Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. As if its flame-red mantle wasn't sexy enough, Ctenoides ales takes it up a notch with brilliant flashes of light. The electric pulses of white light is suspected to lure microorganisms to the scallop for its meal. And yes, this is another video by 'liquidguru,' the extraordinary reef videographer based in Lembeh, Indonesia. View the full article

I bet many reefer here has been facing issues of disease being introduced into tank especially when new fish is introduced to their tank. It could become a even more serious problem if it is a reef tank where hash but effective medicine cannot be used to treat the fish, and slowly looking at your fishes started to die one by one. Many of us here do not have the luxury of space of having separate or additional QT tank that could be used during the QT process. So i am starting this thread for members to share their own experience on how they have successfully treated their fish before being introduce into your main tank.

Click through to see the images. Research published today in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution shows that methods to record marine diversity used by amateurs returned results consistent with techniques favoured by peer-reviewed science. The findings give weight to the growing phenomenon of citizen science, which sees data crowd-sourced from an army of avid twitchers, divers, walkers and other wildlife enthusiasts. The field study compared methods used by ‘citizen’ SCUBA divers with those used by professional scientists, to measure the variety of fish species in three Caribbean sites. The divers surveyed the sites using two methods – the ‘belt transect’, used in peer reviewed fish diversity studies, and the ‘roving diver technique’, used by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) volunteer fish survey project. Two teams of 12 divers made 144 separate underwater surveys across the sites over four weeks. While the traditional scientific survey revealed sightings of 106 different types of fish, the volunteer technique detected greater marine diversity with a total of 137 in the same waters. Dr Ben Holt, from UEA’s school of Biological Sciences, led the research in partnership with the Centre for Marine Resource Studies in the Caribbean and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He said: “The results of this study are important for the future of citizen science and the use of data collected by these programs. Allowing volunteers to use flexible and less standardised methods has important consequences for the long term success of citizen science programs. Amateur enthusiasts typically do not have the resources or training to use professional methodology. Our study demonstrates the quality of data collected using a volunteer method can match, and in some respects exceed, protocols used by professional scientists. “Enlisting the help of a large pool of volunteers helps professional researchers collect valuable data across many ecosystems. “The popularity of SCUBA diving has resulted in monitoring of the underwater environment on a scale that was previously impossible. For example, the REEF method has been used by volunteers in more than 160,000 underwater surveys across the world. It would have cost many millions of pounds for professionals to have undertaken the same work. “Very few, if any, scientific groups can collect data on the scale that volunteer groups can, so our proof that both methods return consistent results is very encouraging for citizen science in general. “I think we will really see the value of volunteer schemes increase in future. We’re living in a world that’s changing very significantly. Environmental changes are having a big impact on ecosystems around us so we need to harness new ways of measuring the effect. “For example Lion fish is an invasive species which was not in the Caribbean until roughly 10 years ago. They have now become a real problem in many areas and this invasion has been tracked using volunteer data. Following our study, scientists can have more confidence when using these data to consider the impact of threats, such as invasive species, on the wider natural communities. “It is important to note that our study does not consider the abilities of the individuals performing the surveys and this is also an important consideration for any large scale biodiversity program. By addressing these issues we can make important steps towards enabling the large pool of volunteer enthusiasts to help professional researchers by collecting valuable data across many ecosystems.” The research was carried out in under water sites close to South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Press Release: University of East Anglia - Communications Office) View the full article

Click through to see the images. This is Euprymna berryi. A layer of iridescent cells gives this squid its gorgeous glowing blue/green coloration. When chromatophores expand within these cells, the squid can turn completely brown to blend with its sandy surroundings. E.berryi also has formed "a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), which inhabit a special light organ [on] the squid's [underside]." (Wikipedia) At night when bobtails are active, "the organ contains filters which may alter the wavelength of luminescence closer to that of downwelling moonlight and starlight" so that bottom-dwelling predators will not spot this stealthy squid swimming overhead. Very cool! View the full article

Click through to see the images. Build My LED is a newcomer to the aquarium lighting market. This company, based in Austin, Texas, is unique in that they offer the consumer the option of custom-configuring their lighting system. This allows a choice of 150,000,000 light combinations according to the website. Their lighting fixtures can also be used as horticulture, home lighting, light therapy in addition to aquarium lighting. These options are currently available, and their tutorial will walk you through making your choices. Lighting fixtures (luminaires) are available in lengths of: 12" (30cm) 24" (60cm) 36" (90cm) 48" (120cm) Lens options allow the hobbyist to choose beam angles of: 30 45 60 75 90 LEDs Build My LED uses LEDs from Luxeon Rebel and Rebel ES Philips Lighting along with those made by Everlight Shuen Electronics. While Philips is a household name, the latter company may need an introduction - Everlight is based in Taipei, Taiwan and has had an international presence since 1983. 'Shuen' is Chinese for 'shiny' or 'bright'. A multitude of LED spectrum options are available enabling the user to select almost any conceivable color. These include: Warm White (2,700K, 3,000K, 3,500K) Neutral White (4,000K, 4,500K) Cool White (5,000K, 5,700K, 6,500K) Ultraviolet (405nm) Royal Blue (450nm) Blue (470nm) Cyan (505nm) Green (525nm) Amber (590nm) Orange (615nm) Red (625nm) Deep Red (660nm) Far Red (730nm) Fifteen LEDs are installed per foot (30cm) of fixture length. Luminaire Dimensions The fixture tested in this review has the following dimensions: 1.25" tall (32mm) 1.97" wide (50mm) 48.03" long (~122 cm) Cord length (luminaire to transformer) = 104" (~2.6m) Transformer to plug = 28" (71cm) Reason for Choosing Particular Colored LEDs I get many emails asking a simple question: What is the best light? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. If we discount the highly subjective personal preferences of light quality, the answer involves doing some homework on which types of photosynthetic organisms are maintained. For instance, the light quality required for terrestrial plants differs slightly from that needed by, say, zooxanthellae. The question of showcasing the variable fluorescence found in many corals is often a consideration. I offer the following in order to briefly touch on the subject. Effect of Lens on UV Transmission: Acrylic materials often attenuate (weaken by absorption) ultraviolet wavelengths. This is not the case with the material used by BuildMyLED - no cutoff point is apparent at wavelengths below 380nm. Most of the radiation generated by the UV LED is in the visible range. Figure 2. Spectral signatures of the ultraviolet, blue, green, and white LEDs used by BuildMyLED. Ultraviolet (Max. Wavelength ~405nm): Although Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is defined as those wavelengths 400 nanometers and above, chlorophyll a absorbs wavelengths to at least 350nm (Jeffrey et al., 1997). These wavelengths will also excite fluorescence in many of the coral fluorescence proteins. Royal Blue/Blue (Max. Wavelength ~450/470nm): Chlorophylls found in zooxanthellae (chlorophylls a and c²) absorb blue wavelengths. Chlorophyll a (also found in terrestrial and freshwater plants) absorbs blue light at ~430nm while chlorophyll c² absorbs maximally at 450nm. These numbers shift by a few nanometers according to the solvent used to dissolve chlorophylls for testing. The accessory pigment peridinin absorbs light at a maximum of ~460nm. Chlorophyll b (found in terrestrial and aquatic plants) absorbs blue light at ~457nm. Cyan/Green (Max. Wavelength ~505/525nm): Peridinin (an accessory pigment found in zooxanthellae and associated with chlorophyll a) absorbs light at a maximum of 456nm and up to ~485nm (green-blue). This wavelength falls between the maximum produced by blue and green (or white LEDs). Cyan or green LEDs would be a good choice for those wishing to mimic a turbid coral reef environment. Red (Max. Wavelength ~625nm): Chlorophyll a absorbs red wavelengths at a maximum of ~662nm with a small shoulder at ~617nm. Chlorophyll c² has a small absorption peak at ~630nm. Deep Red (Max. Wavelength ~660nm): Chlorophyll a absorbs light at a maximum of ~662nm. For terrestrial and freshwater plant enthusiasts, chlorophyll b absorbs red light at a maximum of ~646nm. Far Red (Max. Wavelength ~730nm): Under conditions of saturating or super-saturating light intensities, far red light (absorbed mostly by photopigments associated with Photosystem I) will prevent a 'traffic jam' of electrons within Photosystem II. The use of this light by zooxanthellae is speculative on my part, but remains an interesting possibility. White (Broad Spectrum,400-700nm): LEDs emitting 'white' light are actually blue LEDs containing a phosphor that absorb blue light and fluoresce it in a broad bandwidth. 'White' LEDs are quite popular in luminaires built for aquaria. I chose these to offset the blueness of the light and to add small amounts of light in the yellow to red portion of the spectrum. Interestingly, the first luminaire I ordered contained green LEDs to excite the zooxanthellae accessory photopigment peridinin. After a discussion with BuildMyLED co-owner Nick Klaus, I was advised to add neutral white LEDs to the blue ones, as these would be a better source of green light (and the spectrum of this fixture is subjectively very pleasing). As a footnote, I tested the cool white LEDs and found them to be 7,123K with a CRI of 87. Figure 3. Spectral signature of a custom-built LED fixture containing those generating light at a maximum of mostly blue light at 450nm and 470nm, with 4,500K 'neutral whites'. Light Intensity of a Custom LED Fixture Although the two are closely linked, calculating light intensity required for corals or other photosynthetic organisms is much a much less complicated subject than spectral quality. I written on this subject and reported data obtained by Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) fluorometry. Generally, most corals will do quite well when maintained light fields of intensities ranging from 100 to 500 µmol·m²·sec (~5,000 to 25,000 lux). Tridacna clams (with their thick mantles and self-shading of zooxanthellae) are generally tolerant of more light. Figure 4 demonstrates the light intensity of a 48" custom luminaire containing LEDs generating light at 450nm, 470nm, and neutral white. Figure 4. Light Distribution (PPFD) of a 48" BuildMyLED luminaire situated 3" (in air) above the quantum sensor. Effect of Temperature on Light Production Heat is an enemy of LEDs. Light output decreases with increasing temperature (the same can be said for fluorescent lamps), so care must be taken in order to maintain a proper temperature range. Build My LEDs has taken an approach that does not utilize cooling fans but instead relies upon dissipation of heat through a heat sink. This sink, an array of cooling fins, does a good job of getting heat away from the luminaire. I was interested in examining how well this heat sink worked and conducted a simple experiment. The luminaire was plugged in and its temperature was monitored with an infrared non-contact thermometer every five minutes. A small fan was aimed at the fixture when temperature had reached its maximum (96F in an air-conditioned room). Figure 5. Temperature of the luminaire. Room temperature was maintained at 74F. A small fan was directed at the luminaire at the 35 minute mark. See Figure 6 for details. Figure 6. Effects of luminaire temperature on PPFD. Heat dissipation is very good and results in minimal light loss. I also checked the temperature of the driver during this procedure and found it to be about the same as the luminaire. Construction The luminaire is constructed of aluminum with plastic end caps. Ingress Protection Code (sometimes called the International Protection Code) is a system to describe an electrical component housing's ability to exclude dust and moisture. It consists of two digits - the first is for dust (scale of 0 - 6), and the second is for moisture (scale of 0 - 8). The rating for the luminaire itself is IP66, meaning the enclosure is dust tight and allows no ingress. In addition, the moisture resistance rating of '6' means the enclosure allows no ingress of water when water is sprayed from a water jet of 12.5mm (or ½") diameter from any direction at a pressure of 100 kPa (14.5 psi) and a flow rate of 100 liters (26 gallons) per minute at a distance of 3 meters (10 feet) for at least 3 minutes without harmful effect. IP66 is equivalent, in respect to dust and water ingress, to a NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers' Association) 4 or 4X enclosure. A rating of IP66 does not mean protection against immersion or mean 'waterproof. The driver/ ballast carries a rating of IP67, meaning it can be immersed in water of up to 1 meter (~3 feet) deep for a short period of time without harmful effects. I don't mean to suggest that reasonable care shouldn't be exercised in order to avoid water ingress into any electrical device, but it is nice to know that these fixture and driver are built to tight standards. Discussion It is often advertised that LEDs have a useful life of 50,000 hours and it would be easy for a hobbyist to expect a light fixture to last something on the order of 10 years. Unfortunately, this has not been the case with many LED fixtures. Too often, cooling fans fail or the power supply dies. In a day where many LED fixtures are being offered with more and more frills, Build My LED offers no-nonsense lighting at reasonable prices. The design and engineering allows the fixture to remainrelatively cool. The electronic driver is waterproof (meaning no switches). No display of time or built-in timer is incorporated. While some may see these as disadvantages, I personally see them as strengths. It has long been my contention that the more complicated device is, the more likely it is to break. My luminaire boneyard contains more than few LED luminaires which finally failed when a cooling fan broke (often blowing humid, salt-laden air across sensitive internal electronics), or when a driver died (sometimes permanently wired into the fixture). I would much rather supply my own separate fan to cool a luminaire (if needed) than to have to disassemble a fixture and wire in a new computer-type fan and use an inexpensive aftermarket timer. The driver with these units has a heavy-duty connector which allows driver replacement if necessary. The aluminum finish is attractive and more resistant to the effects of salt spray than some of the luminaires in painted iron boxes. In short, I want a reliable lighting device and Build My LED seems to have hit the right note. Tips for Taking PAR Measurements Many hobbyists use an Apogee quantum meter for taking PPFD (or PAR) measurements. Some Apogee quantum meters offer the option of 'sun' and 'electrical' measurements leaving the hobbyists wondering which to choose. After comparing the Apogee's measurements to those obtained by a 'lab-grade' quantum meter (Li-Cor Biosciences), I recommend using the 'sun' mode. Options At the time of this writing, Build My LED offers three pieces of optional equipment. One is a dimmer switch (capable of dimming LEDs to 10% of total output and available for $39.99) while another is a kit for hanging the luminaire from the ceiling; $24.95). A recently available option is a kit for attaching the fixture to the aquarium and allowing you to aim it (available for $14.99). Figure 7. An optional dimmer is available. Pricing and Ordering At the time of this writing, a 12" luminaire is priced at $119, a 24" at $179, the 36" at $229, and the 48" at $269 (discounts are available for multiple orders). Online ordering allows selection and submittal of all options - simply click-and-drag the LED options into the luminaire template, and click on other options. There is a tutorial for using the ordering portion of the website, but I found it unnecessary as the site is intuitive. Website www.buildmyled.com is one of the most impressive I have seen. Over the years, I have programmed more than a few Excel files for analyzing light and I can appreciate the amount of work this site has in it. For example, a few keystrokes can show you: Beam angle intensity map Lumens Micromoles Input watts CIE x-coordinate CIE y-coordinate Electrical watts Radiometric watts Correlated Color Temperature (CCT, where applicable) Color Rendition Index (CRI, where applicable) Operating Temperature Predicted Life Spectral content (%blue, green, red, far red) Spectral content at various depths in an aquarium Certifications All products meet RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) requirements and are CE (Conformité Européenne) certified for distribution within the European Union. Warranty Build My LED offers a 3 year warranty. Customer Service Customer service before and after the sale is an important consideration. Co-owner Nick Klaus has taken time from his busy schedule to answer my questions. I am impressed with the depth and breadth of his lighting knowledge. It has been my experience that delivery (from Texas to Hawaii) takes about 7 days (very quick considering the luminaire is custom built). Testing Protocol Spectral characteristics of the LEDs were measured with an Ocean Optics fiber optic spectrometer. Kelvin and Color Rendition Indices (CRIs) were determined through use of Ocean Optics' SpectraSuite software after the spectrometer had been calibrated to a LS-1-Cal 2,800K halogen-tungsten light source. Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD, 400-700nm) was measured with a Li-Cor 1400 quantum meter/datalogger equipped with an underwater quantum sensor (calibrated to 'air' or 'water' as needed). Reference Jeffrey, S., R. Mantoura, and S. Wright, 1997. Monographs on Oceanographic Methodology: Phytoplankton Pigments in Oceanography. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Educational Organization (UNESCO). Paris, France. 661 pp. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Coral reefs not only provide the world with rich, productive ecosystems and photogenic undersea settings, they also contribute an economic boost valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. But their decline in recent years due to a variety of threats—from pollution to climate warming—has lent urgency to the search for new ways to evaluate their health. A new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego scientists has revealed that fluorescence, the dazzling but poorly understood light produced by corals, can be an effective tool for gauging their health. As described in the March 12 edition of Scientific Reports (a publication of the Nature Publishing Group), marine biologists Melissa Roth and Dimitri Deheyn describe groundbreaking research using fluorescence to test coral stress prompted from cold and heat exposures. In experimental studies conducted at Scripps, Roth and Deheyn tested the common Indo-Pacific reef-building branching coral Acropora yongei under various temperatures. Branching corals are susceptible to temperature stress and often one of the first to show signs of distress on a reef. Roth and Deheyn found, at the induction of both cold and heat stress, corals rapidly display a decline in fluorescence levels. If the corals are able to adapt to the new conditions, such as to the cold settings in the experiment, then the fluorescence returns to normal levels upon acclimation. While the corals recovered from cold stress, the heat-treated corals eventually bleached and remained so until the conclusion of the experiment. Coral bleaching, the loss of tiny symbiotic algae that are critical for coral survival, is a primary threat to coral reefs and has been increasing in severity and scale due to climate change. In this study, the very onset of bleaching caused fluorescence to spike to levels that remained high until the end of the experiment. The researchers noted that the initial spike was caused by the loss of "shading" from the symbiotic algae. A healthy Acropora yongei colony in the home aquaria. "This is the first study to quantify fluorescence before, during, and after stress," said Deheyn. "Through these results we have demonstrated that changes in coral fluorescence can be a good proxy for coral health." Deheyn said the new method improves upon current technologies for testing coral health, which include conducting molecular analyses in which coral must be collected from their habitat, as opposed to fluorescence that can be tested non-invasively directly in the field. Corals are known to produce fluorescence through green fluorescent proteins, but little is known about the emitted light's function or purpose. Scientists believe fluorescence could offer protection from damaging sunlight or be used as a biochemical defense generated during times of stress. "This study is novel because it follows the dynamics of both fluorescent protein levels and coral fluorescence during temperature stress, and shows how coral fluorescence can be utilized as an early indicator of coral stress" said Roth, a Scripps alumna who is now a postdoctoral scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley. (via Scientific Reports - pdf link) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Coral reefs not only provide the world with rich, productive ecosystems and photogenic undersea settings, they also contribute an economic boost valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. But their decline in recent years due to a variety of threats—from pollution to climate warming—has lent urgency to the search for new ways to evaluate their health. A new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego scientists has revealed that fluorescence, the dazzling but poorly understood light produced by corals, can be an effective tool for gauging their health. As described in the March 12 edition of Scientific Reports (a publication of the Nature Publishing Group), marine biologists Melissa Roth and Dimitri Deheyn describe groundbreaking research using fluorescence to test coral stress prompted from cold and heat exposures. In experimental studies conducted at Scripps, Roth and Deheyn tested the common Indo-Pacific reef-building branching coral Acropora yongei under various temperatures. Branching corals are susceptible to temperature stress and often one of the first to show signs of distress on a reef. Roth and Deheyn found, at the induction of both cold and heat stress, corals rapidly display a decline in fluorescence levels. If the corals are able to adapt to the new conditions, such as to the cold settings in the experiment, then the fluorescence returns to normal levels upon acclimation. While the corals recovered from cold stress, the heat-treated corals eventually bleached and remained so until the conclusion of the experiment. Coral bleaching, the loss of tiny symbiotic algae that are critical for coral survival, is a primary threat to coral reefs and has been increasing in severity and scale due to climate change. In this study, the very onset of bleaching caused fluorescence to spike to levels that remained high until the end of the experiment. The researchers noted that the initial spike was caused by the loss of "shading" from the symbiotic algae. A healthy Acropora yongei colony in the home aquaria. "This is the first study to quantify fluorescence before, during, and after stress," said Deheyn. "Through these results we have demonstrated that changes in coral fluorescence can be a good proxy for coral health." Deheyn said the new method improves upon current technologies for testing coral health, which include conducting molecular analyses in which coral must be collected from their habitat, as opposed to fluorescence that can be tested non-invasively directly in the field. Corals are known to produce fluorescence through green fluorescent proteins, but little is known about the emitted light's function or purpose. Scientists believe fluorescence could offer protection from damaging sunlight or be used as a biochemical defense generated during times of stress. "This study is novel because it follows the dynamics of both fluorescent protein levels and coral fluorescence during temperature stress, and shows how coral fluorescence can be utilized as an early indicator of coral stress" said Roth, a Scripps alumna who is now a postdoctoral scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley. (via Scientific Reports - pdf link) View the full article

