Environmental Impact of our Hobby.

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Sure, but what about all the rock we take? The mining for materials to make salt? The cheap electronics that end up in the landfill? All impacts of the hobby.

Yes, we now have man made rock, dry rock, etc, but that all comes from somewhere. Salt. How much salt gets used a year globally for the hobby? And really, does that even matter? No idea personally But just thinking about what we use, how much we use and where it all ends up!

Everything we do has an environmental impact. The question you should ask is whether reef keeping is contributing to something that may causing irreparable damage to the earth (thus the discussion on global warming would be valid ) As long as the collection of materials and animals is done in a sustainable manner I don't really have a problem with it.

The reason I downsized my tank, and thought seriously about getting out of the hobby (I almost succeeded) was because the energy consumption (carbon footprint) of my aquarium probably equaled the combined usage of every other aspect of my life.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Everything we do has an environmental impact. The question you should ask is whether reef keeping is contributing to something that may causing irreparable damage to the earth (thus the discussion on global warming would be valid ) As long as the collection of materials and animals is done in a sustainable manner I don't really have a problem with it.

The reason I downsized my tank, and thought seriously about getting out of the hobby (I almost succeeded) was because the energy consumption (carbon footprint) of my aquarium probably equaled the combined usage of every other aspect of my life.

Ok, but I'm guessing rock harvesting is not sustainable. How long to have new rock self create? Really long time, I think. Fish, coral, yes, I think that can be managed sustainably. Other stuff, no clue really.
But I guess that is my question, are we causing irreversible harm?

Also, pretty sure my Jeep has a bigger carbon footprint than my tank

[madkeenreefer]

When/if all the reefs are gone and the oceans are in collaps due to changing enviromental conditions ect, the advanced hobbiests , the Public Aquariums of the world will be the only chance we have to perhaps rebuild. (Before this point all coral imports will long be stopped one would imagine and the basic hobbiest like me will be few and far)
Maybee only in this future could the advances/actions of the hobby today be seen as benificial.. but today surly not.

[Reefer Rob]

Saving the worlds coral reefs from extinction by having an aquarium in your living room might be setting the bar a bit high

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Saving the worlds coral reefs from extinction by having an aquarium in your living room might be setting the bar a bit high

I didn't want to say that. But ya. Not going to happen

[madkeenreefer]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Saving the worlds coral reefs from extinction by having an aquarium in your living room might be setting the bar a bit high

Not sure if this was a reply to my post ?
I doubt that any home based reef will make a difference short or long term hence the remark towards public aquariums ��

I would say we hinder to be clear ��

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by madkeenreefer

Not sure if this was a reply to my post ?
I doubt that any home based reef will make a difference short or long term hence the remark towards public aquariums 😉

Still not going to happen. A, the volume isn't there. B, logistically not workable. C, the reefs all died due to other environmental issues, so putting our captive corals back in the ocean will just kill them.