Harlequinmania

Aquamarin fish and coral shipment today. Anyone went there yet? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. According to the New York Daily News, the white tip shark died from injuries after colliding with the Wonder Wheel replica decoration (we very much doubt this postmortem). The same day, a black tip shark had to be removed after it ate three lookdown fish. Both occurred on the first day these sharks were introduced into the new aquarium. Animal Planet's Tanked crew was on site and filmed the tragedy. Note: We have not confirmed if Acrylic Tank Manufacturing designed and installed this aquarium. What we can say is whoever conceived this aquarium seriously needs to reevaluate installing aquariums like these because the welfare of the animals are clearly not taken into consideration. Beyond the dangerous decorations (a shark could easily get entangled and asphyxiate), black and white tips grow to six feet in length and are active apex predators; They should not be kept in private aquariums even of this size (20 feet long, 5,000 gallons), especially under the care of novices ... at Applebee's of all places. Unfortunately, this Applebee location’s owner Zane Tankel plans to restock the aquarium with another white tip reef shark. It's appalling that he didn't learn from the first death. Photo by Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News View the full article

Click through to see the images. Very few groups of tropical marine fishes can boast such a multicolored body pattern like the butterflyfish. This marine family - scientific name Chaetodontidae, from the ancient Greek, it means "brush-teeth" - includes 114 different species belonging to 10 genera, of which the genus Chaetodon is the most abundant in terms of number of species. The majority is found in the Tropical Indo-Pacific, while only four species occur in the eastern Pacific, and 13 species in the Atlantic. The common name makes reference to the brightly colored body (mainly yellow, white and black but with many variations in terms of patterns) of many species. They typically have an "eye-spot," often located at the basis of the caudal fin, probably an anti-predatory adaptation (predators, especially in the confusing sensory world of coral reefs, may be induced to think that the fish is far larger than is it in reality. The eyespot can even reduce the probability of being bitten on the fins by small predators like fang-tooth blennies). Their disc shaped body, highly compressed, allows them to move easily through the cracks and crevices of the reef, and even if they are not particularly fast swimmers, are difficult prey for reef hunters. The majority of species is about 20 cm long, with a pronounced jaw, which in some species like Forcipiger flavissimus can be about the 25% of the total body length. If the fish preys only on coral polyps, normally the snout is reduced, while for invertebrate feeders, due to the need to insert the mouth in very small holes or narrow crevices, becomes long and thin. Planktivorous species normally have protruding jaws to catch small, free-swimming prey. Fig 1. The Big Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) is one of the most common species available in the aquarium trade. Fig 2. The Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii) is a good tank mate for aquarium beginners, thanks to the easy adaptation and feeding habits. Fig 3: The Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is another good member for big aquaria. Being territorial, if kept in small tanks, it may become aggressive. Butterflyfish are present in tropical seas worldwide, often associated with coral reefs, many of them being obligate or facultative coral-feeders ('obligate' means they are able to feed only on coral polyps, while the facultative ones can even rely on other kind of food like algae, plankton or small invertebrates). Coral feeders are strictly territorial, normally living in pairs that last for their life time, in a prolonged monogamy not so common in the animal world. There is not an evident sexual dimorphism: males and females generally look alike, even if sometimes the male is slightly bigger. Butterflyfish reproduction starts with external fecundation, at least for the few species studied, and normally occurs at dawn, after some complex courtship behavior. Fecundated eggs will be released in the current, where they will remain until hatching. The presence of a drop of oil in their yolk sac guarantees that the newly hatched larvae will remain floating on the surface. When the larva arrives at around 5 mm of length (in a stage called 'tholichthys stage', unique among reef fishes) a bony armor covers the head, extending to form spines dorsally and ventrally. These pelagic larvae remain planktonic for two or more months, and after that period the armor is absorbed and the larva can settle at night, quickly transforming into juveniles. Fig 4: An exemplum of a butterflyfish to be avoided. The Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus) be cause it is an obligate coral-feeder. Fig 5: The Blackened Butterflyfish (Chaetodon decussatus) is a possible good tank mate, even if it needs good water conditions and a large aquarium. Fig 6: The Longfin Bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) is a peaceful butterflyfish and is easily kept in aquarium. Juvenile butterflyfish can live in different habitats than adults, normally shallower areas inside branched corals, or mangrove roots. Some of them, at a later stage, form large groups living together, but normally are solitary, and some of them act as cleaner fish. Sexual maturity is reached after about 1 year of life. Butterflyfish lifespan is about 3 or more years, with bigger species living longer. The home range of butterflyfish depends on the species, varying from a few square meters to very large territories, which is mainly dependent on food availability. Marine biologists use some obligate corallivores like butterflyfish as indicators of the health of a coral reef. If the reef is healthy and in good conditions, it can support the coexistence of many different species of butterflyfish, so their presence is evidence of the good overall status of the ecosystem. Butterflyfish are commonly kept in aquaria even if some species are quite hard to maintain. For this reason, a deep knowledge of the particular species you are willing to host is necessary both for it health and for the safety of the whole aquarium. The knowledge especially of the feeding habits of each species is vital to avoid bad surprises. Fig 7: Another example of a Butterflyfish to be avoided, due to its dietary requirements: the Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) Fig 8: The Saddled Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium). It's possible to keep in it aquarium but it