Optimal Aquarium Plant Lighting: Balancing Light Intensity for Growth
The intensity of a light source reaching any surface is measured in units of lux. Natural bright sunlight produces about 70,000-80,000 lux, although much of this is lost by the time it reaches aquatic plants. The lux requirement of aquarium plants varies between roughly 300 and 6,000 lux, depending on the species.
Best Metal Halide Bulbs For Reef Tanks
A reef tank thrives when it's provided with the right type of lighting, and the metal halide bulbs are considered the top choice by many aquarists. These bulbs offer a unique blend of qualities that make them indispensable for recreating the natural habitat of corals and marine life.
Best Canister Filters Reviews - Top 10 & Complete Guide
Introduction Among types of fish tanks filter, the canister appears to be the most popular one. Thanks to the great combination of biological, chemical and mechanical filtration, the filter does a great job in keeping your fish tank water crystal clean, ensuring a healthy and clean habitat for your fish. Photo credit Foter.com Because you are bombarded with exaggerated advertisements of manufacturers, you find it a task of a challenge to get a good deal.
Best Background Aquarium Plants
Aquarium plants play a vital role in creating a healthy and visually stunning underwater environment. Background aquarium plants are particularly important as they provide an aesthetically pleasing backdrop, privacy for fish, and a place for beneficial bacteria to colonize. Let's explore some of the best background aquarium plants to consider for your tank.
10 Best Fish Tank Filters Reviews | Aquarium Filters For Your Choice
Whether you are an aquariology or just want to buy a filter for your aquarium, buying a high-quality and functional filter is always necessary. In fact, you are now bombarded with multiple advertisements from different brand names, which may confuse you. Photo credit Foter.com If you haven't got any filter that may fulfill your need, read the review of top 10 best fish tank filters. Perhaps you may come across a suitable one.
Upgrade Your Aquarium: Best Fish Tank Filter System for Marine Life
Choosing the ideal filter system for your fish tank is essential in maintaining a healthy and clean environment for your aquatic pets. A high-quality filter system can make all the difference in ensuring optimal water quality and clarity, while also prolonging the life of your fish. In conclusion, the best fish tank filter system is one that effectively combines mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration, while also providing appropriate size compatibility, flow rate, ease of maintenance, and low noise levels.
Best Hardy Background Aquarium Plants
When setting up an aquarium, one of the essential components for a vibrant and healthy environment is the background plants. These hardy aquatic plants not only provide a visually stunning backdrop for your tank, but they also offer numerous benefits for the ecosystem, such as oxygenation, shelter, and a natural habitat for the aquatic life.
Tank Selection and Construction Tips for the Best Glass Aquariums
A well-designed glass aquarium can not only serve as a beautiful home for your aquatic pets but also become an eye-catching centerpiece in your living space. When it comes to selecting the perfect glass aquarium, a few essential factors can help guide your decision-making process.
What Are Mesenterial Filaments
Aggressive interactions in corallimorphs have only been observed in two genera, Corynactis (spirocysts and homotrichs) and Disco-soma (homotrichs). However, all genera possess at least some form of nematocysts, and these can be quite potent, especially in Pseudo-corynactis, and is likely that further studies will bring this to light.
Best Foreground Plants for Aquariums
A well-designed aquarium should include a variety of plants that enhance its aesthetic appeal and support a healthy ecosystem. Foreground plants play a crucial role in creating depth, texture, and visual interest. They also provide shelter and feeding grounds for small aquatic creatures. This paragraph highlights some of the best foreground plants for aquariums.
Best Undergravel Filter: Jaubert-Style Plenum & Coral Reef Microhabitat
Natural substrate materials of coral reef origin assist greatly in maintaining a proper chemical balance and can be used to create authentic and unusual aquarium microhabitats. On top of the eggcrate, one or more layers of plastic window screening are used to prevent the sand from falling through to the plenum.
Aponogeton Boivinianus
The attractive crinkled leaf and large size of this plant make it an ideal specimen plant for the midground of a larger aquarium. In a heavily planted aquarium where there is competition for light and nutrients, A boivinianus may produce smaller and fewer leaves. The leaves are bright green and sometimes slightly transparent in places. Maximum height 16 in 40 cm , sometimes taller Growth rate Initially fast, but slows as the plant ages Area Midground, Specimen.
The Aquarium As Decoration
I vividly recall the visit one Saturday of a gentleman of about 50, accompanied by a younger man, whom I later learned was both the gentleman s son and the person responsible for the interior design work on his father's residence. Sizing up the situation and instinctively zeroing in on the manager of the shop as his target, the older man strode right up to me. I was, at that moment, standing in front of our magnificent 135-gallon reef display tank. It had only recently received maintenance and...
Induced Phenotypes
Green This is a fake phenotypc because there is no green gene. Wild angelfish from Guyana sometimes have a tint of green or blue on the head, but so far there has never been a green angel based on a mutant gene. Green angels in the trade are ordinary angelfish treated by unscrupulous producers with methyl testosterone, a synthetic male hormone added to the water to enhance colors. Unless the drug is continually added to the water or the diet, the green color fades. These fish may be...
Chapter Eight 211
It also makes the process of acquiring mated pairs of anemonefishes for aquarium breeding purposes quite simple any two juveniles placed together in an appropriate environment will often develop into a pair within several months. Perhaps 10 of 26 species of anemonefishes are available as captive-propagated specimens, with the Common Clownfish Amphiprion o cellar is , Clark's Clownfish A. clarkii , Tomato Clownfish A. frena-tus , and the Maroon Clownfish Premnas...
Family Terapontidae Teraponidae Theraponidae 399grunters or tigerperches
Marine coastal, brackish, and freshwater, Indo-West Pacific Africa to Japan, Fiji, and Samoa . Body oblong to oblong-ovate, somewhat compressed opercle with two spines, lower spine longer dorsal fin with notch, 11-14 spines and 8-14 soft rays, spinous portion depressible into a groove formed by a sheath of scales anal fin with three spines and 7-12 soft rays pelvic fins inserted distinctly behind base of pectoral fins, with one spine and five soft rays caudal fin rounded, truncate, or...
