mpedersen

Keep those bids going PNWMAS crowd! It's $300+ in value, and it goes to help the Tanks For Teachers program (the kind of thing I think more clubs should be doing!). Not sure Emerald really emphasized that there are 37 back issues PLUS a 1-year subscription. I reach into my own personal CORAL library several times per week - for the most part the information is never "outdated", so you never know when you want to learn something and bam, you have a CORAL issue on that topic. Eg...when I set up my Caribbean display last fall, I pulled the Gorgonian issue out and read it through all over again. Plus, how cool is it to wow your fish friends with a massive collection of CORAL...tell 'em you've been a subscriber for years (I won't share your secret ) 37 Back Issues PLUS 1-Year Subscription - we pulled out all the stops to do this one for the Tanks for Teachers program. It's for a good cause. Heck, bid it up and if you don't need it, donate it to your favorite "Tanks For Teachers" Classroom! Do it for the kids

And for the record...http://www.reef-geeks.com/forums/fish-geeks/5284-holy-crap.html

Is it April 2 in your neck of the woods yet? Indeed, this was a classic April Fool's prank in true Reef Builder's style. Can't believe that "Lightning Maroons" got people not once, but two years in a row back to back! Thanks to Dave for being a good sport about it too...I had the images on hand from his contributions to the Fishroom Talk, and well, this worked better than me saying that I had been holding out and misleading people. Way better fiction this turned out to be Of course, only the parts about Lightning Clowns are actually made up...the best story weaves many strands of truth into the mix.

Indeed, have seen his tanks before. Unclear as to whether he's simply spawned Lawnmowers (as a few people have) or he's actually succeeded in rearing them.

Just swingin' by to say thanks again to you all for bringing me out - arguably it was even more of a treat for me than it was for all of you! Also again have to say thanks to Reef Nutrition and Piscene for the exceptionally generous donations they made to PNWMAS to help with pulling this event together - they already make exceptional products but as I posted on the other thread and said at the meeting, these are two companies who support the hobby in ways you probably won't even ever know. These are the kinds of companies I have no hesitation "endorsing" and as most folks know, my opinion is NEVER for sale - these guys deserve your business! Anyone has breeding questions, well, ya know where to find me!

Totally my bad on the book having missing pages - I snag those whenever I can find them and never noticed it when going through it...would've chewed out the vendor I got it from given I always by them in "Good" to "Excellent" condition - missing pages isn't in either category. David pointed it out the night before as he thumbed through them - wouldn't have brought that copy at all had I known! Thankfully they're photograph pages...the "info" in the book appeared intact! Was a great meeting, a great facility (and great images too photogs!)- thank you all for having me come out! Again, I can't thank Reef Nutrition and Piscene Energetics enough for the contributions they made to this mini-event - I'm no paid shill...these guys make exceptional products and on top of that, they give back more to the hobby that most of you will ever know. It's definitely in your best interests to patronize these guys and use their products...good for your tanks, and good for the hobby! Matt

Re: Videos - would have to be for personal use only. While most content is my own, I have images from other people that I have secured rights for ONLY for use in the actual presentation. Could get me in a LOT of hot water if a talk was rebroadcast, even in private areas. Yes, "what are the chances?" but when it comes to copyright, I don't screw around with copyright. Have had far too many of my own works ripped off (largely Orchid photography) to in turn do the same to someone else who contributed graciously and freely to the project. Also, just a general rule, most "aquarium speakers" don't like to be recorded and the logic is simple - why would anyone go to meetings to meet and interact with a speaker if you can see the presentation online for free? That, and I actually did have one of my presentations "reused" in a fashion I never authorized or permitted and wasn't given credit for...so for several reasons, vids are kinda taboo re: NURI - I am so freakin' stoked. This is just hands down awesome!

LOVE IT! Also, be prepared to break out your raffle ticket money or get into a bidding war or whatever you guys do for fundraising - I'm bringin' out 2 copies of the rare, out-of-print, Reproduction in Reef Fishes by Ronald Thresher as club donations for fundraising! Yes, they are USED copies (good luck trying to find it new). As I like to say - if you want to know how it has sex, it's in THIS BOOK. A must have for any fish nut.

I'll start the rumors that there might be even another really cool industry fellow coming in from out of town for this event...even I am geeked out at how this is shaping up!!! SWEEEEEET! Really looking forward to a great time this Sunday PNWMAS'ers...!

Just throwing it out there now, if there's any particular fish group or species you'd like to see me cover in my "Breeding 101" talk, shoot me a PM and I'll see what I can do to "make it happen"

You guys gotta get this on your calendar LOL - I went there looking for it and couldn't find it No homepage annoucement? This is great, Randy Reed...I just spent time with him in Dallas and I get to see him again already!!! WONDERFUL!

Glad you guys got the location nailed down BTW,it's PedersEn (common error, everyone does it). Matt

Well all, plane tickets got booked today so it's set in stone! I'll be seeing you all on the 27th! And YES, breeding marine fish is my specialty...I like to call marine breeding the "final frontier" of the marine aquarium hobby! And no, we can't ALL breed clownfish! Looks like Fish Breeding 101 will be a good fit Also, my updated full bio (Dave found an old / short one I guess) ----- Matt Pedersen is an interactive software developer and part-time fly fishing guide originally from Chicago, IL and current living in Duluth, MN, USA. Additionally, Matt has experience as a professional orchid breeder and certified fly rod builder. Matt has been a marine aquarist for 24 years, and an aquarist for 29+. After spending time on every side of the aquarium industry (retail, commercial and private maintenance & installation, wholesale, hatchery), he currently considers himself a "professional hobbyist". Most recently, Matt has currently spawned 23 species of marine fish, successfully raising 9 of them to date including one worldwide first (the Harlequin Filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris), as well as attempted another 6 invertebrate species to date. Most all of this was accomplished with less than 100 gallons of total working capacity, and all in closed culture. In 2010, Matt Pedersen was selected as the breeder of choice to work with the now famous "PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish" from the SEASMART program, and chronicles the efforts to propagate this one-of-a-kind fish online at The Lightning Project. Matt Pedersen is credited with starting MOFIB (Marine Ornamental Fish & Invertebrate Breeder's Association) and writing for multiple publications including Coral, Koralle, Practical Fish Keeping, Marine Habitat, Reef Hobbyist Magazine and Reef Builders. Matt has spoken at numerous aquarium clubs and events from coast to coast. He currently sits on the MBI (Marine Breeding Initiative) Council, a project dedicated to bringing the concept of a unified Marine Breeder's Award Program to hobbyist organizations across the country and around the globe. In 2009, Matt was awarded "Aquarist of the Year" honors by both IMAC West and MASNA in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the marine aquarium hobby. Last updated February, 2011.