Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. The genus Siganus is comprised of 26 or 27 species of fish and a couple of hybrids, depending on who you ask, all of which are commonly known as rabbitfishes. Also called spinefoots by some, these can make great additions to appropriately-sized aquariums and are well worth a look, as they're generally attractive, relatively peaceful, and easy to care for. They also tend to be great algae-eaters, and are typically much hardier than the ever-popular surgeonfishes. So, this month I'll give you some information about the genus as a whole, the species commonly offered in the hobby, and how to take good care of them. To start, there's sometimes a bit of confusion about the rabbitfishes' names due to the fact that five of the Siganus species used to be placed in the genus Lo. The latter is no longer a separate genus though, and is instead considered to be a sub-genus within Siganus. These five species are Siganus magnificus, S. niger, S. vulpinus, S. unimaculatus, and S. uspi, but you can still find them being called Lo magnificus, etc. from time to time. Really, the only obvious distinctive feature these species share is that they all have a somewhat elongated snout relative to the others (Woodland, 1990), and are oftentimes called foxfaces, or foxface rabbitfishes. Rabbit, spinefoot, and foxface, ohhhhh the names people come up with for fishes at times... Supposedly, the rabbit name was given to these fishes for being docile grazers with dark eyes and a small mouth, with the foxface rabbits having stripes on their faces and relatively long snouts. That doesn't look much like a rabbit's mouth or a fox's face to me, though... Anyway, aside from their names, there's something else quite unique about siganids, as they're one of the few types of venomous fishes that oftentimes end up in aquariums. They all have venom glands associated with the spines in their fins, and if you get stuck by one it's going to hurt very badly. If cornered, panicked, or handled improperly (with your hands), they can give you a painful reminder that they're venomous, but fortunately it won't kill you unless maybe you happen to have some unusual allergic response to the venom or get a mortal infection of the wound. However, after doing a thorough online search I wasn't able to find any reports of this happening. In fact, I wasn't able to find a single case of someone being hospitalized after being spiked, either. Watch out for those fins! All rabbitfishes can deliver a very painful dose of venom as a means of self-defense. Regardless, there are a couple of things to do if envenomated by a rabbitfish, one of which is getting professional help. I realize I've just pointed out that the chances of receiving a serious injury are slim, but that's if an envenomation is treated properly. Avoiding professional help or neglecting such an injury can be very painful and might lead to real trouble. So, a trip to the doctor is still highly recommended. Still, before you head out the door, note that applying some hot water therapy can help to relieve the pain almost immediately. The venom is a heat-labile protein, which means it can be broken down very effectively by exposure to heat (Meier & White, 1995). So, you can soak or bathe the injured body part in water that's as hot as you can stand in order to reduce/eliminate the venom's effects. This is normally around 110° to 115°F, but should not be any hotter as you'll risk scalding yourself and making matters worse. Of course, the sooner you can get to a doctor the better, and upon arrival it's important to report exactly what kind of fish got you. You shouldn't assume that a doctor knows what a rabbitfish is though, so explain if necessary. Then, you'll likely receive a continuing hot-water treatment for 30 to 90 minutes, and may get a shot of anesthetic if the pain is severe. The wound should be elevated to help reduce any swelling, too. Now you might think that you can do this yourself (you can), but in all cases where a skin-breaking wound is caused by a marine organism, tetanus prophylaxis (like a shot) is required if not already up to date. It is well documented that tetanus has caused deaths following marine organism-related penetrating wounds. Numerous other infections can also occur in conjunction with such wounds, including Vibrio in rare cases. So, I can't say it enough, be mindful of the possibility of these after-effects of an envenomation. Because the potential for infection is relatively high, your doctor may also use various antibiotics as part of the treatment. This is especially so if an infection appears some time after the initial injury has occurred. Of course, if you don't get your hands too close to an unhappy rabbitfish, you don't have to worry about any of this. Next, is the rabbitfishes' ability to camouflage themselves as another means of staying alive. All of them can dramatically change their appearance at will, and typically do so when sleeping or when frightened. Regardless of their "normal" overall coloration, which is often quite bright, they can lose it and take on a splotchy appearance that's not colorful at all and often looks more like military camo. When hiding out, especially in rockwork and in the branches of corals, these patterns can be very effective and do quite a good job of making the fishes more difficult to see. So, don't automatically be alarmed if you use a flashlight to look in your aquarium when the lights are off (like I do regularly) and can't seem to find one. Here's S. unimaculatus with normal coloration, and with its night/fright coloration. This is S. virgatus with normal coloration, and with its night/fright coloration. Lastly, these are all primarily algal grazers. However, many will also eat some meaty food items, as some will include tunicates, sponges, and corals in their diets. Yes, corals. I'll provide some more specific information about their diets in a minute, though. And with that covered, let's look at the species I've encountered in shops. I've provided some basic information for each, including their maximum sizes, geographic ranges, and habits/habitats as reported by Fishbase (undated) and Woodland (1990). Do keep in mind that maximum reported sizes are basically record-setters, so very few individuals of a species will closely approach it. Commonly offered species: Siganus vulpinus: This species is commonly called the foxface rabbitfish, and is the most commonly-offered species of the group. It can reach a maximum length of almost ten inches, but is more commonly less than eight inches. It also has a broad distribution, being found in the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Great Barrier Reef, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands, Tonga, and Kiribati. Juveniles live in large schools around reefs, but adults live in isolated pairs or sometimes singly. Siganus unimaculatus: This species is called the one-spot foxface or blotched foxface, and it looks identical to S. vulpinus with the exception of having a single black splotch on either side of its body below the dorsal fin. It can also grow to a maximum length of about eight inches, and is found around the Philippines, Western Australia, and the Ryukyu Islands. And again, juveniles live in large schools, but adults live in isolated pairs. The only other thing to say here is that this might not be a species. According to Kuriiwa et al. (2007), S. unimaculatus is actually the same species as S. vulpinus, but it sometimes has the black splotch in particular geographic localities. That's why I said there are 26 or 27 species depending on who you ask. Siganus corallinus: This species is commonly called the coral rabbitfish or blue-spotted spinefoot, and can grow to a maximum length of almost fourteen inches making it one of the bigger rabbitfishes. Still, it's most commonly less than eight inches in length, and can be found around Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Palau, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and around the Solomon Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, the Ogasawara Islands, the Aldabra Islands, the Seychelles, the Maldives, and in the Andaman Sea. The juveniles are typically found in small schools around reefs and seagrass beds, but adults usually live in isolated pairs around shallow coral reefs. Juveniles may also school with other species, such as S. puellus. Siganus punctatus: This rather large species is commonly known as the gold-spotted rabbitfish or gold-spotted spinefoot, and can reach a maximum length of almost sixteen inches with most individuals staying under twelve. And, it can be found around the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Palau, the Ryukyu Islands, the Ogasawara Islands, the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Kapingamarangi Islands, as well as the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Thailand, and the South China Sea. This species also schools in shallow estuaries when young, but is found in isolated pairs in lagoons and on deeper reefs when mature. Siganus uspi: This smaller species is commonly known as the bicolored foxface or uspi rabbitfish, and reaches a maximum length of about nine and a half inches. Unlike many of the other species, it also has a rather small geographic range, being endemic to Fiji, with a few being reported around New Caledonia. Regardless, the juveniles do live in schools with adults living in isolated pairs in deep pools inside reef crests and around drop-offs at reef edges. Siganus doliatus: This species has a lot of common names, typically being called the blue-lined rabbitfish, but also going by the names scribbled rabbitfish, pencil-streaked rabbitfish, two-barred rabbitfish, and barred spinefoot. They can reach a maximum length of almost ten inches, but like the first three species above, they're most commonly less than eight. It can be found in the Indo-Malayan area and from Australia and Tonga north to Palau and Kosrae. Juveniles do form schools, typically in seagrass areas, and they pair up at a relatively small size. However, they may still travel in loose schools, oftentimes with other fishes, such as S. puellus, until they're full-sized at which time they stop schooling and live as isolated pairs. Adults are typically found in deep reef lagoons and along drop-offs at reef edges. Note that Kuriiwa et al. (2007) reported there was evidence that S. doliatus can interbreed with S. virgatus (below). Siganus virgatus: This species is typically called the two-barred rabbitfish, virgate rabbitfish, or barhead spinefoot, and can reach a maximum size of about twelve inches with most being closer to eight. It can be found around southern India, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, Thailand, the southern and eastern coasts of China, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and northern Australia. Small juveniles are found in small groups in mangrove areas and estuaries, sometimes entering freshwater. Larger juveniles/adults form isolated pairs and move onto costal reef flats and slopes. Siganus magnificus: This species is typically called the magnificent rabbitfish or the silver foxface, and can reach a maximum length of about nine and a half inches. It can be found in the Eastern Indian Ocean from Thailand, including the Similan Islands, to Java, Indonesia. Unlike many of its close cousins, the juveniles tend to live singly amongst the branches of corals, while adults form solitary pairs and may sometimes be found singly. Siganus puellus: This species is called the masked rabbitfish, decorated rabbitfish, and masked spinefoot, and is quite large, with a maximum length of fifteen inches. Most commonly they're closer to ten inches, though. It's found in the Indian Ocean around the Cocos-Keeling Islands and western Australia, and in the western Pacific from the South China Sea to the Gilbert Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, and Tonga. Juveniles form large schools, often mixing with S. corallinus, S. doliatus, and S. spinus, and are found on reef flats and in lagoons, especially in Acropora dominated areas. Adults form isolated pairs and move to deeper waters, typically along drop-offs at reef edges. Siganus guttatus: This species is commonly called the yellow blotch rabbitfish, golden rabbitfish, orange-spotted spinefoot, or golden spinefoot, and is another big one with a maximum size of over sixteen inches and commonly being about ten. It can be found in the Eastern Indian Ocean around the Andaman Islands and Thailand, around Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Viet Nam, and in the South China Sea and Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Palau. It is quite different in that it is active at night, lives in schools as both juveniles and adults, and often prefers brackish waters. It commonly inhabits turbid inshore reefs and mangroves, and often enters rivers with the changing tides. Lavina and Alcala (1974) noted that it's regularly found in areas with half the salinity of normal seawater, although it may also be found on drop-offs of inshore fringing reefs, at times. Also note that Kuriiwa et al. (2007) reported there was evidence that S. guttatus can interbreed with S. lineatus (not covered). Aquarium Care: Rabbitfishes are categorically tough when it comes to dealing with disease and less-than-perfect water quality, being as hardy as any other fishes we commonly keep in our aquariums. However, it's important to fed them well and give them the right foods. All of these are primarily algal grazers in the wild, with juveniles tending to eat smaller types of algae and adults feeding on larger and tougher seaweeds and such. However, many will also feed on a variety of invertebrates including sponges, tunicates, and corals, especially if they're hungry and there's no suitable algae to be found. Thus, it's important for you to give them plenty of plant matter in their diet, which may be primarily plant-based flake or frozen cube foods if you prefer. Spirulina flakes are also good, as is dried seaweed (nori and kombu). If you use the later, make sure to buy unseasoned types though, as you don't want to dose your fishes with any sorts of additives, preservatives, etc. Of course, they'll also eat meaty foods, including various types of zooplankton, brine shrimp, and bits of fish, clam, etc. So, you can obviously feed them a wide variety of foods in an aquarium. They'll typically get some of their own food by picking at algae growing on rocks and such in aquariums, and thus can be great aquarium cleaners, too. When it comes to eating corals, things can be hit or miss, though. While looking around online I found numerous stories of a rabbitfishes being fine in a reef aquarium for some time, even for more than two years, and then starting to eat both soft and stony corals. They oftentimes go after things like zoanthids and button polyps first, but from what I can tell, they may also fancy Acanthastrea and the branch tips of many other stony corals. Regardless, I have personally cared for at least a dozen rabbitfishes in my own aquariums and those of my customers years ago when I owned a tank maintenance business, and I never once had a problem with any of them. In fact, I've got a nice S. vulpinus in my own reef aquarium right now. No issues. So, I'm either feeding it everything it needs, or I've just gotten very lucky (again). I guess I'll just say that if you plan on keeping one of these in a reef aquarium, be sure to keep the food coming and keep a close watch on it in case it starts eating things you don't want eaten. Other than that bit of advice, be sure to pay attention to the potential size of any species you may want and place it in an aquarium of appropriate size. If you were paying attention above, I'm sure you noticed that there's a big size difference in species like S. uspi and S. guttatus, with the former being up to nine and a half inches in length and the latter being up to sixteen. So, give a specimen the space it needs. Other than that, I guess the only other thing to recommend is having plenty of hiding places for a rabbitfish. While personalities differ, they oftentimes can be rather skittish and like to have some places to lay low and to sleep. So, you should have plenty of rockwork or other decorations that they can go to if they feel like getting out of sight. Compatibilities: When it comes to compatibilities, rabbitfishes will typically get along fine with anything else that's not a rabbitfish of the same or similar species. However, you should always be aware that, like any other type of fish, each individual can have its own personality, and every once in a while even the supposedly nicest fish can become a problem. Regardless, while juvenile rabbitfishes typically live in schools in the wild, trying to keep two or three of the same species of any of these in one tank will usually lead to fighting. It's an odd thing, but in the confined space of a tank they just won't get along with each other. However, if the tank is big enough and several small individuals of similar size are added simultaneously, their schooling nature sometimes overrides their aggression and they may get along - at least for a while. In general, you'd need to add at least four or five at once, and even that won't guarantee peace. So, I think it's a bad idea to try this unless you've got a really big tank, as in at least several hundred gallons. When it comes to adults, they should also be kept one to a tank, unless you can find a mated pair for sale. Unfortunately, I don't recall ever seeing a pair being offered together, so that's probably out, too. It may be possible to keep more than one if they're very different species, but again, I wouldn't try it unless you've got a really big aquarium. So, it's pretty much always going to be one to a tank. And with that, I'll sign off... References/sources for more information: Allen, G. et al. 2003. Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific. New World Publications, Jacksonville, FL. 480pp. FishBase Global Information System. URL: www.fishbase.org/home.htm Kuiter, R.H. and Debelius, H. 2001. Surgeonfishes, Rabbitfishes and Their Relatives. TMC Publishing, Chorleywood, UK. 208pp. Kuriiwa, K. et al. 2007. Phylogenetic relationships and natural hybridization in rabbitfishes (Teleostei: Siganidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 45(1). Lavina, E.M. and Alcala, A.C. 1974. Ecological studies of Philippine Siganid fishes in southern Negros. Sillman Journal. 21:191-210. Meier, J. and White, J. 1995. Handbook of Clinical Toxicology of Animal Venoms and Poisons. CRC Press. 752pp. Vanstone, W.E. and Turnbull, D. 1981. Siganidae (the rabbitfish): A bibliography. International Development Research Centre. Vancouver, Canada. 16pp. Woodland, D.J. 1990. Revision of the fish family Siganidae with descriptions of two new species and comments on distribution and biology. Indo-Pacific Fishes 19. 136pp. View the full article

Nice shollow tank !! What is the error message you get while posting photo ? You have to resize the photo before posting, or you can insert copy and paste the url link of your photo from photo bucket to use to insert your photo here.

Click through to see the images. The title and the following content were supplied by ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University Round the planet the loveable clownfish Nemo may be losing his home, a new scientific study has revealed. Research by an international team of marine scientists has found that sea anemones, which provide shelter for clownfish and 27 other fish species, are facing the same worldwide threat as coral reefs – bleaching and loss due to rising water temperatures. “Our study showed that at least seven of the ten anemone species suffer from bleaching when water temperatures get too high,” says Dr Ashley Frisch of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, a co-author of the report which has highlighted a potential crisis for two of the world’s most popular marine species. “Importantly, we found bleaching of anemones occurring wherever we looked – from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the Indo-Australian region and the Pacific. Sometimes it was on a massive scale.” The bleaching appears to be due to the same cause as coral bleaching – loss of the anemone’s symbiotic algae, which supply an important part of its nourishment. This happens when the surrounding water becomes too warm. But it also involves the loss of the brightly coloured fishes which the anemone protects – and which in turn protect it. The result is a collapse in the delicate three-way partnership between algae, anemone and fish. “Anemones are naturally tough and live for many years. As a result their rates of reproduction are slow – and when they are hit by a killer bleaching event, it can result in their complete loss from an area over a period of time. It appears they cannot reproduce fast enough to make good the loss, especially if the fish are also gone,” Dr Frisch explains. “Bleaching causes the loss of anemonefish, like nemos, which have nowhere to hide and without the anemones to protect them are quickly gobbled up by predators. “Also, because the fish appear to perform useful services for the anemone like protecting them from grazing fish, it may also be that the loss of anemonefishes following a bleaching event means the anemones themselves are much less likely to recover.” The researchers, from Australia, Saudi Arabia and the USA surveyed nearly 14000 anemones worldwide and found 4 per cent were bleached. However bleaching rates ranged from 20-100 per cent, following five major bleaching episodes. They conclude that in some areas, anemone “population viability will be severely compromised if anemones and their symbionts cannot acclimat(is)e or adapt to rising sea temperatures. “Anemone bleaching also has negative effects to other species… including reductions in abundance and reproductive output of anemonefishes. “Therefore, the future of these iconic and commercially valuable coral reef fishes is inextricably linked to the ability of host anemones to cope with rising sea temperatures associated with climate change.” The study concludes “If host anemones (and their symbiotic algae) cannot acclimate or adapt to rising sea temperatures, then populations of host anemones and associated anemonefishes are anticipated to decline significantly.” Dr Frisch says that apart from their roles in coral ecosystems, anemones and their fish are of economic importance to both tourism and the aquarium trade, and many poor coastal communities depend on the income they bring. The report “Taxonomic, Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Bleaching in Anemones Inhabited by Anemonefishes’ by Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Ashley J. Frisch, Benjamin M. Ford, Michele Thums, Pablo Saenz-Agudelo, Kathryn A. Furby and Michael L. Berumen appears in the journal PLOS One. View the full article

Marine life still have some very healthy looking small potter angel, some tailspot blenny, blue spotted box fish and many various anemone. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. Author Tony Vargas just posted on Facebook and Google+ that Two Little Fishies has sold out of the first print run of The Coral Reef Aquarium. According to Tony and TLF, there will not be a second printing, so get this book while supplies last! 5876356f4f2bd1d6fcb2ef00c896b716

Click through to see the images. The study, published in Global Ecology and Biogeography, is the first to recreate the oceanic paths along which corals disperse globally, and will eventually aid predictions of how coral reef distributions may shift with climate change. Coral reefs are under increasing threat from the combined pressures of human activity, natural disturbances and climate change. It has been suggested that coral may respond to these changing conditions by shifting to more favourable refuges, but their ability to do this will depend on the ocean currents. Sally Wood, a Ph.D. candidate at UB, explains: "Dispersal is an extremely important process for corals. As they are attached to the seafloor as adults, the only way they can escape harmful conditions or replenish damaged reefs is by releasing their young to the mercy of the ocean currents." Where these intrepid explorers end up is therefore an important question for coral reef conservation. However, tracking the movement of such tiny larvae in the vast oceans is an impossible task. "This is where computer simulation comes in," adds Wood. Collaborating across the pond, Wood used the Connectivity Modeling System (CMS) developed by Dr. Claire Paris, associate professor of Applied Marine Physics at UM to identify the billions of paths taken. This larval migration model had been tested in a previous study against the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis in the Caribbean, where consensus between modeled estimates of genetic structure were found. "Simulating an unprecedented number of mass spawning events from all known shallow reefs in the global ocean proved essential to identifying critical long dispersal distance events that promote the establishment of new coral colonies. What we found using the CMS are rare long distance dispersers that are thought to contribute to species persistence in isolated coral reefs, and to geographic range shifts during environmental changes," said Paris. Some of the results yielded by the team were surprising. While the majority of simulated larvae settled close to home, others travelled as far as 9,000 km., almost the entire width of the Pacific Ocean. When considered over multiple generations, this means that corals are able to cross entire ocean basins, using islands and coastlines as 'stepping stones.' However, a few places proved too distant for all but the hardiest of larvae: Coral in the tropical eastern Pacific are almost entirely cut off from those on islands of the central Pacific by a daunting 5000 km of open ocean. Geographically isolated reefs such as these may be particularly vulnerable, as they are not stocked with external recruits as frequently. The model captured the start of the coral larvae's journey to its survival, and further work is ongoing to complete the story. Even after overcoming the trials of the open ocean, coral larvae arriving at a suitable location must first negotiate a 'wall of mouths' to settle on the reef face, and then compete fiercely for the space to thrive and grow. (Press Release: EurekAlert) View the full article

I can lend u the tds meter as well if u need. I stay cck Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. Innovative Marine supplied Advanced Aquarist with the following content: Versatile LED Fuge Lighting Enjoy the benefits of natural filtration for your AIO (All-In-One) Aquarium with the versatile MagnaFuge LED. Unlike traditional fuge lighting, the low voltage MagnaFuge utilizes dedicated rare earth neodymium magnets to mount vertically or horizontally behind your AIO, and remains discreetly out of view. Designed for maximum macro algae growth, the MagnaFuge distributes 6500K spectrum evenly with 120 degree optics, and delivers an amazing 120 lumens per watt. Creating a refugium aids in the export of unwanted nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates, while stabilizing pH and oxygen levels throughout the day. They also provide a natural food source for your aquarium inhabitants, to create a true thriving mini-ecosystem. FEATURES Easy to set up magnetic design Designed for AIO Aquariums Low voltage 4 Rare earth neodymium magnets 6 x 1 watt LED 6,500K Daylight Small form factor 120 lumens per watt No Heat transfer SPECS Name: MagnaFuge LED Watts: 6 x 1 Watt Kelvin: 6500K Optics: 120 Degree Lumens per Watt: 120 Current: 350mA Fixture Dims: 4.09” x 0.82” x 7.24” Magnet Dims: 2.76” x 0.82” x 1.77” MAP: $99 View the full article

