THE OFFICIAL ASK ALBERT THIEL THREAD

September 15, 2012

Bristle Worm eats a whole fish (dead one)

Video :

This is not a video of one catching a live fish but literally eating a dead small fish that must have been added to the aquarium as food for other fish or as a test. I could for some reason not hear the audio portion due to a glitch on my laptop.

Quite a sight !

Albert

September 15, 2012

Did you see the picture i sent of trumpet coral?its on last page please help

gobyguy123:

Did you find the post I sent you yesterday and that you asked about in a previous message. The answer to your question was sent yesterday as I already indicated. Did you find it?

It would be nice if you would acknowledge replies that are sent to you.

You have still not answered the questions I asked you in previous messages, but you keep asking one line questions without giving me more details about your tank which would make it easier for me to try to help.

I have no problem helping, and responding, but would like you to at least give me the details that I need to be able to do so knowing more about your tank.

I think that it is just good to do so ... rather than sending one liners and not giving any information or showing more pictures of the tank.

Thanks for doing so from now on.

Albert

September 15, 2012

The Influence of Aquarium Filtration on DOC, Seen with UV 254 Analysis

Editors Note:Please welcome Matt Wandell to Glassbox. Matt works as an Aquatic Biologist at the Steinhart Aquarium where he is responsible for many exhibits including this striking Deepwater Reef.

Matt is an extremely knowledgeable biologist and aquarists and we thank him for this piece on Dissolved Organic Carbon. One of the most exciting developments in reef [...]

A technical analysis of using GAC to lower DOC in Marine Aquariums at the Steinhart Aquarium.

The article compares results and findings obtained using Activated Carbon on DOC and analyses studies undertaken by Dr. Feldman and Dr. Craig Bingman, and relates their findings to what was found when analyzing water from Aquarium Displays at the Steinhart Aquarium.

LINK:

http://glassbox-design.com/2010/dissolved-...v-254-aquarium/

Albert

September 15, 2012

Feature Article:

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part I

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.

These questions will be probed through review of the relevant literature on (non-aquarium) field studies and by experimentation on marine aquarium water samples taken from a range of aquarists' tanks:

- What are Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC)?

- What is the natural level of carbon (dissolved and/or particulate) in tropical reef waters? In the deep ocean?

- Which organisms produce carbon, and which organisms consume carbon in a reef environment?

- What role does organic carbon play in the health of the corals living in our marine aquariums?

- Might imbalances in carbon content underlie episodes of reef tank crashes?

- Do our reef tanks accurately mimic the natural levels of carbon on thriving reefs?

A very interesting Article for those who want to learn more about DOC and POC and TOC.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/8/aafeature3

Albert

September 15, 2012

Feature Article:

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, -- Part II --

Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.

This is Part II of the article posted earlier on the same Topic

LINK:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/aafeature2

Albert

September 15, 2012

Large BLACK Worm - Has anyone seen one like this ?

A hobbyist on another thread posted a Pic of his coral "eating" one like these but only the back end was visible, but I found a full image on another forum.

Wow ... that is some worm (Eunice? not sure)

Albert

EDIT: Has anyone seen one of these and does anyone know an ID for this Black Worm .. I searched some more but so far have not been able to come up with anything that looks exactly like it and give a specific ID

Edited September 16, 2012 by albertthiel

September 16, 2012

gobyguy123:

Looking at that picture I think I see tissue that is necrotic or missing already, and if you took this while the light were on, the coral should have been extended but they are all closed up for some reason.

I do not know and cannot tell why your Trumpet is in the shape it is but something must have happened to it or the lighting it is getting is the wrong one (too strong) or the water current is not right (too high or too low), or it has not been fed for a long time and is starving to death.

It does not look good ... tell me also are those red slime algae I see in the picture? If so you have an issue with your water quality and that may be because your nitrates are too high and your phosphates are as well, and there is too much dissolved organics in the water, but from what I see I can only think that your water quality of not as it should be.

The Trumpet may not be able to recuperate I am afraid based on what it looks like now.

Also in my previous messages I asked some questions to which you did not give me a reply so it is hard for me to know exactly what is going on in your tank and with that Trumpet Coral.

On the Mushroom: do the following or have your Dad do it for you ... with a razor blade slide over the shell of the Hermit and cut the Mushroom loose. As you slide over the shell you will be cutting as low as possible at the base of the Mushroom.

When it is loose but it in an area where it will not be blown away by the current on some gravel or rubble and let it attach itself to it and when that has happened you can move it elsewhere.

And on the tank ... let me have some answers to the questions that I posted in my other messages.

It always helps to know as much as possible about someone's tank so that it is easier to give answers.

You have sent me a number of messages but none have given me too many details about your tank conditions except for the problems. It is better to give more information, in fact a lot of it, as that makes answering your questions easier.

For instance I still do not know where that Trumpet is placed (looks like it is on the substrate and if that is the case that is fine), what light you are using (from the picture it looks like it is very strong light and that is not good for that coral), what current it is getting and what your water quality parameters are. All of that would help me gobyguy123.

Anyway, I hope this helps even though it is probably not good news for that coral

Also you need to do something about getting rid of those red slime algae if that is what I see.

Albert

okay i jsut read your post, my trumpet coral is on substrate and my lights are corallife lights. I think its in medium flow but im not sure.

September 16, 2012

okay i jsut read your post, my trumpet coral is on substrate and my lights are corallife lights. I think its in medium flow but im not sure.

And as I asked have you been feeding it or not ?

Can you get a close up pic of it so we can see exactly in what shape it is in gobyguy123 and go from there to determine whether or not it can be saved?

Thanks.

And I am signing off for the day ..

Albert

Edited September 16, 2012 by albertthiel

September 16, 2012

Albert just wanted to share a quick picture I think nobody has seen

Sps engulfing and permanently locking air bubble samples into the skeleton

Given dense enough growth, those bubbles could be retained millennia

I bet ancient porites colonies can date the dinosaur extinction

This is in my vase reef, so these are pictures of the base of a coral colony not top down, the sps is plated onto the glass growing inward

On the other side you can't see, is the spiky/tubercled acropora growth that twines into the rock in the middle of the tank and back onto the glass in other areas, its about 4 yrs established

Air bubbles from circulation lodge under corals and are incorporated then sealed for eternity.

Also see banding/growth rings on blue acropora on the bottom. One band is a month

ish

These two will meet soon at the battle of quarter inch gap.

I place fifty cents on the blue, we'll see

Edited September 16, 2012 by brandon429

September 16, 2012

Hi Albert,

Off to work soon but just time to post a link to a short (very short) vid I uploaded to YouTube this morning of my trip yesterday to the Liverpool museums aquarium. I took it behind the scenes of the coral propagation quarantine etc room. I will post pic's and info later when I get home from work.

Les.

September 16, 2012

Albert just wanted to share a quick picture I think nobody has seen
Sps engulfing and permanently locking air bubble samples into the skeleton

Given dense enough growth, those bubbles could be retained millennia

I bet ancient porites colonies can date the dinosaur extinction

This is in my vase reef, so these are pictures of the base of a coral colony not top down, the sps is plated onto the glass growing inward

On the other side you can't see, is the spiky/tubercled acropora growth that twines into the rock in the middle of the tank and back onto the glass in other areas, its about 4 yrs established

Air bubbles from circulation lodge under corals and are incorporated then sealed for eternity.

Also see banding/growth rings on blue acropora on the bottom. One band is a month-ish

These two will meet soon at the battle of quarter inch gap.

I place fifty cents on the blue, we'll see

Brandon:

That is quite something to look at indeed, and as you say as the coral grows more, those are indeed going to be trapped in the skeleton forever and ever.

And it is interesting that it is growing "inward" but I guess to some degree outward and upward also, no?

Yes I can see the bands of the acropora growth also ...

This is a great picture to hold onto for sure, but I am sure that you have plenty more, so feel free of course to post any other ones that are of interest for all readers of this thread to see.

I am more and more impressed with your Picos the more I see them! Not too sure that there are a lot of others who can claim these achievements.

BTW I found a very interesting article on Picos and Tiny reefs, that deals with all the types that are apparently around: open, sealed, semi-open, closed, and so on and I'll post the link next, as I have to look for it again.

I came across it yesterday so I should be able to find it in my browser's History.

Thanks for your contribution. Great for everyone to look at indeed.

