Monthly Zoom Meetings 3rd Thursday of Every Month
​​Chris Wood from Captiv8 Aquaculture. Chris is a marine biogeochemist and the Chief Science Officer of Captiv8 Aquaculture. He is also the founder and sole owner of Captiv8. The company’s R&D draws from Chris’ experience and two additional scientists, with a total of four PhDs.Chris entered the aquatics industry in 2000 as a marine scientist and product development and support specialist, and since that time has worked with aquarists and organizations throughout the world to improve outcomes with aquarium systems and recirculating aquatic ecosystems. Some of the organizations that have used his formulations include the Smithsonian Institute, Disney, NASA, and the Israeli Government, as well as several aquaculture operations in the U.S., including ACI Aquaculture.
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Biography: Nikki “ReefdUp” Bridges is a multi-disciplinary systems engineer, military spouse, and mom to two amazing kids. As the daughter of a wildlife rehabilitator and native plant rescuer, it is no surprise that her favorite part of reefkeeping became rescuing injured and diseased coral. Her passion for the last 17 years has been successfully rehabilitating over 250 injured/ diseased coral and fish. Her efforts have also included leatherback turtle hatching assistance in St. Croix, endangered species reef restoration in Curacao, and marine debris removal in Honduras. To document these coral rehabilitation and volunteer efforts, her blog, CoralEverAfter, covers novel techniques to save corals, one polyp at a time. She has over thirty years in the aquarium hobby and currently has a 120-gallon display reef and multiple quarantine/ treatment systems.
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Paul has been immersed in the fish world since childhood, growing up around his father's seafood market. The love of the ocean is in his blood. At 18, Paul was drafted and spent a year in the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia as a Sergeant, earning two Bronze Stars for Valor. Upon his return in 1971, Paul set up his current reef tank, a project he's been devoted to ever since. Over the years, he's had to replace the glass three times due to scratches. A true innovator, Paul holds two aquarium-related patents and is the author of the book “The Avant-Garde Marine Aquarist,” with all profits going to MS research in his wife’s name. Paul has been an avid diver since 1971, equipped with his boat and gear. He also worked as a construction electrician in Manhattan for nearly 48 years
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Leng's story is inspiring. In 1979, he fled Vietnam with his family, navigating through Cambodia to a refugee camp in Thailand in pursuit of freedom and opportunity. In early May 1981, Leng and his family arrived in the United States with no money and spoke only broken English. Thanks to the kindness of the people of Cambridge, Wisconsin, the U.S. government, and his uncle Lim (a former Cambodian navy member) and his family, Leng and his family were able to start anew in this wonderful country. Leng graduated from UCLA in the summer of 1989 with a degree in mathematics and a minor in pre-med. Although he had been interested in keeping fish since childhood, it was in 1987 that he was introduced to the hobby by his older brother and later by his classmate, Claude Nanjo. This was the first time he had ever seen marine tropical fish! Currently, Leng is the President/CEO of EcoSystem Aquarium.
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Ben Johnson has been employed in the aquarium industry for the better part of the last 25 years. From aquarium stores to maintenance companies, wholesale outfits to a zookeeper at the Houston zoo, Mr. Johnson finally started his own aquarium maintenance company in 2002 and went full-time with it in 2004. Ben was lucky enough to be published in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine three times, regarding aquarium systems installations. Mr. Johnson continues to run his aquarium installation and maintenance company in Houston, Texas called Captive Aquatic Ecosystems."
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Shane has been keeping reef aquariums for over a decade and has a deep understanding and appreciation for the beauty and complexity of these ecosystems. His love for corals and marine life led him to start SBB Corals in 2015, to provide top-quality corals to other reef enthusiasts. SBB Corals is an aquaculture facility started by aquarium hobbyists in 2014. Specializing in SPS, mushrooms, and Zoanthids, we pride ourselves in seeking out and finding the rarest corals in the saltwater aquarium trade by importing as well as by trading with other hobbyists. SBB mission is to have the most extensive, unique, and rare collection of saltwater corals in the world.
February 15, 2024, Speaker: Mark van der Wal
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Mark has been a reef tank hobbyist for 28 years and was the co-host of the very popular Reef Therapy podcast with Jake Adams. He was an active member of Reef Central in its early years, earning a tank of the month way back in 2001. Mark did moderate briefly on RC back in the glory days and he has written articles for Reef Builders as well as Reef Central.
January 18, 2024, Speaker: Krista Bedell K&P Aquculture
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Presentation: "Cryptic Microorganism" Bio: Krista attended college in Hawaii where she studied Marine Biology. She worked for several zoos and aquariums, worked on a dive boat and was PADI certified while volunteering in coral conservation and Reef Projects during her time there. When she moved to Washington State she finished school graduating in environmental science emphasizing marine biology.
November 16, 2023, Speaker: Chris Meckley ACI Aquaculture
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Presentation: "History of AIC and Aquaculture Corals Care" Bio: Chris Meckley is a passionate aquarist with extensive knowledge of coral reef aquarium habitats. He specializes in and consults on commercial set-ups, long-term coral husbandry in captivity, as well as coral propagation and techniques. He has worked professionally in the aquarium industry for 28 years.
October 19, 2023, Speaker: Dr.Karen O'Connell Demeter Bioscience, CEO
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Presentation: " Sustainable Brine Shrimp Farm" Bio: Dr. Karen O'Connell is the founder of Demeter Biosciences. She specializes in brine shrimp and microalgae biomass production.
September 21, 2023, Speaker: Jake Phillips General Manager at Biota Aquariums
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Presentation: "Biota News and Updates", Biota is advancing the aquaculture industry through daring innovation and a relentless commitment to protecting and restoring the ocean. Biota fish are raised in captivity at our marine life nursery and carefully acclimated for aquarium life.
August 17, 2023, Speaker: Raj Shingadia Reefbuilders, Managing Director & MCR Director of LSS Design and Industrial Sales
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Presentation: "Raj intro MRC and updates on Reef Builders", Bio Raj concentrates on working with institutions worldwide, from designing new facilities and exhibits to solving LSS problems and everything in between. He can be found traveling the world when he’s not in the office. With his phone and laptop kept close at all times, he stays in touch with clients, ensuring peace of mind and service.