Quick Shot From Hawaii
 

So i found out that reef tanks are illegal in hawaii. also illegal to have liverock from the ocean.

so they use fake coral inserts in their tanks.

but really, who needs a reef tank when theres moorish idols and HUGE naso tangs swimming around at every corner.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...Picture1-1.png

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...D/Picture2.png

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...Picture7-1.png

Who needs a fish tank when your surrounded by some of the best snorkeling and diving ever . I love Maui and will go back again and again . I only leave the water to put on more sunscreen.

I have been to Maui 3 times and yes they can not take coral or rock not even sand from the ocean, However LFS sell LR and people are allowed to take 5 specimens per day of aquatic life, if they have a license to have a fish tank and provide reasonable care.

heres a couple shots from the waikiki aquarium.

the big thing in the middle is a huge hammer coral colony
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...D/Picture8.png



and this main reef display was kind of cloudy because a diver was in there cleaning the inside of the glass
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/s...D/Picture9.png

I see a mangrove pod floating the water. If that was me, I'd be collecting pods off the beach and taking them home with me. Mangroves are considered an invasive species in Hawaii - so I'm sure no one would care if you took some pods home with you :p

at the aquarium they have a whole tank full of mangroves. 6-10 feet tall.

I know, I love how they made it so it looks like a terrarium/reef tank. Although, I don't know if it's just me, but some of the reef tanks at the Waikiki Aquarium seemed a little sub-par considering it's Waikiki Aquarium. I was a little bit disappointed that they didn't have a nicer assortment of corals. I mean if you go to Molokini Crater on Maui, the colours and assortment of SPS corals you see in the wild is amazing. I would have thought they would recreate a Molokini style aquascape. But never the less it's still an awesome place to visit. I really enjoyed the clams they have in the outdoor tank. Not sure what kind they were, but the colouration was pretty sweet.