Albert

September 16, 2012

Hi Albert,
Off to work soon but just time to post a link to a short (very short) vid I uploaded to YouTube this morning of my trip yesterday to the Liverpool museums aquarium. I took it behind the scenes of the coral propagation quarantine etc room. I will post pic's and info later when I get home from work.

Les.

Have a great day Les, and I hope you don't have to work too many hours today Sunday .. and can enjoy the rest of the day at home or with your GF.

Nice video indeed, and I have to say that I was not expecting to see THAT many tanks with THAT many frags in it as I see in the short video. There must be hundreds and it looks like there are a number of other tanks there too that the video does not show from close up but that I can see as part of the overall pics you took.

Looks like they "really" are into growing out quite a few corals there, far more than I actually expected, at least it looks like that based on what the video shows. Good for them.

Did you get an idea or details of what type of filtration they run on those frag tanks (and I imagine they are not connected to any of their other systems). If you do, let us know will you? Thanks.

BTW, do they have a Web site (I am pretty sure they do but did not find a link for it). Maybe you can post it when you get a chance and some time to do so.

How long have they been keeping those frags in those grow out tanks do you know as some seem to have been there for some time looking at the size of them, of course pictures can be a little deceiving depending on how they were taken.

As an example, here is a picture of a tiny mushroom in my tank that makes it look far larger than it really is:

The pic was taken yesterday with my iPhone and zoomed in on and even though it looks fairly large in the pic above it is about 1/4 inch from left to right and top to bottom.

Whatever is in front of it I have not figured out yet, looks like an air bubble is trapped there or a mini snail underneath it so I guess I will have to move it to see what is actually there.

On Liverpool, thanks for the video. Very NICE. I liked it a lot and it shows that fragging and growing out frags is happening everywhere.

Albert

September 16, 2012

Feature Article: Micro-Ecosystems

When experimenting with these small scale closed systems, it is vitally important to be backed up by your already solidly operating typical marine aquariums, so that you are better prepared to ultimately succeed with these experimental closed mini eco-systems.

The Article Covers the following in detail:

1. Hermetically sealed micro-ecosystems: These systems are totally sealed in respect to any physical input from the environment around them. The primary energy input is the light that reaches the plants inside. Whatever air, water, nutrients and animals that are present when the ecosystem was sealed are all that are available to maintain the ecosystem.

2. Closed systems: These ecosystems are closed to the environment around them with the exception that they allow for the passive exchange of atmospheric gasses. Again, the primary energy input is light to drive the process of photosynthesis. Most hermetically sealed ecosystems do not incorporate a sufficient amount of air in the system. By allowing exchanges of gases, these systems avoid that problem, but are still closed in respect to food energy, water changes and additions of plants or animals.

3. Semi-closed systems: As with the closed systems described above, some gas exchange is allowed. In addition, the next most easily degraded component of these ecosystems - water quality, is kept within appropriate parameters by performing partial water changes. These water changes replace inorganic nutrients that may have become chemically or biologically bonded and thus removed from the ecosystem. Still, there is no energy added to the system except for light and sufficient heat to maintain a level proper for the organisms being maintained.

4. Open systems: These systems rely on atmospheric gas and water exchanges as do semi-closed systems, but in addition, there are moderate inputs of supplemental food energy for the heterotrophic animals. This allows for a higher density of these organisms to be maintained - making a more aesthetically pleasing system. The only difference between open systems and a regular aquarium is that no active filtration is used, and the species present in the system are left unchanged, no new plants or animals are added.

A lot of detail on all of those for hobbyists who have or are considering setting up a Pico or Femto Reef, and need more information on the various ways it can be done.

A semi-close one after 1 Year:

Brandon: after you read this, since you have probably the longest lived Pico, I would appreciate some comments. Of course anyone else who has one is welcome to comment as well, and share their information on these tiny reef set-ups

Albert

September 16, 2012

Pictures from my Tank taken yesterday in the Afternoon

More to follow ...

Albert

September 16, 2012

More Pics of the Corals in my Tank

Albert

September 16, 2012

Pictures of my Yumas taken yesterday:

The last one is a bit out of focus but does show the nice extension of it.

