So anyone that knows me can understand my point of view as to why I am doing this. Let me explain....
Lasr year on my trip we had picked some acros and we had a huge die off. I wanted to get to the root of the problem and try to remedy the issue and to provide information to everyone else as to why and how things may happen.
When the collectors go and get corals the bring it to a main distribution point. Usually a local exporter. I wanted to see the water quality at these exporters versus the collection points to see what occurs in the corals from collection to point of export here in Indonesia.
If I can point out things to the exporters to assist them in reducing any doas by managing their water quality I think that would be a step in the right direction. So I have started documenting the water in various places to cross verify with collection points. Now my data is going to be a little skewed because I am only going to be going to a few collection points on one island and not the many that we have already visited. At some places I have noticed an alarming amount of nitrates and phosphates along with salinity swings going up as high as 1.029. Now keep in mind these places are not designed for long term care of our corals that we purchase but just temporary holding vats until they can pack and ship out. But if I can improve the packing water quality I know that will be a step in the right direction.
I know that I might take some huge flack over doing this but I feel it is the right thing to do to protect the hobby and business that I lover so much.
So, as part of my trip I have been talking with suppliers to help them better their business and the end buyer of the coral.
Now the process....
Test holding tanks water and document the readings. I will be using red sea test kits and also a Milwaukee digital refractometer.
The samples will be taken at various depths according to where the corals are collected for various species. Shore water 50ft from shore at 20 feet and 150 feet and farther from shore depending on collection points. This is very far from being a true scientific method laid out experiment but seeing it has to startrd someplace I figure this is a good starting point to refine.
We all know what we think our closed systems would or should be at. Maybe I can confirm or enhance some practices that the hobby holds near and dear.
Transporting these kits was a pia...
Does anyone know of a data set of measurements of water related to the reef hobby that I have just missed? Am I wasting my time doing this or am I am course?
