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It is interesting being on the internet and being old. This board and many like it are a boon to the hobby and to the knowledge that can be almost instantly shared from Kalamazoo to Brisbane (I think I read on this board that someone called it "Brisbie" ) in the flash of a fin.

Although people post constantly about advice received from the 16/18/50 year old at their LFS, I have not read many posts where people seek information from their local aquarium club/society! It was the very first group that I looked for when I moved to this little chunk of southwestern Michigan.

The Southwestern Michigan Aquarium Society (SWMAS) turned out to be a gem. Think of three nationally published authors, three national class killifish breeders, a number of discus guys and a few who dabble in c. sterbai for fun! Toss in a handful of plant geeks to go with the fish geeks and the breeding geeks with a 100 or so species on their "yeah those were easy fish to spawn" lists, it makes me wonder about the breadth (depth?) of knowledge in a county with less than a 250,000 population.

Yet, I have not seen a post that talks to the existence of these organizations. But if you want a fish that is not stressed by transport, confinement in a overcrowded tank and is acclimated to your local water - you might want to find the local fish geeks.

If you are looking for an odd plant or want to know how to propagate the weed - you might want to find the local fish geeks.

If you are looking for a steady supply of vinegar eel, black worms, daphnia or similar disgusting critters that will surely escape their bottles, tins or boxes to infest your home but are ever so necessary to bringing your fish into breeding prime - you might want to find the local fish geeks!

Just a little rant on the local resources that may or may not be available in your community. I always check the back of TFH or other magazines when I take a trip to see if I might visit a club in Florida or Arizona or Belgium. I never know what I might learn or find or collect or...



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"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I hear you. Personally I would love to get involved in an aquarium club, but the only one around here is a reefer group, and I'm not too big on home reefs yet. The closest decent freshwater club I know of is the Potomac Valley Aquarium Society, but they're hours away. Way to make me jealous there, Bob.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I ony wish we had an aquarium club or society here locally. As to the best of my knowledge there is none.

I remember very well when I first started in the hobby back in 1972 I was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the time stationed at Nellis AFB. There was a very active club there "The Nevada Aquarist Society." It not only got me off on the right foot in the hobby, it was just plain fun. We published a monthly newsletter, held monthly meetings and had a very large annual fish show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center where there would be anywheres from 50 to 100 tanks on display. I remember one member that always brought in their custom made, stainless steel framed 300 gallon aquarium along with his school of full grown tinfoil barbs. That was quite the display back then.

I waited patiently each month for the meeting as it was about the only way we had the ability to share information, swap hard to locate species and just share our experiences.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Down here I feel lucky to have a LFS with fish in the tanks (sometimes)....much less an aquarium club. Some areas are just not up to speed when it comes to things like that.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

There are a couple of aquarium clubs in this area, but it's geared more towards cichlids (which I have no experience with except for Rams). Plus with a young kid at home, I don't have that much free time to go to regular meetings (it's hard enough to negotiate tank maintenance time with my wife! ). I do occasionally go to the fish auction that they organize once every six months - great place to pick up bargains! Mostly I meet other local fish geeks through internet forum trades.

I wish there was an aquatic plant club around here!

BTW, it's "Brissie" (or Brisvegas).

-P

Thanks for that post Bob, I never really thought of looking for a club locally, I am involved in too many clubs with my children I guess. I found one and searched a bit through the site and did find some valuable info. I never would have thought of it on my own.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Mmm, no club in your area? Ever consider trying to start one? Maybe talk to the biology department at the local college? Ask the LFS if they would like to sponsor one? Random thoughts!



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Personally, my biggest problem with trying to start a club is the time factor. To do it right is a major undertaking and at last count I think I actually see my wife maybe an hour a day as it is, so..... Some of you know how that is.

Sometimes making a living means not much time for a life

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

think I actually see my wife maybe an hour a day as it is, so...

Always goes back to the old saying, "Happy wife, happy life!"



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright