atoll Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) Yes I looked at images of Octopus coral and most come up with the Galaxea and some with Frogspawn but only 1 or 2 with Sympodium .. Guess that was a real good buy ... and a little money maker for you ! Nice. Good you did not get this Octopus one : That would have been a problem :-) I guess you will post some pics of the frags once they perk up ... thanks Les Albert Or indeed one of these. Edited September 24, 2012 by atoll Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is the cheap as in £1 about $1.6 frag rack I picked up today. It is designed as a soap etc holder with suckers to attach in showers and bathrooms etc. The curved edges are great as you can fit it right into the corners of the tank.Pic looking down on it. Close up of my cheap frag rack in the tank with my Sympodium frags in residence. My Sympodium frags shortly after introduction into my main tank so still not expanded. Not the best pic of it in my tank esp as the waters surface is rippled as indeed all reef tank surfaces should be. Yes that is a good find Les indeed ... and I am sure it can be found here at the $1 stores of which we have many, and where everything they sell is, as their name implies, $1 ! A lot less than what they are sold for through other channels. Thanks. On the frags ... yes a bit hard to see but thanks for posting the picture. I guess you'll be able to show some better ones later on especially if you lift the tray up a little so the frags are visible ... Gee ... I am still amazed at the deal you got for that coral that you could frag into 8 pieces. Albert Or indeed one of these. OMG yes I am glad you did not get one of those ... mind you I saw one for sale online not too long ago (actually Zeph is the one who saw it first). Not only are they nasty, but they can slip through the tinniest spaces ... and can inflict a really powerful sting. I wonder why they actually sell them ! Pest tank maybe ? But a dangerous one for sure ! Albert Quote Link to comment
atoll Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Yes that is a good find Les indeed ... and I am sure it can be found here at the $1 stores of which we have many, and where everything they sell is, as their name implies, $1 ! A lot less than what they are sold for through other channels. Thanks. On the frags ... yes a bit hard to see but thanks for posting the picture. I guess you'll be able to show some better ones later on especially if you lift the tray up a little so the frags are visible ... Gee ... I am still amazed at the deal you got for that coral that you could frag into 8 pieces. Albert OMG yes I am glad you did not get one of those ... mind you I saw one for sale online not too long ago (actually Zeph is the one who saw it first). Not only are they nasty, but they can slip through the tinniest spaces ... and can inflict a really powerful sting. I wonder why they actually sell them ! Pest tank maybe ? But a dangerous one for sure ! Albert Bluering Octopus is amongst the top 10 most venomous animals in the world I believe. They are not aggressive but if they bite you have but a short time to get help if at all. I have seen videos of young children in the tropics playing with them in their hands. They will bite if they really get annoyed. I once saw 2 in an LFS many years ago They had them in tanks housed high up and with bricks on the cover glasses but I don't know if anybody bought them. I have not seen any since and I firmly believe they should not be sold. Maybe you need a dangerous animals licence here now to have such things in your possession I do hope so. Early to rise tomorrow as I have to be in work at 7-30am so I bid you goodnight. . Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Nano-Animals, Part I: Rotifers © Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. Regular readers of this column will be aware that I have a fascination with the bizarre and weird. I guess this comes from growing up in central Montana. If one knows where and what to look for, some of this area may be seen to be badly disturbed ecologically; however, in comparison with most of the United States, much of it looks absolutely pristine. In such an area wildlife abounds, and when I was but a mere lad I became familiar with all of the common sorts of the animals found in the area, from horses to horsehair worms to toads, horned and otherwise, various bugs, Black Widow spiders, and fishes of all sorts. Once I become really familiar with an animal or animal type, I "file it away" and go on to something different. Lacking a microscope when I grew up, I didn't learn about microscopic animals until I was in high school, and then only cursorily. It wasn't until I reached college that I began to explore the wonderful world of the miniature animals and other organisms found all around us (and in us, as well, but that is another story). The article deals with Rotifers in detail and includes links to a few Videos. Link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-01/rs/index.php Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 A Close-up Look at Tridacna crocea © James Fatherree and reefkeeping.com Several species of giant clams are available to hobbyists, but Tridacna crocea is one of the most popular, if not number one. So, I’d like to give you a close-up look at this species, including information on how to identify them, some of their basic biology and how to care for them. As you’ll see, these are some very interesting animals, despite the fact that, for the most part, they seem to just sit around and look good. Link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-10/jf/index.php Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Trouble with Tridacnid Clams: Two Common Problems © James Fatherree and reefkeeping.com - Pyramidellid Snails - Pinched Mantle Disease A must read for anyone who keeps Clams or is thinking about getting one or more Link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 (edited) Bluering Octopus is amongst the top 10 most venomous animals in the world I believe. They are not aggressive but if they bite you have but a short time to get help if at all. I have seen videos of young children in the tropics playing with them in their hands. They will bite if they really get annoyed. I once saw 2 in an LFS many years ago They had them in tanks housed high up and with bricks on the cover glasses but I don't know if anybody bought them. I have not seen any since and I firmly believe they should not be sold. Maybe you need a dangerous animals licence here now to have such things in your possession I do hope so. Early to rise tomorrow as I have to be in work at 7-30am so I bid you goodnight. . Yes indeed and I agree that they should not be sold as they are far too dangerous and unsuspecting hobbyists who are not aware of when they get dangerous (the blue rings come up) may get bitten and may not know what to do ... But ... in this hobby, anything that people want to pay for seems to get sold anyway even if it should not and that includes wild caught corals that are on the endangered list ... Video : Have a good one and TTYL Albert Edited September 24, 2012 by albertthiel Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 So What Does A Candy Cane Look Like Under Blue Light ? Check it out : Not pretty ... Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Dr. Sanjay Joshi - The Man Behind the Photons © Reefs Magazine interviewing Dr. Joshi This past July, Reefs Magazine editors Jonathan Hale and Randy Donowitz had the opportunity to sit down with Sanjay Joshi at his home and office in State College Pennsylvania. Known throughout the hobby via his numerous articles, lectures and Reef Lighting Guide database as the authoritative figure on reef aquarium lighting, we wanted to find out a bit more about the man behind the photons. Link: http://tinyurl.com/9zbrdrs Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Link to the Online version of CORAL Magazine Sept/Oct 2011 Read all Articles .... © Coral Magazine Link : http://coralmagazine.coverleaf.com/coral/20110910?pg=4#pg1 You can scroll through the entire magazine and adjust the typeface size for easier reading Albert Quote Link to comment
atoll Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Yes indeed and I agree that they should not be sold as they are far too dangerous and unsuspecting hobbyists who are not aware of when they get dangerous (the blue rings come up) may get bitten and may not know what to do ... But ... in this hobby, anything that people want to pay for seems to get sold anyway even if it should not and that includes wild caught corals that are on the endangered list ... Video : Have a good one and TTYL Albert Morning Albert. Playing with death. Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) A short History of Boyd Enterprises, makers of Chemi Pure and Chemi Pure Elite and a number of other marine Products For informational Purposes Only (I am not associated with them, and am not compensated in any way `to add this info to my thread Boyd Enterprises: Boyd Enterprises was founded in 1962 by Dick Boyd, who had been working in aquarium stores since 1947 at the age of 17. He had a love and passion for building and maintaining aquariums as a hobby. Through his constant experimentation to create his own filtration techniques, he developed the world renown Chemi-pure - the ORIGINAL ion filter medium! In 1955, Dick Boyd along with three others founded the first Marine Aquarium Society in the United States. (FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society - www.fmas1955.org) In 1972, he and his wife Linda, moved into a house large enough so he could build his dream aquarium. It took two years, but by 1974 Mr. Boyd had constructed a 3,000 gallon aquarium that was home to various corals, fish and invertebrates. By 1979 many of the living organisms and fish were spawning and reproducing within the aquarium, with no water changes for 5 years. Using one of the largest Eheim filters available at that time, and utilizing Chemi-pure as its only filter medium, he maintained his tank for 18 years. Within that time, the aquarium remained a clean and healthy marine environment with few water changes up until Mr. Boyd's passing in 1992. We at Boyd Enterprises strive to keep up his level of Excellence, Quality and Customer Service. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us. Note: Boyd Enterprises can be reached via their http://www.chemi-pure.com website Thanks to all of you who have supported us over the years! Link to all their Products ... http://www.chemi-pure.com/products Albert Edited September 25, 2012 by albertthiel Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Morning Albert. Playing with death. Yes indeed. And here is a video of one opening a jar to get to Crab inside Not what I would want in a home aquarium as they are also known to be able to get out of a tank through the "smallest of smallest" openings, even ones that you would never imagine they can get through, but "they can". A swimming one: On another note: did you see the thread on Red Slime Algae that I started two days ago ? Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Corals by Rare Redding Reef © Rare Redding Reef and its owners Link to more if you want to explore what they offer http://www.facebook.com/rare.reddingreef Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 More Corals by Rare Redding Reef © Rare Redding Reef and its owners You can view more at: http://www.facebook.com/rare.reddingreef Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Bluezooaquatics Interviews Daniel Knop, International Editor of CORAL Magazine and Author of Many Books on Corals and Marine Organisms © Bluezooaquatics The March / April issue of the English language edition of CORAL Magazine features large-polyp stony (LPS) corals, and the magazine’s international editor, Daniel Knop, has authored three of the features on this very popular category of corals. Daniel, the author of 22 books, is undoubtedly an expert when it comes to LPS corals, and so we thought it might be valuable to interview him on the subject for Blue Zoo News readers. Link: http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=370 Albert Edited September 25, 2012 by albertthiel Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Family Pectiniidae - The Chalice Corals The Chalice Corals from the Family Pectiniidae © Bluezooaquatics Within the Family Pectiniidae, there are currently five valid genera of coral according to Integrated Taxanomic Information System (ITIS). They are Echinophyllia, Mycedium, Oxypora, Pectinia, and Physophyllia. You will also see Echinomorpha listed as a genus, and it should be, although there is only one species. These stony corals from the Family Pectiniidae are known commonly to hobbyists as chalice, scroll, elephant nose, peacock, lettuce, plate, antler, palm, and hibiscus coral. They are, generally speaking, colorful, slow-growing, aggressive corals with many possible growth forms (as suggested by the common names listed above). All may be considered quite suitable for a stable, established marine aquarium, and some are even considered hardy (though certainly none should be treated as beginner or “starter” corals). In this article, we are going to look at those corals from the Family Pectiniidae that commonly take on a chalice-like growth form. Read more at : http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=381 Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Cleaning Live Rock ... and maybe you thought nothing accumulated there? It is quite amazing how much dirt and detritus and uneaten food and feces and whatever can accumulate on and in the crevices of live rock .... and when that starts to decompose it is going to foul up your water quality, and can give rise to all sorts of pest growths in your tank, included the dreaded slime algae (of various types and colors but mostly the red/purple type ones). I cleaned the live rock on the left side of my tank a little while ago, and below is a picture of what doing so puts into the water column. Some will resettle elsewhere but a good deal of it will get into your mechanical filters (or it should) and can then be removed from the tank. Later this morning when the water clears up I will clean the other side after cleaning out my HOB filter's floss that should have trapped quite a bit of unwanted "stuff". No wonder the water gets fouled if that accumulated detritus and whatever is not removed. Albert Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) Why Duncan, Your Whiskers are Tickling my Corallite! © Charles J. Hanley and Quality Marine : Informational Article There is just something about a Duncan Whisker coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga). They are like a weird fusion of a euphylliad and a zoanthid. These stony corals are Large-Polyped Scleractinians of the genus Duncanopsammia and are a relatively newcomer to the hobby in the US. Though a large colony can fetch a premium price, a single head is much less expensive and can quickly grow into its own new colony. Link: http://tinyurl.com/9zvrglb Albert Edited September 25, 2012 by albertthiel Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 A World Without Coral Reefs: A perspective view © By ROGER BRADBURY and the NY Times Published: July 13, 2012 IT’S past time to tell the truth about the state of the world’s coral reefs, the nurseries of tropical coastal fish stocks. They have become zombie ecosystems, neither dead nor truly alive in any functional sense, and on a trajectory to collapse within a human generation. There will be remnants here and there, but the global coral reef ecosystem — with its storehouse of biodiversity and fisheries supporting millions of the world’s poor — will cease to be. What would happen and what can we do? Article contains internal links to more information. Link: http://tinyurl.com/c6vz99g Albert Quote Link to comment
eitallent Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hello, Albert and all reading. I would like to have your input on my dilemna. It is likely a common problem for newbies like me. Hubby noticed some thread like organisms toward the back of the tank on the live rock. I thought, "Uh, oh." When I looked at them they immediately brought to mind Hydroids. These things are too small to photograph without proper zoom lenses. The best description I can think of is a white thread which splits into a few branches and the end of each branch has a circle of small hairs (like the end of a polyp on the Kenya tree). I touched them with a bamboo skewer and the little 'polyp end' closed not retracted. I also have some little feather dusters back there. They are in tiny, nearly invisible tubes in the LR. When I touch those the 'fan' completely and quickly retract into it's tube. Yesterday's water levels: Temp. 80.6 F with daylights --> Salinity b/w 1.024~1.025 --> pH 8.0 Cal 420ppm --> Nitrates = 0 --> Phosphates = 0 --> Alkalinity 8.2ppt I was able to pull some out with tweezers as is suggested in some posts but I can see that at this rate they will overcome my efforts. Are their presence a symptom of over feeding? Dead spots in the flow? Too much detritus? I have a clean up crew of snails (Nassarius, Ceriths, Nerites, Colonista), bristle worm, Pep. Shrimp and Emerald crab. The tank is clean of algae and not much detritus. My water flow seems like it is furious. I have a 200 GPH pump in a 12 G Nano Cube with an added Koralia circulation pump to the left of the pump nozzle. I feed only frozen brine shrimp to the Citron Goby and only a few so he will eat them all. He eats them right out of the pipette. I have stopped feeding the sinking pellets to the Pep. shrimp because he can catch some of the brine shrimp the goby spits out. I am considering taking that rock out of the tank and scrubbing it in a bucket of clean salt water. I have no corals on it as of yet. Suggestions? Have any of you won the battle against Hydroids like these? Thank you. Since I do not have a pic of the Hydroids, I can entertain you with a pic of this little character, my new friend: Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hello, Albert and all reading. I would like to have your input on my dilemna. It is likely a common problem for newbies like me. Hubby noticed some thread like organisms toward the back of the tank on the live rock. I thought, "Uh, oh." When I looked at them they immediately brought to mind Hydroids. These things are too small to photograph without proper zoom lenses. The best description I can think of is a white thread which splits into a few branches and the end of each branch has a circle of small hairs (like the end of a polyp on the Kenya tree). I touched them with a bamboo skewer and the little 'polyp end' closed not retracted. I also have some little feather dusters back there. They are in tiny, nearly invisible tubes in the LR. When I touch those the 'fan' completely and quickly retract into it's tube. From the description they could be or they could not be ... Here are some pics of hydroids ... let me know wether what you have looks like one of these. If they are hydroids they are very hard to get rid off (boiling the rocks, injecting with boiling water, glueing in, etc. are some methods) but before I try to help with getting rid of them let me know by looking at these pictures: After we establish that they are hydroids I will give you a list of methods that some hobbyists have used. It is near 11:30 here and I have to leave for an appointment so if you do not get an answer after posting your reply, it means I am out and not near my laptop. Albert Quote Link to comment
atoll Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 On another note: did you see the thread on Red Slime Algae that I started two days ago ? Albert Hi Albert, Yes I have been following it, some very interesting info and suggestions. I see Brandon's mentioned the use of H2O2 to rid cyno which as you know I have used to reduce/ get rid of by a different method which you are also experimenting with. Les. Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hi Albert,Yes I have been following it, some very interesting info and suggestions. I see Brandon's mentioned the use of H2O2 to rid cyno which as you know I have used to reduce/ get rid of by a different method which you are also experimenting with. Les. Yes indeed some interesting remarks and observations have been posted, and I am keeping track of everything that comes up and we'll see where we get with it ... need more posts though. So far so good however. There may not be a single solution but a combination of practices ... On the other method: the Oxydator ... yes I know you have not had any issues thanks to using it and yes I am still experimenting with it but have not been able to make it work the way it should :-( The spot treatment with H2O2 may work if there are only a few patches but if they have spread all over the tank then more drastic measures are needed and I am not sure whether too many would go as far as dosing their entire tank with it and what the effect would be on the corals and fish ... Of course the dose will have a lot to do with that but even so, I am not sure that it is the solution as after they disappear since the root cause may still be there, they could very well re-appear after a short period of time. The sure are a tough issue to deal with as many have found out ... only super good maintenance will avoid them showing up and what that entails is what I am trying to document based on all the responses I am getting as you have probably figured out. Thanks Les Albert Quote Link to comment
eitallent Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 (edited) From the description they could be or they could not be ... After we establish that they are hydroids I will give you a list of methods that some hobbyists have used. Albert No hurry. Thank you for looking at this. The pictures you have posted seem similar. But the ones I have are branched. There are at least three branches on each "thread" or stem. Here is a short video (20 seconds). The video seems to have better resolution than the pictures. The organism in question is at the center of the frame and sways in the current. Fuzzy picture of it up close: Edited September 25, 2012 by eitallent Quote Link to comment
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