talk to your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, anyone who will listen really about how awesome reefing is. Share your aquarium with pride - why should fancy cars and bikes get a pass as a sweet hobby, while we constantly feel the need to explain ourselves? I've never seen a 3-series light up like the fourth of july, but a well cared for reef glows. And it's alive! It grows! You can take little pieces and give them to someone else, and they'll grow too! And light up like a lite brite under blue lights! How awesome is that? But not too many people know, because the public perception of aquariums for the most part end at big public aquariums and that goldfish they won at the fair when they were 7.
Show the world there is more compassion, sustainability, and straight-up coolness to the hobby than the sickly floaters at the big chain pet stores they're familiar with. Show the world there is more to keeping an aquarium than cramming a betta in a mason jar. Show the world that the fish in your tank, their health, well-being, and longevity means just as much to you as any of their pets. Show the world that reef keepers aren't irreparably introverted mega-nerds, more comfortable with their fish than other people - no, we are normal people of all ages, incomes, backgrounds, and genders who share one of the most badass passions available.
And if you're not proud of our hobby, if you feel a little bit guilty, ask yourself why. You may be correct; the past two weeks have led to a lot of introspection across the entire industry, not just on how the threat of regulations got to this point, but how to bend ourselves to keep from getting legislated out of existence. I know i haven't felt good about what i'm doing in the past in regards to what i see in the stores and my own livestock purchasing. But if you really truly want to make an impact, you and everyone you know is going to have to do it with your wallet. Support aquaculture and mariculture. Get your live rock from sustainable locations, or use artificial. Know where your fish and coral are coming from, and which locations are more sustainable than others. Thoroughly research all livestock purchases so you have a solid grasp on what it takes to keep your new pet alive and healthy. Avoid notoriously difficult fish and coral. Pay a little extra for livestock you know came from a good sustainable source.
The hobby is threatened, but it is
not under attack - instead it may end up as collateral damage in a fight over climate change. Any exceptions to regulations are going to depend on all of us demonstrating we care with our voices and our choices. Be proud of the fact that you are somehow through a miracle combination of modern technology, biological savvy, and communal knowledge able to keep a small coral reef thriving in your living room, and let the world know about it. For all the flak they (rightfully) catch the aquarium tv shows have exposed how fun keeping an aquarium can be to the general public. It's up to the rest of us to show them how awesome it is when reefing is done the right way. And if you don't feel great about what we do, it isn't a big secret about how to do it "the right way." donating to pijac is a great way to get our voices heard by the rule makers, but it's up to each and every one of us to do the same with the public at large, and to make the sort of purchasing decisions that will ensure your grandkids will have some coral to frag:grouphug: