Dear Aquarist,

Ralph Chi of Pacific Aquarium and Pet. Ralph was our guest speaker for the evening and he surprised all of us with bags of aquatic goodies for every member in the audience. We had 115 people at the meeting and each person received a full bag of items from his store. Ralph’s topic for the evening was “The Thriving Aquarium Retail Still Lives”. He really knows his fish, plants and marine livestock. His store has everything. This generous person is having a huge sale and giveaways for BAS members only. You must bring your current membership card. The first 19 members for each day, that spend $50 each, will receive a Pacific Aquarium Easter egg. Inside the egg will be a note on what you have won – this could be a fish net, an aqua-scaping pincer, or a complete Fluval (or equivalent) setup that includes tank, filter, lighting, etc. This special weekend is on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 and only for our members!

April is also our 50/50 month – many of our members brought in bags of livestock for our auction and they shall be rewarded next month with half of what their fish, plants or corals went for.
Next month we will not have a speaker – it is our GIANT SPRING AUCTION! There will be hundreds of items available – livestock, lights, aquariums, chemicals, filters and everything you can imagine, so be there or lose out on great bargains and hard to find fish. The Giant Auction is Friday, May 10, doors open at 7:30 PM. As always there is free parking and refreshments.

Please refrain from selling or purchasing any items from individuals on site at the aquarium, it is strictly prohibited.
We have new BAS shirts and BAS hats, hurry and get yours while supplies last.

Remember, we can always use the help. If anyone wants to help out in any way, please let us know. See me personally or any officer or board member.  If anyone has any topics they want to hear expert speakers on or any specific speaker, please tell us that also.
We would like to thank our members and our sponsors for their constant generous donations that keep us going.  Anyone who has any aquatic items, supplies or equipment, and that would include healthy livestock of fish, corals or plants, we always welcome the donation.

For information on upcoming speakers or to leave a message for us please call our BAS Hotline at 718-837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, held at Education Hall, NY Aquarium, on the first Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at 347-277-4793.

Thanks and see you next month!

Steven Matassa
President  

Dear Aquarist,

The cold weather did not keep our members from gathering to hear Richard Ross of the Steinhart Aquarium speak. Richard’s topic for the evening was “Coral Spawning and Secore”. This is Richard’s second talk at BAS and it was captivating.

Richard spoke on coral spawning, and the work they are doing at the Steinhart Aquarium.

Next month, our guest speaker will be Ralph Chi, owner of Pacific Aquarium and Pet. Ralph has a very nice store on Delancey Street, in lower Manhattan. He has a great staff of knowledgeable and caring professionals.

We will also have a 50/50 on donated livestock. When you bring in your donations please let us know if you are participating in the 50/50 or if it’s a straight donation. This is limited to livestock (fish, corals, plants) only with a 10 bag limit. There will be no reserve pricing on aquatic donations at our auctions.
Please refrain from selling or purchasing any items from individuals on site at the aquarium, it is strictly prohibited.

Doors open at 7:30, and of there is free parking and refreshments.

We have new BAS shirts and BAS hats, hurry and get yours while supplies last.

Remember, we can always use help. If anyone wants to help out in any way, please let us know. See me personally or any officer or board member. If anyone has any topics they want to hear expert speakers on, or any specific speaker, please tell us that also.

We would like to thank our members and our sponsors for their constant generous donations that keep us going. Anyone who has any aquatic items, supplies or equipment, and that would include healthy livestock of fish, corals or plants, we always welcome the donation.
BAS is looking to rent a street level garage for our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have one or know of one please let us know.

For information on upcoming speakers or to leave a message for us please call our BAS Hotline at 718-837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, held at Education Hall, NY Aquarium, on the first Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at 347-277-4793.

Thanks and see you next month!

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

February is always cold and damp but our speaker warmed us up when he started his presentation titled, “A Pond Grew In Brooklyn.” Joe Graffagnino, former President and Corresponding Secretary, was our guest lecturer. His talk was enlightening and had us stimulated for setting up a pond and stocking it with koi and goldfish. Joe spoke about the trials and tribulations about building and maintaining a pond. The audience was quite interested since they asked lots of questions.

 
For March we are bringing in Richard Ross from California. Richard spoke at our Society years ago and then his topic was, “Cephalopods: In There An Octopus In Your Future?” back in 2011. His topic for next month is “Coral Spawning and Secore.” Let’s welcome Richard back with a great BAS hello!

 
The Brooklyn Aquarium Society just turned 108 years young on Valentine’s Day. We are the oldest and largest general aquarium club in the United States and that is because of you – our members, our Board and Officers and the love we all have for aquatic creatures. So come on down on March 8 for an enjoyable evening with great people. WE always try to have an interesting topic for you and our aquatic auction and sales tables can’t be beat. As always there will be FREE parking and FREE refreshments, doors open at 7:30 pm.

 
New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color. 

Due to confusion at a previous meeting, we need to reinforce policy issues: BAS will no longer permit reserve prices on aquatic donations in our auction and no individuals, member or guests, are allowed to sell or buy anything from members or guests on New York Aquarium grounds.

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer had to leave due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

We started off the new year with a presentation that was truly revolutionary; our very first streaming video presentation by Dr. Tim Hovanec. His topic for the evening was “Modern Day Approach to Chemistry.” Dr. Hovanec was in California and the PowerPoint presentation went perfectly. Dr. Hovanec saw us and was able to answer questions as if he was in the room with us. We are thinking about doing this with speakers who live great distances from us.

Next month we have one of our own, Joe Graffagnino, former president of BAS, will give a talk about the creation of his koi/goldfish pond. His topic is called A Pond Grew In Brooklyn. The presentation will be about the trials and tribulations of building above ground and below ground pond in concrete-filled Brooklyn.

Also, on Saint Valentines Day our great society will be 108 years young. We are the oldest general aquarium club in the United States and that is because of you – our members, our Board and Officers and the love we all have for aquatic creatures. So come on down on February 8 for a fun night filled with great people, an interesting topic and aquatic auction and sales tables that can’t be beaten. As always there will be FREE parking and FREE refreshments, doors open at 7:30 pm.

New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color.

Due to confusion at a previous meeting, we need to reinforce policy issues: BAS will no longer permit reserve prices on aquatic donations in our auction and no individuals, member or guests, are allowed to sell or buy anything on New York Aquarium grounds.

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer had to leave due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

Our Holiday Party was absolutely wonderful. We had 70 members come to the Flaming Grill Buffet on Nostrand Avenue. The food was delicious and plentiful and the staff was top notch. We had a private room for our members and guests, which also made it easier to present our awards and certificates to our outstanding members, sponsors and donators. All of which have kept us going now for almost 108 years.

As a reminder November was our semi-annual 50/50 on livestock. We will be giving out the member results at our January meeting on the 11th. So make sure you are there. Our January event will have Dr. Tim Hovanec of Tim’s Aquatics. His topic for the evening will be Modern Day Approach to Aquarium Chemistry. See you again on January 11, 2019, doors open at 7:30 pm so come on down.

All this would not be possible without our sponsors, such as local stores and manufactures. When you go to the local pet shops let them know you are a BAS member. They need to know we are giving back to them. We also have many members donate to our club every meeting. If you have old tank, equipment (that still functions), or healthy livestock that you wish to donate you can bring them to any meeting.

New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color.

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer had to leave due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

Happy Holidays and a healthy, safe and prosperous 2019!!!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

November brought in cold wind and lots of rain but we were warm and dry with our guest speaker Greg Sage. Greg came in from Colorado (yes, his arms were tired from flying that far), and he gave us a very interesting topic for the evening – “Selective Breeding.” Greg runs an interesting wholesale/retail fish business called Select Aquatics. You can check out and buy fish from him on his website, www.SelectAquatics.com. Greg also has a plethora of YouTube videos on “how to” with various aquatic topics. You can reach Greg via email at selectaquatics.com. Greg concentrated on cullying fish and separating the most colorful or those with traits, such as higher fins or longer/colorful tails and retain those specimens to breed and have better stock of fish. It was a great presentation and an educational experience.

 
November was our semi-annual 50/50 on livestock. We had many bags of high quality freshwater fish, marine fish, both fresh and marine plants and invertebrates, along with hard to get live corals. Many attendees went away with great bargains. We had aquariums, lighting, pumps, filters and aquatic supplies and food. Everything you need to keep and maintain your aquatic creatures with the best of everything to keep them happy and healthy.