requires very good water conditions and a large aquarium (it's a good swimmer and needs space to move). In the wild it feeds on coral and invertebrates, so a fish-only aquarium could be the better option. Fig 9: All the Coradion species (here the Two-eyed Coralfish Coradion melanopus) cannot survive in captivity. Let's have a quick look on some of the most common species present in the aquarium trade. Genus Heniochus: also known as "Bannerfish" due to their long dorsal fin. Heniochus are easily kept in aquariums. In the wild, some juveniles act as cleaners, so sometimes in the aquarium they might bite the other fish's fins. One of the most common species is Heniochus acuminatus (and not acuminata, as sometimes proposed). Adults normally swim in pairs and are planktivorous. Heniochus need a large aquarium, but can easily tolerate meaty and algae dried food. Subgenus Chaetodontops (includes the Raccoon Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, the Pakistan Butterflyfish, Chaetodon collare, and 7 more species: C. auripes, C. fasciatus, C. flavirostris, C. nigropunctatus, C. reticulatus, C. semilarvatus, C. wiebeli). Most of these species feed on invertebrates and algae, but some others feed on coral polyps so they should be avoided. Have a look at the snout: the more rounded and less pointed it is, the higher is the probability that it is a coral-eater. In general, this group should be avoided or carefully evaluated before purchase. Subgenus Rhadophorus. A large group of butterflyfish composed of 19 species, inhabiting shallow and coastal reefs. They feed normally on invertebrates or algae, and can tolerate captivity, depending on the species and type of feeding. They can become aggressive if the tank is too small. Very popular and good tank mates belonging to this group are the Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), the Black-Backed (C. melannotus), the Double-saddled (C. ulietensis), the Vagabond (C. vagabundus), the Saddleback (C. ephippium) and the Latticed Butterflyfish (C. rafflesi). Members of this group can be kept in aquarium but only with the right tank size and conditions, and many of them can be kept in fish-only tanks. Subgenus Lepidochaetodon. Members have arounded body and slightly pointed snout, and feed on a variety of invertebrates whereas some of them are planktivorous. Belonging to this group are the Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon kleinii), which is probably the easiest butterflyfish to maintain in an aquarium, but unfortunately its color pattern is not so spectacular like that of other species. In the wild, it feeds on invertebrates and algae, in aquariums it may accept dry or frozen food. However, it may feed on leather or soft corals if present in the tank. Genus Forcipiger. This group includes very few species (just 2, but a new species has recently been discovered in the Indonesian Papua, but it's not yet officially described). One is the very common Long-nosed butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus). The long pointed snout is used in the wild to catch small invertebrates from their tiny holes or crevices. In the aquarium, if kept in large tanks and correctly acclimatized, live peacefully feeding on a variety of dried or frozen food. Fig 10: The Eastern Triangular Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa), as obligate coral-feeder, cannot survive in aquarium Fig 11: The Pacific Double-Sadded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) is a good tank mate, if proper conditions of space and nutrition are accomplished Fig 12: The Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi) presents many difficulties and should be kept by advanced aquarists only. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Unagi, the sea-going Japanese freshwater eel, harbors a fluorescent protein that could serve as the basis for a revolutionary new clinical test for bilirubin, a critical indicator of human liver function, hemolysis, and jaundice, according to researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The discovery also sheds light on the mysterious and endangered Unagi that could contribute to its conservation. Science from kitchen to lab to clinic Best known as a culinary delicacy in Japan, the freshwater eel Unagi (Anguilla japonica) and related species have seen a worldwide decrease in population, probably due to the effects of global warming, and Unagi is on the brink of extinction in Japan. Yet almost nothing is know about the biology of the eel. Drs. Atsushi Miyawaki, Akiko Kumagai and their team cloned a gene from Unagi for an unusual fluorescent protein they named UnaG, for Unagi Green protein, that allows eels to glow in the dark. UnaG is the first fluorescent protein found in vertebrates; previously they were thought to exist only in simple animals like jellyfish. But what makes UnaG truly unique in nature is that it needs a natural chemical to activate its powerful green light emission. In a surprise twist, the compound was identified by the authors to be bilirubin, a slippery molecule universally used in clinical labs around the world as a human blood marker for liver function. New clinical test for bilirubin Bilirubin is the breakdown product of blood hemoglobin and is toxic if present in excess in the body like in the characteristic yellow skin and eye color conditions seen in newborn babies, jaundice and kernicterus. It is also a common marker in blood tests where bilirubin is used by doctors to assess liver function and for the assessment of health, including hemolysis, the loss of red blood cells in anemia. By analyzing the structure of UnaG, the team discovered a novel mechanism of fluorescence enabling bilirubin to bind to UnaG and activate its light emission. With this property, they developed a superior new assay for bilirubin with high sensitivity, accuracy and speed that may become the global clinical standard, and can be used in developing countries where child liver health is a major issue. Role of UnaG in eel conservation Japanese freshwater eels have a long-distance migration life cycle, growing in inland rivers and swimming far into the sea to spawn. The authors identified UnaG and bilirubin in the muscle cells of Japanese, American, and European eels where they may aid in endurance swimming during migration. The unexpected discovery of UnaG may initiate legislation to conserve endangered eel species. “We believe that UnaG provides an unexpected foothold into several important but currently obscure areas of human health including bilirubin metabolism and muscle physiology during endurance exercise,” Miyawaki concludes. “Before the discovery of UnaG, I couldn’t imagine that basic science could have such a direct impact on human health. From a simple eel, we found a new path to the clinic.” (Via Riken) View the full article

Click through to see the images. In a publication in Current Biology, Tali Mass and her colleagues at the Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences show that specific proteins produced by corals can form limestones in test tubes. These proteins, secreted by corals, precipitate carbonate that forms the corals’ characteristic skeleton. “This is a first step toward understanding how coral build their skeleton,” said Mass, a postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study. The researchers also found that the reaction occurs regardless of water acidity, which suggests that these organisms will survive in coming centuries when the world’s oceans are predicted to become more acidic. That also potentially bodes well for the health of the world’s coral reefs, which support ecosystems essential to marine diversity that in turn support fisheries. “The good news is that the change in acidity will not stop the function of these proteins,” said Mass. But she is quick to warn that her work shouldn’t make people complacent. “Pollution and rising water temperatures also pose major threats to these essential marine organisms.” Photo Right: Scanning electron microscope image of calcium carbonate crystals grown in artificial seawater containing individual coral acidic protein (CARP3). These crystals were formed both in pH 8.2 and 7.6. Credit: Tali Mass Limestone rocks are all around us and have been central human history. The Egyptians used them to build pyramids and today they are still used to build monuments. Surprisingly, all limestones are created by living organisms. The rocks are everywhere, it seems, but how they form has not been answered until now. Scientists have long known that corals made their external skeletons from a matrix of secreted proteins, but didn’t understand the mechanism. Mass and her colleagues in Paul Falkowski’s laboratory began by asking which proteins might be responsible for the process. They identified over 30 proteins from coral skeleton that could be involved. They described that work earlier this year in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.. At the same time they searched for genes in the coral genome for proteins that could potentially assist with production of the skeletal mineral calcium carbonate. For this, the scientists went to Debashish Bhattacharya, professor of ecology, evolution and natural resources, director of the Rutgers Genome Cooperative, and a co-author of the paper. A genome is the entirety of an organism’s genetic information (DNA) – in this case, of the particular coral that the researchers were studying. “We produced a ‘draft’ genome,” Bhattacharya said. “Basically, that’s a genome that is not yet fully assembled into chromosomes. So, you don’t have the DNA puzzle completely put together, but you have all of the pieces of that puzzle and can figure out what the many pieces – for example, the genes – do in the coral.” The genome analysis, done by Ehud Zelzion, bioinformaticist at the Genome Cooperative, led the researchers to four particular proteins. The genes encoding these proteins were cloned and expressed in bacteria, then isolated and placed in solutions representing the current acidity of seawater and the more acidic levels scientists predict for the end of the century. On the commonly used pH scale, where lower numbers are more acidic, today’s seas are a moderately alkaline 8.2. But they are expected to creep toward 7.6 as carbon dioxide concentration increases in the air. Using a scanning electron microscope and other measurement devices, the scientists examined the proteins and found that all had begun to precipitate calcium carbonate crystals in the test tube at both pH levels. “This work goes a long way toward explaining how corals precipitate calcium carbonate skeletons and clearly shows that the reaction can work at more acidic pH levels,” said Falkowski, also a co-author of the study and Board of Governors Professor of geological and marine sciences. “It doesn’t mean that ocean acidification is not a concern, but it does suggest that corals will still be able to form skeletons, and coral reefs will continue to exist.” This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation to Paul Falkowski. [via Rutgers University] View the full article

