Great News
 

Well let me first start off by saying that I am totally and utterly stunned at what has transpired. I have been communicating with the University of Miami National Resource for Aplysia regarding our purchase and I gave a brief explaination about Canreef and about the Vancouver Reef Aquarium Club. I further explained that most of us are buying to propagate as a food source for our tangs because many of us are trying to give them the most natural food as possible. I received the following email from them today:

Quote:

Hi there: I spoke to my boss, Thomas Capo, about your organization and showed him your website. Mr. Capo asked me to let you know that he is happy to make a gift of the 30 pounds of gracilaria to the Vancouver Reef Aquarium Club of British Columbia. You will only need to pay the shipping, paperwork and box charges. Tom believes in assisting groups like yours and hopes that this small donation will be of use to your members. We cannot do this very often, but if we have extra algae, we are happy to send it to you for your members. I would request that you post this on your website so that the members are aware of the gift and that they won’t be charged anything other than shipping for the Gracilaria. If any of your Club Members are doing studies or scientific observations of fish using the gracilaria as primary food source, we ask that they share the information gathered with us and credit the NIH National Resource for Aplysia in anything published. We can ship out next Tuesday if you wish. Please call with your credit card number to cover the box charges, International paperwork and shipping charge. Thanks so much. All best Wishes.

It is just such a wonderful feeling to see such generosity and genuine concern for the animals that we love. I didn't know how to express our gratitude with enough "thank yous" to the National Resource for Aplysia. I would respectfully ask that we abide by their request to credit them in anything published as a result of this wonderful donation.
In addition, I would like to ask that the recipients of the donation NOT to turn it around and sell this algae for any monetary gains. In fact we should in turn donate any excess growth to fellow reefers or club members in order to maximize the benefits of the initial donation.

I will continue to liase with the National Resource for Aplysia to acquire our donation. As stated above, shipping costs, box charges and paperwork will be our responsibility. I will assume the initial cost and collect the funds at a later time.

In order to make it FAIR for everyone, there are some good news and some bad news that are as follows:
1) Only those who initially expressed interest in this group buy will receive the algae (so we don't get any bandwagon jumpers now that its a donation)

2) In order for everybody to get a portion, I have limited the amount to 2 lbs maximum (if you asked for 1 lb, you get 1 lb. If you asked for <2 lbs, you get 2 lbs. Except I get 3 lbs cuz I organized this bloody thing). With that in mind, the following amounts will be set aside for each persons:
Chin Lee - 3 lbs
Xtasia - 1 lb
Seahorse - 2 lb
Targa81 - 1 lb
Jimmyray - 2 lb
Seashells - 2 lbs
Chad - 1 lb
Skylord - 1 lb
Marie - 2 lbs
Tigger - 2 lbs
Rikko - 1 lb
GMGQ - 1 lb
More1020 - 1 lb

Calgary (pls see below regarding shipping)
OACalgary - 2 lbs

Fort St. John (pls see below regarding shipping)
Ruth - 2 lbs

Northen Alberta (pls see below regarding shipping)
Psyire - 2 lbs

Edmonton (pls see below regarding shipping)
Funkyfish - 2 lbs
Muck 2 lbs

3) SHIPPING: I never intended on shipping because of the amount of time I have had to put in to acquire it and then having to redistribute it. But since I am such a sucker for punishment, I will ship but read the following because I will not waver from it and please do not PM to make exceptions.
- you will need to pay your share of the initial shipping cost, box charges, paperwork costs. In addition to your shipping cost.
- I will only ship via Canada Post but you decide if you want Prioirty Courier or Xpresspost or regular. Whatever you decide is what I will use but its at your own risk whichever method you choose (keeping in mind of the tempatures we have been experiencing)
- only the amount set aside for you will be shipped to you. I know its more worthwhile to ship more to get your money's worth but with this being a donation, the amount set aside is only fair to all. Unfortunately your 1-2 lbs of seaweed might be costing you quite a bit of $ to be shipped Priority.
- I will send everybody who requires re-shipping a PM to confirm if you are still interested. If you give up your share, that amount will be offered to the first person in line to post and until their initial desired amount is fulfilled IE if Joe Blow in Alberta is entitled to 2 lbs and he gives it up, the 2 lbs will go to Chin Lee to get his 5 lbs that he initially wanted. Then Ruth will get the next three lbs and OACalgary will get the next 8 lbs etc etc etc.

