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View Full Version : Powell River Jasper's Reef is up & running!


SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-24-2013, 05:50 AM
So, got a call from my buddy Dean (guy I get to help me with reno projects like my pergola) up in Powell River. His daughter's classmate is dying of cancer (third bout and it's terminal according to the specialist). She told Dean he made a bucket list of things he wants to do/try first and one of the items is to have a saltwater tank. So Dean calls me up since I'm the only guy he knows who does sw. Gonna plan a trip up to Powell River in the next few weeks (probably after Felicia's birthday - June 6th but before Isabella's birthday - June 22nd). Dean's going to talk to his parents tomorrow about actually checking off this item from their son's bucket list.

So here's the tentative plan:

Go up 2nd week of June with my Fluval Flora 8g, small heater, small power head and small filter.
8 lbs of cured live rock and an ice cream bucket of dried, clean aragonite sand.
1/2 bucket of salt and spare bucket for future water changes.
Refractometer for testing salinity. (Gotta pick up a decent hydrometer to leave with them)
Have my sw friend Marie who lives in PR save me 5-6 gallons of her display tank water.
Getting my LED friend to build me a mini LED light with timers, controllers & hanging kit for the Fluval Flora (1x 10w blue & 1x 10w 10000k white).
Gonna bring him a few very hardy soft corals (Kenyan tree, waving hand anthelia, some colourful zoas & some mushrooms).
Plant a few strands of Caulerpa prolifera (nice looking, hardy macro algae) for nutrient control.
Pick up a couple small hermits and snails from LFS.
Maybe a couple of blue with yellow tail damsels.

Presto-zesto, instant reef. Just took down Felicia's nano so I'll bring most of that up to PR to set up for this kid.

Sounds like he's a great kid but has spent most of his life in and out of hospitals. Have two little ones of my own and I can't imagine what his parents are going through knowing he's now terminal. It's the world's worst tragedy for parents to outlive their child.

So if anybody has some spare hardy frags or macro-algae or hermits/snails they would like to donate to this bucket list project, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking a standard nano-reef but maybe if someone has a sunken ship ornament they would like to donate to the project, we could make bling it out for him. I will take pics of the finished tank and post it here along with pics of the boy and his family.

If anyone has any ideas they think would be cool or interesting, please post on here. Also, if you think I've forgotten something off the list above please let me know.

Sorry for the long essay. Thanks for reading. Please let me know if you have any suggestions to make this an awesome tank.

Anthony

SanguinesDream
05-24-2013, 06:03 AM
Pm'ed you.

ScubaSteve
05-24-2013, 06:08 AM
I have a bunch of zoas and palys to donate to the cause.

windcoast reefs
05-24-2013, 06:14 AM
It's a really good thing your doing! I hope it puts a smile on the families face! I don't have much in the way of hardy frags, but if I come across any I'll send some your way!

Wheelman76
05-24-2013, 06:47 AM
I could make a couple zoa frags to give to him , let me know.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-24-2013, 07:13 AM
Any and all donations are deeply appreciated.

Thank you all for your generous offers to help with this bucket list project.

So here's my latest brainstorm for this bucket list project.

I'm thinking that for local reefers, how about I set up a potluck bbq lunch or dinner/reefer get together before we leave (or couple nights before) and you can bring your frags/donations for the project and meet up with local reefers at the same time. I do a killer bbq & will marinate some meats to throw on the Webers.

Tentatively looking at bbqing Saturday June 8th and leaving Monday morning June 10th.

Sincerely,

Anthony

Skimmerking
05-24-2013, 01:54 PM
Karma to you my friend, ethics are in deed a huge part of your life.

your mom and dad did well



Any and all donations are deeply appreciated.

Thank you all for your generous offers to help with this bucket list project.

So here's my latest brainstorm for this bucket list project.

I'm thinking that for local reefers, how about I set up a potluck bbq lunch or dinner/reefer get together before we leave (or couple nights before) and you can bring your frags/donations for the project and meet up with local reefers at the same time. I do a killer bbq & will marinate some meats to throw on the Webers.

Tentatively looking at bbqing Saturday June 8th and leaving Monday morning June 10th.

Sincerely,

Anthony

Myka
05-24-2013, 02:06 PM
What a fantastic project, kudos to you for stepping up and making this kid's dream! I think I'm too far away to help much, but if there is anything you need please send PM.

A couple thoughts (even though I know you're quite capable I can't resist lol)... Caulerpa could be a real pain in the butt in the tank, and if it gets carried away and goes sexual it could crash the kid's tank. Since maintenance might be a challenge for the family and waterchanges might not happen as often as should, make sure the lights aren't very strong. Instead of two Yellow Tail Damsels (which are personally one of my fav fish...shhh don't tell anyone) which will fight if they are same sex, maybe a Damsel and a Royal Gramma? Grammas are pretty cheap.

