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 Inland Aquatics Tour (Part 2)
Inland's R.E.E.F Conservation Programs
Once the facility was up and running, we opened Inland Aquatics, providing another 10,000+
gallons of display systems and creating the Largest Living Coral Reef Display in the
Nation.
 Mini System As Seen From Inland’s Observation Hallway
Inland set out with three main objectives; utilize the facility’s resources to
introduce reef ecosystems to the general public, provide hobbyists and researchers an
unparalleled diversity of cultured marine ornamentals, and inspire and support increased
captive propagation within the hobby. To meet these goals, we developed Inland
Aquatics’ R.E.E.F Conservation Program. The four pillars of this program are
as follows:
Reducing reliance on wild caught
organisms….. Inland serves as a "clearing
house" for captive bred fish, corals and invertebrates. Our in house production is
augmented with the cultured stock of hobbyists and other mariculturists, allowing us to
provide the widest variety of cultured ornamentals in the world. 
We also do all we can to inspire and support hobbyists interested in captive reproduction.
In addition to carrying a wide array of breeding literature, consultation and supplies, we
offer an unprecedented variety of breeding and naturally paired animals. Further, we
encourage all hobbyists to purchase natural pairings of fish, whether they intend to breed
them or not. Fish kept in pairs trios or other natural associations are happier,
healthier, less likely to cause problems with their tankmates. More importantly, they
behave as they would in wild and produce lots of plankton which for the coral and other
filter feeders. Most importantly, I believe we move one step closer to commercially
producing a new species each time a hobbyist witnesses its reproductive cycle.
 Lastly, although many of our customers are
loyal to us do to proximity, we encourage everyone to support all of the mariculture
facilities such as Aquatic Wildlife, C-QUEST, GARF, ORA, Reef Science International,
Scientific Corals, and Tropicorium. We are also working to increase communication between
these related interests and hope to sponsor and/or host a Breeders’ Conference
sometime in 1998 to achieve this.
Exhibition of the Largest Living Coral
Reef Display in the USA...
Public awareness is key! We can’t expect a democratic
commitment to conserve resources so few have witnessed. Land lovers must be educated about
incredible resources found in the "underwater rainforest" of the reef. We have
found that the casual introduction provided by a captive reef is often all that’s
required inspiring the ignorant. Unfortunately, few public aquaria have shown an active
interest in the display and research of living reef microcosms. Inland Aquatics strives to
take up the slack by providing access to the facility six days a week.
To further this goal, we formed Aquatic Education, Inc., a Not For Profit Company
dedicated to providing outstanding educational programs about all aspects of marine
ecosystems. Aquatic Education presents to groups in the
facility and on the road, as well as providing guided facility tours each weekend. So far
this year, the Aquatic Education program has hosted over 15,000 Midwestern school
children.
Aquatic Education Director, Marlee McDonald in the Classroom with a
Small Group
Educating the public about the benefits
of reef microcosms...
In 1996, we introduced the ecoTarium , a miniature
version of the production systems, including Refugia. We encourage hobbyists to establish
marine microcosms, rather than conventional reefs with a few selected groups of
invertebrates and few, if any, fish. The ecoTarium allows any aquarist to experience the
stability and diversity we have witnessed for years in our commercial systems.
Field Research at the Inland
station.
 The Inland mariculture
facility provides a unique opportunity for marine research. Several local Universities,
including Indiana University, Indiana State University, , Purdue University and Rose
Hulman, as well as the Smithsonian are currently involved in projects ranging from
quantifying calcification to studying the relationship between corals and clams and their
zooxanthallae. Our staff is presently involved in a long-term effort aimed at improving
detection of poor importer handling techniques. We hold all of our fish for 10 days and
many for several weeks prior to shipping, in hopes of weeding out any compromised animals.
By doing so, we are able to detect poor suppliers, much more readily than most. Each such
source that we identify saves countless lost animals and wasted dollars.
Every aspect of this our R.E.E.F program is aimed at sustaining our hobby and natural
resources by appealing to new hobbyists and insuring their long term success. Everything
we do is directed toward better hobbyist success and satisfaction. After all, I want to
see each new hobbyist keep spending money at Inland for the next 20 years!
 Like we always say...
DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT...
COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Our Door's Open Seven Days a Week!
Come Visit Us:
Tuesday through Saturday from 12-7pm
Sunday from 12-6pm
Monday for wholesale (by appointment only)
Call ahead, and we can accommodate tours for any sized group.
Check out our Aquatic Education programs.
Send mail to InlandAquatics@aol.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
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CHANGING THE WAY 