Click through to see the images. Download your free copy today. This issue features the following articles: Come on a tour of the scorpionfishes and other ambush predators with marine guru Aaron Sewell. Kenneth Wingerter discusses the Nonphotosynthetic Reef Biotope aquarium (part 1 of 3). Mo Devlin discusses his creative side and highlights how he’s turned some of his fish photos into Aqua Art. In a Redfish special we take a close look at the huge redtail catfish. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The promise of LED technology to be able to offer an infinite range of color and controllability is finally reaching the point of reality. LEDs have to potential of offer unparalled controllability allowing users to control a wide range of features such as - spectrums, color temperatures, ability to vary these throughout the day, add special effects such as cloud covers and lightning, tight integration with modern aquarium controllers, wi-fi and internet based control. Additionally, the ability to upgrade using single platforms can provide users with a path to address rapid obsolescence as well as the ability to tweak the fixtures to the application. The new "high end" LED fixtures such as the Ecotech Radion Pro, GHL Mitras, and AI Hydra are perfect examples of these capabilities. Continuing in the same vein as my previous LED lighting tests, this article presents data on light intensity and spread along with spectral plots for these new LED fixtures. Table 1 presents a list of the LED lighting fixtures reviewed in this article. Each of these was tested using the same set up as my previous reflector tests, using a 3'X3' grid with a spacing of 3" in the X,Y direction. The fixtures were centered on this grid, and PAR was measured as PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) in micromoles/m2/sec using a LICOR 1000 data logger and a LI-192SA underwater cosine corrected sensor calibrated for both air and water. The data logger was set to average 5 readings for each data collection point. The data was imported into Microsoft Excel for analysis and the data was plotted to display the light spread and intensity at various distances. 4 plots of the data with 2 plots at each distance were generated showing: A 3-D surface plot showing the actual PAR values recorded A contour plot viewing the surface from the top showing the distribution The spectral distributions were measured using the Licor LI-1800 spectroradiometer. The spectral data was collected from the various LEDs and normalized such that integrated light output (spectral irradiance) between the wavelengths of 400-700 nm was 100 Watts/m2. Data was collected at full power output for the individual channels of light control (e.g., Blue, white) along with data with ALL LEDs on at full power. The data was normalized so that the total irradiance was at 100 Watts/m2 over the wavelength range 400-700 nm. The various LED color outputs were then scaled by the same scale factor to allow of determination of the contribution of the various LEDs to the full output. The results are plotted as a Spectral power distribution plot. The fixtures were tested for light spread and intensity at 24"and 30", unless otherwise noted. Power draw was measured with a Kill-A-Watt meter. Table 1: LED Lighting Fixtures Tested LED Fixture Picture Ecotech Marine Radion Pro GHL Mitras 6100 GHL Mitras 6200 Aqua Illumination Hydra Table 2: Comparative Analysis of the Different LED fixtures (taken from their websites) LED Fixture Ecotech Marine Radion Pro AI Hydra GHL MItras 6100HV GHL Mitras 6200HV # of LEDs 42 20 72 72 Type and LED groups White: 8 Cree XT-E Cool White (5w each) Red: 4 Osram Oslon SSL Hyper Red, 660nm (3w each) Yellow: 2 Osram Oslon SSL Yellow, 590nm (3w each) Green: 4 Cree XP-E Green, 520nm (3w each) Blue: 8 Cree XP-E Blue, 468nm (3w each) Royal Blue: 8 Cree XT-E Royal Blue, 442nm (5w each) Indigo: 4 SemiLEDs UV, 415nm (2.5w each) Ultraviolet: 4 SemiLEDs UV, 405nm (2.5w each) White: 4 Cree XT-E Cool White Red: 2 Osram Oslon Deep Red Green: 2 Cree XP-E Royal Blue: 4 Cree XT-E Blue: 4 Osram Olson Very Deep Blue Violet: SemiLED 415nm Violet UV: Edison Opto 400 nm UV White: 12 Cree XT-E cool white Neutral White: 6 Cree XT-E neutral white Red: 6 Osram Oslon SSL red Hyper Red: 6 Osram Oslon SSL hyperred Blue: 12 x Cree XP-E blue Royal Blue: 12 x Cree XT-E royal blue Green: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL true green Yellow: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL yellow Hyper Violet: 6 425 nm White: 12 x Cree XT-E cool white Blue: 12 x Cree XP-E blue Royal Blue: 12 x Cree XT-E Neutral White: 6 x Cree XT-E Green: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL true green Sky White: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL Blue White: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL Red: 6 x Osram Oslon SSL hyperred Hyper Violet: 6 x hyper violet 425 nm # of control Channels 6 7 9 9 # of LED groups/type 8 7 9 9 Peak Spectral Range of LEDs 405 nm - 660 nm 400nm-660nm 425-660 nm 425-660 nm Wireless Control communicates wirelessly with other Radion lights and VorTech pumps through EcoSMART Live Wireless remote control communicates wirelessly with other Mitras lights and ProfiLux Controllers (with expansion card "PLM-PWC") or PC (with USB-wireless dongle)* communicates wirelessly with other Mitras lights and ProfiLux Controllers (with expansion card "PLM-PWC") or PC (with USB-wireless dongle)* Control Software Cloud based -EcoSMART Live Web based Director, MyAI cloud based PC based operating software PC based operating software Tethering Required for Control Yes - USB No Yes - USB Yes - USB Control Features Sunrise Sunset Over Multiple lamps Over Multiple lamps Over Multiple lamps Cloud Simulation Yes Sweeping over multiple lamps Sweeping over multiple Lamps Sweeping over multiple Lamps Thunder Storm Yes Yes Yes Yes Moon Phases Yes Yes Yes Yes Rainy Days Yes Yes Yes Yes Upgradability Lens LED clusters Driver Led Clusters Lens Replaceable LED clusters Replaceable LED clusters Cooling Air cooled with one water resistant cooling fan Air Cooled with one cooling fan 4 cooling fans 4 cooling fans Other Noteworthy features Capacitive touch exterior controls Remote with touch controls Exterior Touch LED control panel Exterior LED touch Panel Lenses Custom TIR Lenses Custom TIR lenses (80 deg), also available with 50 deg. Metal coated PET reflector, 99% total reflection 96% diffuse Metal coated PET reflector, 99% total reflection 96% diffuse Size L: 11.8 in. W: 7 in. H: 1.5 in L: 11.875 in. W: 5.375 in. H: 2.1 in. L: 13.38 in W: 7.08 in H: 1.57 in. L: 13.38 in W: 7.08 in H: 1.57 in. Weight 3.66lbs. (1.66kg) Power Consumption at Full Power 170W 95 W 190W (high output) 120W (high efficiency) 190W (high output) 120W (high efficiency) Regulatory Compliance . UL, CE & RoHS . . * Not available in the current version tested Ecotech