A
Anonymous
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Anyone know what the first reef store in the US was?
"MiniReef" is a brand name of a Dutch company that was one of the first to market minireef-style aquarium set-ups in the USA. Do you mean that?
Or, do you mean any store selling reef animals (corals, anemones, other invertebrates and live rock) and products for their care?
Or, do you mean any store selling reef animals (corals, anemones, other invertebrates and live rock) and products for their care?
So if you are asking specifically about the "MiniReef" brand of tank I believe they were first imported in about 1985. There might be ways to sleuth-out which was the very first store to sell those tanks. I can put you on the right path. Contact Lammert DeHaan at Dutch Aquarium Systems in Texas with your question. He co-developed that system.
If you are simply asking who first sold reef animals (invertebrates) and related supplies it's going to be a tough answer, and goes back many decades.
If you are simply asking who first sold reef animals (invertebrates) and related supplies it's going to be a tough answer, and goes back many decades.
John_Brandt":1e0q4y4w said:
I never heard of of MiniReef brand of tank. A Dutchman named George Smit first intoduced the Minireef concept and wet/dry trickel filter through the pages of FAMA in a series of articles. The first installment ran in the January 1986 issue. (I have the issues saved in the attic) The title of the articles was "Is it time for a change". I remember when the first wet/dry filters began to be advertised in FAMA shortly thereafter. (Anybody remember DLS?) I think most of us old salts would agree that the Smit article was responsible for starting the "reef craze" here in the United States. The Dutch would have to be credited for touting the idea of using plants for nutrient export among other things. George was able to run his systems for years without water partials. It's good reading and needs to be archived on rdo. BTW the first protein skimmer I remember seeing advertised was the Sanders Picalo co-current in the tank model. If you can find an 1986 FAMAs and look at the advertising it is quite interesting.
Just for clarification I'm not saying there wasn't a Minireef brand aquarium, but the first things I remember were the drip tray DLS filters below the tank. For the record I think a lot of stores, mine included became "reef stores" at about the same time. That's not to say we didn't have a tremendous amount of stuff to learn. Still do. :wink:
Mitch
I ran a pet store back in the mid 80’s and was an active hobbyist from 1978, infatuated with marine aquariums. I purchased one of the first designs of a Wet Dry filters in I believe late 1984 shortly after some literature was coming out of Europe on this new filtration technology. The filter had a prefilter box that hung on the back of the aquarium, and the main unit sat under the aquarium. The unit was acrylic and had 5 trays that slid out on top. Most people used crushed coral or dolomite in the trays, but I always preferred Eheim’s Ehfimech as it didn’t clog as much. The filter had a lower compartment which had a section with a sponge for very low flow and the addition of some sugar pill for nitrate removal (didn’t work), as well as a large section for the pump and submerged Bio-Balls. Dupla was the first Bio Ball importer and they were pricey. A few years later, DLS was commonly used. If my memory serves me well, the first corals were coming into the country out of the Philippines and/or Indo in 1980 and consisted of Green Star Polyp, Button Polyp Rock, Blue Mushroom Rock, and Red Mushroom Rock. In 1981 I maintained a 29- gallon with 4-20 watt fluorescent lights and a reverse flow canister/UG filter set up with six nice pieces of Gulf Live Rock, the corals and a lot of Caulerpa. My parents thought I was crazy buying these expensive rocks! Lights were 2-Duro-Test twisted bulbs and 2-True Actinic 03 from Phillips which were imported from Eurpoe. The rock was gearing up out of the Gulf from Tampa, and it was the best live rock that anyone has ever seen, covered in Xmas worms, tunicates, sponge, starfish, limpet snails, crabs, algaes, etc. Too bad those days are long gone! I used to purchase livestock for the store and my personal aquariums from Manilla Aquatics in Tampa Florida, which I believe was eventually purchased by All Seas Marine and then shut down in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
Ahhh... the memories it all brings back. Damn it makes me feel old.
Almost simultaneously, three different "reef tank" systems and philosophies were presented to the USA. I recall Dupla (German company with Albert Thiel as the USA Rep) being the very first to present in print (FAMA) the concept of a "trickle filter". This was in '84 or '85 and at that time Dupla was already using "bio-balls". Then George Smit (Holland) wrote the famous series in FAMA, but had no product to sell. At the same time Dr. Blok and DeHaan (Holland) were writing about (and now marketing) their MiniReef brand systems in the USA.