In fact Anthony I just thought of a way to help. I would like to donate by funding the purchase of the fish. Let me know which store you're buying from and I will work it out with that store to send payment.

marie
05-24-2013, 02:58 PM
Hey Anthony in response to the voice mail you left me last night, of course you can have 5 gallons of water, my tank wouldn't even notice that missing :lol:

A little fromia starfish might be nice as well (I would pay for it). As any kid who has grown up around here knows, the ocean means crabs and starfish

Delphinus
05-24-2013, 03:28 PM
Unfortunately I know their pain all too well as friends of mine's daughter, same age as my son (8) is going through something similar.

I am too far away to donate livestock but I too, like Myka, would be all too happy to donate funds of some kind if it helps.

lastlight
05-24-2013, 03:34 PM
Great idea... I can also donate to help out.

fishytime
05-24-2013, 03:52 PM
A package of prodibio start should probably be on that list of must haves.... I would however suggest NOT adding the starfish.... They really need a more established environment and would likely not survive the insta-reef scenario...

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-24-2013, 05:39 PM
I have an account already set up at J&L so I can ask Jeff to maybe set up a "Bucket List" account to accept donations or email transfer work as well.

I received a pm last night from a cancer-survivor member who knows what this kid is going through and has suggested (which I will do) a pair of clowns (maybe catch out my own so they are hardy, captive-breds already used to being in a tank) and only one damsel and a goby (probably a watchman of some kind).

Regarding the macroalgae, the prolifera species is both an excellent nutrient exporter and has never gone sexual on me in the past 10 years or so. It is also easy to pull out once in a while, unlike grape caulerpa which is more likely to become invasive and go sexual.

Marie, how about I pick up a starfish and we acclimate it in your tank and when you think the boy's tank is ready, you can bring it over for him?



I also decided last night that a small all-in-one, like a Biocube 14 will probably be a better system to set up for this family. I want to set something that will be reasonably maintenance-free if they have to take off for a few days to fulfill another bucket list wish. Already have a DIY LED light being built with built-in timers and a BCA member is generously donating an Autofeeder to this bucket list project.

I would like to thank everyone on Canreef and BCAquaria who are so generously contributing to this bucket list project for a kid that nobody has even met.

I will be making a list of the contributors to give to the boy and his family. Please send me your email address as I am sure they will want to thank you themselves. The boy's name is Jasper. My friend is now contacting Jasper's parents and I should know shortly if this bucket list project is a go.



BTW, any monetary contributions above and beyond what is spent on the bucket list reef tank will be given to the family to cover their future bucket list expenses.

Myka
05-24-2013, 06:29 PM
I have an account already set up at J&L so I can ask Jeff to maybe set up a "Bucket List" account to accept donations or email transfer work as well.

Great! Although, as a donator I would like to purchase something specific - just let me know what.

I received a pm last night from a cancer-survivor member who knows what this kid is going through and has suggested (which I will do) a pair of clowns (maybe catch out my own so they are hardy, captive-breds already used to being in a tank) and only one damsel and a goby (probably a watchman of some kind).

Too many fishies for 8 gallons! I will send you a PM about a Clownfish donation.

Regarding the macroalgae, the prolifera species is both an excellent nutrient exporter and has never gone sexual on me in the past 10 years or so. It is also easy to pull out once in a while, unlike grape caulerpa which is more likely to become invasive and go sexual.

Ah, gotcha. I was thinking Grape Caulerpa because it is usually the most common species.

I also decided last night that a small all-in-one, like a Biocube 14 will probably be a better system to set up for this family.

Good plan! Then more fishies!

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-24-2013, 06:38 PM
Ok, talked with Jeff at J&L and he will be setting up a "Bucket List - Jasper" account for us.

spit.fire
05-24-2013, 08:13 PM
hey anthony, if you want you can come pick up my biocube if you dont have one yet

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-24-2013, 09:06 PM
Wow, thanks spitfire. I will pm you my contact number.

Anthony

RuGlu6
05-24-2013, 09:51 PM
Not sure if i can make it to BBQ (shift work) but can cut a frag of Bright Green Galaxy coral it has nice color and hardy most likely will survive.
If anyone is in Coquitlam /Port Moody area going to attend the BBY BBQ she/he can pick up from my place.
Will also donate when acc is ready at J&L.
Thank you for doing this.

daplatapus
05-24-2013, 10:25 PM
Agreed, great cause and would love to help out. Let us know when everything is good to go at J&L.

daniella3d
05-24-2013, 11:32 PM
same here, I would like to make a donation when it is ready.

icy.bing
05-25-2013, 02:35 AM
arg, i was thinking if its a standard size tank i will throw in my ac110 as a modify fuge or what not... let me know what you need...

hunggi74
05-25-2013, 02:52 AM
I got the worlds hardiest clownfish hands down. It's been a steep learning curve lol. He's going to be the odd man out when I get a pair for my new tank, so let me know if you're interested. He's only 1" big so he'd be good size for a bio cube. Or I will make a donation to the Jasper fund at JL. Props to you and everyone who is getting involved.

r.a.s.henson
05-25-2013, 03:00 AM
I can donate a coral or two if you could pick em up anthony... let me know .
1 suggestion though, pls leave the sunkin ship out and keep it natural... for what hes going through he sure dont need it. But if he wants it then he can have it...just sayin.. awesome idea anthony...