4) PICK UP - Since I don't have the room to store 30 lbs of gracilaria in my tank,
- EVERYBODY MUST PICK UP THEIR ALGAE ON THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2nd or EVENING OF THURSDAY AUGUST 3rd.
- NO EXCEPTIONS.
- All of you, please PM me by next Tuesday August 1st indicating which day and time you will be coming by to pick up your algae.
- if I don't get a PM from you by Tuesday, I will send you a a friendly PM reminder for an answer. If there is no response by Wednesday, I will assume you have forfeited your portion and will be re-distributed in the manner as discussed previously.
- Next Tuesday, you will all get a PM from me advising of the shared cost per pound. The amount WILL be rounded up to the nearest dollar IE $7.01 will be rounded to $8.00because a $0.99 tip is really not too much to ask for and its a lot easier to deal with than to deal with pennies and dimes.
- PLEASE BRING EXACT CHANGE. Otherwise, if I don't have change, I will take this opporunity to thank you in advance for the tip.
- if you cannot make it on either one of those days, set it up with another person on the list to pick it up for you. Then send me a PM of who it is.
- I will not hold it for anybody because I cannot. My sump will be filled as it already is.

Thank you everybody for your patience and understanding. I will keep you all posted.

I'm still in with my 2 lbs, if possible. (I was the 8thy person in, if that counts)

(Edit: Somehow I never seen the above post before posting this)

Wow....

wow sweet deal chin, that's great news!

wow! Thats really great! Looks like one of your group buys may succeed with flying colors! Great work Chin and thank you.

Doug & Shellie

Thanks Chin for setting all this up. That's totally awesome. My seahorses will be so happy with a field of red to latch onto.

BTW, I can hold some macro for those who can't pick up on time. I have a 25g with just LR & a 20g refugium & 50g sump that I can store extra macro in.

From past experience with red macro, this stuff sucks up iodine from your water like crazy. If you iodine levels are low, it will turn pale, then green & then fall apart completely. It also does not stand up to shipping very well & so it is highly advisable that the fastest mode of shipping be chosen or you'll likely end up with a bag of mush. Chin, if you don't have the time, send me the transhipping info & I'll hold the extra macro in my tanks under some full spectrum lighting & then ship it out the following Monday, since I work from home & the post office is just down the street from me.

Again, thanks Chin for setting up this & thanks NIH National Resource for Aplysia for this very generous donation.

Anthony

That is very cool.

Great story.

Wow thats absolutely fantastic that they're making such a generous donation! What a great organization. :biggrin:

Truly very cool! :cool:

Wow! Thats fantastic!

Thank-you very much for all the time and effort Chin! And thank-you to the Miami National Resource Center for having made such a donation!

Chin, Im still in, and will send a PM.

Thanks!

Chris

Totally awesome!

Chin,I just sent you a PM.

Thanks again!

Thanks Chin for not giving up on group buy's! It looks like this one is going to pay off big for everyone involved. (Much thanks to the NIH National Resource for Aplysia)

I'm also happy that you will indeed 'reship' this algae to us that are not in the Vancouver area. I'm more than willing to pay for all costs involved. I'll be in touch through PM's.

Hot off the press
 

NEW DATE FOR SHIPMENT AUGUST 9

Quote:

Hi there: due to harvest schedule, we are going to have the 30 pounds of gracilaria for you guys on August 8. I just found out that our last big harvest of the gracilaria was two days ago so we will be short until our next harvest date of August 7. We will ship on Tuesday, August 8 and you will receive it on august 9. I hope this doesn’t cause you any problems with your members. Please advise.

So of course I replied that its alright :biggrin:
The information post has been amended accordingly.