 
All this would not be possible without our sponsors, such as local stores and manufactures. When you go to the local pet shops let them know you are a BAS member. They need to know we are giving back to them. We also have many members donate to our club every meeting. If you have old tank, equipment (that still functions), or healthy livestock that you wish to donate you can bring them to any meeting.

 
Our next meeting is our Holiday Party on December 14, from 7:00 -10:00 pm at the Flaming Grill on Nostrand Ave., between Avenue Y & Z. Please see our notice in this Bulletin. There is no regular meeting and no fish, just good friends and family gathering for holiday festivities. Hope to see you there.
New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color.

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer had to leave due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

Our October giant auction turned out to be just that – GIANT! With over 200 items that included livestock, tanks and equipment, it was a huge success. A cool October night as expected, turned out a packed house. With a lot of familiar faces and some new attendees, the night went without a hitch, thanks to our dedicated staff.

Few members probably realize what is entailed in getting one of our shows together. I can tell you first hand, from doing it for about 15 years now, it is exhausting. We have about 20 board members, all with a job or two to do. We start preparing weeks before the events, and stay hours after to clean up. So at the next event you’re at, don’t be afraid to lend a hand.

All this would not be possible without our sponsors, such as local stores and manufactures. When you go to the local pet shops let them know you are a BAS member. They need to know we are giving back to them. We also have many members donate to our club every meeting. If you have old tank, equipment (that still functions), or healthy livestock that you wish to donate you can bring them to any meeting.

Our next meeting is November 9th at the New York Aquarium Education Hall. We will have Greg Sage speaking on “Selective Breeding.” As always FREE parking and FREE refreshments for our members. Hope to see you there.

New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color.

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer Al Turrisi must leave his position due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! Please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

September starts our new year and as usual we do it right. We started with a great plant program headed by Justin Spall. This was Justins first speaker presentation in front ofd a live audience. You would nevere know it because he was a pro. Justin is the owner/operator of www.H2Oplants.com, he is also a huge YouTube celebrity. Justin discussed the various lighting devices, light spectrums to bring the best out of your plants, fertilizers for different types of plants, and the use of CO2 and how it helps with plant growth. Justin answered everyone’s questions in basic language without a lot of technical gibberish. He did a fantastic job. We all appreciate his wonderful presentation.

Our next event will be our Giant Fall Auction on October 12. No speaker, just freshwater fish, plants, marine fish, plants and coral. We will have several hundred items available for your pleasure, including rare and hard to find aquatic treasures. So come on over for a fantastic evening. As always there will be FREE parking and FREE refreshments.

Please mark on your calendar that on November 9 we will have Greg Sage as our guest speaker. We will be bringing Greg in from Colorado. His topic for the evening will be, “Selective Breeding.” So plan on giving him a warm BAS welcome.

I know that we had promised a trip or two over the summer but we just could not work out the lagistics of it. Sorry about that, but we hope to have more trips in the near future. One will be to Pacific Aquariu on Delancey Street. Ralph Chi has been a BAS supporter and sponsor for many years. He wants to offer us a two day, BAS members only, huge discounts at his shop. Stay tuned for more info on this and other ideas we have for you. We plan on sending out an email to all active members about this trip in the near future.

New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color. Everyone enjoyed the supplies and clothing tables and auction items.

Anyone wishing to donate any healthy livestock (fish, plants or live corals) or dry goods can bring them to any general meeting. Donations are always welcome and appreciated – it’s what keeps our club healthy!

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer Al Turrisi must leave his position due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! So please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455, or visit our modern website at WWW.BROOKLYNAQUARIUMSOCIETY.ORG.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

June brings warm weather and sunny skies, but it is also the final event before our summer hiatus. We ended our fiscal year with a fantastic speaker – James Perrenod, President of Discus R Us, he is also the President of the Jersey Shore Aquarium Society. James topic for the evening was “Discus Keeping Q & A Session.” The entire event was asking and answering questions. All of us learned a lot. It was educational as well as entertaining. James invited us to his fish warehouse in Ocean Gate, New Jersey and we plan on carpooling there in mid-August. James will give a 25% discount to all that attend this trip. James has many other types of freshwater fish such as cory’s, angelfish, cichlids, tetras, etc., as well as marine fish and corals.
We plan on sending out an email to all active members about this trip in the near future.