Marine Radion Pro The Radion Pro is the latest generation of the Ecotech Radion LED series. The relevant information regarding the various LEDs and other features is summarized in Table 2. The basic Led arrangement is shown in figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 show the light distribution and the spectral outputs of the various LEDs. Figure 1: LED arrangement for the Radion Pro Figure 2. Ecotech Radion Pro, Light Intensity and Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 3. Spectral Distribution of the Ecotech Radion Pro Aqua Illumination Hydra The AI Hydra is the newest of the Aqua Illumination (AI) product based on the same AI Vega platform. It offers less flexibility than the AI-SOL in terms of control however it still provides 7 channels of control which is more than adequate to create a wide range of colors. The LED pucks are not upgradable as they are in the AI-SOL. The relevant information regarding the various LEDs and other features is summarized in Table 2. The basic Led arrangement is shown in figure 4. Figures 5 and 6 show the light distribution and the spectral outputs of the various LEDs and control channels. Figure 4: LED arrangement for the AI Hydra Figure 5. AI Hydra, Light Intensity and Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 6. Spectral Distribution of the AI Hydra GHL Mitras 6100HV and 6200HV The GHL Mitras are LED pendant lights from Germany. The Mitras LX platform is the basis for a wide range of LED configurations. Two of them the 6100HV and the newer 6200HV are tested here. The relevant information regarding the various LEDs and other features is summarized in Table 2. The only major difference between the 6100HV and 6200HV is in the configuration of the LEDs. All other features are identical. The 6200HV has more blue and less red whereas the 6100HV is designed to provide a fuller spectrum. Both the 6100HV and 6200HV were tested for spectral output, but only the 6200HV was tested for light distribution. The basic Led arrangement is shown in figure 7. Figures 8 and 9 show the light distribution and the spectral outputs of the various LEDs for the GHL Mitras 6200HV and Figure 10 shows the spectral output for the GHL Mitras 6100HV. Figure 7: LED arrangement for the 6100HV and 6200HV Figure 8. GHL Mitras LX 6200HV, Light Intensity and Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 9. Spectral distribution of the GHL Mitras 6200HV Figure 10. Spectral distribution of the GHL Mitras 6100HV Discussion The latest generation of LEDs with their range of multicolor LEDs and multiple channels of control offer unprecedented ability to create a wide range of colors that would suit the aesthetics of the aquarium couple with the requirements of the coral. All of these LEDs are typically programmed through software interface that allows great amount of flexibility in configuring the colors, the ability to ramp the intensity up and down to create effects such as sunrise, sunset, moving cloud covers, lightning simulation, moonlight simulation, and for some even different power settings for high output and high efficiency. To facilitate ease of programming the colors, often the software includes preprogrammed color temperatures. This range of color temperatures is obtained by dimming some of the LEDs, which in turn leads to lower output as well as lower power consumption. For example, Figure 11, shows the various spectrums of the preprogrammed color temperatures of the GHL Mitras 6200HV. Table 3 shows the power consumption at the different preprogrammed color temperatures. Figure 11. Preprogramed spectrums of the GHL 6200HV Table 3. Power consumption of the 6200HV at different pre programmed color temperatures. Programmed Color Temp.6200HV Power(Watts) 2000K 32 4000K 62 6010K 85 8000K 120 10010K 190 12000K 155 14000K 120 15940K 120 17700K 92 ALL ON 208 The GHL Mitras also allow the user to pick between 2 operating modes - High output and High efficiency. The difference in the output at these 2 modes is shown in table 4, and Figure 12. Table 4: Difference in output between High Output and High Efficiency Modes LED Mode Power PPFD at 12.5" GHL 6200 HV High Output 208W 781 High Efficiency 135W 554 GHL 6100 HV High Output 181W 645 High Efficiency 118W 475 Figure 12: Change in Spectral Output of GHL 6200 HV and 6100HV in High Output and High Efficiency modes. While all of the LED manufacturers provide the power consumption data for the LEDs, the actual power draw as measured by a Kill-A-Watt meter is shown in Table 5. Figure 13, shows the spectral comparison between the different LEDs at maximum output normalized to a spectral irradiance of 100W/m2. Since all of them tend to use the same manufacturer of LEDs, the only major differences are from the composition of the LEDs used. Table 5. Power Consumption as measured with a Kill-A-Watt meter LED Power (Watts) Amps (A) Volts (V) Power Factor (PF) AI Hydra 95W .77 122.5 .99 Radion Pro 171W 2.65 123.3 .54 GHL 6200 HV (high output) 208W 1.73 122.1 .99 GHL 6200 HV (high efficiency) 135 1.11 122.4 .99 GHL 6100 HV (high output) 181 1.5 121 .99 GHL 600 HV (high efficiency) 118 .9 122.9 .99 Figure 13. Spectral Comparison of all the LEDs Comparing the light distribution of these LEDs as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 8 are useful to provide insight into the practical use of these LEDs. At first glance it may seem like AI Hydra does not have the spread or intensity as compared to the other 2. But this is very misleading without considering the power consumption. Since all of these different LED fixtures use almost identical LEDs from Cree and Osram, the main differences in output are directly related to power consumption and numbers of individual and different LEDs and optics. The AI Hydra for example uses only 95W of power as compared to a Radion at 171W and GHL 6200HV at 208W. So, in practice you may have to use 2 AI Hydra to get the equivalent light output of the other two. At around ½ the price of a Radion Pro, using 2 AI Hydra may be better option for your application. Remember that the light intensity is additive where it overlaps. Running the lights at full output shows that the GHL Mitras has the largest distribution of light and would be suitable for the coverage of about a 3 ft square area, and hence suitable for larger tanks. The Radion Pro on the other hand, has a slightly smaller distribution than the GHL, but achieves higher intensity at the same distances. This makes it more suitable for taller tanks, or they can be mounted higher to get a larger spread. Conclusion LED lighting has come a long way and the new generation of LED fixtures is delivering on the promise of LED technology, and control features. As usual, the users need to consider their own applications to determine the best one for the situation. Hopefully this data will be helpful in making your decisions. View the full article