Click through to see the images. From Coral Morphologic's Vimeo video page: 'The Florist' (Natural History Episode 15) Once again we return to observe a cryptic red decorator crab (Leptopsia setirostris); this time living upon, and decorated with, zoanthid polyps (Zoanthus sociatus), close cousins to both sea anemones and corals. Zoanthus in Latin literally means 'animal flower'. The species name sociatus refers to the fact they these flower animals live socially in dense groupings of identical polyps. Decorator crabs demonstrate a remarkably prescient instinct to be able process the information required to successfully camouflage themselves to match their preferred habitat.Unlike the typically fast-scuttling crabs of the mainstream, decorator crabs move at a deliberately slow pace to reduce being noticed. This particular decorator crab species boasts a brilliant red exoskeleton that it has disguised with the zoanthids. The crab has carefully nipped individual zoanthid polyps from a larger colony and placed them upon its carapace (back) where they attach down on their own and continue growing. My experience suggests that it takes at least two days for a polyp to begin attaching down to new substrate. I have yet to observe the crab going through the whole process of zoanthid 'decoration', but clearly it is a very patient animal. The crab uses it's small claws to pick at and remove pieces of detritus between the polyps. The animal nature of the zoanthids becomes especially apparent when the movements of the crab cause the polyps to close up in reaction. If you look carefully at the bottom right of the screen you'll notice the periodic movements of a barnacle that these zoanthids are growing upon. Zoanthids are commonly called 'sea mat' due to their rubbery, encrusting morphology. They live together in interconnected colonies of cloned polyps, slowly expanding their colonies outward; growing over shells, in-between coral heads, and across shallow tide pools. Film, Aquarium + Original Soundtrack: MORPHOLOGIC 2010 See bit.ly/cLlYe4 for more details. Screened at ATP Curated by Animal Collective | May 13-15, 2011 - Minehead, UK Screened at Miami Underwater Festival | May 27-28, 2011 - Miami, FL View the full article

Click through to see the images. One of the greatest mysteries of modern coral reefs is how they evolved from ancient corals. A critical knowledge gap has long existed in the record of coral evolution. This evolutionary gap occurs during a period of dramatic fluctuations in sea level and changes in the Earth's climate between 1 and 2 million years ago. During this period many "old" corals went extinct, and the modern reef corals emerged. To fill this key temporal gap and understand the evolutionary and ecological transition to modern Caribbean reefs, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded a University of Miami (UM) project to study corals along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. It is one of the few areas that contain a record of coral reefs from this period of climatic change. "Our preliminary fieldwork has indicated that the Dominican Republic contains rocks that bridge this critical reef evolution gap," said James Klaus, lead investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, at the UM College of Arts and Sciences. "The Dominican Republic is a valuable site because it was submerged for a long period of time, and has now been uplifted to make the coral-rich deposits accessible." This is modern staghorn coral - Acropora cervicornis. Credit: James Klaus, assistant professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Miami College of Arts and Science The NSF grant is $250,000 for two years. During that time, the team will work to pinpoint the evolutionary transition from the now extinct coral Stylophora, to modern reefs dominated by the genus Acropora (staghorn and elkhorn corals) and evaluate how reef ecosystems respond to climate change. "These corals work in concert to construct the reef edifice, and just below the living surface form the underlying limestone rock," says co-investigator Ali Pourmand, assistant professor in the Division of Marine Geology & Geophysics, at the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. "To geologists and paleontologists, these limestones represent just the latest growth, and what lies beneath may provide clues to both the past and future of coral reefs." Fundamental to the study is the ability to tell the ages of the corals. To help with this age assessment, the team will utilize a recently established geochemical laboratory that couples a laser sampling device and mass spectrometer to produce high-precision age dates of the corals. "Being able to tell time in these rocks is our biggest challenge," says Donald McNeill, co-investigator of the project and senior scientist in the Division of Marine Geology and Geophysics, at the Rosenstiel School. "We need to put the evolutionary changes in a time context to link them with sea level and climate changes that were happening both locally and globally." The research team will develop an integrated model of coral reef development for the critical time gap that includes the controlling factors of climate change, sea level, tectonics, and the maximum growth rate of dominant reef builders. The findings will provide a valuable record of tropical climates and the growth of coral reefs. This is extinct monticle coral (Stylophora monticulosa) (approximately 2 million years old), found on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. Credit: James Klaus, assistant professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Miami College of Arts and Science View the full article

Click through to see the images. Anna Deloach (blennywater.com) recounts for us the mysterious observation: Razorfish Bites Lembeh Strait, Indonesia ~ Well the table is turned. I have seen prey in the grips of toothy lizardfishes before, but never this. What is going on here? From a distance I could see Ned watching what I thought was a lizardfish (quite a predator on the reef) trying to eat a razorfish. Then I realized the razorfish was firmly clamped onto the lizardfish – quite a reversal from the expected. Ned had a better angle and was able to get a shot that clearly shows it. I contacted Dr. Gerry Allen for help with the razorfish identification – it is Cymolutes torquatus (and the lizardfish is Synodus dermatogenys) – and to ask if he had ever seen this behavior. He had not. I managed to get a tiny bit of video (below and on our BlennyWatcher Channel) and Ned shares this and other photos from our October 2012 trip to Raja Ampat and Lembeh over on our travel blog, marinelifeblog.com. " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620"> "> "> View the full article

Starting this topic to share any Home make fish foods "secret" receipt if you have ,so let me kick start. These are my secret ingredient for my fish food, and my angel seem to love it that much that some time they don't take pallet any more.. Main ingredient - Frozen market prawn - Frozen scallop - Dry Cyclop eeze ( For color enhancement ) Addictive - Selcon - Bright Well Gallic Put the de-froze shrimp and scallop into a blender and after blending it, mix up with cyclop eeze, and the addictive . In order for ease of feeding, i put the paste into small little cube size using the tray from frozen mysis and put into freezer.

Click through to see the images. The enormous aquarium will measure 18-feet tall by 6-feet in diameter and will house 300 moon jellyfish when fully stocked in a couple weeks. The tank is housed in the restaurant called the Coba Costina situated in the Idle Hour Shopping Center in Lexington, KY and is owned by father and son Phil and Lee Greer. They came up with the idea while visiting Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which contained a large, cylindrical jellyfish tank. After seeing the jelly aquarium the ideas started churning as they wanted one for their new restaurant. However, they decided to double its size, Kentucky-style. Moon jellyfish swimming in their new 3000-gallon aquarium in the Coba Cocina restaurant in the Idle Hour Shopping Center. Lee Greer recalled saying "This is great, but it's not big enough by Kentucky standards. What if we double the bet and make it twice the size?" And that's exactly what they did. They hired Jeff Turner of Reef Aquarium Design based out of Florida to design the system for them. Incidentally, one of Jeff's credentials is his firm designed and installed the Indo-Pacific system for the Smithsonian Institute's Natural History Museum in Washington, DC about five years ago. The system is designed as a kreisel, slowly circulating the water in a circular pattern to keep the jellyfish suspended at all levels of the tank. All of the moon jellies housed in this aquarium are captive bred, as breeding them is relatively straight forward - and it reduces harvesting pressures on wild populations. If you are in Lexington, KY, and are a jellyfish lover, definitely stop by this restaurant after the 18th and check it out! (via Kentucky.com) View the full article

Click through to see the images. These scourges of the reef were removed from Lizard Island and Cairns as well as pockets in the Whitsunday according to Environment Minister Tony Burke. These starfish were injected with sodium bisulfate, which is toxic to them, but considered environmentally safe to other life on the reef and the effort was carried out by divers from the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators. "The divers have done a great job in culling more than 60,000 crown-of-thorns starfish, and that figure will only climb over the coming months as their efforts continue," Mr Burke said. "Importantly, it means these starfish have also been prevented from entering the next spawning season." This project cost $1.43 million dollars and was started last year as a tactic to combat the crown-of-thorns starfish invasion. At almost $24 per starfish, that may seem rather expensive, but when tourism and other factors are added in, the cost is a small price to pay to help save the reef from destruction. (via Sunshine Coast Daily) View the full article

Click through to see the images. The news comes from us by way of British tabloids, so take it with a grain of salt. However, knowing Gaga's quirkiness (she named her wheelchair Emma) and spending power (her personal worth is estimated to exceed $100,000,000), we wouldn't doubt if she did what the tabloids are reporting. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Press Release MIAMI – February 25, 2013 -- In a study published today in Nature Climate Change researchers used the latest emissions scenarios and climate models to show how varying levels of carbon emissions are likely to result in more frequent and severe coral bleaching events. Large-scale 'mass' bleaching events on coral reefs are caused by higher-than-normal sea temperatures. High temperatures make light toxic to the algae that reside within the corals. The algae, called 'zooxanthellae', provide food and give corals their bright colors. When the algae are expelled or retained but in low densities, the corals can starve and eventually die. Bleaching events caused a reported 16 percent loss of the world's coral reefs in 1998 according to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. If carbon emissions stay on the current path most of the world's coral reefs (74 percent) are projected to experience coral bleaching conditions annually by 2045, results of the study show. The study used climate model ensembles from the upcoming Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Around a quarter of coral reefs are likely to experience bleaching events annually five or more years earlier than the median year, and these reefs in northwestern Australia, Papau New Guinea, and some equatorial Pacific islands like Tokelau, may require urgent attention, researchers warn. "Coral reefs in parts of the western Indian Ocean, French Polynesia and the southern Great Barrier Reef, have been identified as temporary refugia from rising sea surface temperatures," said Ruben van Hooidonk, Ph.D., from the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) at the University of Miami and NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. "These locations are not projected to experience bleaching events annually until five or more years later than the median year of 2040, with one reef location in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia protected from the onset of annual coral bleaching conditions until 2056." The findings emphasize that without significant reductions in emissions most coral reefs are at risk, according to the study. A reduction of carbon emissions would delay annual bleaching events more than two decades in nearly a quarter (23 percent) of the world's reef areas, the research shows. "Our projections indicate that nearly all coral reef locations would experience annual bleaching later than 2040 under scenarios with lower greenhouse gas emissions." said Jeffrey Maynard, Ph.D., from the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement (CRIOBE) in Moorea, French Polynesia. "For 394 reef locations (of 1707 used in the study) this amounts to at least two more decades in which some reefs might conceivably be able to improve their capacity to adapt to the projected changes." "More so than any result to date, this highlights and quantifies the potential benefits for reefs of reducing emissions in terms of reduced exposure to stressful reef temperatures." "This study represents the most up-to-date understanding of spatial variability in the effects of rising temperatures on coral reefs on a global scale," said researcher Serge Planes, Ph.D., also from the French research institute CRIOBE in French Polynesia. The researchers involved in the study all concur that projections that combine the threats posed to reefs by increases in sea temperature and ocean acidification will further resolve where temporary refugia may exist. (via Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science) View the full article

Click through to see the images. SPS reefkeepers are familiar with coral crabs. These crabs find shelter in the branches of Acropora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, et al., and live, eat, and breed under the coral's protection for their entire lives. Most reefkeepers have seen filter-feeding anemone crabs (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai) at their LFS. And then there's the halimeda crab we blogged about last week. These are just a few examples of crustacean's specialized habitat, but they're just the tip of the iceberg. We deliberated on whether to save the best for last, but we opted to start this article off with a bang. Our first crab makes its home in one of the strangest (and grossest) habitats of any crustacean in this article — in the anus of sea cucumbers! As strange as the thought of living in another animal's anus sounds, these crabs are not the only animals to call a cuke's sphincter their home. Pearlfish, for example, hide inside sea cumbers for defense. Better there than inside the belly of a predator, right? This crab blends perfectly in the brilliantly colored carnation corals. The crab's body even mimics the distinctive spicules of these azoox corals. Urchins are spike-covered mobile fortresses, so it's not surprising a lot of crustaceans (or animals for that matter) live within the prickly confines of these echinoderms. Take for instance the Bumblebee Shrimp: Or these Fire Urchin hitchhikers: Have you ever seen super tiny shrimps masquerading as microalgae? Now you have! And now you've seen two species (this time in red). Here is a hairy squat lobster who finds shelter in Giant Barrel Sponges. These massive sponges are predominantly orange or purple, so this color-coordinated lobster (with purple carapace and orange "hair") will have no problem blending into either wall colors. We're not sure if this qualifies as camouflage or specialized habitat, but footage of these boxing (AKA pom pom) crabs are too awesome not to share. Three cheers for coral reef crustaceans! With all the niche habitats crustaceans fill using clever camouflage, who knows? You might have some fascinating crabs and shrimps in your aquarium you never knew about! But please don't poke around your cuke's rear end to find them. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The Amphiprion genus continues to offer some of the most well-loved and sought after species for the marine tank, and is ideally suited for commercial and hobbyist scale captive breeding, The genus contains some real beauties from Mother Nature's stable as well as some captive bred morphs that divide opinion on occasion. If we combine the genus' usual good nature (through a pair can be very territorial) and ease of propagation in captivity, then no wonder the group is so well represented in aquaria and LFS across the world. There are though, a few rarities that are rarely imported and not yet commonly bred, one such species is Amphiprion chrysogaster the Mauritian Clownfish. Chrysogaster sits within the Clarkii complex of clowns and is very similar to clarkii, sebae and allardi for example, though its limited geographical range makes for easy identification in the field. The fish reaches 15cm in length and can be recognised by the black tail with white upper band and white stripe to the upper rear portion of the dorsal. Juvenile specimens are much lighter in colour and present difficulties to easy identification. Large numbers of squirrelfish shelter within a wreck, the yellow background is almost entirely Tubastrea To Mauritius I've been keeping marine fish for a number of years now and I've been lucky enough to combine my hobby with a passion for scuba diving and seeing 'real' coral reefs. Not only does this hobby inspire my aquascaping attempts, but it has encouraged me to value wild reefs and to value them for their intrinsic value and ultimately the source of what has become a life-consuming passion. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to the small island of Mauritius. This tiny speck in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Madagascar, is of course well known for its now extinct species - the Dodo being the one we all think of immediately - but it is also the subject of intense international efforts to save many more species that remain on the brink of extinction today. The Echo Parakeet - one of several endemic birds that has been brought back from the brink of extinction by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation I'd been lucky enough to visit some of the Island's last remaining patches of natural forest amidst seas of sugar cane and I was lucky enough to photograph Pink Pigeons, Echo Parakeets and the Mauritian Kestrel, all birds that were until a few years ago represented by a handful of specimens. These threatened birds illustrate the problems faced by island species across the globe: islands hold many species that have developed in splendid isolation and are highly unsuited to compete with aggressive colonisers introduced from other parts of the world, be they hungry sailors, mongoose or rats - the native endemic species suffer. Small islands, atolls and isolated reefs are underwater mirrors of the terrestrial world and as eager as I was to see rare birds of prey I was also very keen to explore the reefs of Mauritius to see what could be seen. I have to admit, i'd not been aware of chrysogaster before this trip became a reality. It was my good friend Dale Pritchard of Ecoreef UK who suggested I should make them a priority and even asked me to squeeze a few into my hand luggage (sorry Dale, you were joking right?) - Photos would have to suffice! This wasn't to be so easy though, but we'll come back to that... Like most tropical islands, Mauritius is surrounded by barrier reefs with associated lagoon systems, the barrier reefs can be as little as a few hundred metres off shore or a few kilometres depending on topography, though in general the eastern side of the island has more extensive lagoon systems. The lagoons are subject to a great deal of pressure from tourism associated development and are in many areas now devoid of the large expanses of hermatypic corals they once held. Water sports activities and the need to provide easy swimming opportunities for guests have in the past won out over conservation efforts. There are some hints that this might be changing though and the recent tsunami have reminded Mauritians that their reefs and mangrove swamps are of significant import in protecting them from the ravages of the oceans in a world where sea level rise is likely. The mangrove systems and of course the sea grass and Caulerpa beds of Mauritius are fascinating and deserve an article in themselves - I was lucky enough to explore these whist snorkelling and at low tide and witnessed the extraordinary habitat they offer for young fish that will later be found on the reef - but for now it is further out and deeper that I turn my attentions. Ile aux Aigrettes - a coral island, home to giant Skinks, sits within a lagoon complex Mangrove saplings compete with older specimens My first dives were on the south coast of the Island, an area still considered 'wild' by many. I'd discussed my desire to see the local clownfish with my guide from the Cabana Water Sports Centre at the Telfair hotel and he promised to take me to Anemone Pass, which sounded just what I was looking for. The visibility was poor but as we descended into a wide crack in the reef, the numbers of anemone became apparent and I was looking at scores of square metres of rock carpeted with Heteractis magnifica specimens. At first I couldn't see many hosting fish, there were good numbers of Dascyllus trimaculatus, but no clowns to be seen - darn this was going to be annoying so I switched on my camera and looked to the Dascyllus for a shot. But no, there was no shutter noise, no flash firing and I looked in horror to see my camera housing was full of water and my Nikon was slowly turning to electronic soup. Needless to say I expressed my disappointment with some choice language but decided to complete the dive. Did I see any chrysogaster? no idea really. To cheer me up I visited Mauritius' aquarium which featured the local undersea fauna - the stock is caught within metres of the bay under license from the authorities. Here I met Rasheed Ramjhun who guided me though the collection and here I met my first chrysogaster. My first 'gaster, and no cameras were ruined! This image illustrates the reason for the genus name Amphiprion which derives from the Greek 'amphi' for both sides and 'prios' for saw. This refers to the serrated edges to the fishes' opercula. This wasn't the highest tech aquarium you'd ever see, but Rasheed certainly cared for his charges and they were all in apparent good health. After several days of rinsing, stripping down and careful drying I decided to risk my housing again and managed to wedge my other Nikon (a D300s) into the housing originally made for a D200. It worked, to a certain extent, I could focus and fire the trigger and that was it, flash would be manual only. With some trepidation I took it snorkelling to ensure it was water tight before taking the plunge again. By this time we'd moved to the North West of the Island and I was diving with EasyDive at the Le Meridien Hotel. My guide Jonathan Cesar was also a photographer, so he was happy to guide me and then leave me to my own devices once we were on the dive site. Our first port of call was a small bommie system called Emily reef. "Why Emily?" I asked. Jonathan looked at me with a sad face and said, "Well, she was a diver and... here she drowned..." He kept this up for a few seconds before cracking up into laughter and said 'no, it is named after a ship wreck". This was going to be fun. The visibility here was a little better and I managed to get several shots to piece together to show the reef in its entirety. Several shots stitched together in Photoshop We toured the reef and bommie system for half an hour so before finding our target, a small outcrop that held three anemones and here the fun began. The first anemone we spotted was firmly 'planted' on the rock itself, complete with a resident pair of 'gasters and I was able to get some acceptable shots. However, as anyone who has photographed clownfish in the wild will know they are tough customers and will attack the dome ports of cameras. I looked over to see Jonathan gesticulating wildly at the larger of the two that refused to sit in its host and was more interested in trying to chase his camera away. I spotted another anemone, another H. magnifica, that had taken up residence atop a former coral outgrowth, as I headed towards it to photograph its bright red column one of the two 'gasters shot over to it and nestled into its tentacles and I also noted another to the right of me - two fish were hosting in three anemones. To add to their annoyance, every time they moved from one to another, they had to chase out a small shoal of Dascyllus trimaculatus. All of this commotion didn't go unnoticed and within a few minutes a Lionfish had swum over to see what all the fuss was about. Now in my experience lionfish always keep a respectful distance away, but not this one, he was within inches of my face and arm, so I bid a hasty retreat, right into the sand and well, the next photo shows what happened. The photographer's nightmare, lots of particles