The Sixth Annual Prince George Reef Tank Tour

[whatcaneyedo]

At long last the moment you've all been waiting for! Here is this years schedule for the SIXTH Annual Prince George Reef Tank Tour:

January 29th UNBC's Public Reef courtesy of Staffan
February 19th George's 225gal Breathtaking Behemoth
February 26th Doug's Forever Evolving Reef now with LEDs!
March 4th Alan of All Clear Aquarium Services Store Display
March 11th Russell's... Hey thats my tank.

Each of these six open houses on the Reef Tank Tour happen to be on Sundays and will be held from 12:00noon to 4:00pm. All are welcome to attend whether you're a seasoned know-it-all hobbyist or just contemplating setting up one of these money pits... I mean reef tanks. These informal get-togethers are a great opportunity for socializing, learning, networking, and even swapping old equipment and unwanted livestock. As we approach each date I'll send out group emails with additional details such as addresses, phone numbers etc. If you're not already on my emailing list and would like to be, send me a short PM and I'll make it happen. Lets make it another great year!

[whatcaneyedo]

The first feature of this years Reef Tank Tour is just around the corner. Sunday January 29 from 12 noon until 4:00pm is UNBC's public 135gal reef aquarium in the main hallway of the 3rd floor of the Teaching Laboratory. Staffan Lindgren, the tank's caretaker, will be on hand to answer your questions and show the inner workings of the Universities system. If you're unfamiliar with the campus layout this map should help: http://www.unbc.ca/assets/communications/photos/maps/2008/simple_maps/2008_campus_display_simple.jpg

[whatcaneyedo]

The UNBC Reef Tank showing was today, if you weren't there here is what you missed:

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[bslindgren]

Thanks to everybody showing up. We had good discussions, and it was great to see the new people. A few frags changed hands as well.

Special thanks to Russell for continuing to organize the tour. It's a great way to keep the reef tank keeper community connected and viable!

[whatcaneyedo]

The second feature tank on this years Tank Tour is George's next weekend on Sunday February 19th. George's system has been a staple for the Tank Tour since its conception in 2006 so its always fascinating to go back and see how it has evolved each year. For those of you who are new to our little event, you're in for a real treat, as George also possesses the largest system on the Tour with a 225gal display! PM me for more details or to join the emailing list.

[whatcaneyedo]

Since we can no longer edit our old posts... Alan is currently having tank problems and has opted out of the Tank Tour for this year so the new schedule goes as follows:

January 29th Complete
February 19th George's 225gal Breathtaking Behemoth
February 26th Doug's Forever Evolving Reef now with LEDs!
March 4th My own reef-in-a-box

George wanted me to mention too that his tank has seen better days. His Rena automatic feeder recently malfunctioned and emptied an entire drum of food into his tank killing several coral colonies and fish. But this won't stop him from going ahead and showing his tank this Sunday!

[whatcaneyedo]

Thank you everyone who made it out to view George's system over the weekend and thank you George for inviting us.

Next weekend on Sunday February 26 from 12 to 4:00pm is Doug's tank showing. PM me for the address or to join the emailing list. For those of you who are new to this, Doug has been keeping saltwater for a LONG time, he is the original source of many of the common coral that circulate PG as frags and he just recently upgraded his lighting to LED.

Following a discussion that a few of us were having at George's, I think it would be a great idea if some people could bring a cup of sand from each of their tanks to swap at this event. New systems would benefit from the bacterial boost of a mature sand bed sample and older systems could use the diversification. As always, the selling and trading of coral frags will be an option at this showing too.

Now for some pictures of George's tank:

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[whatcaneyedo]

Thank you everyone who came over to see Doug's tank on Sunday and thank you Doug for inviting us.

We continue our Tank Tour blitz Next Sunday March the 4th from 12 to 4:00pm when I show off my own wired reef tank. Where if it can be automated I've done so from evaporation top off and temp/pH control to water on the floor sensors and text message emergency alarms. PM me for the address or to be added to the Tank Tour emailing list.


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[whatcaneyedo]

Here is some eye candy from my showing today. Thank you to everyone who dropped in despite the weather!

I'm also pleased to announce that this will not be the last tank showing of the year as Craig Hadley has offered to show his 120gal in two weeks on Sunday March 18th. For more information on where that will be or to be added to the emailing list you can send me a PM.

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[Blue World Aquariums]

The UNBC Reef Tank showing was today, if you weren't there here is what you missed:


http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/IMG_8886.jpg


It's hard to say for sure from this picture, but it looks like a flatworm infestation. Are they aware of that? -Spencer

[whatcaneyedo]

Yes they are completely aware of them. I've even offered him my leftover flatworm exit package. The prof that looks after the tank chooses not to treat because his students look at the flatworms in some of their labs each year. He has tried a few natural controls to try and reduce their population such as wrasse, dragonet and nudibranchs. But they just keep on living.

[whatcaneyedo]

... and another one bites the dust. With the showing of Craig's recently setup 120gal we concluded The PG Reef Tank Tour for another year. For one last time I'd like to say thank you to everyone who participated this year. If it wasn't for people willing to show their systems and for others to come and see them, there would be no Tank Tour and I'd be awfully bored January through March. :wink:

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