Irwana used to bring in. Maybe you can also try checking with fuel. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

What happen that cause the tank crash? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

DD doesn't really produce light tube? I think you mean giesemen tube right? Up for your sales. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

You need some locals to bring you around to see the Gems while you are there. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. Read the full study here. (It's fascinating) From the ARC Center of Excellence: Coral Reef Studies: Small prey fish can grow a bigger ‘eye’ on their rear fins as a way of distracting predators and dramatically boosting their chances of survival, new scientific research has found. Researchers from Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) have made a world-first discovery that, when constantly threatened with being eaten, small damsel fish not only grow a larger false ‘eye spot’ near their tail – but also reduce the size of their real eyes. The result is a fish that looks like it is heading in the opposite direction – potentially confusing predatory fish with plans to gobble them up, says Oona Lönnstedt, a graduate student at CoECRS and James Cook University. For decades scientists have debated whether false eyespots, or dark circular marks on less vulnerable regions of the bodies of prey animals, played an important role in protecting them from predators – or were simply a fortuitous evolutionary accident. The CoECRS team has found the first clear evidence that fish can change the size of both the misleading spot and their real eye to maximise their chances of survival when under threat. “It’s an amazing feat of cunning for a tiny fish,” Ms Lonnstedt says. “Young damsel fish are pale yellow in colour and have this distinctive black circular ‘eye’ marking towards their tail, which fades as they mature. We figured it must serve an important purpose when they are young.” “We found that when young damsel fish were placed in a specially built tank where they could see and smell predatory fish without being attacked, they automatically began to grow a bigger eye spot, and their real eye became relatively smaller, compared with damsels exposed only to herbivorous fish, or isolated ones. “We believe this is the first study to document predator-induced changes in the size of eyes and eye-spots in prey animals.” When the researchers investigated what happens in nature on a coral reef with lots of predators, they found that juvenile damsel fish with enlarged eye spots had an amazing five times the survival rate of fish with a normal-sized spot. “This was dramatic proof that eyespots work – and give young fish a hugely increased chance of not being eaten. “We think the eyespots not only cause the predator to attack the wrong end of the fish, enabling it to escape by accelerating in the opposite direction, but also reduce the risk of fatal injury to the head,” she explains. The team also noted that when placed in proximity to a predator the young damsel fish also adopted other protective behaviours and features, including reducing activity levels, taking refuge more often and developing a chunkier body shape less easy for a predator to swallow. “It all goes to show that even a very young, tiny fish a few millimetres long have evolved quite a range of clever strategies for survival which they can deploy when a threatening situation demands,” Ms Lonnstedt says. Their paper “Predator-induced changes in the growth of eyes and false eyespots” by Oona M. Lonnstedt, Mark I. McCormick and Douglas P. Chivers appears in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Researchers from Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) have made a world-first discovery that, when constantly threatened with being eaten, small damsel fish not only grow a larger false ‘eye spot’ near their tail – but also reduce the size of their real eyes. The result is a fish that looks like it is heading in the opposite direction – potentially confusing predatory fish with plans to gobble them up, says Oona Lönnstedt, a graduate student at CoECRS and James Cook University. For decades scientists have debated whether false eyespots, or dark circular marks on less vulnerable regions of the bodies of prey animals, played an important role in protecting them from predators – or were simply a fortuitous evolutionary accident. The CoECRS team has found the first clear evidence that fish can change the size of both the misleading spot and their real eye to maximise their chances of survival when under threat. “It’s an amazing feat of cunning for a tiny fish,” Ms Lonnstedt says. “Young damsel fish are pale yellow in colour and have this distinctive black circular ‘eye’ marking towards their tail, which fades as they mature. We figured it must serve an important purpose when they are young.” “We found that when young damsel fish were placed in a specially built tank where they could see and smell predatory fish without being attacked, they automatically began to grow a bigger eye spot, and their real eye became relatively smaller, compared with damsels exposed only to herbivorous fish, or isolated ones. “We believe this is the first study to document predator-induced changes in the size of eyes and eye-spots in prey animals.” When the researchers investigated what happens in nature on a coral reef with lots of predators, they found that juvenile damsel fish with enlarged eye spots had an amazing five times the survival rate of fish with a normal-sized spot. “This was dramatic proof that eyespots work – and give young fish a hugely increased chance of not being eaten. “We think the eyespots not only cause the predator to attack the wrong end of the fish, enabling it to escape by accelerating in the opposite direction, but also reduce the risk of fatal injury to the head,” she explains. The team also noted that when placed in proximity to a predator the young damsel fish also adopted other protective behaviours and features, including reducing activity levels, taking refuge more often and developing a chunkier body shape less easy for a predator to swallow. “It all goes to show that even a very young, tiny fish a few millimetres long have evolved quite a range of clever strategies for survival which they can deploy when a threatening situation demands,” Ms Lonnstedt says. Their paper “Predator-induced changes in the growth of eyes and false eyespots” by Oona M. Lonnstedt, Mark I. McCormick and Douglas P. Chivers appears in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports. (Press Release ARC Center of Excellence: Coral Reef Studies) View the full article

Only the common tiger tail seahorse is available once in awhile at lfs, but the wild one is difficult in getting them to feed on frozen foods. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. Male puffers create these sand sculptures to attract potential mates. Scientists observed that the larger the nesting area, the greater the chance a male would attract the attention of females. Females will swim to the middle to consummate with the artist of their liking then lay her eggs in the center of the nest. Even more amazing, these "crop circles" are more than just showsmanship. Scientists discovered the intricate patterns have hydrodynamic purpose! The ridges and grooves help to minimize ocean current at the center of the nest, thereby protecting the eggs from turbulence and the likely protecting its occupants from predators. Sealife is just way too cool. " height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"> "> "> View the full article

Click through to see the images. Pacific Sun's Diune T5 lighting system features: Electronic ballasts Available in the following configurations: 8(10) x 39W , 8(10) x 54W, 8(10) x 80W Built-in Wireless Controller (Bluetooth) – native apps for Mac/Win/Android Control each pair of fluorescent tubes separately High quality anodized aluminum reflectors Low-profile metal housing finished in pure white Built-in LED moonlight 3 years warranty Available in September, 2013 worldwide Price TBD View the full article

Some update at pinnacle aquatic yesterday. Many nice corals, but not much fishes. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

U using Tapatalk or? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Lck good size bandit Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. Not only is Bazinga rieki a new species, but it is also placed in a new family called Bazingidae. The small, grape-sized jellyfish measure 15 to 20 millimeters at maturity, and was quite possibly mistaken in the past for a juvenile of its much larger cousins. “It’s pretty rare to discover a new sub-order. This hasn’t happened for well over a hundred years” stated Lisa-ann Gershwin, one of the two marine scientists that discovered the new species. The species was recently described in the journal Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature. Bazinga rieki's name has a two-fold meaning: the first refers to the catch phrase Dr. Sheldon Cooper says on CBS' The Big Bang Theory. The second meaning refers to a seven-string harp, which the straight radial canals displayed by this species are reminiscent of in its body structure. Lisa-ann was recently interviewed about the discovery on the Science Show from ABC Radio National, and the interview can be listened to online. (Via CSIRO) View the full article

Click through to see the images. According to USC's news report: Long, thin, hairlike Thioploca (meaning “sulfur braids” in Spanish) trichomes form chains down into marine sediment, which tiny anammox cells ride down like an elevator. At the bottom, the anammox cells consume nitrite and ammonium, or “fixed” nitrogen, the waste products of the Thioploca. As Thioploca moves down through the sentiment and encounters sulfide (produced by the reaction between organic matter in the mud with seawater sulfate), the bacteria produces nitrite (NO2) and ammonium (NH4+). Consequently, anammox cells attached below consumes the NO2 and NH4+ waste products, in turn producing di-nitrogen gas (N2) that bubbles up and out of the local ecosystem. This "incredibly elegant chemical tandem between two chemolithotrophs," as the lead researcher Maria Prokopenko describes them, sheds light on how denitrification reactors (which are fed sulfate) and deep sand beds may function. Prokopenko states it best: “The symbiotic pair builds a very efficient natural ‘waste-treatment plant’ — destroying substantial quantities of fixed nitrogen while linking sulfur and nitrogen cycles in oxygen-free sediments." Read more about this really cool symbiosis at: http://news.usc.edu/#!/article/53828/newly-discovered-bacterial-partnership-changes-ocean-chemistry/ View the full article

Click through to see the images. It's fascinating to view aquariums from around to world because each region imparts its own personality on how tanks are aquascaped. To avoid "generic tank syndrome" when aquascaping your next tank (freshwater or reef), make sure to look at aquariums from Asia, Europe, and the Americas to expand your inspiration pool. Take these reef aquascapes for example. They're beautiful, unique, and have a distinct Asian flair. " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article