The OK Coral Corral
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 10. 6.06
All the talk about global warming and its devastating effect on the world’s most pristine coral reefs makes us want to cry. That’s why we were so happy to hear about a new commercial project (Advanced Coral Propagating Technology) that has successfully cultivated coral reefs in artificial pools. Expect to find them in shops in Miami and London- aquarium lovers. The coral reef farmers (one is a part-time lawyer!) say that their intensive work to keep the corals happy in pools disconnected from the sea can also add to the resevoir of information needed to continue to protect corals in the wild; and certainly to stop illegal poaching. Email the company here. via a tip from David at Israel21c ::YNet
Reef tank owners and sellers have been growing coral for years instead of getting wild animals. Even fish. Some are easy to propagate. It has come a long way. The only problem is having a reef tank is not green in any sense. At least when I was in to it. I had 2 174watt metal halides on 14+ hours a day, then 2 50watt VHO fluorescent on 16+ hours a day. Plus a multitude of pumps running all day. It eats up some electricity. But I'll do it again and go bigger.
Have you read Anthony Calfo's book on coral propagation? He kept a large amount of coral in 500 gallon tanks in a greenhouse in western PA. If there's enough natural sunlight for coral in Pittsburgh in the winter, there's enough anywhere. If you can use natural light, there's much less call for kilowatts of artificial light.
I've not been in the hobby for a while now. When I was active there were some people experimenting with the solar tubes for homes. I don't think that light is intense enough to penetrate deep enough and intense enough for the corals to use. But I don't know. I love saltwater tanks, but man is it intensive and expensive.
Although I love aquariums the greennesss of them is lost in the power demand to keep them running just for pleasure. I suggest a DVD loop with live under water feed from the Great Barrier reef.