Maritime aquarium meeting

[nakama]

If you are planning to attend this event please resond so we'll know how to plan this properly.
Thanks,
N

[clittrell]

I'm in, may bring my wife.

Chris


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[fiddly_foo]

I'll let you know have plains to go to he NHRA National's at english town on Sunday not sure if I'm going to quilfing on sat. I'll find out and let you know thx's ..Brian

[scolley]

Neil, I'm in. And if there's an open slot. I'd love to bring my wife.

[tank o tang]

Count me in. I'm not sure if I'll have a sitter so might have the 2 kids with me.

[wboyden]

The family and I would love to go, if you got room for 6

[Didi71]

If I can bring the kids, we will be 3.

[Didi71]

If I can bring the kids, we will be 3.

Oops! I didn't realize that this the 2nd day of the World Cup and I am going to a party for the USA-England game. So I won't make it to the Maritime.
Have fun and take some photos if it is allowed.

Didier

[fiddly_foo]

OO yea thats right I'm a huge socer fan too. We should get together at a bar for a game or 2 who do you liket o win it all... Cant belive robben (dutch)got hurt at that expo. game and dorgba ( ivory coast) to hope they both play.. spain look really good torres and villa. On espn they have a free worls cup pickem I did it you should to I'll tell you what Group I'm in I started a room called "reef aquarium cup 2010" thats in espn come join the group and pick your winners.. Tell friends to join this group at espn too.. thx's Brian

[wboyden]

The family and I would love to go, if you got room for 6

Anyone? Yay or Nah?

Do we have a head count yet?

Trying to make family plans for the weekend, Is there anything else we should know? Admission/Parking Charges? Photos allowed?

If we do come down we will be coming from springfield, Ma and planning to make a day of it since its a 2 hour drive. Any suggestions on things to do in the area?

thanks

[rjinct]

Finally just figured my w/e. I will be able attend, would like to bring my son. If there's enough space, my wife said she'd be interested in seeing behind the scenes as well, but only if there is room of course.

[nakama]

Seems like there will be enough room for everyone that wants to come.I'll check wheather we need to pay any admission.
Probably best if we all meet at the entrance at 1:45. I'll post any firther developments.
N

[nakama]

We're confirmed for Saturday at 2. John told me the Aquarium charges $30 per person for a behind the scene tour. This is being waived., all he asks is that we all pay for general admission. See everyone on Saturday.
Neil

[scolley]

GREAT news Neil! Is there any issue if more people turn up than have posted here? 'cuz I'm sure that's gonna happen, and just want to get ahead of that potential problem.

Thanks!

[nakama]

I think we're Ok with the number of people. 30 wiould be the max,and it looks like we will pretty far below that figure. If a lot of strange people show up then YOU will ask to see their ARK cards!
Regards, Neil

[scolley]

If a lot of strange people show up then YOU will ask to see their ARK cards!
Regards, NeilGoodness! Let's hope it does not come to that. But if it does, I don't think Joe can make it, so that grim duty would fall to Georgi, our "Lesser Poohbah".

And if we needed some form of tiebreaker - hopefully that won't be necessary - will have to be membership based... members getting first dibs, visitors after that.

But let's hope we don't have that problem. :thumbsup:

[Obi-dad]

My mom visited which is good for me since she isn't able to travel much anymore - but I missed this meeting - I was looking forward to the behind the scenes tour! You guys have a good time?

[clittrell]

Neil I had a great time! Was sorry I had to leave. Thanks for setting this up it was great. Wish more people were there it is not something they are going to do all the time and John was very good to take us around and answer all our questions.

Thanks again!

Chris

[tank o tang]

Sorry I didn't make it to the meeting but I had a family event that my wife reminded me of and also had other stuff to deal with that came up. Hope all went well.

[scolley]

Well, we had very from people... Neil, RJ, Chris, a couple of wives, a few kids, and myself. But we had a AWESOME time.

Our host - John Lenzuiski - has been with the Aquarium since it's inception, and he was VERY knowledgeable. Really nice guy too.

I'm not sure if John ever told us his exact job, but you got the really strong sense that he was the top "fish guy", possibly all of the animals. There was nothing about them that he did not know. Same for the equipment that keeps them alive and healthy.

Our tour went pretty much in the order you see the aquarium, starting with the smaller LI sound tanks, onto larger coastal tanks, then the huge open water shark tank, then the jelly fish, and finally the reef tanks. But rather than looking on the outside, we went behind and/or over all of them! I'm a real aquarium plumbing geek, so I was in heaven.

I think everyone was knocked out to see the sharks up close and personal... leaning over the top of their tank. (Which BTW apparently no one is EVER allowed into). But seeing their various breeding tanks was cool too - jelly fish, sea horses, and more.

And it was a treat to listen to John's philosophy about fish keeping:


Water conditions are important, but not as important as water stability.
Sufficient dissolved oxygen is by far the most important water parameter.
Number one thing to provide in a power outage is current and air.
Keep support systems simple.
Heavy use of reverse flow under gravel filtration instead of high dependence on external filters.
Water changes generally at a rate of 15-20% a week.


If I missed something, someone who went, please chime in.

The tour itself lasted 3 hours. We REALLY got the show.

THANKS for arranging this Neil! I'll pitch in to help show John our appreciation. It was AWESOME!

[rjinct]

Been traveling or works the past 2 weeks and haven't had a chance to write until today... Thanks to Neil for setting up...my wife and kids (well the 3 y/o) had a great time. If you haven't discussed/done already, also will chip-in for whatever is decided to show our gratitude.