Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day 2010

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, a day set aside to observe, recognize and respect the importance of the natural world.  Those of us who enjoy the saltwater aquarium hobby, by our very nature, may already be inclined to respect the ocean and her bounty, but there is still an opportunity for each of us to be mindful, this Earth Day 2010, of the impact our hobby has on wild reef habitats. This Earth Day, let’s take a moment to consider what it means to be a responsible reef-keeper, and remind ourselves of the admirable goals of minimizizing the negative impact we have on wild reefs and help educate others about the importance of our reefs and the inhabitants of our tanks.  Let’s also agree, as hobbyists to keep the following principles in mind:

Avoid purchasing notoriously difficult to rear species, like the Moorish Idol.  Also avoid purchasing endangered or threatened species, like the (wild-caught) Banggai Cardinalfish.  These fish may be stunning to behold, and in high demand, but they are also notoriously difficult to maintain in captive aquaria.  So this Earth Day, let’s remember why it is so important to avoid supporting the collection of endangered or difficult to raise species. 

Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the contributions that aquaculture has made in alleviating some of the pressure of collection on wild reefs.  Aquacultured specimens, both invertebrate and vertebrate, are generally more tolerant of the conditions in our reef tanks and typically acclimate better.  There are clear advantages to purchasing aquacultured specimens, so let’s make a pledge this Earth Day to buy aquacultured coral and fish whenever possible–even if it costs a few dollars more.

Finally, consider donating this year to a non-profit organization that supports the conservation of or rebuilding of the world’s reefs.  For example, record cold temperatures in Florida this winter are thought to have caused major damage to reefs—damage that will take years to recover from.  Non-profit organizations like www.coralrestoration.org use donations to fund the growth and replacement of reef-building stony coral species to help them retain a footprint on the reefs, recover and re-grow.    

Take an extra moment this Earth Day to appreciate your reef tank and the inhabitants of our slice of the reef that captivate our attention and entertain our guests.   

Check out the new T5 HO lights available from ZooMed, these lights provide more light output than T8s!

Be sure to register on the site and post your plans for demonstrating your commitment to responsible reefkeeping.