New Update modified from previous
 

I have limited the amount to 2 lbs maximum (if you asked for 1 lb, you get 1 lb. If you asked for <2 lbs, you get 2 lbs. I don't get 3 lbs anymore because of a counting error ... shucks). With that in mind, the following amounts will be set aside for each persons:
Chin Lee - 2 lbs
Xtasia - 1 lb
Seahorse - 2 lb
Targa81 - 1 lb
Jimmyray - 2 lb
Seashells - 2 lbs
Chad - 1 lb
Skylord - 1 lb
Marie - 2 lbs
Tigger - 2 lbs
Rikko - 1 lb
GMGQ - 1 lb
More1020 - 2 lb

Calgary (pls see below regarding shipping)
OACalgary - 2 lbs

Fort St. John
Ruth - 2 lbs confirmed to be shipped

Northen Alberta
Psyire - 2 lbs confirmed to be shipped

Edmonton
Funkyfish and Muck - 4 lbs confirmed to be shipped combined


3) SHIPPING: I will ship but read the following because I will not waver from it and please do not PM to make exceptions.

- you will need to pay your share of the initial shipping cost, box charges, paperwork costs. In addition to your shipping cost.
- I will only ship via Canada Post but you decide if you want Prioirty Courier or Xpresspost or regular. Whatever you decide is what I will use but its at your own risk whichever method you choose (keeping in mind of the tempatures we have been experiencing)
- only the amount set aside for you will be shipped to you. I know its more worthwhile to ship more to get your money's worth but with this being a donation, the amount set aside is only fair to all. Unfortunately your 1-2 lbs of seaweed might be costing you quite a bit of $ to be shipped Priority.
- I will send everybody who requires re-shipping a PM to confirm if you are still interested. If you give up your share, that amount will be offered to the first person in line to post and until their initial desired amount is fulfilled IE if Joe Blow in Alberta is entitled to 2 lbs and he gives it up, the 2 lbs will go to Chin Lee to get his 5 lbs that he initially wanted. Then Ruth will get the next three lbs and OACalgary will get the next 8 lbs etc etc etc.

4) PICK UP - Since I don't have the room to store 30 lbs of gracilaria in my tank,
- EVERYBODY MUST PICK UP THEIR ALGAE ON THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9nd or EVENING OF THURSDAY AUGUST 10th.
- NO EXCEPTIONS.
- All of you, please PM me by Monday August 7th indicating which day and time you will be coming by to pick up your algae.
- if I don't get a PM from you by Monday August 7, I will send you a a friendly PM reminder on Tuesday August 8 for an answer. If there is no response by Wednesday, I will assume you have forfeited your portion and will be re-distributed in the manner as discussed previously.
- By Tuesday August 8, you will all get a PM from me advising of the shared cost per pound. The amount WILL be rounded up to the nearest dollar IE $7.01 will be rounded to $8.00 because a $0.99 tip is really not too much to ask for and its a lot easier to deal with than to deal with pennies and dimes.
- PLEASE BRING EXACT CHANGE. Otherwise, if I don't have change, I will take this opporunity to thank you in advance for the tip.
- if you cannot make it on either one of those days, set it up with another person on the list to pick it up for you. Then send me a PM of who it is. Work it out amongst yourselves and don't ask me to intervene because I will forget and somebody will inevitably get upset.
- I will not hold it for anybody because I cannot. My sump will be filled as it already is.


IN SUMMARY:

LOCALS
Send me a PM by August 7 advising me of which day you will be picking up your algae. I will accept $ (exact change) or cheque

OUT OF TOWNERS
Send me a PM with the following information:
1) Prioirty Courier or Xpresspost or Regular
2) Mailing address
You will get a final bill after I ship at which point you can mail me a cheque.



Thank you everybody for your patience and understanding. I will keep you all posted.

Chin - thanks so much for organizing this as well as to the generous folks that are donating the algea.
If it makes it easier for you to ship mine to Psyire I can arrange to pick it up from him in Grande Prairie (at least I think I can without talking to you Craig). It will cut down on having to get another box and shipping to a different address - your call though, just let me know.

Thanks a bunch Chin. Also a big thanks to the crew for donating the algae!!