The 1986 HH Backer trade show in Chicago was an extremely exciting (and now nostalgic) time. All three "reef tank players" were there and none of the dealers knew anything about anything concerning reef systems. A lecture was given by Blok and DeHann about their MiniReef system and it was standing room only. During the Q & A, I stated the need for an "owners manual" for this system as it hardly even came with instructions.
I read all of those George Smit articles as they came out in FAMA. I also got to meet George when he first came to the states to "market" his system. A little shop in Cicero (a suburb of Chicago) was building acrylic systems to Smit's specifications. These were the layered drip trays with coral gravel as a media. I still have George Smit's phone number in Holland. At the same time, MiniReef brand systems were being imported to International Seaboard (a livestock wholesaler also in a Chicago suburb). These were complete glass wet/dry systems (tank included) that were assembled in Holland and shipped to the USA (many arrived shattered). Because of trademark and patent issues George Smit was not allowed to use the name "Minireef". But it was too late for the general hobbyist community, as the term was universally applied (like we call any flying disc a Frisbee, and any flavored gelatin Jello, and any tissue Kleenex).
MiniReef brand always used DLS with a single tray of submerged coral gravel below it. They also came with extremely effective (though cranky) drip denitrifiers that used methyl alcohol in dialysis bags to administer a carbon source to the dentrifiers. They also had protein skimmers (though somewhat crude) with wooden air diffusers. They came with multiple European fluorescent tubes. America had never seen anything quite like it and hobbyists were fully captivated.
Almost simultaneously, three different "reef tank" systems and philosophies were presented to the USA. I recall Dupla (German company with Albert Thiel as the USA Rep) being the very first to present in print (FAMA) the concept of a "trickle filter". This was in '84 or '85 and at that time Dupla was already using "bio-balls". Then George Smit (Holland) wrote the famous series in FAMA, but had no product to sell. At the same time Dr. Blok and DeHaan (Holland) were writing about (and now marketing) their MiniReef brand systems in the USA.
The 1986 HH Backer trade show in Chicago was an extremely exciting (and now nostalgic) time. All three "reef tank players" were there and none of the dealers knew anything about anything concerning reef systems. A lecture was given by Blok and DeHann about their MiniReef system and it was standing room only. During the Q & A, I stated the need for an "owners manual" for this system as it hardly even came with instructions.
I read all of those George Smit articles as they came out in FAMA. I also got to meet George when he first came to the states to "market" his system. A little shop in Cicero (a suburb of Chicago) was building acrylic systems to Smit's specifications. These were the layered drip trays with coral gravel as a media. I still have George Smit's phone number in Holland. At the same time, MiniReef brand systems were being imported to International Seaboard (a livestock wholesaler also in a Chicago suburb). These were complete glass wet/dry systems (tank included) that were assembled in Holland and shipped to the USA (many arrived shattered). Because of trademark and patent issues George Smit was not allowed to use the name "Minireef". But it was too late for the general hobbyist community, as the term was universally applied (like we call any flying disc a Frisbee, and any flavored gelatin Jello, and any tissue Kleenex).
MiniReef brand always used DLS with a single tray of submerged coral gravel below it. They also came with extremely effective (though cranky) drip denitrifiers that used methyl alcohol in dialysis bags to administer a carbon source to the dentrifiers. They also had protein skimmers (though somewhat crude) with wooden air diffusers. They came with multiple European fluorescent tubes. America had never seen anything quite like it and hobbyists were fully captivated.
dizzy":263es3gg said:
I first saw protein skimmers advertised when I got interested in the saltwater hobby in 1970 (I was 8 years old). They were Sanders brand and were advertised in Tropical Fish Hobbyist and Marine Aquarist magazine. They described the Piccolo (smallest) and many other larger models. Sanders skimmers (Germany) were already technologically advanced by then, and with a powerful air pump and wooden diffuser they were amazing devices. Sanders also was marketing their ozonisers at the same time. The combo of skimmer/ozoniser probably made up for a distinct lack of detailed husbandry protocol back then. Continual pollutant export (the skimmer) along with effective sterilization and oxidation (the ozonizer) really allowed for successful systems in spite of the "disease cloud" and lack of information that hung over every marine hobbyist's head.
omg, yes, some of us are really getting old-LOL !!!
Reading this thread brings back so many ways we have changed over the years. Hobbyists complain about the price of things now-but they sure dont have the costs that we had back then !!!!!
Or all the "fussing" we used to have to do , either.
I remember spending over $15,000.00 to set up a 135 gallon reef tank, that I can now set my customers up with a better system/animals etc, for under $7,000.00.
Still have a lot of those OLD components sitting in my basement as a reminder too-LOL !!!
Reading this thread brings back so many ways we have changed over the years. Hobbyists complain about the price of things now-but they sure dont have the costs that we had back then !!!!!
Or all the "fussing" we used to have to do , either.
I remember spending over $15,000.00 to set up a 135 gallon reef tank, that I can now set my customers up with a better system/animals etc, for under $7,000.00.
Still have a lot of those OLD components sitting in my basement as a reminder too-LOL !!!
I just scanned a Marine Aquarium Instruction Manual from 1954. Go look: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=35381 
It's worth mentioning that the first American saltwater-only aquarium store named Coral Reef Exhibits opened in Florida in 1954. It was started by Robert Straughan, author of the aquarium manual I posted in the General Forum: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=35381
just an fyi add-on...
an author by the name of T. Ravensdale wrote a book called 'exotic coral fishes' or some such-with a chapter on lee eng's work, and instructions on how to build a crude skimmer, and 'the marine aquarium in theory and practice' by Cliff W. Emmens, published circa the early '70's also had a blurb or three on Eng's work with keeping corals in captivity, w/insttructions on how to build a cheesy skimmer.
i had both books- absolute classics
an author by the name of T. Ravensdale wrote a book called 'exotic coral fishes' or some such-with a chapter on lee eng's work, and instructions on how to build a crude skimmer, and 'the marine aquarium in theory and practice' by Cliff W. Emmens, published circa the early '70's also had a blurb or three on Eng's work with keeping corals in captivity, w/insttructions on how to build a cheesy skimmer.
i had both books- absolute classics
vitz":3e2jocf4 said:just an fyi add-on...
an author by the name of T. Ravensdale wrote a book called 'exotic coral fishes' or some such-with a chapter on lee eng's work, and instructions on how to build a crude skimmer, and 'the marine aquarium in theory and practice' by Cliff W. Emmens, published circa the early '70's also had a blurb or three on Eng's work with keeping corals in captivity, w/insttructions on how to build a cheesy skimmer.
i had both books- absolute classics
FYI,
The first book I had that mentioned marine aquariums was a 10th edition (1966) of Exotic Aquarium Fishes by Dr. William Innes. One of my favorite books in my collection is "The Saltwater Aquarium For Tropical Marine Invertebrates" by Peter Wilkens. (1977) I also have three English edition copies of "Carnival Under the Sea" by Rene Catala. Does anyone else have Catala? BTW "Treasures of the Tropic Seas" by Rene Catala is another "finstatic" book.
dizzy,
the innes book is my all time favorite fw fish book only general fish book for fw i ever saw that actually had info in it about the badis badis
he also had the first full color photo of a fw fish published in a hobby book, a whole family of scalare angels
the innes book is my all time favorite fw fish book
only general fish book for fw i ever saw that actually had info in it about the badis badis he also had the first full color photo of a fw fish published in a hobby book, a whole family of scalare angels
I have Catala's "Treasures of the Tropic Seas". Of course, you know that Elegance corals (Catalaphyllia jardinei) are named after him. Actually that coral is named after both Catala and Jardine (a Victorian-era naturalist).
I also have the Innes book that vitz mentioned. My copy is nearly pristine and does have the photo of the angelfish family. It also has a wonderful chromolithograph plate in the frontpiece that is of a pair of rasboras.
I will scan the angelfish family photo (actually the photo is used to depict Sagittaria, not the angels) when I get a chance, and present it here.
I have a few other obscure saltwater aquarium books from the 50's and 60's. One is unique and written by a woman in 1955.
I also have the Innes book that vitz mentioned. My copy is nearly pristine and does have the photo of the angelfish family. It also has a wonderful chromolithograph plate in the frontpiece that is of a pair of rasboras.
I will scan the angelfish family photo (actually the photo is used to depict Sagittaria, not the angels) when I get a chance, and present it here.
I have a few other obscure saltwater aquarium books from the 50's and 60's. One is unique and written by a woman in 1955.
John,
Here is a picture of two of my copies of "Carnival Under the Sea" one was signed by Catala in 1970 at Noumea. Catala was light years ahead of everyone else back then. Let me know if you want one, maybe we can work something out. I would like for you to have one. Both have the original paper sleeve and the insert poster of a feather star. (top)
Mitch
Here is a picture of two of my copies of "Carnival Under the Sea" one was signed by Catala in 1970 at Noumea. Catala was light years ahead of everyone else back then. Let me know if you want one, maybe we can work something out. I would like for you to have one. Both have the original paper sleeve and the insert poster of a feather star. (top)
Mitch
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