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-25-2013, 05:52 AM
Well spit.fire has very generously offered his full Biocube 14g setup for this bucket list project which I will be picking up from him next Friday.

The account is now set up at J&L under "Bucket List Jasper" and I mentioned that some members may have specific requests for their donations (i.e. "this money is to buy a Red Fromia starfish").

A friend dropped off a sunken ship already and I will bring up all the stuff donated and let Jasper choose what he wants in his tank. Any of the more touchy specimens will hopefully be temporarily housed at Marie's place (like her starfish) until Jasper's instant reef matures and stabilizes a little. I plan to transport the cured live rock from my sump to Powell River fully submerged in my big cooler, so there should be no die off.

I should be talking to the family Saturday morning and then we can really start the ball rolling. Will try to figure out a firmer time table and post details here as I learn them.

Thanks again everyone who is getting involved and showing what an awesome community we have here.

Sincerely,

Anthony

gregzz4
05-25-2013, 06:10 AM
How do we log into the 'bucket jasper list' @ J&L to donate or buy stuff ?

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-25-2013, 07:42 AM
Not sure. I think you either donate there in person and they add it into the account or you contact them by phone and they add it into the account and bill you.

monocus
05-25-2013, 08:31 AM
hey Anthony,i have some upside down jellyfish if you want.

howdy20012002
05-25-2013, 01:50 PM
Just want to say that it truly is incredible to see such support from people.
Well done everyone.

Coralgurl
05-25-2013, 02:11 PM
What about ongoing maintenance expenses? Salt etc? Could you let us know which brand you'll be using to set up? I'd like to donate a bucket of salt through j&l.

Great cause and amazing to see how generous everyone has been. Will you be helping them with the ongoing learning curve of a tank?

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-25-2013, 06:07 PM
I will be in constant touch with them through email, Skype and telephone. I will also be giving his family a crash course in reefing while I am there. I still need to discuss in-town help with a couple of reefing friends who live in Powell River and have years of sw experience.

Marie is already going to be providing water out of her 300+g system for the initial top-up. I plan to leave her with a bucket of IO.

I am getting a friend to build a custom DIY LED system so that bulb replacement should not be a maintenance issue.

Between now and when I go up to PR, I am going to try to make this as stress-free a system as possible.

If Jasper does not have a webcam, I will bring him mine so that he can point it at the tank and enjoy seeing his fish & corals even if he is on a bucket list trip or in the hospital.

Please let me know if any of you have any other ideas that can be incorporated into this bucket list project.

If any local reefers come for the bbq/get together to drop off their donations and discuss the project/eat/chat with other reefers, I plan to take lots of pics including a group pic to give to the family so they can see that there is a whole reefing community behind Jasper's fight against cancer. I wish all of you could be there but for those of you out-of-towners, thank you again for all your support and encouragement for a boy that really none of us know and most will never meet.

Sincerely,

Anthony

Jaws
05-26-2013, 12:45 AM
Just talked to J&L and the account is setup by the sounds of it. Great cause everyone. Proud to be a Canreef member today.

daniella3d
05-26-2013, 02:58 AM
So how to proceed? is there a link?

Just talked to J&L and the account is setup by the sounds of it. Great cause everyone. Proud to be a Canreef member today.

Jaws
05-26-2013, 03:02 AM
I just called and mentioned this thread and Jasper's name and they took my credit card and donation over the phone.

mrhasan
05-26-2013, 03:14 AM
If no one has taken a dips onto a skimmer, I would like to donate a biocube 14 skimmer + airpump. I guess it can help with the maintenance to some extend? Or perhaps powerhead? Or maybe test ki? I am not sure which one would be more useful. Lemme know and I will talk with JL.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-26-2013, 04:08 AM
Another member has already donated a Biocube skimmer but I will check to see what is still needed. Thanks for the offer.

Ok, so I talked to the mom and they are all very excited. They will discuss this offer as a family and make a firm decision by Sunday. However she says that as far as she is concerned she is a big YES! to the bucket list project. I will post here once I know for sure. They are also moving at the end of the month so may postpone the potluck bbq/get-together and trip to Powell River a week or more to allow them to move and settle in before dealing with a new reef tank.