Heteractis Magnifica
A lovely pale green H. magnifica with Amphiprion perideraion. clownfish such as A. chrysopterus with it. The anemone requires less food when clownfish are present. With inadequate lighting this anemone shrinks and eventually dies. Reproduction Asexual reproduction is occasional in the natural environment J. Sprung, pers. obs. and probably occurs by longitudinal fission. Sexual reproduction not reported in captivity. Scientific Name Heteractis magnifica Quoy and Gaimard, 1833 Common Name...
Heterodactyla Hemprichii
This large H. malu photographed on a reef slope in the Solomon Islands has elongate tentacles with corkscrew shape, which makes it really look a lot like Macrodactyla doreensis. J. Sprung Another H. malu with long tentacles that make it closely resemble Macrodactyla doreensis. J. Sprung
The Clownfisk Host Anemone lank
Clownfish and their anemones are popular aquarium subjects, never failing to capture the attention of all who view them. Yet they are widely misunderstood. Before com mitting to creating an aquarium for them, one should consider their special needs. THE HOST ANEMONES. Given its powerful stinging tentacles and its demanding care requirements, the anemone is the Pivotal Species in the aquarium community. Three families of anemones are represented among the clownfish hosts. One,Thalassianthidae,...
Clownfish Host Anemones Difficult Choices
Though the clown fishes are generally a hardy lot, the anemones with which they associate in the wild are not. Some experienced aquarists have come to believe that most Pacific anemones are more difficult to maintain than even the sensitive small-polyped stony corals. Most aquarists should choose between Entacmaea quadricolor and Macrodactyla doreensis and leave the others to the experts. Many species of clownfish will bond with anemones other than their native favorites if they have no other...
Scientific Name Catalaphyllia jardinei Saville Kent 1893
Common Names Elegance Coral, Elegant Coral, Elegans Coral, Wonder Coral, Comb Coral, Meat Coral Catalaphyllia jardinei was named for Dr. Rene Catala, the curator of the aquarium at Noumea, New Caledonia, who displayed this coral under blue and ultraviolet light, showing off its spectacular fluorescent green tentacles with bright pink tips. Colour Several colour morphs exist, and there are also some differences in tentacle structure. The most typical morph is green with light pink tips on the...
Scientific Name Gorgonia ventalina G flabellum and G mariae
Polyps brown. Distinguishing Characteristics Gorgonia ventalina is the common variety of sea fan, with the branching flattened in the same plane as the fan. It is typically purple, but can also be pale gray or yellow. G. flabellum is distinguished by branches flattened perpendicular to the plane of the fan, and it is more rigid. It may be any of the aforementioned colors, but yellow is most typical. A third species, Gorgonia mariae, has branches that are...
Soft corals and sea fans
Most of the soft corals in trade originate from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Although soft coral farming is considered to be simple and straightforward70, very few specimens are of cultured origin. American Samoa represents an exception52. Despite high numbers of specimens being traded for use in aquaria, soft corals are not, unlike stony corals, covered under CITES54. No mechanisms other than GMAD exist to monitor quantity, origin and destination of species in trade. GMAD data indicate that a total...
Scientific Name Lobophytum spy
Sclerites of Lobophytum, Scale bar is 0.2 mm. After Williams, 1993. Common Name Devil s hand, finger leather, Lobophyton Please note that the correct spelling of the genus is Lobophytum. Aquarists often confuse the spelling, changing the ending urn to on because of the spelling of the closely related Sarcophyton. Colour Pale brown or gray with white tentacled polyps. Occasionally yellow or greenish. Distinguishing Characteristics This genus is very closely related to Sarcophyton, and some...
Pseudopterogorgia Elizabethae
Gorgonians are predominantly arborescent in nature, though a few single unbranched stem species do occur they are subdivided into two main groupings determined by the nature of their central supporting structure. In the Scleraxonia this is called an axis and in the Holaxonia, the central core. This structure is a product of the coenenchyme, and as such is produced by the colony, not the polyps. The Scleraxonia have a central axis composed of horny material called gorgonin, and usually, fused...
Family Alcyoniidae Lamouroux 1812
The family Alcyoniidae includes soft corals in which the polyps are contained in fleshy, membranous, or lobed masses. Polyps are dimorphic in some genera and monomorphic in others, and they are mostly evenly distributed, though they may be confined to a polyparium or capitulum that is separate from a polypless stalk. There are approximately twenty genera worldwide. See chapter one for more information on colony organization and shapes. Formerly known as Cladiella in aquarium literature....
Coenenchyme Gastrovascular tubes of polyps
Lines the inside of the tentacles, pharynx, mesenteries, gastrovascular cavity and extends through the colony via the gastrodermal tubes. The gastrodermal cells are where zooxanthellae are located. Between these two layers lies the mesogloea consisting of a gelatinous matrix and this is where the sclerites spicules occur. Within the polyps it forms a very thin layer, but forms the majority of coenenchyme of the colony outside of the polyp fig. 1-2 . Within the mesogloea exist the gastrovascular...
Hygrophila corymbosa
Hygrophila corymbosa, a very popular, readily available, and well-known aquarium plant, is highly adaptable and relatively fast growing. It is tolerant of a wide range of aquarium conditions, but may not do well in softer water. An ideal plant for any aquarium, it is not fussy about substrates or water quality. The plant can be grouped, but allow at least 2-2.4 in 5-6 cm between shoots. It looks best when well spaced the edges and corners of the aquarium. If the leaves begin to yellow, add more...
Alternanthera reineckii
This red-ieaved stem plant can be found in many different leaf forms and shades of color. The top leaf surface may vary from olive-green to brown, while the underside is pink-red. A good source of iron will help to intensify the red color. The plant is easy to care for if given the right conditions, which include strong lighting and a good iron-rich substrate. In larger aquariums, plant A. reineckii in small, well-spaced groups around the center of the aquarium. The red leaves make the plant a...
Nutrient Deficiencies And Excesses
An excess or deficiency of one or more nutrients can cause problems to both fish and plants in the aquarium. Because plants have no control over the amounts of some of the nutrients they absorb such as copper excesses can cause fundamental problems within individual cells that in turn affect the entire plant Providing a correct balance of nutrients without supplying too much or too little of any particular nutrient is very difficult. The levels of most nutrients cannot be easily determined and...
Natural aquarium propagation
Aquarium plants reproduce naturally by means of runners, offsets, and adventitious plantlets. Runners Runners are horizontal branches produced at the base of the plant that develop daughter plants called slips at the ends. The rootlike runners normally grow just above, or sometimes just below, the surface of the substrate and may continue to extend, producing slips along the runner at intervals of about 2.4-6 in 6-15 cm . The new slips obtain the majority of their nutrients from the parent...
Sea Horses Pipefishes and Their Relatives Plates 7182
The order Syngnathiformes contains half a dozen families of very interesting and very unusual fishes. The trumpetfishes (family Aulostomidae) are elongate, compressed fishes with 8-12 isolated dorsal fin spines and a short barbel at the tip of the lower jaw. They occur around reefs in tropical seas where they are often seen swimming close (almost touching) to a larger fish or orienting themselves with some gorgomans (sometimes even vertically). Most people believe that this is a ruse to make...
Series Percomorpha
The Percomorpha, the most derived euteleostean clade, was recognized by Rosen 1973a . Problems and changes in its classification are reviewed by Johnson 1993 . In this taxon the pelvic girdle is directly or ligamentously attached to the cleithrum or coracoid of the pectoral girdle, and there is a ven-trally displaced anterior pelvic process stiassny and Moore, 1992 . However, its monophyly was challenged by Johnson and Patterson 1993 who recognized a monophyletic group comprising their...
Family Triodontidae 508threetooth puffers Marine Indo West Pacific
Three fused teeth in jaws (upper jaw with a median suture, the lower without) pelvis present dorsal and anal fins usually with 11 rays (a small spiny dorsal fin of one or two rays is present in most specimens from Indonesia to Japan) ribs and epipleurals present caudal fin with 12 principal rays and numerous procurrent rays, deeply forked. Maximum length about 48 cm. An Eocene fossil, Triodon antiquus, is very similar to the one extant species. One species, Triodon macropterus (synonym...
Family Channidae 487snakeheads Freshwater tropical Africa and southern Asia
Body elongate long dorsal and anal fins pelvic fins usually present some Asian species of Channa lack the pelvics , with six rays no fin spines cycloid or ctenoid scales lower jaw protruding beyond upper suprabranchial organ for air breathing present. Maximum length about 1.2 m. Distribution maps and descriptive information for the species are given in Courtenay and Williams 2004 . Two genera, Channa 26, synonym Ophicephalus and Parachanna 3 , with about 29 species Courtenay and Williams, 2004...
Jacks Cobia Remoras Etc Plates 182192 194
The Labracoglossidae has no common name for the five species three genera of this western and South Pacific family. They have a single dorsal fin and no canine teeth in the jaws. The false trevallics family Lactariidae from the Indo-Pacific have two dorsal fins, the soft-rayed portion of both dorsal and anal fins covered with scales. Two small canine teeth arc present in each jaw, The single genus has up to two species. Neither of these families is commonly represented in the aquarium trade....
Chapter Four The Biology of Tridacnid Clams
Tridacna rosewateri Sirenko and Scarlato, has recently been described from Saya de Malha Bank, an isolated region in the Indian Ocean. Its validity is not generally accepted with great confidence because it was described from shells only. It has large, widely spaced scutes on the primary radial folds, like T, squamosa, a thin shell, and dorsal valve margins having 4 to 5 strongly elongated triangular, medially projecting interdigitating processes, a trait in common with large...
Family Nemipteridae 376threadfin breams Marine tropical and subtropical Indo West Pacific
Dorsal fin continuous, with 10 spines and nine soft rays anal fin with three spines and seven or eight soft rays caudal fin in some with filament off upper lobe six branchiostegal rays gill membranes free from isthmus subocular shelf and accessory subpelvic keel well developed opisthotic intercalar well developed lost or fused in the three related families 24 vertebrae. Nemipterids, part of the sparoid assemblage, appear to be most closely related to lethrinids. As proposed in a 1980 study by...
Aquaristic Section
This section is provided as an introductory guide to the maintenance of marine fishes in the aquarium. Habits and requirements are given for each family, or in some cases related groups of families. Included are data such as temperament and compatibility water conditions, relative hardiness, size, aquascape type, and feeding habits. The family listings names and numbers are based on the systematic listing by Nelson 1984 , which is found on pages 24-25. For families that have representatives...
Family Holocentridae 282squirrelfishes Tropical marine Atlantic Indian and Pacific
Pelvic fin with one spine and 5-8 usually seven soft rays long dorsal fin with spiny portion 10-13 spines and soft-rayed portion 11-17 rays divided by a notch anal fin with four spines and 7-16 soft rays caudal fin forked, with 18 or 19 principal rays scales large and ctenoid extremely rough eyes large opercle with spiny edge vertebrae 26 or 27 color usually reddish. Squirrelfishes are mostly nocturnal, usually hiding in crevices or beneath ledges of reefs in the daytime along with...
Superorder Paracanthopterygii
Many subsequent studies suggested that the para-canthopterygians are probably not monophyletic and indeed possibly poly-phyletic e.g., Gill, 1996 Wiley et al., 2000 Miya et al., 2003, 2005 . The molecular evidence of Wiley et al. 2000 and Miya et al. 2001, 2003, 2005 suggested that Gadiformes and Zeiformes as herein recognized are sister taxa. Miya et al. 2005 , in their molecular study using mitochondrial genome sequence, included the Polymixiidae in their...