in the water causing backscatter. After what seemed like an age the vis cleared and I looked over to see Jonathan, I'm not sure how I could tell, but he was laughing at me. The Lionfish was still hungrily eyeing up the clownfish and I realised this had played itself out before. Every time the clowns move they were at risk form predation and every time the Dascyllus were ousted they too were at risk, my presence was just giving the lionfish the distraction he needed. Either way I managed to get some good shots. A very tame lionfish Our next dive took us to a pair of barges that were sunk in the 1980s to become artificial reefs - the afore mentioned Emily and the Water Lilly. These ships were never going to be classed as the world's greatest wreck dives but they were replete with fish including the only Anthias I saw on my entire trip and a beautiful pair of Moorish Idols. The wrecks were surrounded by shoals of blue lined snapper and also had a few anemones with resident 'gasters, including a specimen a few inches across within a tyre. I cursed my earlier camera disaster for ruining my macro lens, this would have make a superb shot. Later that day we moved onto the wreck of the Stellar Maru, a larger ship sunk in the 1980s that landed on its side and was later 'righted' by a cyclone and now sits on its hull as intended, but it shows the power of the ocean and why most of the corals I'd seen were of the more massive and robust species and growth patterns outside the lagoon. The Stellar Maru is a fishkeepers' delight; various species of butterfly and angel are common place, with one large Emperor posing for photos. What I was hoping for though, was a chance to photograph Gem Tangs in the wild - another native of these parts, but this wasn't to be and Jonathan said he very rarely saw them. Other Acanthurus and many Naso species were very common and were targeted by fishermen using large traps, baited with shoreline algae. I was told that commercial fishing was heavily regulated and licensed and the guides told me they thought the pollution from agriculture and industry was more responsible for the drop in fish stocks than overfishing. A stunning example of A. chrysogaster in the ship wreck. Note the dark tail with white band and white band atop the trailing edge of the dorsal. The species is very similar to A. Allardi, though this has a white tail. An Emperor tours the hull of the Stellar Maru Jonathan photographs the 'robust' corals - currents can be strong and damaging especially during a cyclone. So was it worth it? Undoubtedly yes, I am one camera and one lens down, but to see species that exist no where else is always an experience to cherish, both on land and underwater. Will I ever see 'gasters available in my LFS? Not for a while I imagine, but if they were be added to a CB programme they would make a welcome addition to any stock list. I was disappointed not to see gemmatus, but maybe I'll have to return and I must say I'm very tempted to try to reach the Chagos archipelago to photograph Amphiprion chagosensis, but that may be a more difficult proposition. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Protection of marine areas from fishing increases density and biomass of fish and invertebrates (such as lobster and scallops) finds a systematic review published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Environmental Evidence. The success of a protected area was also dependent on its size and on how it was managed, however even partial protection provides significant ecological benefits. Marine ecosystems worldwide are suffering from a loss of biodiversity due to destruction of food chains and habitats. Increasingly areas are being set aside to protect sensitive environments and species, or to provide a safe pocket from which fish and larvae can re-seed over-exploited seas. By performing a meta-analysis, the Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation and School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University and the National Oceanography Centre Southampton found that protection of marine areas increased fish density and that even partial protection increased fish biomass by almost 50%, while fully protected ‘no take’ areas had double the biomass. This effect was most noticeable for target species, which were the reason the protection areas were set up. In particular lobsters and scallops showed a positive response to partial protection. None of the styles of protection increased the number of fish species. Overall marine protection is a success story however the success of a reserve also depended on its size and how it was managed. Marija Sciberras, from Bangor University, explained, “Even within partial protection reserves there was variation - the ones which allowed recreational fishing had more biomass than open areas, whereas the ones that were previously commercially dredged showed no real improvement relative to open (or fished) areas. Interestingly we found that increasing the size of partial protection areas above 1000km2 reduced their effectiveness. While this is worrying, we suspect that it may be due to increased poaching.” (Press Release via Alpha Galileo Foundation) View the full article

Congratulation to this Tank of the Quarter winner - Johnson2288 aka Johnson Cheng gorgeous mixed reef tank setup !!! Center View Left Side View Right Side View Brief Introduction of your history of setting up your tank I'm really honored to be nominated the TOTQ winner for this quarter.Would like to take this opportunity to thank SG Reef Club (Larry and Moderator Team) for giving me the chance to share my experience with all the marine kakis out there. Timeline 1998- Decided to purchase a full set of 4.5x2.5x2.5ft tank and equipment. Totally new hobby and was overly-excited,resulting in overstocking of LPS and fishes as my initial setup.As pace was too fast, the tank crashed 2 times within 8 months,leaving me feeling very disappointed as had put in alot of effort. 1999-Converted to a FOWLER tank thinking it was easy.Repeated my mistake again by overcrowding the tank with different fishes( especially big angels) from different shipments without proper quarantine time.My impatience and inappropriateness caused many casualties (the diseases of my angels) 2001-Decom my tank. 2007-After discussion with my CO, we made a pact to learn from our past mistake and start all over again with renewed enthusiasm and positiveness.Proceeded with a 5x2.75x2.75ft tank with better quality and reliable equipments.Went full SPS with LPS and some fishes.This is also my first time challenging the 'Dark Side'.With patience and effort,my reefing journey this time round was really fun and rewarding. It was also during this period of time that I met Aquarium Iwarna people who are really friendly and helpful.Being a reliable LFS, Iwarna also doubles as a gathering place where reefers meet to exchange/share our experiences. My extreme motivation was awaiting/receiving the news of their quality and awesome midnight shipments(corals and fishes) from Walt Smith(Fiji) ,Vanuatu and other parts of the South Pacific. 2012- After enjoying the tank for 5 years(2007-2012), my wife and i shifted to a bigger environment and decom the tank to upgrade to my current tank.In April 2012, we started this new 6ftx3ftx2.5ft glass box project The design and planning were done by Victor (Aquarium Iwarna) and the indent of quality equipments were done by Seet (Reef Depot).Both of them have helped me fix and set up this fabulous tank,making sure that the whole system run in proper order. After 2 months of careful planning, this beloved piece of 'mini ocean' was set up in my new living room.All in all, it took 8 months of patience from learning and stocking up appropriately that lead to this rewarding end results. Tank specifications Size : 6ft X 3 ft x 2.5 ft Salinity:1.025 Temperature:25-26 Degree Celsius Ph:8.2-8.3 Calcium -420ppm Alkalinity–10-11dkh Magnesium –1380ppm Tank: Hardware Tank Size : 6 ft X 3 ft X 2.5 ft Skimmer: Deltec - SC2560 Calcium Reactor: Deltec - PF601 Calcium Reactor Dosing pump: GHL Profilux Dosing 4 Channels. CA,MG & DKH Chiller: Drop in coil with Daikin 1 H/P air-con compressor Biopellet / reactor: Deltec - FR 509 Chemical filtration: Deltec - FR 512 wit Rowaphos. Change every 2 months Main return pump: Venotec Abyzz A400 3M Wave maker:Venotec Abyzz A400 3M Others Equipments : GHL Profilux Aquarium Computer with Profilux View 2 Lighting period : Ecotech Radion XR 30w 5 units -Artinic 1400-2am,14k 1900-2300,Moonlight 2am-6am Addictive used Since day one of my new setup, I have been using Polylab - ReefResh Complete set which I have been seeing with very good result. The ReefResh complete set consist of Fuel/RF-Plus/RF-Genesis/RF-Acid & Reef Roid as foods for my corals really bring out the colors and health of my corals. Live stocks – Corals SPS- Acropora- Echinata,Nobilis,Hoeksemai,Millepora,Loisettae,Gomezi,Tenuis,Yongei,Prostrata Vermiculata,Lokani,Loripies,Chesterfieldensis,Valida,Bonsai,Stylophora,Seriatopora Hystrix Montipora-Sunset,Pink,Red,Blue,Green,Chilli Pepper,Porities,Digitata. LPS - Aust. Scolymia,LoboPhylia,Acanthastrea Lordhowensis,Charlice,Red Gonio etc. Softies- Zoanthid,Paly, Ricordea Florida Rics,Yumas & etc. Live Stocks - Fish: 1 Hooded,1Laboutei,1 Paired Flame & 1 Hoeven Wrasse 1 Achillis,1 Hybrid Powder Blue & 2 Yellow Tangs 4 Coral Sea Ventralis Anthias 1 Paired Helfrichi Fire Fish Goby Some personal Q & A questions 1. How long have you been reefing? Ans: Started 1998-2001 Stopped & Continue 2008 that is when I started Serious Reefing 2. How did you get into this hobby? Ans: Both myself and my wife love to interact with nature with special interest in marine biodiversity. 