We have a fine array of excellent contributors from all over the world here at Ultramarine; these include many highly regarded and widely published authors, well-respected reef enthusiasts, experts in marine biology, aquarium chemistry, tank physics and oceanic conservationists. Below are brief details of some recent contributors.
|
As well as providing UM with top-notch articles and photographs, we are now lucky enough to have Richard as our Editor - See our 'Meet the Editor' page. Richard fell in love with the oceans a long time ago and has been lucky enough to mix a passion for photography with a love of scuba diving and has spent a great deal of time exploring the wrecks and reefs of the red sea. Richard and his wife Angie have been reef keepers for several years, they both admit to spending far too much money indulging their hobby. Richard and Angie are both very interested in the issues of marine and reef conservation and are keen to encourage other reef keepers to take an active interest in wild reefs through sustainable tourism - which makes reefs valuable to local communities and through supporting sustainable fisheries and aquarium collection. |
|
Originally from Zimbabwe, Alex says she has kept fish since she could first pour a jug of water into a tank. Since coming to the UK she has been able to fulfil a life-long dream of having a marine tank. Alex says “I don't do ‘fussy corals’ as I tend to over feed my tank, and rather concentrate on fish. I am actively involved in promoting captive breeding in the UK and have a couple of pairs who regularly spawn for me, including mandarins and dottybacks.” |
 John ClippertonAn award-winning photographer and lifelong aquarist, John has worked for numerous marine retailers, publishers and manufacturers on a freelance basis. He has also collaborated on a range of projects with senior aquarium experts, and supported organisations such as zoos, public aquaria, conservation initiatives and educational establishments. Acknowledged as a ‘world class’ aquarium photography expert, his images have featured in, and on the covers of, a wide range of publications in recent years and he has written dozens of articles covering a variety of subjects. With extensive knowledge and an eye for naturalistic aquascaping, his aquaria have also won critical acclaim in the reef-keeping community and this included a ‘UK Tank of the Year’ award in 2006. At 35 years of age, he lives with his wife and two small children near Chester, UK. He also maintains a website showcasing his work at: www.digital-reefs.com |
 James FatherreeJames Fatherree has been an aquarium hobbyist since childhood, has been keeping marine aquariums for well over a decade, and has spent many days diving in Florida, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Japan and Indonesia. He also managed a large retail aquarium store, owned and operated an aquarium design, installation, and maintenance business for several years, and spent a summer working as a diver/collector/slave for an aquarium livestock wholesaler in Florida. James has also published well over 100 articles and 1,000 photographs in various aquarium magazines in the U.S. and Europe, and has written and illustrated five books on the topics of reef organisms and marine aquariums, too. If you’d like to know more about the author, visit his homepage at www.fatherree.com/james. |
 Scott FellmanMy name is Scott Fellman, and I’m the consummate reef geek! I bleed saltwater! Much of my life centres around tweaking my protein skimmer, scraping algae, cleaning spills, or figuring out how to unglue my fingers. I owned my first aquarium at age 5. I’ve been keeping saltwater aquariums since I was 12 years old. I love this hobby and the people in it! It’s truly been a lifelong obsession. I’ve mentored fellow hobbyists since 2002 on Bob Fenner’s WetWebMedia.com site, and I was Co-Editor of WWM’s Conscientious Aquarist online magazine for several years. I’ve written articles for Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine, “C” Journal, Reef Builders, UltraMarine and several other online venues. In addition to speaking at clubs and events throughout the U.S., I am past President of my local club, the Marine Aquarium Society of Los Angeles County, presented at MACNA XIX in Pittsburgh, IMAC 2008 in Chicago, MACNA XX in Atlanta, IMAC West in Long Beach, and will be speaking at MACNA XI in Atlantic City. I’m really trying to complete a book on marine biotope aquaria and aquascaping before this century is over! When I’m not trying to replicate the ocean in my aquarium, I’m usually surfing at my local beach (my other obsession), or SCUBA diving in exotic places. I reside in the Los Angeles area. |
 Robert FennerBob has “lived” the science, hobby and business of aquatics in the Philippines, Japan and United States. All phases: collector, wholesale, jobber, retail, design, construction and maintenance. All levels: manager, owner, hatchery work, retail clerk, technician. Published works include several studies on aquatic biological and chemical questions, and an extensive publishing and photographic background in the industry and hobby of aquatics in general. |
 Simon GarrattNow living in Southampton UK with my fiancé Emma. A practicing reefkeeper for over 26 yrs, with a background in engineering and flow dynamics, I’ve been very lucky to be able to link these three passions by designing and building not only my own, but to also consult on, or build numerous reef systems both private and professional across the UK and farther afield. I can regularly be found on www.Ultimatereef.net under my real name. I also have a passion for photography, with images being used regularly by various reefing publications worldwide. When not building and designing reef systems, much of my time is spent promoting reefkeeping through my own site (www.reef-eden.net) which has grown over the years to become one of the largest and most utilised private reef aquarium sites on the net. |