Formalin and Formaldehyde
Formalin and formaldehyde are not the same. A bottle labeled 40 percent or 37 percent formaldehyde refers to 40 or 37 milligrams of formaldehyde gas in 100 milliliters about a tenth of a quart of water. That bottle is called 100 percent formalin because it contains formaldehyde gas in saturation. If we want 10 percent formalin, then we cut it by adding nine parts of water if we wanted 5 percent formalin, we would cut it with 19 parts of water. In practice, these measurements are crude...
Family Clupeidae 97herrings shads sprats sardines pilchards and menhadens
Primarily marine, some freshwater and anadromous worldwide mostly tropical . Two long, rodlike postcleithra in most mouth usually terminal or nearly so or somewhat superior, usually inferior only in Dorosomatinae teeth small or absent abdominal scutes usually present the Dussumieriinae round herrings usually lack abdominal scutes, except for a single pelvic scute anal fin usually with 12-29 rays, up to 38 in Dorosomatinae scales in lateral series about 40-50 usually 5-10 branchiostegal rays...
Superorder Clupeomorpha
Otophysic ear-swim bladder connection comprising a pair of anterior extensions of the swim bladder that enter the skull through the exoccipital and extend into the prootic and often into the pterotics within the lateral wall of the braincase to connect with the utriculus of the inner ear unlike that occurring in any other group second hypural fused at base to first ural centrum in all stages of development, but the first hypural free at its base from first ural centrum autogenous single pelvic...
Scavenging fish
Many fine-leaved, grasslike, foreground plants will trap debris between their leaves. In nature, this debris would be Above Although the popular red-tailed black shark Epalzeorhynchus bicolor can get quite large, it is a useful addition to a planted aquarium. This attractive, lively, and strikingly colored fish spends most of its time grazing algae from rocks and plant leaves. swept away by water currents and scavenging fish. Small scavenger fish can be introduced to a planted aquarium for the...
Preparing wood
Woods such as bamboo, brushwood, and cork bark will need preparing before use. Dry woods such as these may contain fungal spores and are prone to rotting when wet. If they are placed in the aquarium without prior treatment they quickly decay, producing bacterial blooms that will appear as a slimy film over the wood and or cloudy water. Fungal blooms normally white or Above To ensure that woods such as bamboo last longer underwater, they can be varnished using a clear polyurethane varnish....
Brackish Water Species
Some species cope well with conditions where there are large variations in salinity. In the case of others, juveniles start their lives in fresh water before descending to estuaries, where they complete their development once grown to adulthood, they live permanently in the sea. It is vital to keep such fish in special aquariums where the salinity is carefully adapted to suit their metabolisms. You will find several species available on the market some possess really remarkable features and are...
TFamily Cimolichthyidae One genus Cimolichthys
Five genera, Enchodus, Eurypholis, Palaeolycus, Parenchodus, Rharbichthys, and Saurorhamphus. Chalifa 1996 gave anatomical details on a large Enchodus. Family SCOPELARCHIDAE 193 pearleyes. Marine Antarctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific absent from Arctic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea . Cycloid scales present on entire body and postorbital region, 40-65 along lateral line strong teeth on tongue, usually hooked large tubular eyes, directed upward or slightly dorso-anteriad...
Family Pomatomidae 359bluefishes Marine Atlantic Indian and Pacific
Dorsal fins separate, the first with seven or eight short spines and the second with one spine and 23-28 soft rays anal fin with two or three spines and 23-27 soft rays soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales jaw teeth prominent, ankylosed preoperculum with a membrane flap over the suboperculum black blotch at base of pectoral 26 vertebrae. Maximum length 1.1 m. The cosmopolitan Pomatomus saltatrix (Bluefish) is described as being a voracious predator, killing more fish than it can...
Superorder Holocephalimorphasubclass Holocephali of Grogan Lund 2000 2004
Dentition consisting of a few large permanent grinding tooth plates selachianlike anterior teeth may also be present palatoquadrate fused to neurocra-nium holostyly dorsal fin spine usually present. This diagnosis is very imperfect some assumed members are known only from isolated tooth plates. fOrder PSAMMODONTIFORMES. Position uncertain. Known only from isolated tooth plates. One family, Psammodontidae e.g., Archaeobatis, Lagarodus, and Psammodus Stahl, 1999 Elliott et al., 2004 . Upper...
Family Triacanthidae 504triplespines Marine shallow benthic Indo Pacific
Dorsal fin rays 19-26 anal fin rays 13-22 caudal fin deeply forked. Maximum length about 28 cm. Fossils include the Eocene Protacanthodes Tyler and Santini, 2002 . Four genera, Pseudotriacanthus, Triacanthus, Tripodichthys, and Trixiphichthys, with seven species e.g., K. Matsuura in Carpenter and Niem, 2001 Santini and Tyler, 2002a . Superfamily Balistoidea leatherjackets . Body usually compressed head and body covered with scales scales may be highly modified and hidden by tissue no pelvic...
Subphylum Cephalochordata Acrania in part
The notochord extends to the anterior end of the body, in front of the brain. No cranium no vertebrae no cartilage or bone heart consisting of a contractile vessel no red corpuscles liver diverticulum segmented musculature epidermis with a single layer of cells protonephridia with solenocytes for excretion endostyle present with iodine-fixing cells, it may be homologous with the thyroid of vertebrates , produces mucus that entraps food particles true brain absent, but two pairs of cerebral...
Superorder Protacanthopterygii
As stated in Nelson (1994) and still regarded as true, the classification of the protacanthopterygians has been and continues to be unstable, largely because the many characters exhibit a mosaic distribution, show reduction, are otherwise highly modified, or are primitive for the euteleosts. The composition of this assemblage over the past many decades has undergone much reduction, largely as a result of Rosen (1973a). In Nelson (1984) I recognized it with the one order, Salmoniformes,...
Echinodorus Harbich Propagation
Ft WP554 ft2 WP695 ftfWP1080 fWP637 WP959 pH 6-7.5 j 18-28 soft-hard J 3 < f> Cultivar Propagated from the adventitious plantlets on the floral stalk or from eyes of rhizome A very beautiful hybrid berween . horemanii Red' and Eibitwtionts x. 'Barthii'. The submerged ruby red leaves with prominent creamy veins on short petioles can give a very good contrast. Leaves are lanceolate and arc 15-35 cm long and 3-5 cm broad. A good solitary plant, that can be ideally placcd in mid to background...
Polyophthalmia Eyes
Baconensis, Got , Ghost Mojarra, 274 bahianus, Acanthurus, Ocean Surgeon, 582 baillonii, Trachinotus, Smallspot Pompano, 250, 254 bairdi, Microspathodon, Bumphead Damselfish, 408 bairdi, Paradiplogrammus, Lancer Dragonct, 538 Bairdiella baiabana, Blue Croaker, 311 bajonado, Calamus, Jolthead Porgy, 291 balanorum, Acanihemblemaria, Clubhead Blenny, 518 Baldchin Tuskfish, Choerodon rubescens, 429 baldtvini, Sen anus, Lantern Bass, 197 Bali Threadfin Bream, Nemipierus balinensis, 305 balinensis,...
Coralline Algae
As with the stony corals, fusing of the rocks by coralline algae is a slow process. Coralline algae are considered the natural cement of the reefs, though truly their work is much assisted by the faster growing sponges that fuse the rocks and sediments together, in turn becoming covered by a veneer of coralline algae. Many coralline algae will form fast growing circular crusts on surfaces within the aquarium, but a few types, such as Mesopbyllum, will actually form attachments between rocks....
Family Parrotfishes Scaridae 7 Genera 41 Species Included
Virtually every reef in the Indo-Pacific is home to a bustling community of parrotfishes. These robust assemblies are typified by foraging herds of nondescript, two- to six-inch females, and large, solitary, brightly colored males, which spend their day methodically taking bite after bite of algae from the bottom. Parrotfishes share many traits with their close relatives and forerunners, the wrasses. Members of both families swim primarily with their pectoral fins, change sex from females to...
The Shallow Inshore Habitat
Practically all of the invertebrates collected for the aquarium in the early days came from shallow lagoon than in deeper water, and scuba equipment is not often available to collectors in the developing Rapidly gaining favor among reef enthusiasts are the countries that supply most of the specimens. Thus, species small-polyped scleractinian SPS corals that predominate of macroalgae, corals, and anemones from this habitat have on the outer reef. Outer-reef fauna thus belong in the third been in...
Types of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs can be divided into two basic classes, shelf reefs and oceanic reefs Wood, 1983 . Shelf reefs grow on the continental shelf that surround the major continents, while oceanic reefs develop in deeper waters, beyond the continental shelf. Oceanic reefs generally develop along the slopes of submarine mountains, often of volcanic origin, that reach within a few hundred metres of the surface. In some cases, such as Hawaii and Tahiti, these volcanic mountains will extend above the water...
Scientific Name Neospongodes sp
Formerly Lemnalia spp. in aquarium literature see Wilkens, 1990 . Lemnalia is a valid genus, but it differs from Neospongodes in several ways. See previous description. Common Name Broccoli coral, Cauliflower coral, Lemnalia Colour Whitish, brown, yellow, purplish, yellow with purple or reel spicules. Sometimes green. Distinguishing Characteristics Spicules are conspicuous on all branches. Colonies seldom larger than 10 inches tall. Similar Species Very similar to Nephthea and Capnella,, but...
Family Ovulidae
Cyphoma gibbosum feeding on a Caribbean gorgonian, Plexaurella sp. J. Sprung. An unidentified ovulid snail feeding on Lemnaliasp. imported from Indonesia. J. Sprung. Closely related, and sometimes mistaken for true cowries, are Ovulidae snails. Many of these are predators of soft corals and gorgonians. The unidentified ovulid illustrated came attached on a colony of Lemnalia on which it was feeding. The well-known Caribbean Flamingo Tongue, Cyphoma gibbosum, is an example of an ovulid that eats...
Scientific Name Xenia spp
Common Name Pulse corals, Pumping Xenia, Pump-end Xenia, Waving hand Polyps Colour White, gray, brown. Rarely green or blue. Distinguishing Characteristics Encrusting or stalked, the monomorphic polyps are non-retractile. Colonies are usually quite soft, but larger, stalked varieties may be tougher. In some species, the colonies are very slimy e.g. X. cf. mucosa and can produce lots of m u c us G o s 1 i ner et a1, 1996 Xen ia u m belta ta is an uncommon and very welcome guest to aquariums,...
Sea anemones Actinia
These live on the substrate, attached by their single foot, which acts as a sucker, but they can move around and find the place that suits them best (sometimes the tank's front pane). Some rare species live in the sand and can retreat into it. They are fairly robust in an aquarium if in water that is well lit and aerated (some anemones have Zooxanthellae). A large living space must therefore be planned for them, as other Anthozoa do not appreciate their tentacles moreover, they sometimes...
Montipora Natural Habitat
Corals, and palythine and palythinol from zoanthids, are substances that absorb ultraviolet light. These have recently been synthesized and patented for use in sun-tan lotions, outdoor paints and plastics Sammarco, 1996 . Soft coral secondary metabolites are also being investigated as anti-foulants for wooden fishing boats in Indonesia. Boring organisms greatly reduce the life-span of these boats and this application has shown promising results Sammarco, 1996 . Although the majority of the work...
Dorsal Fin Banggai
Purple Dottyback Pseudochromis porphyreus Neon Dottyback Pseudochromis aldabraensis Orchid Dottyback Pseudochromis frid man i Bicolor Dottyback CPseudochromis paccagnellae Diadema Dottyback Pseudochromis diadema Sunrise Dottyback Pseudochromis flavivertex one of the bachelors will move to the head of the class with the best specimens coming from Hawaiian collectors, within a few days. The primary drawback to successful DOTTYBACKS. Among the Pseudochromidae, or dotty-aquarium husbandry of these...