3. Are you a fish guy or a Coral guy? Ans: Coral Guy being a Hardcore fan for Exotic SPS & LPS 4. What is your main concern when looking around for your reefing equipment? Ans: Reliable after sales services and only products from European & US since i believe in quality. 5. What is your favorite past time Ans: Enjoying the tank with my wife & our 3 little doggies in our cozy nest. 6. What is the satisfaction you got from this hobby? Ans: Looking at fishes, corals growing & thriving in the tank. 7. Any advice for newbie in this hobby? Ans: Key Words- Haste makes Waste.Less haste more speed.Be focused and Patience. SG Reef Club serves as a learning platform for newbies to interact and share different reefing perspectives and experiences.Also a good place to meet lots of friendly marine kakis and shifus. Final Acknowledgement and thank you note (If any). Firstly, would like to express a BIG Thanks to my wife (Eileen) who have been patient, encouraging and sharing this hobby with me.It has been my passion to keep a marine tank since childhood. Next, would like to thank Aquarium Iwarna (Victor and team) who have been maintaining my tank without fail every week. A final acknowledgement and thanks to Reef Depot (Seet and his team) for bringing in quality products plus fast and efficient after sales services. More photos of his tank setup can be found on the image Galley HERE

Extracted from Aquarama facebook that there is going to be a change of venue for this year. Announcing NEW venue for AQUARAMA and PET ASIA 2013 exhibitions SINGAPORE, March 5, 2013 – Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, home to Aquarama, Asia’s biggest international ornamental fish, invertebrates, plants and accessories exhibition for several years now, has been undergoing a major renovation and modernization programme since May 2012. We have been recently informed by Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre that the expected completion of the renovation project has been delayed. In view of this development, UBM Asia has successfully secured a new venue for Aquarama 2013 and South East Asia’s first international Pet & Accessories trade show, Pet Asia 2013. The two co-located shows will span an area of 8,310 sqm and house some 200 vendors from all over the world. We are delighted to announce that Aquarama 2013 and Pet Asia 2013 will be held at Halls B and C of the expo and convention centre at the Marina Bay Sands. The Sands Expo and Convention Center is Singapore's largest exhibition and meeting venue, featuring the island's largest hotel. At more than 120,000 square meters, the Sands Expo and Convention Center is the largest and most versatile exhibition and meeting venue in Singapore. “The exhibition dates for the Aquarama 2013 and Pet Asia 2013 will go on as planned from May 30 to June 2, 2013 as with all other existing arrangements we have in place for our exhibitors” according to Aquarama and Pet Asia Project Manager, Jennifer Lee. “We are excited by the many possibilities that the Sands Expo and Convention Centre has to offer and will work towards making this year’s shows memorable and successful for our exhibitors, as well as our trade and public visitors. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Fishers near marine protected areas end up traveling farther to catch fish but maintain their social and economic well-being, according to a study by fisheries scientists at Washington State University and in Hawaii. (2013-03-05) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois) exist throughout the Indo-Pacific. They bury their bodies in muddy or sandy substrate with their heads up ready to pounce on passerbys. They can also emerge at night to hunt. Bobbit worms are omnivores and are known to feed on just about anything, including fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and corals. And these worms eat a lot. The Assassin in Action Underwater videographer 'liquidguru' patiently filmed two bobbit worms in the mucky seafloor of the Strait of Lembah (Indonesia). His patience paid off when he recorded not only one bobbit worm successfully snaring a scorpionfish but also the other worm's failed attempt to capture an octopus (more evidence that octopus are awesome). The Assassin in Aquaria? Can you imagine discovering this monster had hitchhiked into your aquarium? You are unlikely to find a E.aphroditois hitchhiker because these worms inhabit mucky substrates. However, other monster eucinid worms do find their way into aquariums. A few unlucky aquarists have experienced the frightening voraciousness of these worms firsthand. Steve Weast (OregonReef.com) probably holds the dubious distinction of the most famous documented incidence dealing with a monster eunicid worm. There is a long thread (no pun intended) on the Michigan Reefers forum describing reefkeepers personal encounters with these killer worms. In 2009, a bobbit worm terrorized the reef exhibit at the Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium in Cornwall, UK, chowing down corals and fish alike. From this beautiful aquarium: They caught this nightmarish beast! If you discover strange bite marks on your corals and your fish are mysteriously disappearing, you may have a bobbit/eucinid worm in your tank. These worms are notoriously difficult to catch. They fit into the tightest of spots, and they are lightning fast (as you see in the video). In most cases, a full dismantling of the area where the worm resides is required to catch and remove it. Just be extremely careful if you are tasked with this unenviable assignment. Bobbit worms not only have killer pincers but are also covered with bristles that can cause paralysis. It doesn't help that they look downright horrific! Sweet dreams! Don't let the bobbit worm bite. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Specifically, he will review the types of seahorses that the new hobbyists can select to start a successful journey in seahorse keeping. As well as discuss his experiences breeding seahorses and review some common seahorse diseases. Please email any questions or comments to AmericanReef@Me.com. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois) exist throughout the Indo-Pacific. They bury their bodies in muddy or sandy substrate with their heads up ready to pounce on passerbys. They can also emerge at night to hunt. Bobbit worms are omnivores and are known to feed on just about anything, including fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and corals. And these worms eat a lot. The Assassin in Action Underwater videographer 'liquidguru' patiently filmed two bobbit worms in the mucky seafloor of the Strait of Lembah (Indonesia). His patience paid off when he recorded not only one bobbit worm successfully snaring a scorpionfish but also the other worm's failed attempt to capture an octopus (more evidence that octopus are awesome). The Assassin in Aquaria? Can you imagine discovering this monster had hitchhiked into your aquarium? You are unlikely to find a E.aphroditois hitchhiker because these worms inhabit mucky substrates. However, other monster eucinid worms do find their way into aquariums. A few unlucky aquarists have experienced the frightening voraciousness of these worms firsthand. Steve Weast (OregonReef.com) probably holds the dubious distinction of the most famous documented incidence dealing with a monster eunicid worm. There is a long thread (no pun intended) on the Michigan Reefers forum describing reefkeepers personal encounters with these killer worms. In 2009, a bobbit worm terrorized the reef exhibit at the Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium in Cornwall, UK, chowing down corals and fish alike. From this beautiful aquarium: They caught this nightmarish beast! If you discover strange bite marks on your corals and your fish are mysteriously disappearing, you may have a bobbit/eucinid worm in your tank. These worms are notoriously difficult to catch. They fit into the tightest of spots, and they are lightning fast (as you see in the video). In most cases, a full dismantling of the area where the worm resides is required to catch and remove it. Just be extremely careful if you are tasked with this unenviable assignment. Bobbit worms not only have killer pincers but are also covered with bristles that can cause paralysis. It doesn't help that they look downright horrific! Sweet dreams! Don't let the bobbit worm bite. View the full article