New BAS shirts arrived and they were selling like hotcakes! Many of you noticed that the BAS officers and Board members wore the regular BAS shirt with the word TEAM on the back. We did this to identify our members that work and help organize our events. We also have new BAS hats in a light blue color. Everyone enjoyed the supplies and clothing tables and auction items.

Our next event will be on September 14 and our guest speaker will be Justin Spall of www.H2Oplants.com. Justin is a big hit on YouTube! His topic for the evening will be “Setting Up A Plant Room”.

Anyone wishing to donate any healthy livestock (fish, plants or live corals) or dry goods can bring them to any general meeting. Donations are always welcome and appreciated – it’s what keeps our club healthy!

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer Al Turrisi must leave his position due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking to rent a garage, street level, to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! So please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

For more info, please call our BAS Hotline at (718) 837-4455.

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which is held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

From all of us at BAS please have a happy and healthy summer! Like the song said, “See You In September”, unless your going with us for the August carpool trip.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

May felt more like April with the cool and wet weather, but we always have sunny skies at our Giant Spring auction. We got new style hats in a light blue color with our logo in gold. We ordered more of our BAS shirts and they should arrive by our next meeting. Our discounted shirts, hats and patches kept the crowds looking for more. The aquatic supplies, books and equipment tables held our hobbyists’ interest. The auction had over 200+ bags of livestock, not counting aquariums, lights and aquatic stands. It was a late night, but our members enjoyed it.

In June, we will have James Perrenod, President of Discus R Us; his topic for the evening will be “Discus Keeping Q & A Session.” As always, there will be free parking and refreshments. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Entry is free to all active members. Non-members are asked to donate $5.00 at the door to help offset expenses; however, their $5.00 that night is good towards the cost of annual membership. Members receive discounts in most of our sponsoring stores and free entry to all our giant auctions.

Anyone wishing to donate any healthy livestock (fish, plants or live corals) or dry goods can bring them to any general meeting. Donations are always welcome and appreciated – it’s what keeps our club healthy!

I must ask for our members’ help – our Treasurer Al Turrisi must leave his position due to personal reasons. Please, if you have experience in accounting, we need your help.

Also, we are looking for a garage to hold our BAS equipment and supplies. If you have something reasonable, please let us know.

June is our annual election night – if anyone is looking to be on the Board or run for an officer’s position, please let me know. We need for you to step up and have your voice heard. Please try to help us to help you make and build a better BAS.

If you want to see different speakers and learn about different aquatic systems, fish, plants and marine life, please let me know. The elected officials of the Brooklyn Aquarium Society are here to serve YOU! So please let us know what you want and why, because it would be helpful to everyone. It is important that you visit and patronize our sponsors. It goes full circle: by helping them, they are also helping you as hobbyists and everyone is helping the Brooklyn Aquarium Society, so help us, help you!

On a more personal note – any member who wants to attend a Board meeting, which are held at Education Hall of the New York Aquarium on the 1st Friday of the month, September through June, please notify me at (347) 277-4793 by the Tuesday before the meeting.

Steven Matassa
President

Dear Aquarist,

April has brought in Joe Ferdenzi as our guest speaker. Joe’s topic for the evening was “Basic Marine Aquariums.” Joe discussed the basics on setting up and running a small marine aquarium for fish or corals. His information was on low cost and easy to run aquariums. This is what beginners need to determine if they want to get more deeply involved in the marine ecosystem. It was a great talk and newbie’s learned a lot.

Our next event is our giant May Auction. There will not be a speaker just livestock, lighting, equipment, filters, aquariums and all types of marine items, freshwater products and plant supplements and fertilizers. We expect to have several hundred items available for our members to choose from. Our members and sponsors donate heavily to show the best quality items they have. Get there early to view the items of livestock and dry goods. You will not be disappointed! Make no mistake, be there or lose out on unbelievable and rare species that you may never see again.
As always free parking and refreshments. Hope to see you there.

We would like to thank our members and our sponsors for their constant generous donations that keep us going. Anyone who has any aquatic items, supplies or equipment, and that would include healthy livestock of fish, corals or plants, we always welcome the donation.

If anyone has any topics they want to hear an expert speak on, or any specific speaker, please tell us. We shall do our best to bring in those guest lecturers that you have been looking for.

Steven Matassa
President