You can try calling and check reef depot on this. Some time they have some spare parts left for aquabee pump. Alternatively you can replace it with ehiem pump. Some of the older deltec model run on ehiem. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. This aquarium is a bespoke handmade system that has been completely integrated into the units of the Poggenpohl +Artesio design kitchen. The idea behind this whole concept was to showcase how an aquarium can add a dynamic and colorful element to any living space including the kitchen. From concept to fruition: System specification Display tank: 1190mm (l) x 520mm (w) x 675mm (t) Sump tank: 1000mm (l) x 500mm (w) x 500mm (t) Material: 10mm low iron float glass held together by structural grade silicone. Total System Volume: 650 litres (170 US gallons) Frame: 800mm tall powder coated aluminium frame Panels: Poggenpohl +Artesio glass laminated MDF panels (Colour Arctic White). Main pump: ATB Airstar 6000 - Total system turnover 5000 litres per hour. Protein Skimmer: ATB Nano B Lights: 2x AI Sol Blue LED Boxed in fan assisted vents for cabinet ventilation and cooling. Algae bed with 4 different species of macroalgae in sump powered by LED’s to keep the system in balance. Ehiem twin auto feeder 80kg of Fiji Live rock 20kg of live sand Soft coral and polyp only tank Water changes dropped from once a week to once every three weeks with the recent addition of 2 x Deltec fluidised reactors (one with Rowphos the other bio pellets). View the full article

Click through to see the images. This Aquafront-designed aquarium is a bespoke handmade system that has been completely integrated into the units of the Poggenpohl +Artesio design kitchen. The idea behind this whole concept was to showcase how an aquarium can add a dynamic and colorful element to any living space including the kitchen. From concept to fruition: System specification Display tank: 1190mm (l) x 520mm (w) x 675mm (t) Sump tank: 1000mm (l) x 500mm (w) x 500mm (t) Material: 10mm low iron float glass held together by structural grade silicone. Total System Volume: 650 litres (170 US gallons) Frame: 800mm tall powder coated aluminium frame Panels: Poggenpohl +Artesio glass laminated MDF panels (Colour Arctic White). Main pump: ATB Airstar 6000 - Total system turnover 5000 litres per hour. Protein Skimmer: ATB Nano B Lights: 2x AI Sol Blue LED Boxed in fan assisted vents for cabinet ventilation and cooling. Algae bed with 4 different species of macroalgae in sump powered by LED’s to keep the system in balance. Ehiem twin auto feeder 80kg of Fiji Live rock 20kg of live sand Soft coral and polyp only tank Water changes dropped from once a week to once every three weeks with the recent addition of 2 x Deltec fluidised reactors (one with Rowphos the other bio pellets). View the full article

Try madpetz Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

More of the algae cant survive in low salinity level , skimmer will still work in low sg level but not as effective.

Maybe you can PM aquafauna supplies to check on it. I think they are not bringing it in due to the prices, but can indent order i think .

Selling 2 unit of the Weipro skimmer SA-2011 . Kept it as spare and not using it anymore. price: $ 15.00 / unit ** Please note that the skimmer does not come with pump. Any pump with 1000 - 1500 litres/hour will work with it. ** Collection in CCK ave 3 after working hour or near clementi during office hour.

Just got this new toy from Gemsurf today. No bad for the very affordable price of it.

Marine Life still have many Yasha goby with pistol shrimp pair . New SPS and LPS coral shipment at Aquamarin today ! Anyone went down yet ?

Click through to see the images. Features and specifications for the new PLS-50 Pipeless Protein Skimmer Dimensions: 3.5" x 3.25" x 15" Speed: 190 GPH Air Draw: 187 LPH Pin-wheel impellers Noise emissions: 5dB over audible sound Aquarium Capacity: 10G to 50G 100% Cell-Cast acrylic Easily disassembles in 3 pieces Built in Bubble-Plate Patented lock knob for tension control and full lock of water level adjustment Sliding tank mount for higher or lower settings CAD Lights patented Pipeless design CAD Lights TIA Pro skimmer pumps Includes up-and-down adjustable bracket 3-piece assembly, easily disassembled View the full article

Click through to see the images. The first generation CAD Lights PLS-100 Pipeless Protein Skimmer was innovative in its own right, but it suffered from finicky water level adjustment, which was accomplished by manually twisting the entire skimmer body to open/close drain holes located at the bottom of the reaction body. The PLS-400 geared water level system The second generation CAD Lights Pipeless Protein Skimmer addresses this design issue by using gears (yes, gears!). These gears allow precise 1/16" adjustments. Furthermore, the second generation Pipeless Skimmers feature a locking system so once users have their water level dialed in, they can lock the gears in place to prevent accidental movement. The new, larger gen two Pipeless also employ cone bodies unlike the cylindrical first generation Pipeless. Furthermore, the PLS-400 is so tightly sealed that this 28" tall skimmer can operate in a mere three inches of water. All these improvements represent a very impressive evolution of this technology. Features of the new CAD Lights 300G and 400G Pipeless Skimmers include: CAD Lights patented Pipeless design Patented Multi locking system and tension control Full interlocking gear control system (Gear control column) Built in baffles that returns the water 3/4" from the bottom with true zero-micro-bubble discharge Completely silent and vibration-less Model: PLS-300 Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 22.5. Patent Pending CAD Lights Pipeless technology Aquarium Capacity: 180G-320G Power consumption: 35W GPH: 475GPH Noise emissions: 7dB Over audible sound Locking system: (Patent Pending) Single Tension Lock (Red Flower Knob) Operational water level: Min. 4.5", Max. 14", Optimal 8" Model: PLS-400 Dimensions: 11" x 9" x 28" Patent Pending CAD Lights Pipeless technology Aquarium Capacity: 250G-430G Power Consumption: 38W GPH: 720GPH Noise emissions: 7dB over audible sound Locking system: (Patent Pending) Single Tension Lock (Red Flower Knob), Secondary Gear Lock, Triple minor Rolling Locks Operational water level: Min. 3" Max. 17", Optimal 12" View the full article

Beautiful fish . I heard this fish was sold for USD 8000 .

i saw many boxes of this similar nano wave maker by Resun brand at aquarium artist shop . Maybe can also call and check with vincent.

You should pay Henry from marine life a visit. His shop is always fill with cute little small fish and invert specially for nano tank like yours.

Click through to see the images. "What we did was allow folks who are harvesting or targeting lionfish, to be able to target them without needing a recreational fish license when using any spearing device or net geared toward lionfish," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Spokeswoman Amanda Nalley. Before this change, there was a 100-pound limit per day on lionfish harvesting. Not anymore! The gloves have officially come off. View the full article