Again thanks everyone for their amazing support of this bucket list project for a total stranger.

Sincerely,

Anthony

mrhasan
05-26-2013, 04:10 AM
Another member has already donated a Biocube skimmer but I will check to see what is still needed. Thanks for the offer.

Ok, so I talked to the mom and they are all very excited. They will discuss this offer as a family and make a firm decision by Sunday. However she says that as far as she is concerned she is a big YES! to the bucket list project. I will post here once I know for sure. They are also moving at the end of the month so may postpone the potluck bbq/get-together and trip to Powell River a week or more to allow them to move and settle in before dealing with a new reef tank.

Again thanks everyone for their amazing support of this bucket list project for a total stranger.

Sincerely,

Anthony

Sure :) Please do let me know what can be useful for the tank.

RuGlu6
05-26-2013, 04:19 AM
Hey guys lets make this super cool and see if we can collect some $ for things other then SW fish tank (whatever else is on the list) Anthony can (i think?) get the $ via E-mail Money Transfer.

This is way better then donating to some agency and we will all know exactly how much and where the money go. we have hundreeds of memebers on here so even a small donation from many memebers will make a big difference!
jmtcw

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-26-2013, 09:15 AM
I have actually received donations from BCA members via PayPal and e-mail transfer for the bucket list. Any moneys collected above and beyond what is spent on the project will be going to the family for fulfilling Jasper's other bucket list wishes.

When everything is collected, I plan to write a spreadsheet with the name and email address (if desired) of anybody who donated something to the project, where they are from and what they donated. Jasper's mother was completely blown away this afternoon when I told her that we were already receiving support and donations from reefers across Canada, not just Greater Vancouver. The spreadsheet will show them how much support there is from the Canadian reefing community for their son Jasper, even though he is a stranger to all of us. I know they are already very touched by the love and support from all of you. God bless.

Anthony

BTW, Marie in Powell River has very graciously agreed to bring over a bucket of new salt water once a month for a monthly water change so the family can have a fairly maintenance-free, stress-free system that Jasper can enjoy and not have to worry about. Just wanted to publicly thank Marie for agreeing to this request. I will post updates as I learn more.



Hey guys lets make this super cool and see if we can collect some $ for things other then SW fish tank (whatever else is on the list) Anthony can (i think?) get the $ via E-mail Money Transfer.

This is way better then donating to some agency and we will all know exactly how much and where the money go. we have hundreeds of memebers on here so even a small donation from many memebers will make a big difference!
jmtcw

The Guy
05-26-2013, 06:28 PM
Spitfire/ Tyler was over yesterday to look at some zoes and paly's and he said he will get a hold of you this week regarding us meeting up next Friday at Oceanic Corals.
I also am proud to be a member of such a generous community as Canreef.
Way to go to all that have donated to make a dream come true. :whoo:
And huge Kudo's to Anthony !! :yo:

daniella3d
05-27-2013, 02:53 AM
How do you know for sure it's going to be applied at this project?

I just called and mentioned this thread and Jasper's name and they took my credit card and donation over the phone.

Jaws
05-27-2013, 03:14 AM
How do you know for sure it's going to be applied at this project?

They set an account up specifically for this is what they told me. I trust J&L too.

daniella3d
05-27-2013, 08:41 PM
oki. I will sendsome money today.

They set an account up specifically for this is what they told me. I trust J&L too.

SanguinesDream
05-27-2013, 09:08 PM
Just a thought, what if fellow canreefers of the area present a selection of frags that are offered for this project, to be bought by those of us who aren't in the lower mainland? Then it is canreefers supporting canreefers supporting Jasper and his family.

Chaloupa
05-28-2013, 02:20 AM
Anthony...I'd love to be able to donate some snails and hermits from our store, kenya trees, mushrooms.....but we're in Campbell River....:( let me know if anyone is coming up this way and I'll get them sent over.....if it helps at all?

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-28-2013, 04:07 AM
It's a GO!!! Just talked to the mom and they are super excited about having a reef tank set up for Jasper in the new home.

So they will be out of town mid-June so I will be holding the POTLUCK BBQ/GET-TOGETHER on the Saturday, June 15th and head up to Powell River on the Sunday, June 16th. That will allow me to be there for Marie's days off and give the family 2 weeks to get their new place organized and to decide where to set up the Biocube 14.

So woohoo, it's a go.

I told the family which fish forums are involved in this bucket list project and invited them to join.

Anthony

Chauloupa, if you can somehow get them to Marie, I'm sure she can bring them over to the family and place them safely into the bucket list reef after the tank is set up.

RuGlu6
05-28-2013, 05:24 AM
What is the e-mail for EMT donation?
thx

Chaloupa
05-28-2013, 06:42 AM
It's a GO!!! Just talked to the mom and they are super excited about having a reef tank set up for Jasper in the new home.

So they will be out of town mid-June so I will be holding the POTLUCK BBQ/GET-TOGETHER on the Saturday, June 15th and head up to Powell River on the Sunday, June 16th. That will allow me to be there for Marie's days off and give the family 2 weeks to get their new place organized and to decide where to set up the Biocube 14.

So woohoo, it's a go.

I told the family which fish forums are involved in this bucket list project and invited them to join.

Anthony

Chauloupa, if you can somehow get them to Marie, I'm sure she can bring them over to the family and place them safely into the bucket list reef after the tank is set up.

I'll see what I can do!

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-28-2013, 06:53 AM
What is the e-mail for EMT donation?
thx

PM sent.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-28-2013, 07:13 AM
I don't usually post on public forums my email address but it is ant_shieh@hotmail.com.

For those who are donating to the J&L fund, please pm or email to me how much so I can add it and your name to the Excel spreadsheet I am creating for this bucket list project to keep track of all donations. I would also appreciate your email address or contact info if you don't mind the family contacting you later on about your participation in this cause.

For those in the Fraser Valley, I will be meeting up with spit.fire at Oceanic on Friday around noonish to pick up the BioCube 14 he has so generously donated. I can meet up with others there or perhaps you can leave with Paul at Oceanic for me to pick up.

Again thank you everyone. The family wanted me to pass on how blown away they are by the generosity of total strangers.

Anthony

spit.fire
05-28-2013, 08:49 AM
I don't usually post on public forums my email address but it is ant_shieh@hotmail.com.

For those who are donating to the J&L fund, please pm or email to me how much so I can add it and your name to the Excel spreadsheet I am creating for this bucket list project to keep track of all donations. I would also appreciate your email address or contact info if you don't mind the family contacting you later on about your participation in this cause.

For those in the Fraser Valley, I will be meeting up with spit.fire at Oceanic on Friday around noonish to pick up the BioCube 14 he has so generously donated. I can meet up with others there or perhaps you can leave with Paul at Oceanic for me to pick up.

Again thank you everyone. The family wanted me to pass on how blown away they are by the generosity of total strangers.

Anthony

Paul is away on vacation but any donations can be left with either me or Albert at the store and we can pass them onto Anthony on Friday.

gobytron
05-28-2013, 07:57 PM
Pm'd.

I have a 12 gallon aquapod that is up and running (established for 6 years) with a stand.

It has LR in display, LR rubble in "sump" LS, Hydor deflector, theo 50 watt heater, MJ 900 pump and a Koralia 1.

If you'd like the whole shebang, or any of the components, let me know.

I just lost my dad at 67 to a very aggressive form of cancer over Christmas.

The little things can become very important to those who's big picture is bleak.

Jakegr
05-28-2013, 07:59 PM
I dropped off a couple of mushroom colonies and some Halymenia macro algae (Dragons breath) last night at Anthony's. Also a container of Spectrum pellets. It was great meeting you!

Perhaps we should create a running live stock/equipment/supplies list in post #1 so we know what is needed?

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-28-2013, 09:03 PM
I dropped off a couple of mushroom colonies and some Halymenia macro algae (Dragons breath) last night at Anthony's. Also a container of Spectrum pellets. It was great meeting you!

Perhaps we should create a running live stock/equipment/supplies list in post #1 so we know what is needed?

I've created a spreadsheet with a list of donators & donations (nice meeting you and your gf last night btw), but only mods & admin can edit old posts.

I am picking up the tank & stand on Friday and by early next week I will have a better idea of exactly what else is needed. I will post on this thread the "running total" but it will have to be continuously posted since editing is not an option.

If anybody has an ATO available or for sale, please let me know. An enclosed Biocube should not lose too much water to evaporation but looking to minimize daily maintenance requirements for Jasper and his family.

Sincerely,

Anthony

Solo7319
05-31-2013, 02:06 AM
Hello, I’m Jasper, the teen who this aquarium project is for.

I’m blown away that you guys would spend so much time and money helping someone who you’ve never met. It’s really amazing to see such generosity.

‘Seahorse_fanatic’ asked me to compile a list of some of our favorite fish so me and my parents had a fun time talking about it. My mom’s all-time-favorite-fish is the Mandarin Goby. She used to work at the Vancouver Aquarium and got attached to the goby there. All three of us agree it’s a beautiful fish, but we read they can be hard to keep in captivity. My dad is a clownfish fan; if he got one he would name it “Omen” (Nemo backwards). We saw both the Royal Gramma and the Yellow-tailed Damselfish mentioned on one of the threads as possibilities. They both looked really nice. Plus, I love the idea of having little hermit crabs in there as well.