Ruth, If you will be in E-Town sometime after the ship date I could hold it for you as well. :biggrin:

Thanks Chin, more importantly Brad Pitt thanks you :lol:

Meet Brad Pitt
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...antine0009.jpg


BTW this fish is your fault, I bought him after I saw yours :razz:

Marie, that looks like an achilles/gold-rim hybrid? I have read of such occurences on university papers, and apparently it is not uncommon.

Gourgeous fish nonetheless! I love both of those species myself!

Awesome! Thanks a lot, Chin! PM coming your way.

no matter
 

it doesnt' matter with me either way. let me know what you decide and I'll do it

Well if it doesn't matter to you then I would definately prefer to have you send it to me direct and save me a 5 hour round trip drive - but I can do that if it's easier for you.

If it's not alot I might be able to hold it in my tank until you come to vancouver... too.\

-Xtasia

Either way works for me Ruth/Chin. Your call.

baby
 

Marie thats a beautiful fish - thats pretty cool if its a hybrid. Hopefully the genetics are strong on that hybrid.
I can't believe I am doing all this work for this baby:
http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/mar06/tnachilles.jpg

I hope its going to eat the gracilaria :surprise:

Ruth - save yourself the 5 hour drive

I didn't buy this fish as a hybrid and after checking, hybrids don't appear to have the orange teardrop on the butt :biggrin: .

Damn, Brad Pitt is hot as a fish too! :wink:

Cool looking fish Marie :biggrin:

Well, it very well may be a full-blown achilles, and I might just be nuts! :razz: but I did recall seeing a couple pictures of hybrids with the orange spot(indicating achilles genetics were stronger in that specimen). I guess just the seemingly more brown portion on the front of yours and the dorsal and anal fins looking a little different than most achillies i've seen is what gave me the thought.

As Christy and Chin said though, beautiful fish!

Chris

any word on the order chin?

ya, I never got any PM on how much to pay etc etc.. as someone else was going to pick up and store for me.

Tang Heaven
 

Thanks Chin Lee for all your efforts in this group buy. I placed a little in the tank to tease my fish and the Hippo and scribbled rabbitfish went right after it. Now to see if we can get the stuff to grow.

BTW....the smile I got from your daughter was worth the drive...what a cute little girl you have.

Thanks Chin! That's a pretty big pound but so far everybody loves it!
I think my regal is pretty much stuffed and is practically dragging himself after what's still floating around (between the chaeto and halimeda, there's no room left in the sump!).
It's pretty fun stuff. I got to smell it for half an hour waiting for the tow truck to pick up my stalled car :(

achilles eating it....
 

I put a clump of algae for my achilles to eat and he literally attacked the algae...... his belly has never been bigger since i've had him.

I hope everyone enjoys their algae. Read the links on the first post of this group buy tread on how to grow this stuff. Keep it growing as a renewing source of food for our pets.
cheers

Huge thanks Chin for organizing this group order & doing all that leg work.

Anthony

Got the package Chin.
Everything looks and smells good so far. (Haven't opened the actually algae bags yet.)



P.S. Thanks for the lovely bonus bag of ice water. :mrgreen:

I would like to take this oppotunity to thank Chin for all his hardwork to bring us fishaddicts the fine "Herbs" haha.

see you in Vancouver Chin!

thank you,

Eric

Well, im out of town for this, but Ryan(muck) has my algae. Thanks alot Chin for organizing all this! Cant wait to try this stuff out!

Chris

Yes, thanks Chin again for the great work! :)

So far my rabbit fish hasn't shown interest.. lets hope he gets with the program! :)

My hippo hasnt shown much interest either so far. But at least this stuff doubles as a nutrient export.

Speaking of which, what lights are you guys using in your refugiums for this stuff? I have been using a blue spot plant light for my chaeto (I've been experimenting with different bulbs), but yesterday after I got so much tang heaven, I went to HD and picked up a dual socket light and now I'm using 2 x Philips Daylight CF bulbs.

Phillips Daylight 27w CFL bulbs. They're cheaper at London Drugs btw, although not every LD has them.

Anthony

How far from the water surface do you have them? Are you using a reflector with them? Just 1? Or 2?