium industry, and an overall overachiever in the aquatic science realm. He has a greater knowledge of the inner workings of the aquarium business than perhaps anyone I know. From retailer to reef club and from manufacturer to consumer, Steven is a champion for the greater good. I am proud to have him on board with the IceCap team and look forward to blazing innovative paths together.”

Steven is well known in the aquarium industry for staunch consumer advocacy and organizational consultations. He has worked at almost every link in the chain of custody for marine ornamentals; from retail and custom design installations to wholesale and manufacturer representation. He has published over 40 pertinent articles and lectured more than 50 times to national conferences and hobby clubs across the USA. Few people have the extraordinary perspective of Steven on the handling of aquarium products (livestock and drygoods alike) from source to consumer. This unique gamut of real world experience makes Steven an invaluable resource to manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.

According to Mr. Pro, “I believe that the vision and values at IceCap align perfectly with my commitment to advanced husbandry combining the best of thought leadership, education, and sustainability with innovation in product and services. These are issues that have inspired me for well over a decade and I truly look forward to working with my friend and mentor, Anthony Calfo, Co-President Chris Conti and the rest of the IceCap team for years to come.

So who is next in line for Ice Cap? Fenner? Maybe you? Stay tuned.

If you haven’t been paying attention or are hiding under your stand, Ice Cap Inc, the makers of numerous lighting products, are making some industry splashes. They managed to reel in the big fish into their family.

Anthony Calfo, on October 10th 2008, announced to the world… albeit only the Reef Central world, that he joined the Ice Cap family as a co-president with Chris Conti. Here is a direct statement from Anthony on Reef Central:

Cheers, my friends

It is a pleasure for me to announce that I have joined the IceCap team as co-president with Chris Conti and will be helping them with – among other things – new product design and conservation activities including the IceCap Foundation R.E.E.F. to promote greater recycling, aquaculture, and sustainability for our beloved hobby.

You may also be pleased to know that I will continue all the same work I’ve been doing (yes… I’m a manic workaholic ), including all Reading Trees publications (“C… the Journal” will enter its 3rd volume/year for 2009 + new books & reef posters will flow) as well as culturing marine ornamentals in my greenhouse and fishrooms.

The innovative chaps at IceCap, not surprisingly, are encouraging and supporting me to increase my efforts in mentoring fellow aquarists via reef club events, online, and with industry changing activities. If I may say so, what we have in partnership here is a union of two entities with nearly forty years combined of superb industry reputations for customer service and serving the hobby.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions and feedback for desired product evolutions and I am especially eager to read, see and help you – as always – in endeavors for us to become an even more conscientious and self-sustaining hobby.

The time is now; we simply must(!) all work hard to help our commonwealth (of the hobby/industry) realize the dream of becoming a truly self-reliant group. Sadly, the writing has been on the wall for a long time and we reefkeepers direly need to better police ourselves before the privilege to keep magnificent reef creatures is legislated away.

I hope you will join me in efforts of education, recycling, and information exhange for this beautiful hobby.

with kindest regards,

Anthony

They are very generous to allow Anthony to continue with his limitless projects, such as C…the Journal, and his speaking engagements. Lets see how this pans out, as it could progress positively within our industry. The rest of the announcement could be found here.