Again, I can’t believe the amazing support from this community.

Thanks guys,

Jasper

P.S. If you would like updates on my journey through life you can follow me on twitter @solo7319 or on my blog; www.jasperupdates.tumblr.com

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-31-2013, 05:32 AM
Great to hear from you Jasper. Awesome to see that you've joined the Canreef community. BTW, my friend Scott Tang wanted me to let you know that he's got a black clown which his mom also named Omen:lol: No joke.

BTW, there are a lot of other reefers & aquarists on BCAquaria who would also love to hear from you. I copied your Intro post from here onto that thread for now.

Keep up the fight Jasper.

Anthony

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-31-2013, 05:36 AM
BTW, as per the Mandarin Goby fav. fish, I will try my best to find one that is already living in captivity and buy it from the person. I know a friend who very recently bought an established one and I'll ask her.

Otherwise, I can buy one from J&L and try to train it for you and maybe make a second trip to Powell River (yeah, another 10 hours and four ferries round trip) later in the summer to bring it up. Or even pass it onto you guys if you are ever passing through Greater Vancouver.

Either way, I will do my best to get you your favourite fish. Promise.

Anthony

ScubaSteve
05-31-2013, 05:50 AM
Jasper, dude! Great to have you here kiddo!

We're thrilled to have you join one of our greatest pleasures. I hope it will be one of yours as well!

If you see anything that you're interested in, keep us posted and I'm sure we can help you out. And, since you're about to get a crash course in saltwater tanks, if you ever have questions about the tank or need help, we're all here to help each other and you.

By the way... I'm jealous you got to go hang gliding. That's pretty cool. Not as cool as a battle-badger though... :wink:

Cracken
05-31-2013, 05:51 AM
What your doing speaks worlds of all of you. I also have 2 small kids 4 and 5 and would love to donate the refractor as I could send it on greyhound or fed ex. Pls let me know. God bless.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
05-31-2013, 06:01 AM
Jasper,

My friend Claudia from BCA has very generously agreed to let me buy her little Mandarin goby that has been living in someone else's tank for many months before he shut down. So I'll be bringing up a Mandarin goby for you Jasper. Tell your MOM:biggrin:

(If anybody hears of another Mandarin for sale, let me know cause I promised to replace Claudia's goby):wink:

Cracken, you have pm.

Anthony

Dearth
05-31-2013, 01:05 PM
Welcome aboard Jasper

daniella3d
05-31-2013, 05:11 PM
anyone knows what's going on with JL Aquatics? I have been trying to reach them through their 888 number but I always get a message forwarding to telus messaging service??? Can't reach them and I have tried a few times so that's weird??

Delphinus
05-31-2013, 05:37 PM
They open at 11am BC time, which is probably 3 hours behind you? Ie., right now it's 10:45 Pacific so they would not be open yet for another 15 minutes.

Jakegr
05-31-2013, 06:04 PM
Thanks for posting Jasper. It was great hearing from you and reading your blog!

RuGlu6
05-31-2013, 09:47 PM
anyone knows what's going on with JL Aquatics? I have been trying to reach them through their 888 number but I always get a message forwarding to telus messaging service??? Can't reach them and I have tried a few times so that's weird??

I had tranfered my donation to Anthony direct via EMT so much easyer imo.

daniella3d
06-01-2013, 01:12 AM
oh I see. That explain why each time I call I don't get through. We have 3 hours difference so they actually open at 2:00 pm my time.

They open at 11am BC time, which is probably 3 hours behind you? Ie., right now it's 10:45 Pacific so they would not be open yet for another 15 minutes.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-01-2013, 04:41 PM
Big thank you to Tyler, spit.fire, for the Biocube 14, stand & and other stuff. Also big shout out to Albert at Oceanic Corals for the donated frags.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-01-2013, 04:42 PM
Big thank you to Tyler, spit.fire, for the Biocube 14, stand & and other stuff. Also big shout out to Albert at Oceanic Corals for the donated frags. Just picked those items up yesterday from Aldergrove.

Anthony

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-05-2013, 05:22 AM
An update has been requested.

So the update is that I have the Biocube14, stand & most of the equipment here. My LED friend is retrofitting a 4x10w dimmable LED system with timers and individual dimmer switches controlling the 454nm blues and the 10000k whites. I have the 15 lbs of live rock cured in my sump. I have several mushroom, 3 different photosynthetic gorgs, some palys and zoas, some pulsing xenia, waving hand anthelia, and Kenyan tree frags in my various tanks waiting for transport. Claudia has generously agreed to donate her Mandarin goby that has been in captivity for months already, since this is Jasper's family favourite fish all-time.