 Alf Jacob NilsenAlf Jacob Nilsen (born 1954) lives with his wife Lise at “Hidra”, a small island on the south-western coast of Norway. He is educated as a teacher from the Academy of Teaching in Stavanger and as a biologist from the University of Bergen. He now works as a teacher in his local community. For many years Alf J. has taken an interest in coral reef biology and worked the coral reef aquarium. He has visited reef areas all around the world and has studied the natural coral reefs habitats up close. Together with his co-author, Svein A. Fosså, he has published a number of books dealing with the coral reef aquarium. He has given lectures in many countries and also written a lot of articles on the biology and techniques of reef biology and the coral reef aquarium. Alf J. also takes an interest in nature photography and runs the photo agency Bioquatic Photo (www.biophoto.net). His photographic works spans from photographing the universe through telescopes to the macro-life of the marine aquarium seen through a microscope. |
 Richard Smith
Richard has recently completed his PhD on the biology and conservation of Pygmy Seahorses. He has been diving since 1996 and has travelled the world photographing and studying the ocean realm. More of Richard's images can be viewed at www.OceanRealmImages.com |
 Tony VargasTony Vargas has been an avid aquarist since the age of seven. He started with freshwater fish and invertebrates. His introduction to saltwater began with under gravel filters in the 70s and he became a coral-a-holic in the early 80s. Tony was among one of the first in the United States to successfully keep and maintain Acropora alive in captivity long term in the mid to late 80s. Tony started to write articles on the husbandry of many different types of coral and reef fish. His articles have been published by several national publications, first in the US, with a monthly column called 'Feature Coral', then published overseas. He has been acknowledged in the Carden Wallace textbook on Acropora (Staghorn Corals of the World), and many others. Mr. Vargas is a successful SCUBA diver who spends his free time diving around the world observing many of these creatures in their natural environment. And, with his writing he has effectively communicated his experiences and observations. An accomplished photographer, with many dives in the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean, many magazines and catalogues seek after his photos. A consultant and frequent lecturer, he has travelled the States and Europe to express effectively his findings on corals and reef fish husbandry. Tony’s motto is simple: Observing these fascinating creatures in their natural environment will allow us better understanding on how to keep these extraordinary creatures successfully in captivity. |
 Paul Whitby
Paul W. Whitby, Ph.D is originally from Nottingham, but moved to the United States in 1995. Currently he lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Lynn. While in the UK, he received his Doctorate from the University of Nottingham in the microbiology of fish diseases, specifically diseases of fish with high economic importance and has published several articles in this field as well as medical microbiology. Currently he is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma where he specializes in the microbiology of paediatric infectious diseases. Paul has served as the President of the Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society (COMAS) from 2002 to 2011, has had several articles published in ReefKeeping and Reefs Magazine and is also a staff writer for Reefs.com and ReefBuilders. He has published several reviews and articles on COMAS, the development of a captive propagation program to conserve coral species, pests and parasites, numerous reviews and recently a series on his favorite subject of aquascaping. In October 2007 his SPS dominated display tank was selected as Reef Keeping Magazine’s Tank of the Month- shortly after this, the tank decided to spring a leak and was taken down. Since then a new system has taken its place. Paul has presented several marine aquarium related seminars at local clubs and conferences including CRASE, Reefstock, ReefFest, IMAC west, and NextWave and is also included in the roster of speakers for MACNA 2012. |
 David WolfendenAfter my degree in Zoology at The University of Reading, I had several years experience in public aquariums, before becoming a lecturer in Animal Management, including Aquatics Management. I am also currently investigating the stress response of marine and freshwater fish during transport, for a postgraduate research degree at The University of Chester. I am also a member of the Society for Experimental Biology and the National Aquarium Workshop. In short, you could say I am a self-confessed fish nerd – and proud of it! After his degree in Zoology at The University of Reading, David had several years experience in public aquariums, before becoming a lecturer in Animal Management, including Aquatics Management. He is also currently investigating the stress response of marine and freshwater fish during transport, for a postgraduate research degree at The University of Chester. David is also a member of the Society for Experimental Biology and the National Aquarium Workshop. In short, according to David, “You could say I am a self-confessed fish nerd – and proud of it!” |
UltraMarine Magazine Editor - Richard Aspinall