UPCOMING EVENTS:
Hey folks! Our next meeting will be at the Charlotte Hall Library on August 16th at 2:00 in the afternoon. We are in the planning stages for our next SMMAS Reef Symposium on November 8th, 2008 and will discuss what needs to be done to pull off another successful show. We are looking for volunteers to help on different committees, remember that all volunteers get into the show for free!

We will also have our 2008 SMMAS raffle tickets ready to be distributed. The tickets will be sold until our next meeting September 20th, 2008 at the same rate as last year, one ticket for a buck or six tickets for five bucks. This year’s prizes are also the same as last year, with the top prize being a $200 Gift Certificate to Reef Chief! Other prizes include a $100 Gift Card to Lowes Home Improvement, a $50 gas card, dinner for two at Outback Steakhouse, dinner for two at Cheeseburger in Paradise, and of course a SMMAS tee shirt and coffee cup. Like last year the member that sells the most tickets will also receive a prize, Chris Coons set the bar high last year with over250 tickets sold, and drove home in his new car!!!  Just kidding, we didn’t give away a new car… but the prize will be worth at least $50.

We may also have a surprise guest speaker… arrangements are being worked out now so it’s too early to know for sure. Of course we will have our "dry" raffle this month. Items will include SMMAS swag to show off at the upcoming MACNA in Atlanta this September as well as some SeaChem products. See ya’ there!
Posted: 08 Aug 2008
 

 

References from Reef Central:

  • Instant Algae Calc
  • Head Loss Calc
  • Sand Bed Calc
  • Tank Electrical Calc
  • Drain Overflow Size Calc
  • Sump Volume Calc
  • Tank Volume Calc
  • Water Change Calc
  • Unit Conversions Calc
  • Large selection of Calculators (Registration Required.).


     

     

     

    LIBRARY SCHEDULE:

    June 8-14 Rob
    June 15-21 Frankie
    June 22-28 Jerome
    June 29-July 5 Tony

    July 6-12 Chris
    July 13-19 Mike H.
     July 20-26 Ken EDIT: MIKE H.
    July 27-August 2 Rob

    August 3-9 Jerome
    August 10-16 Mike H.
    August 17-23 Chris
    August 24-30 Tony
    August 31-September 6 Rob

    September 7-13 Jerome
    September 14-20 Ken
    September 21-27 Frankie
    September 28-October 4 Tony

    October 5-11 Chris
    October 12-18 Mike H.
    October 19-25 Ken
    October 26-November 1 Rob

    November 2-8 Frankie
    November 9-15 Jerome
    November 16-22 Tony
     November 23-29 Chris

     

     

     

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    CLUB PROJECTS:
         The SMMAS School program is now in full swing with a very nice 75 gallon reef display at the Little Flower School in Great Mills. Classes are being taught to the 4th and 6th graders every week about the dangers our coral reefs face today and how we can save a reef by growing our own. They are starting off with the quick and easy to grow coral xenia, and seem to enjoy every aspect of marine husbandry. We have discussed virtually all aspects of starting and maintaining a saltwater aquarium, with the students actually doing the work themselves. We expect that by the end of the school year they will be able to propagate their own corals and perhaps sell them to help offset the cost of maintaining their reef aquarium.

    There are other schools that have expressed an interest of starting a program in their school similar to the one we have now in Little Flower. Leonardtown High School is interested in an after school Reef Club which Shaun Elliot is heading up and Mark Powell has offered to help. King’s Christian Academy is interested as well St. Peters in Waldorf. We need at least 2 volunteers for each school to make this happen, if you are interested in helping and becoming involved in this program let Mike Howell know and he will be happy to get you going. We have a 58 gallon tank and stand ready for the next school project, and believe it or not, it is a lot of fun working with these kids.

    Our first community project, the 75 gallon reef display at the Lexington Park Library has been a big success. The tank is flat out beautiful with compliments from library patrons as well as the staff. The library has set up a donation fund to help pay for the cost of maintaining the tank with SMMAS volunteers taking turns each week performing the necessary task of keeping it in such great shape. A special thanks to SMMAS members Jerome Burgess, Chris Coons, Mike Howell, Ken Jordan, Rob MacLaren, Frankie Riffle, and Tony Wolfe for their time and effort.

    If you would like to help out on any of these projects please contact Mike Howell either by email or PM in the forum section.
     
    FEATURED SPONSOR:


    One of this club’s better sponsors, Jeff Knight, owner of Reef Chief in Virginia Beach recently moved from his jam packed garage operation into his first real storefront with 3200 square feet of operating room. Jeff invited SMMAS down to see his new place last year by hosting an open house with Anthony Calfo as the guest speaker and enough food to feed an army. Since then Jeff has been hard at work transforming a once empty warehouse into a very full reef store that rivals the best in the country. SP Aquatics, owned by Sean Hawkins, shares a portion of the building with Jeff and has built 6 of the most awesome acrylic display tanks that show off most of Jeff’s corals. Two 600 gallon and four 400 gallon acrylic tanks surround you in a double horse shoe fashion that makes it easy to find the coral you are looking for with most in a price range lay out. From $10 frags to $500 basketball size show pieces, he has coral that will fit any pocket book.

    The store has over 4000 gallons of saltwater, housing an average of 500 frags, 1000 corals, and 300 to 400 fish. The selection is outstanding and is easily one of the finest Marine Aquarium stores in the United States.

    Jeff is offering SMMAS club members 20% off of live stock after the TRS Reef Symposium April 26, and is planning on bringing even more into the store by then to increase our selection. Be sure not to pass this event up, the selection is awesome to start with.

    Jeff has been an active sponsor of this club for a few years now and we are proud of what he has accomplished since we have known him. From donating the top prize of a $200 Gift Certificate for our fundraising raffle, being a vendor at the SMMAS Reef Symposium, and offering advice and discounts to club members, Jeff is any clubs best asset that is lucky enough to count him as a sponsor. Thanks Jeff!
    About Us
    The Southern Maryland Marine Aquarium Society (SMMAS) is a friendly gathering of folks from all walks of life that share an interest in Marine Aquariums.  It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert, we welcome everyone.  We have monthly meetings to exchange ideas, discuss current conditions in member’s tanks, share and trade corals, and plan field trips.  Our goal is to educate ourselves as well as the general public about the saltwater aquarium hobby and to raise awareness of the delicate reefs we take care of, in and out of our aquariums.
    more about us