Click through to see the images. This report was originally published on May 7, 2012, with some minor editing to account for the new planned location in the Maldives. The design plans appear unchanged. Deep Ocean Technology (DOT) has announced plans to build the Water Discus: a futuristic, Jetsons-esque , multi-disked underwater hotel. The 11,000 square feet (1,000 square meters) underwater disk will house 21 two-guest rooms, bar, and dive center (complete with air locks and a decompression chamber), all located ten meters below the waves. Each guest room will be equipped with miniature remotely-operated underwater vehicles to allow guests to explore adjacent reef life through macro photography. The upper disk will rest 5-7 meters above sea level and include the lobby, restaurant, spa, swimming pool, garden, and (of course) a helipad. As literal a translation of "reef-side bar" as you can get. 21 underwater bedrooms will have expansive views of neighboring coral reefs. In the comfort of their own beds, guests can explore the underwater world using remotely operated mini-submersibles. Day and night artist renditions of Water Discus' topside. Three support columns allow the lower disk to rise and descend. The center column connects guests to the underwater world; This column slides up and down through the center hole of the top disk. This will allow hotel operators to situate the lower disk at the ideal depth as well as safely evacuate the entire lower disk above sea level in case of an emergency. View the full article

Click through to see the images. In summary: UTS research is revealing the factors that lead to tropical fish species shifting into and surviving in temperate regions of the ocean The findings of this work can now be shared with other marine researchers within Australia and globally and contribute to our understanding of how climate change is rapidly re-structuring our biological communities around the world. These tropical ‘vagrants’, numbering in the hundreds of species, are increasingly moving into the temperate waters of New South Wales, and may alter the wellbeing of these sensitive marine ecosystems in unpredictable ways. Within this latest paper UTS Chancellors Postdoctoral Fellow and lead author of this study Dr David Feary found that of approximately 5000 species of tropical fish known globally, just 360 species show seasonal shifts into temperate waters, with little information available on the factors that promote such shifts. This new research shows that larger sized adults, eggs that are spawned freely into the oceanic current, a relatively large larval body and larvae that are strong swimmers are features that stand out in tropical vagrants. Dr Feary said he and his two colleagues at UTS (Professor David Booth and Dr Ashley Fowler) had expected certain biological traits and ecological factors would stand out as helping tropical vagrants survive in warmer regions. However, that certain traits within vagrants were so strongly associated with success was unexpected. “Although there is exceptionally strong evidence to show that animal populations are undergoing substantial shifts in their latitudinal distribution, this is the first time that we have been able to show that there are certain measurable traits that may help to predict successful range shifts” Dr Feary said. "The findings of this work can now be shared with other marine researchers within Australia and globally and contribute to our understanding of how climate change is rapidly re-structuring our biological communities around the world. “Marine scientists internationally can use our findings to determine which species in their regions may have the capacity to move and adapt in the face of climate change and those that will perish. "This work will be vital in Australia as our fish stocks rapidly change in their latitudinal distributions. “We can now start to understand the traits, and therefore the species, which will make successful latitudinal shifts within Australian waters,” Dr Feary said. As the environment of eastern Australia is changing more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, it is vital to understand the importance of these changes in structuring our fish communities, and the future repercussions of these changes in structuring the wider marine environment. The paper "Latitudinal shifts in coral reef fishes: why some species do and others do not shift" appears in the journal Fish and Fisheries. [via the University of Technology, Syndey] View the full article

It is very much depend on tge location where you are staying and the tds of your tape water. I.e if your tape water tds is high it will exhaust faster . Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Click through to see the images. New LED fixtures continue to be introduced into the hobby. Specifically, there has been an increase in the number of LED fixtures providing a more fuller color spectrum with multiple channels of control, allowing the user more freedom in custom tuning the light output. 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 several 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 (eg. 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. Table 1: LED Lighting Fixtures Tested None None Maxspect Razor R240R M16000 Tao Tronics TTAL01 Aquatic Life Expert Series 14" 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. Test Data and Analysis Maxspect Razor (R420R M16000) The Maxspect Razor (R420R M16000) is built with a very slim profile, and is one of the thinnest LED fixtures in the market. The unit tested is the M16000, based on its advertised rating of 16000K color temperature. The unit has 2 channels of control with the following LEDs arranged in the 2 channels, as shown by their specifications in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Maxspect R420R M16000 LEDs and Assignment to Channels of Control These leds are arranged in 3 sets (or clusters) with the pattern in each set as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2. Arrangement of LEDs in each cluster Figure 3. Maxspect R420R, Light Intensity and Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 4: Spectral Distribution of Maxspect Razor M16000 The power consumption as measured by the Kill-A-Watt meter is shown in the table below. Maxspect Razor (R420R M16000) Watts 192 Amps 2.65 Volts 123.3 Aquatic Life Expert Series 14" The Aquatic life Expert series 14" model comprises 24 Cree LED`s: 8-White XPG, 8-Blue XPE, 6-Royal Blue XPE and 2-Red XPE, arranged as shown in Figure 5. The LEDs can be controlled through the The T-Time Software which enables custom programming of the LEDs. . Included in this customization is the ability to create 18 different light color combinations, three 24 hr cycles, control cloud cover, lightning storms and lunar light. Once programmed, the Light Fixture is controlled with the handheld remote. Figure 5 Aquatic Life Expert Series 14" showing the arrangement of the different color LEDs Figure 6. Aquatic Life XS 14" Light Intensity and Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 7. Aquatic Life XS 14" Spectrum Distribution The power consumption as measured by the Kill-A-Watt meter is shown in the table below. Aquatic Life XS Watts 90 Amps 1.34 Volts 123.5 Tao Tronics - TTAL01 Aquarium Coral Reef Tank LED White and Blue Number of Lights: blue(25*3w LED); white(30*3w LED) Blue: 460-470nm wavelength; White: 12,000-14,000K color temperature The Tao Tronics has 55 3W LEDs are arranged in an array with 5 rows and 11 columns, with each column containing LEDs of the same color, with 5 columns of Blue LEDs (Total 25) in the 460-470 nm range, and 6 columns of white LEDs (total 30) in the 12000-14000K color range, arranged as shown in Figure 8. The LEDs are operated at around 2W. The controls are simple with 2 channels each allowing ON/OFF control via 2 power cords. One power cord controls the blue and the other the white LEDs as shown in Figure 9. The unit is air cooled with 3 fans.. Figure 8. Tao Tronic LED arrangement of the different color LEDs Figure 9. Back side of the Tao Tronics Fixture showing the 3 fans and 2 power cords for the 2 channels of ON/OFF control. Figure 10. Tao Tronics PAR Distribution at 24" and 30" Figure 11. Tao Tronics Spectrum The power consumption as measured by the Kill-A-Watt meter is shown in the table below. Tao Tronics Watts 111 Amps .97 Volts 122.2 Discussion and Conclusions The 3 LEDs tested here, represent a wide range in light output as well as price points. Based on the data the cheaper Tao Tronic LEDs do not use any optics and hence the light measurements at 24" and 30" are quite low compared to the other 2. A light such as this only provides white and blue LEDs and is mostly suitable for shallower tanks with the LED fixtures mounted close to the top of the tanks. The Maxspect Razor is an attractively styled light with 6 different LED colors, however the control capabilities are limited to 2 channels. The power draw is fairly high at 192W even though the fixture rating is 160W. The higher power does translate into more light output than the others at distances of 24" and 30". The Aquatic Life Expert Series 14" fixture also provides 4 different LEDs that can be controlled individually through their control software that runs on a computer. Given that is a smaller fixture, the light distribution is smaller than the larger Maxspect Razor. The Aquatic Life Expert Series is also available in larger sizes. The data provided should be useful to aquarists making decisions on LED lighting for their reefs. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Haptoclinus dropi is only around 2cm in length with a beautiful color pattern that includes iridescence on the fins. The proposed common name of the species is four-fin blenny, due to the division of the dorsal fin into four sections, which is a distinguishing feature of the genus and unique among blenniiform fishes. The study was published in the open access journal Zookeys. This beautiful new species was discovered as a lucky bycatch during targeted specimen catching at 157-167 m depth off Curaçao as a part of the Smithsonian Institution's Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP). The new species, Haptoclinus dropi, gets its name from the project's abbreviation and is one of numerous new ray-finned fish species emerging from this project. For DROP expeditions the Substation Curaçao's manned submersible Curasub was used to catch specimens. While generally used as tourist attraction because it travels at much greater depths than divers can reach, the Curasub is also used for scientific marine research. Targeted fish specimens are collected with the sub's two flexible, hydraulic arms, but very often small non-targeted fish are also caught in the process. "Below the depths accessible using scuba gear and above the depths typically targeted by deep-diving submersibles, tropical deep reefs are productive ocean ecosystems that science has largely missed. They are home to diverse assemblages of new and rare species that we are only just beginning to understand," explains the lead author of the study Dr Carole Baldwin, Smithsonian Institution. (Press Release ZooKeys) View the full article