Trace Element Additions Iodine
Natural seawater has about 60 parts per billion of iodine, including all forms such as iodide, iodate, and organically bound iodine. This value is the standard for natural oceanic seawater, away from coastal influences. We suspect that iodine values in coastal water are somewhat higher, as a result of concentration of iodine by algae in their tissues, and subsequent release of organic iodine when the algae decompose. If this is true, then oceanic reefs may be more iodine limited than coastal...
Fluorescent Lighting Systems
Fluorescent lamps are the most affordable and convenient solution for most beginning reef systems, and they come in standard output, high output HO and very high output VHO types. Brighter than standard lamps of the same length, HO and VHO lamps consume correspondingly more electricity. They also lose output faster, but this may be offset by periodic replacement. Output ratings tor fluorescent lamps discussed in the aquarium literature seldom refer to the efficacy of the lamp, i.e., the lumens...
The Biology of Soft Corals
We must begin with a good definition of soft coral because the popular concept and literal meaning of the name are quite different from the actual definition. Taie soft corals all belong to the subclass Octocorallia. Like stony corals and anemones, the soft corals belong to the phylum Cnidaria and the class anthozoa. What distinguishes them is the number of tentacles on the polyps. All soft corals have eight tentacles on each polyp, hence the name Octocorallia. Exceptions to this rule only...
Aquarium Juana Diaz
Dynasty Marine, a venture begun by Forrest Young, who worked for Moe in the early days of Aqualife, is located in Marathon, Florida. This company continues to raise small numbers of marine fishes, but still apparently earns most of its revenues from collecting specimens off the Florida Keys. The largest marine fish hatchery currently in operation is C-Quest, located in Puerto Rico. Brainchild and passion of Bill Addison of Wyoming, this fish ranch in Puerto Rican cattle country produces...
Predators Pests Commensals And Good Guys
Aquarists often wonder whether a new creature they observe is a beneficial organism or a potential trouble maker. In this chapter we want to provide a broad overview of some of the creatures that make reef keeping difficult, some that make it easy, and some that just make reef keeping interesting. Reef aquarists know that certain types of polychaete worms can wreak havoc on other invertebrates. We discuss two particularly nasty worms here, and refer the reader to volume one for additional...
Humphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus Humphead Wrasse - IP SIZE to 229 cm 7' -. ft. Wrasses - Labridae ID TP - BhS head with maze-like markings, green body with dark vertical streaks pronounced hump above eyes. Solitary or occasionally in pairs wary. Lagoon and outer reefs in to 60 m. Indo-Pacific Red Sea and E. Africa to Micronesia and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. - S.W. Japan to Australia and New Caledonia. ID Olive to bluish or greenish gray with dark vertical streaks on body dark diagonal streak extends...
Coral Reef Flat
Behind the outer reef flat lies an area of aligned corals, where tongues of sand and rubble extend leeward giving a pronounced spur and groove appearance. Stony corals such as Acropora and Pocillopora are dominant in these areas, along with Goniastrea, Favia, Favitesand Porites Veron, 1986 Davies et al,1984 . Waves carry sand and rubble from these areas to the sand flat and lagoon areas behind them Davies et a ., 1984 . The coral reef hat gives way to a sandy area in some reefs. These areas are...
Scientific Nomenclature
The naming of living things follows a classification scheme known as scientific nomenclature that groups living organisms on the basis of their shared characteristics. Students remember the hierarchy of classification by means of a phrase like, ukeep party clean or father gets sore, each word beginning with the first letter corresponding to the terms kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. Coral taxonomists examine coral skeletal structure to group corals Coral taxonomists...
Rapid Growth
The growth rates of hard corals are species dependent, with certain species growing much quicker than others. This is a definite advantage and allows these corals to quickly colonize new areas. A rapid growth rate also allows these species to achieve dominance over other species by over-topping them, thereby reducing the amount of light and water flow they can receive Huston, 1985 . This mechanism has been proposed as an explanation for the dominance of Pocillopora corals in the Pacific and...
Nudibranchs can quickly devour an entire colony and should he
Removed as soon as they are detected. Other soft coral eating genera include 7 nt o n ops illa a n d Ma no n iops is (C o 1 e ma n, 1989). Tritoniopsisfrydis occurs in the Caribbean and is commonly found on gorgonians from this region. Tritonia nudibranch feeding on a gorgonian, Pseudopterogorgia sp. S.W. Michael. Tritoniopsis sp.( ) that feeds on leather corals, Sarcophyton spp. This specimen was imported with a yellow leather coral from Tonga. It was discovered after it had consumed half of...
Gulf Marine Life Found With Christmas Tree Worm Rock
Blue Angelfish Holacanthus bermudensis Gray Angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatus Spotfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon ocellatus Foureye Butterflyfish Chaetodon capistratus Jackknife Drum quetus lanceolatus High-Hat Drum quetus acuminatus Slippery Dick Wrasse iHalichoeres bivittatus Beau Gregory Damsel .Stegastes leucostictus Colon Goby Coryphopterus dicrus Blue Goby loglossus calliurus Tiger Goby Gobiosoma macrodon Seaweed Blenny Parablennius marmoreus Red-spotted Hawkfish Amblycirrhitus pinos Sponges...
Zoanthus Sociatus
Discosoma neglecta is commonly called the Neon Disc Anemone. It lives in inshore waters, usually on hard-bottom areas where branched Porites corals and many macroalgae are found, as well as on the fore reef. This species is seldom collected for the aquarium but well worth obtaining for its bright blue-green coloration. Tentacles are completely absent. SEA MATS Order Zoantharia . This is an interesting and hardy group that lies somewhere between anemones and corals in the scheme of cnidarian...
Faster than those that do not have zooxanthellae
The zooxanthellae of corals are brown in colour, which is the best colour for absorbing blue light Benson, 1984 . If you have ever been SCUBA diving in a tropical ocean, or seen pictures from these areas, you may have noticed that the water is very blue. This is due to the absorption of the longer wavelengths of light red and yellow within the first few metres of water. Therefore it is the blue light that extends furthest into the sea. Zooxanthellae have adapted to make the most use of blue...
