I
have two aquarium books on very different topics for this issue.
To introduce the first, a book by Anthony Calfo on coral propagation techniques, I'll open a recent communication from the U. S. Coral Reef Task Force. The Task Force recently met in Puerto Rico, on October 2-3. It substantiated previous reports that the U.S. is the number one consumer of live coral and marine fishes for the aquarium trade and of coral skeletons and precious corals for curios and jewelry. It stated:
"International trade continues to drive over-exploitation and destructive fishing practices and that more reefs and species are threatened by these activities, as reported by recent findings of the World Resources Institute and Reef Check.
The international aquarium trade continues to increase by 10-30% annually with the trade in live corals increasing 400% and the trade in live reef rock increasing 1700% since 1988.
The U.S. continues to import 60 to 80% of the live coral, over 50% of the curio coral, and 95% of the live reef rock and reef substrate in international trade each year.
Over 400 coral reef species have been identified as inappropriate species for the aquarium trade, such as those that do not survive well in aquaria or are highly poisonous.
International trade in coral and coral reef animals continues to be largely unregulated, unreported, and illegal."
The Task Force concluded, "American consumption of coral reef products are inadvertently contributing to the worldwide decline and degradation of reefs" and although they "applaud" the marine aquarium industry for its certification efforts, there is a need for "key authorities" to close gaps in enforcement of CITES and strengthen enforcement.
You can find a full summary of the meeting and resolutions at the Task Force web site,
Clearly increased regulaion is in the offing and U.S. aquarists have a responsibility to be in the forefront of propagating the specimens we already have so we can minimize new collection from wild reefs. The following book may
help.
Book
of Coral Propagation: Reef Gardening for Aquarists.
By
Anthony Calfo
(Reading
Trees Publishing. BOCPI, PO Box 446, Monroeville, PA 15146.
Softcover, $38.95, ISBN
0-9716371-0-5)
This
spiral bound volume contains 450 text-dense pages, illustrated
with a few black and white line drawings and a color section
with six pages of small photographs.There is a bibliography, a glossary, a list of suppliers and
an index.
Anthony Calfo, who
spoke on techniques of coral propagation at MACNA 2002, is not a
man of few words.The
title of his volume is an example of his generous use of
language.Starting
from the top of the cover, we see "Book of Coral
Propagation," "Volume One, Version 1.0," then
"Reef Gardening for Aquarists," and finally "A
Concise Guide to the Successful Care and Culture of Coral Reef
Invertebrates."In
some sense then, the major title emphasizing propagation is a
bit misleading (as is the term "concise") - the first
three quarters of the book primarily covers general issues of
marine aquarium operation and equipment along with information
on innovations the author has explored, followed by a chapter on
coral groups and tridacnids.There is, however, a definite bias throughout the book
toward factors involved in setting up a mariculture system for
propagation, with plans provided for coral farm greenhouse
construction and operation (based on the author's own experience
operating such a greenhouse in Pittsburgh, PA), and sections on
shipping and handling specimens.The specific sections on propagation techniques comprise
the last 100 pages.
The book proper
opens with introductory material and the admonition, in the face of
increasingly restrictive, and in my opinion, necessary legislation,
"one of our highest goals should be the establishment of a
self-sustaining hobby," a sentiment that many of us share.He also states that he tries to write in a style he considers
"a humorous and less scientific approach" that is "quirky
and bizarre" - and he often does.
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Calfo's
perspective is interesting and timely.He starts with what he calls the "multi-level gradient
system," in which a refugium drains into the main display
tank, which in turn drains into a lower level containing a hidden
sump in back and a visible "lagoon" area in front, from
which the water is pumped back to the refugium. He shows a
schematic drawing for those who might want to try this design and
discusses intriguing possibilities for the lagoon area, including
mangrove cultivation and the creation of a "tidal pool"
with a simple surge device.(The notion of creating mini-zones in an aquarium system
which attempt to mimic reef zones was one of the few new ideas
that I saw arise at this year's MACNA.If memory serves me, Martin Moe presented a somewhat
parallel idea for a complex microreef.)Calfo even discusses the creation of Aiptasia
"scrubbers" as mechanical filters for food particles and
areas in which to train butterfly fish to become "reef
safe" glass anemone controllers!There's quirky and bizarre for you.This first quarter of the book concludes with important
information and specific details for those interested in setting
up a coral greenhouse in temperate climate zones.
