Artificial Reefs

Well, some may be for them, some against. Much of these are up for speculation. I have often called the term a false definition for dumping unwanted things into the ocean. Then other people claim that its beneficial. I can see how this is possible. While the fish of our planet need a place to hide, many of these things are not exactly what one would think of when they hear the term reef. Ships, building blocks, Metal balls with holes, and even old tires are sometimes used as these. My opinion is what is next, are we going to just start dumping our old refrigerators out and calling them a reef too. In my honest opinion if a ship went down on its own or was shot down such as pearl harbor then its a marvel to see. By all means these places should be preserved but, dumping the USS Bush on the floor of the ocean just to call it an artificial reef, nah. I look at some of the photos and see trash. This is junk no one wanted and something that someone said ohh, reef!..  Never the less if people want to do this no one will stop them until some drastic change is found. I have never dove these sites so I cant say what they are like in person. I am sure there are studies that will prove me wrong and say that they are beneficial and that I am just some quirk that doesn’t get it, well…. I am that quirk I guess.  I say leave the trash on the land and get the tires out of the ocean.

What is your opinion on this? Do you think Artificial reefs are beneficial or do you see them as I do, trash. Let me know what you think.

 

Hermits… Warriors at heart

As I sit here in my slumber, slumped over my computer reading articles and trying to tune out the screaming horde that is in the front room, I came across a picture of a hermit I took. I immediately recalled a conversation with a friend of mine that swore hermits were not cool and he wouldn’t have them in his tank. He saw them as girlish and not very good creatures for a cool aquarium set up. I on the other hand have watched these little critters for some time now. Various tanks I have owned they were the first troops in and the last troops to leave when it was all over. I have watched these little soldiers gang up on another member of the same size and rip him out of his shell and leave the victim laying on the ground scrambling for cover before a big fish took advantage of it. I used to have a mix of blue knuckle hermits and Scarlet red legs. I often times would sit and watch them and think of them as the Bloods and the Crips, one gang against the other. I often times would catch two or three Blue knuckles with a Scarlet hymned up in the corner like they were fixing to beat him down and take his money and shoes. I never saw these guys as being not worthy of front and center attention. They have always been some of the most laughable critters in the tanks and I would urge anyone to pay more attention to the behaviors of these little clan members. They might just surprise you.