I have been offered a pair of Grade A Snowflake clowns from a Canreef member who breeds them and they will be Fedexed to me later this week. Jasper likes Snowflakes the best, so that's what's going into the tank. Someone has also offered to buy a refractometer and several people have either Email transferred or donated to the "Bucket List Jasper" account specially set up at J&L for purchase of other livestock, equipment or supplies. I have created an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of all the donators and donations to give to Jasper & his family. If you've donated money to the J&L fund, please pm me so I can add you to the spreadsheet. Before or just after I set up the tank, I will post on this thread & on the one on Canreef a copy of the spreadsheet.

Saturday, June 15th at lunch time (firing up bbq at 11am) I will be hosting a POTLUCK BBQ/Get-together for all the local people who are donating to the Bucket List project. Already have 20 lbs of chicken chopped, marinated and stored in my freezer. I will also be preparing some Rosemary/Thyme/Oregano with red wine & garlic lamb for the bbq. I will create a new thread so people can let me know who is coming, how many are coming and what they are bringing for the potluck. Remember to bring whatever you're planning to donate for this Bucket List Reef, whether its livestock, equipment, supplies or $$.

Sunday June 16th is Father's Day. I will pack tank, stand, equipment & other dry goods in my CRV.

Monday June 17th, I will pack everything all the live rock in my cooler with water, and all the livestock & jump on the ferry with Felicia for the 5 hours drive/2 ferry ride trip up to Powell River. Hoping to catch the 7:20am Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry which means getting up at 6am latest. Then the 10:25am Earls Cove to Saltery Bay ferry. That should put me in Powell River and at my friend Marie's place around noon. We'll load up 3 salt buckets with new pre-mixed saltwater and head over to Jasper's house. Hopefully be there by 12:30 and start setting up tank.

OK, I think that's about it for now.

Again, thank you everyone who has so generously contributed to this Bucket List Reef system for Jasper.

Sincerely,

Anthony

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-05-2013, 06:14 AM
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=98198

Thread for the Potluck BBQ/Get-together.

Myka
06-11-2013, 01:56 AM
Hello, I’m Jasper, the teen who this aquarium project is for.

Hi Jasper! It's great to see you on here. If you ever have any questions about your new tank, ask away!

Myka
06-11-2013, 02:08 AM
Anythony,

Your PM box is full. I tried lastnight and again just now. I have to send the stuff tomorrow so it will arrive on Weds morning. Will that be ok? Any special delivery notes for the box?

Thanks!
Mindy

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-11-2013, 04:21 AM
Sorry, I just noticed and cleared some space.

Just state, knock on door with the B on it. I will wake up early and leave the door slightly open and watch for the Fedex truck.

Thanks,

Anthony

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-12-2013, 05:03 PM
Thank you Mindy and Colby (Bayside Corals) for your care package for Jasper. The clowns and corals are looking great an acclimating in one of my tanks right now. Fedex got here before 10am. Excellent service. Beautiful fish you breed there Mindy.

Myka
06-13-2013, 04:45 AM
Thanks Anthony, and you're welcome! I'm glad they arrived in good order, I figured the note on the box might help them get there sooner. ;)

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-17-2013, 01:20 AM
So everything needed to be bought has been bought. Will pack up equipment and supplies tonight. Have to wake up at 5:30 am to pack up all the livestock and live rock and then catch the 7:20 am ferry to Langdale. Yeah, minimal sleep for the 5th night in a row. Thanks everyone for your support. Much, much, much appreciated.

Big thank you to J&L, John (Deadbydawn) and Katie for donating a refractometer, a cleaner shrimp and a Hawaiian feather duster to Jasper's bucket list tank.

Also want to thank everyone who popped in to either drop off frags & stuff or stay for the bbq on Saturday. See you'all when I get back Wednesday.

Anthony

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-17-2013, 12:09 PM
So up at 5:05 am and time to get packing. I am sooooo NOT a morning person but gotta go catch that first ferry.

Anthony

daplatapus
06-17-2013, 12:16 PM
We're with ya buddy. You know, moral support and all :D

Say Hi to Jasper!

Myka
06-17-2013, 09:41 PM
If it makes you feel any better I'm up at 5 am all week too. :p Don't forget to take pics!

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-18-2013, 07:07 AM
So got to Powell River and to Jasper's house by 12:30 and had his tank finished by 1:45pm. He and his family spent the next 3+ hours until Felicia and I left watching the tank and trying to see the Mandarin goby or hermit or Royal Gramma. They love it and Jasper is very much into the reef so well worth all the time, money and effort.

And we made sure Jasper's mom took pics of the entire tank build. She says she'll log on and post the pics soon.

Talk to you all soon. After midnight and its been a long day/week. Will go back tomorrow and take more pics once the tank is fully cleared up.

Anthony

monkE
06-18-2013, 02:53 PM
great to hear it Anthony! glad the setup went pretty smoothly! looking forward to the pictures

Jakegr
06-18-2013, 04:34 PM
Very excited to see the pictures!