And Rocket not making it easier for me to type : - )

Albert

September 16, 2012

Florida bans harvesting giant sea anemones from local waters

The three-year moratorium begins November 1, 2013 and is possibly due in part to over harvesting by the aquarium trade and from colder than normal water temperatures in 2010.

Odd that this got posted on Sept. 10, 2012, as I was under the impression that nothing could be harvested from Florida waters for some time already .. maybe Giant Sea Anemones were not included in the first ban .. could be possible. One would have to go find the exact original legislation that was passed to be sure.

Link:

http://tinyurl.com/8zpv748

Albert

September 16, 2012

Aquarium Lighting: Moonlight -

A Concise Review of Its Spectrum, Intensity, Photoperiod, and Relationship to Coral and Fish Spawning

Moonlight is thought to play an important role in timing reproductive cycles of many coral and fish species.

In corals, lunar cycles set the date of spawning, while the time of onset of darkness fine tunes the cycle and decide the hour and minute (then a release of hormones into the water induces mass spawning).

Lunar periodicity seems to play a role in timing of reproduction among at least some fish species. It seems apparent that different taxa are affected differently by altered moon phases, if only temporarily.

Excellent analysis by Dana on moonlight and its effects ...

LINK:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/7/lighting

Albert

September 16, 2012

Most Unusual : Tiny Goby Hitchhiking on large Nudibranch Hypselodoris bullockii

Video with great detail and taken quite close and showing the tiny Goby (no ID given) that is Hitchhiking on the Nudibranch.

Apparently comes in various colors and markings and the scientific community is from what I found still trying to find out whether the color differences are morphs or different species of Hypselodoris.

Video Link:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/a-tin...on-a-nudibranch

Definitely worth watching !

Albert

September 16, 2012

Paracheilinus filamentosus: The Filamented Flasher Wrasse

A gorgeous flashing Wrasse but only semi-reef safe as although it will leave corals alone it may bother/attack and kill small shrimp and other small crustaceans in the tank. Peaceful otherwise with other fish.

Here are some links to more information on this gorgeous looking Wrasse, for aquariums preferably 30 gallons or larger.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_di...amp;pcatid=1400

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Wrasses/Filamented.php

Before adding one of these to your tank make sure you read up as much as you can on this Wrasse so you know exactly what to expect from its behavior.

Albert

Edited September 16, 2012 by albertthiel

September 16, 2012

Marine Fish Diseases:

I posted this link some time ago but a member PM'ed me stating he/she could not find it, so here it is again.

A Hobbyist’s Guide to Identifying Some Common Marine Aquarium Parasites

LINK:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aafeature1

Covers most of the common marine fish diseases in detail.

On another note: I am working on indexing this thread and creating direct links to the more important content based on what I think that is, but it is a long and intricate process ... but it is coming .., how soon I do not know but I am working on it.

Albert

September 16, 2012

Bitty Bugs: Copepods in the Reef Aquarium

With lots of internal links to pictures and more information on Copepod and the like that may or may not be present in our aquariums.

LINK:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/rs/index.php

Albert

September 16, 2012

Amazing you have found all these links! Yes you set me on a reading path with jay's article on micro systems, I had no idea there were articles on them. Not only was his article great to read, the references he listed were more of his own works that could be downloaded for more input

Really great thank you!

The posters in the biotope forum need to see that 10 yr sealed glass carbouy ecosystem that's just what they are striving for, I don't think they know about the article!

September 16, 2012

Amazing you have found all these links!

Yes you set me on a reading path with jay's article on micro systems, I had no idea there were articles on them.

Not only was his article great to read, the references he listed were more of his own works that could be downloaded for more input

Really great thank you!

The posters in the biotope forum need to see that 10 yr sealed glass carbouy ecosystem that's just what they are striving for, I don't think they know about the article!

Glad you liked the article Brandon.

Yes it was very interesting indeed .. I thought so too after I read it, and don't ask me how I found it as I honestly do not remember but when one does searches sometimes clicking on internal links and more internal links eventually leads to something that is of real interest ... and in this case for those who keep Picos and smaller this is indeed a good one.

I'm sure the people on the Biotope forum will appreciate your posting it there, as they may never have seen that article.

Albert

September 16, 2012

A better Picture of one of my Yumas really Extended and getting even Larger

It gets larger as the light have been on for a little longer

Albert

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