The next section
of the book reviews material on systems and hardware, including
aquascaping, basic equipment for filtration, temperature control,
lighting and water movement, as well as water quality, feeding and
nutrition.The text is
detailed and up to date.
Next, Calfo looks at coral
groups and tridacnid clams as specimens both for display and
possible propagation.This middle section of the book contains the six pages of
color photographs.Most
of the husbandry information is available from other sources and
there are certainly far better identification photographs
available, but the emphasis here is on reproduction and
propagation, with a number of useful tips.
The section on
propagation techniques starts with a discussion of the differences
between reproduction and propagation, emphasizing naturally
occurring asexual reproduction.He then goes on to describe what he calls
"imposed" techniques such as constriction or severing
that are used to force asexual propagation, and
"passive" techniques such as incising and anchoring on
substrate that encourage it.A section on practical applications follows, starting with
requirements for a work area and a tool and supplies list, then
discussing handling and securing coral divisions and increasing
their survival rates.The
book concludes with a section on "Pests, Predators and
Diseases" and a plea for ethical and responsible action by
aquarists to protect the reef environment.
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The
production quality of the book places its origin somewhere between a
home desktop and an inexpensive publishing house.The spiral binding can make it difficult to flatten pages for
easy reading, but then once flattened the pages stay in place better for
reading than conventionally bound ones, and the pages of inexpensive
paper won't stick together when wet like some glossy pages do.The book's desktop character also makes possible an innovative
offer.Calfo encourages
registration of the books - each one is numbered - and intends to
provide free updates and revisions to registered owners.
If
you are thinking of starting to make your "fragging" more
systematic, or even of trying to profit from your ability to grow
corals, this book contains a wealth of practical information compiled in
a single volume.If you're
interested in some intriguing innovations like "multi-level
gradient systems," I don't know where else you'll find them.
Aquarium Plants: The
Practical Guide
By Pablo Tepoot
(New Life Publications,
25855 S.W. 193 Ave. Homestead, Fl 33031.Hardcover, $53,
ISBN 0-9645058-4-3)
This 8.5 by 11 inch
volume contains 216 pages, profusely illustrated with excellent
full and half page color identification photographs, beautifully
reproduced.Also
included is an index of scientific and common plant names.
I'm
sure that Greg Schiemer and I are not the only marine aquarists
who continue to maintain fresh water tanks also.In my case, having held on to my father's beautiful,
chromed stainless steel, 55 gallon Metaframe tank for decades -
I even had it crated and shipped here when I moved to Hawaii -
makes working with fresh water a necessity.Salt water would make short work of the chromed
metalwork.
For
those who do run fresh water tanks, an identification guide to
aquatic plants and information on their husbandry is critical.One of the most useful as well as loveliest of these is
Pablo Tepoot's volume.
The
first part of the book, about 50 pages, covers the
fundamentals of maintaining a healthy, heavily planted
aquarium.It
concludes with a section on aquascaping and a series
of photographs showing the difference between plants
grown under the author's recommendations and those
grown under ordinary commercial aquaculture
conditions.Like
those in the rest of the book, the photos are clear
and beautifully detailed.(It's hard to avoid the use of "beautiful"
when discussing this book!)The actual information contained is less than
the 50 pages suggests.The book is intended for an international
audience and the text in this section is presented in
English, German, French and Dutch.
The
remainder of the book is made up of more than 150
pages of stunning, near perfect identification
photographs of at least as many species and varieties
- there are often more than one color or shape morph
in each photo - each of which is headed by an
"Information Bar," which includes the
scientific and common trade name for the plant shown,
its geographic distribution and general aquarium
hardiness.The
bar also includes a host of other important
information in a compact format, including light and
temperature requirements, optimum pH, copper
sensitivity, plant size and aquascaping uses, and
reproduction methods.In cases where most purchased specimens have
been grown only partially submersed, or where plants
may send up emergent processes, these are shown along
with photos of the growth habits of fully submersed
specimens.The
book concludes with sections on floating plants, bog
plants appropriate for the terrarium and true
terrestrial plants sometimes sold as aquatics.
If
you need a single volume that covers the basics of
starting and maintaining a planted fresh water
aquarium and concentrates on providing a comprehensive
identification guide with critical, species-specific
husbandry information, especially if you appreciate
excellence in photography and print reproduction, you
can't go wrong with this one.