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-19-2013, 11:10 PM
Just got home and totally beat. Have to catch up on work and stuff around the house. I'll try to post the pics as soon as possible.

BTW, had a mod change the thread title to something "happier":biggrin: as per someone's suggestion.

Anthony

Myka
06-20-2013, 01:27 AM
Woohoo! Can't wait for pics. :)

SeaHorse_Fanatic
06-21-2013, 01:58 AM
So I started a new Tank Journal thread. Here's the link:

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=827142&posted=1#post827142

Solo7319
06-25-2013, 06:48 PM
Hello All,

First – apologies for not posting sooner. Jasper has been experiencing some declining health, and with moving into our new house, the hosting of a box-war…and non-stop company, we’ve been swamped!

We are all delighted with the BioCube14. Anthony (and his daughter Felicia) and Marie came and spent a few hours setting it up and checked up on it the next day. We are finding it more compelling than television! We have a number of corals whose names we are still learning, a pair of snowflake clownfish Suture and Dex, a cleaner shrimp Sir Edmund Hilary, a mandarin goby Bond, a royal gramma Francisco “Pistols” Scaramanga otherwise known as Paco or the Man with the Golden Gun, three hermit crabs named after sherpas; Tenzing Norgay, Sano Babu Sunuwar (Babu) and Nima Chhamzi, a snail and two tube worms (bonus!) as yet unnamed. Many many thanks must go out to those who donated equipment and fish and corals. Anthony explained how rare some were and how far away they have come from. This has been an excellent gift – not just for Jasper, but for our whole family and has inspired many hours of together-time gazing at the tank.

We’ve had quite a bit of action already – the climbing antics of the shrimp and crabs inspiring their names. Also – Bond must have put a hit out on Paco – because he was dead and being devoured by the snail one morning. (We suspect transport shock as we rarely saw it). We are already talking about a replacement with Anthony. The corals have all popped out and everyone seems to be doing well now. Yesterday morning my husband exclaimed “There’s a second shrimp…it must have been hiding all this time – it’s totally transparent!” We soon learned that the shrimp had simply molted – very exciting.

We are all learning more about aquaria every day, as are our friends and family. Thanks for getting us started in this fascinating hobby!

We’ll post more as our tank evolves.

The Mohans

SeaHorse_Fanatic
07-11-2013, 09:16 PM
Horrible news. Jasper passed away today. Our condolences and prayers are with the family. RIP Jasper. Sorry, got to stop typing now.

Anthony

Delphinus
07-11-2013, 09:50 PM
Dear Mohan family: I am so sorry and saddened for your loss. Love and hugs your way.

Dearth
07-11-2013, 10:19 PM
There No words to describe the loss .....

Coralgurl
07-11-2013, 11:04 PM
No words. Sending prayers for peace for all who knew and loved Jasper!

The Guy
07-11-2013, 11:28 PM
I am deeply saddened for the loss of your son Jasper. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you.

Midway
07-11-2013, 11:28 PM
I have been following this thread. I am so so so sorry the kid passed away. I'm sure he is in a way better place now.

Reef Pilot
07-11-2013, 11:37 PM
Very sorry indeed to hear this. Jasper sounded like such a great kid. My condolences and sympathies as well, to his family and all who knew him.

naesco
07-12-2013, 02:45 AM
Eternal rest grant to him oh Lord and let the light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace, Amen.

SeaHorse_Fanatic
01-04-2015, 08:00 AM
One last update.

Texted with Jasper's dad and found out that they were eventually unable to keep up with maintaining the tank and most of the frags & fish were re-homed with Marie. They again want to thank everyone who donated to making their son's, Jasper, dream of having his very own reef tank a reality. They have really enjoyed having the tank and it brought untold amounts of joy to Jasper during his last weeks, which is really more than we could have ever hoped for. I am sorry Jasper only got to enjoy his reef tank for a few weeks, but anything that can bring a smile at that time in his life is really well worth the effort and expense.

Reading this thread and the related threads on this project, from conception to completion, has brought me great happiness and sadness at the same time. I only met Jasper on that first trip (didn't make it back in time on the second trip), but he made a lasting impression on myself and my own little girl, Felicia, who made that memorable father-daughter trip up to Powell River with me. She still sometimes mentions Jasper and we talk about that trip and why we went up.

Again, I need to express my deepest thanks to everyone who donated, participated or gave moral support for this very worthwhile project. The tank may now be dismantled, but the spirit of community and human kindness expressed by everyone on Canreef and BCAquaria, from across Canada for an ill little boy who wanted to have a reef tank continues to inspire me and renew my faith in the goodness in people. Thanks from myself, Felicia and Jasper's family for making this project a reality.

Sincerely,

Anthony