Protein Skimming
If you've ever visited a beach on a windy day, you may recall seeing foam washing up on shore. This foam is produced by the churning action of the waves, combining air, the water, and certain polar organic compounds dissolved in it to form a stable foam. The wind blows the foam to shore, and thus helps to purify the water. Protein skimming, or foam fractionation as it is sometimes called, works in a similar manner, mixing fine air bubbles with water. By collecting the foam that forms, proteins...
Ophioderma Rubicundum
A Personal Journey and a New Approach to The hustle and glare of miami faded quickly behind us. We were headed south, beyond the reach of the Florida Turnpike, stopping only briefly in the farming town of Florida City for gas and produce. I marveled that the tomatoes, vine ripe in early May, tasted no better than those trucked to the grocery shelves back home in Tennessee. Rolling south on AlA, we crossed the bridge over Card Sound and were in the Keys. Dense tangles of mangroves edged the...
Spectacular Reef Aquariums from Around the World
In Volume One we featured some photographs of reef aquariums from around the world. This was a popular section of the book, so we decided to do it again in Volume Two. We were amused to discover that the appearance of reef tanks has markedly transformed in the few years since our first book was published. The trend lately is to have a reef aquarium full of small-polyped stony corals. Volume Two is about soft corals and anemones, so the aquarium photographs here tend to emphasize the wrong...
Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
These may constitute the majority of species in old, stable ecosystems such as the Great Smoky Mountains. When their habitat is disturbed in some way, perhaps by a forest fire, the pattern of species that results as the ecosystem recovers from disturbance often reveals the basic strategy of these middle of the road species. Nature rarely, if ever, fits precisely into human-defined categories. What does this have to do with reef aquariums Only that the species that usually do...
Tie Fore Reef
The greatest abundance and diversity of life can be found on the fore reef, although many of the species found here can also be found elsewhere in the lagoon zone, for example. The type of reef tank most often constructed by aquarium hobbyists is based upon conditions found on the fore reef. Although most of the commonly available aquarium species from this zone are from the Indo-Pacific, aquar-ists wishing to duplicate a Keys fore-reef habitat do have some interesting invertebrates from which...
Gallon Gulf of Mexico Patch Reef
Full of surprises for those unfamiliar with the beauty of reef organisms from North American waters, this Gulf of Mexico display makes attractive use of a cube-shaped acrylic aquarium. Rear view of the system shows the integrated sump that easily accommodates a venturi skimmer, system pump, heater, and chemical filtration media in nylon pouches. Side view of the reef, showing the stable structure of aqua-cultured live rock and numerous sponges, gorgonians, small colonies of coral, and a...
Black Band Disease
Black band disease is characterized by a front of black, gooey material mostly algae behind which is denuded skeleton and in front of which is healthy tissue. The denuded skeleton is rapidly coated with many species of algae, including the black gooey mats characteristic of the black bands. It affects hard corals mostly, but also some soft corals, including gorgonians and Sinularia spp. Current scientific studies indicate that several organisms cause this disease. While a particular species of...
Scientific Name Muriceopsis flavida
Common Name Feather Gorgonian, Sea Plume, Purple Bush Colour purple, gray, brown, yellow Distinguishing Characteristics Muriceopsis flavida appears at first like a type of Pseudopterogorgici because its form is also pinnate feather-like . Upon closer inspection one can see that the branches are thicker, rounder, and more robust than most Pseudopterogorgia species. In addition, the texture is rough, almost as rough as a Muricea species, because of projecting spicules around the calyces. A rare...
Plexaurella Dichotoma
J. Sprung Two quite different species of Plexaurella. The lower specimen has round pores like Pseudoplex-aura, but it does not have purple sclerites inside. J. Sprung Closeup of Plexaurella, showing the typical slit-pore-like calyces J. Sprung Common Name Corky sea fingers, Slit-pore sea rod Colour Light brown, almost yellow, with darker brown polyps. Distinguishing Characteristics Plexaurella species have a corky appearance when the polyps are retracted. P....
Quick Setting Portland Cements Thorite
The quick-set type of pure portland cement is an ideal material for permanently cementing corals in place because it is very adhesive even to damp surfaces, sets in about one hour, is non-toxic, and strong (Bronikowski, 1982 1993). Bronikowski exposes the horny skeleton of gorgonians at the base, and dries it with paper towels. Then he positions the gorgonian on a rock base outside the aquarium, applying a thick mix of the quick-setting cement on the exposed part to hold it in place. The cement...
The Identification and Care of Soft Corals
The eight tentacled cnidaria encompass a broad range of forms that captivate the observer with their movement and palette of colour. While a handful of scientists attempt to classify them, which is no easy task, others are analyzing them for natural products chemistry in the search for new medicines see chapter one . Meanwhile aquarists have been growing the lovely soft corals of the tropical reefs at home in miniature reef aquariums where they thrive just like flowering plants in a garden, To...
Biological Algae Control
The control of problematic species of algae is probably the most troublesome hurdle for new and veteran reef aquarists alike. We covered the topic quite thoroughly in Volume One, but we have some additional information to offer here, some in the captions and some in the text. Dinoflagellates have coated the surface of this gorgonian, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, preventing it from opening. Such blooms can smother and kill gorgonians and other soft corals. These blooms can persist for several...
The Inshore Zone
One of my favorite spots in the Keys is a huge, bowl-shaped tidepool just off U.S. 1. Protected from wave action by a sea wall of coral rock rubble, this pool is a giant natural aquarium. Dozens of species of macroalgae occur here. By far the most common are members of the large genus Caulerpa. C. prolif ra has a simple flat blade botanically, the assimi-lator that often spirals like a loose corkscrew as it grows upward. C. mexicana has a blade more reminiscent of a fern frond, that is, it is...
Photosynthetic Gorgonians
Whereas the leather corals of the genera Sinularia and Sarco-phyton are the dominant photosynthetic soft corals in the In do-Pacific region, with just a few photosynthetic gorgonians there for good measure, in the Caribbean the photosynthetic gorgonians rule the scene, and there are no leather corals. Caribbean gorgonians are very popular with European hobbyists since they are hardy, beautiful, and include many varied species. In North America they have not been made as readily available as in...
Chapter Two Biology of the Zoanthidea
Often called Button polyps, zoanthids are very common inhabitants of reef aquaria. Zoanthids are found throughout the world s oceans but are most widely represented in warm waters some 300 species have been described so far (Wilkens, 1990). They can occur as single polyps or as colonies, either connected by a comon tissue or unconnected. Some genera are found in wave-swept reefs or calm shallows (e.g. Isaurus, Palythoa spp., Protop-alythoa spp. and Zoanthus spp.) while others are found only in...
Family Anthothelidae
Scientific Name Diodogorgia nodulifera Common Name Finger Sea Fan. Yellow Finger, Red Finger Colour Two colour morphs. One is bright orange-yellow with red calyces and white polyps. The other is deep red with red calyces and white polyps. Distinguishing Characteristics Brittle breaks easily. Does not grow very large, usually about 10 cm 4 in tall, up to 25 cm 10 in , and generally not more than 25 cm 10 in across. The sclerites on the interior are reddish. Not photosynthetic. Similar Species...
Order Milleporina
Family Milleporidae Fleming, 1828 Scientific Name Milleporaspp. Linnaeus, 1758 Common Names Fire Coral, Ridge Coral Although fire corals are not true stony corals, we include them here because of their resemblance to them, and similar requirements. Fire corals are hydrozoans, more closely related to jellyfish. Milleporasp. growing in a reef aquarium. Note that new tissue has encrusted over the adjacent rock. Such growth proceeds very rapidly, and can harm soft corals such as gorgonians. J.C....
Scientific Name Pterogorgia spp
Common Names Sea Blades, Angular Sea Whip, Cactus Gorgonian, Purple Ribbon, Yellow Ribbon. Colour Purple, brown, gray, yellow Distinguishing Characteristics flattened branches with polyps extending only from the edges. There are three common species, P. anceps, P. guadalupensis, and P. citrina, and a possible fourth species. Natural Habitat Prefers hardbottoms in back-reef areas, near shore, or among seagrass. P. anceps and P guadalupensis are seldom found up on the reef itself. Aquarium Care...
Conger Cinereus Aquarium
Canihigasier punctatissimus, Spotted Sharpnose Puller, 651 Canthigasier rapaensis, Rapa Sharpnose Puffcrfish, 652 Canihigasier nvulata, Doubleline Toby, 652 Canihigasier rostrata, Sharpnose Puffer, 651 Canihigasier sanciaehelenae, Saint Helena Sharpnose Puffer, 652 Canihigasier smiihae, Bicolorcd Toby, 650 Canthigasier solandri, False-eye Toby, 653 Canthigasier lyleri, Tyler's Sharpnosed Puffcrfish, 647, 653 Canthigasier valentini, Black-saddlcd Toby, 651 Canton Mudskippcr, Periophthalmus...
Salarias sp 395
7 rCVSa 26 C sg 1.022 12 cm 100L Istiblennius dussumieri 395 7 -NT V S 26 C sg 1.022 13 cm 100L Enchelyurus flavipes 395 7vfVSa 26 C sg 1.022 8 cm 80L 7, 9 -NJ- SB 26 C sg 1.022 50 cm 500L 7, 9 C' 5fei 26 C sg 1.022 50 cm 500L 7-9 xr -v i S 26 C sg 1.022 4 cm 40L 6-7, 9 xr C 26 C sg 1.022 3.5 cm 40L 7 xr in ryg J26 C sg 1.022 10 cm 100L 6-9 xr -v lt v Vi. C 26 C sg 1.022 15 cm 150L 7 -vr - 4 ta -3 26 C sg 1.022 7 cm 8QL Atrosalarias fuscus 395 7-8 xr i S a 2 7-8 xr C' lt i 26 C sg 1.022 15 cm...
Pumping Xenia Coral
Common Name Cespitularia, Blue Xenia Similar Species Xenia, An the i a, EJJlatournaria , Alcyonium. Cespitularia injirmata is not the only species, but it may be the common type imported. Natural Habitat like Xenia, encrusting dead coral skeletons and among algae, usually in shallow water with good water movement, either surge or tidal currents. Most colonies are imported Distinguishing Characters Cespitularia has an appearance that is somewhere between Xenia and Alcyonium. Colonies may be...
Micranthemum Umbrosum
This process is called photosynthesis. In biology class we learned that the photosynthesis of plants is the basis for all life on earth. In their natural environment, plants as a rule are constantly supplied with sufficient carbon dioxide. In the aquarium, on the other hand, the amount of carbon dioxide respired by the fishes is too small to ensure a lasting CO., supply for the plants. The available carbon dioxide is used up in the process of photosynthesis. As a...
Gobiodon Atronasum
Gray Cod, 78 Gadus morhua, Atlantic Cod, 78 Gafftopsaii Pompano, Trackinotus rhcdopus, 254 Gaidropsarus en sis, Thrccbeard Rockling, 78 gaimard africana, Coris, African Clown Wrasse, 439 Galapagos Hogfish, Bodianus eclancheri, 430 Galapagos Sawtail, lbionurus laticlavius, 588 galba, Chrysiptera, Canary Demoiselle, 390 Caleocerdo cuvieri, Tiger Shark, 39, 40 galii, Meuschenia, Blue-lined Leaihcrjackct, 630 gardneri, Chaetodon, Gardner's Butterflyfish, 338 Gardner's...
Pomacanthidae Hybrid
ID Black undercolor with 5-6 prominent white bars interspaced with narrower blue bars between. Juveniles usually begin color transformation to adult pattern between 8-15 cm. Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis SIZE to 20 cm 8 in. Angelfishes - Pomacanthidae ID Brownish orange with bold blue stripes, tail yellow. Uncertain status possibly the female Blue-stripe Angelfish or male Orange-faced Angelfish next . Rock or coral reefs in 5-60 m. Asian Pacific W. Pacific Rim including S. China, Taiwan and...