Harlequinmania

The pump body is the same, but i think the propeller from DD is different from Eden .

For the first time, a numerical study incorporates horizontal larval fish navigation skills into realistic 3D flow fields, creating a powerful tool that spells out how larvae use environmental cues to find their way back to the reef after being out on the open ocean. This model can be used for a wide variety of marine species. View the full article

For the first time, a numerical study incorporates horizontal larval fish navigation skills into realistic 3D flow fields, creating a powerful tool that spells out how larvae use environmental cues to find their way back to the reef after being out on the open ocean. This model can be used for a wide variety of marine species. View the full article

Any Hawaii shipment spotted this week ?

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Ammonites changed their reproductive strategy from initially few and large offspring to numerous and small hatchlings. Thanks to their many offspring, they survived three mass extinctions, a research team has discovered. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Mass death by cyanide fishing Cyanide fishing is the practice of capturing fish using a potent, inexpensive poison called sodium cyanide. Pills of sodium cyanide are placed into plastic squirt bottles, mixed with water, and then divers squirt the poisonous mixture into nooks and crannies in the reef to stun fish for collection. This method makes it easy for divers to capture fish for the marine aquarium trade and sometimes, in the case of large fish like groupers, for human consumption in Asian countries. While its usage is effective, cyanide will kill both marine fish and corals leading to massive coral reef destruction. According to Wikipedia, "estimates suggest 70 to 90% of aquarium fish exported from the Philippines are caught with cyanide. [...] Recent studies have shown that the combination of cyanide use and stress of post capture handling results in mortality of up to 75% of the organisms within less than 48 hours of capture. With such high mortality numbers, a greater number of fish must be caught in order to supplement post catch death." Many trade insiders believe cyanide is the single most destructive practice perpetrated by our industry. This is a big problem. This practice is outlawed in many exporting countries but corrupt authorities routinely turn a blind eye to its usage. This problem is very hard to police by importing countries because current methods for detecting cyanide fishing require either tissue, blood, or destroying entire fish to test for the presence of cyanide. A diver squirts cyanide into a reef in an attempt to capture fish. Also note the bleached coral surrounding the area. Photo: J.M. Cervino Development of a promising new cyanide test Published this weekend in PLoS ONE, researchers have made a breakthrough in detecting cyanide in marine ornamental fish. As mentioned above, the method is non-lethal, non-destructive, fast, highly sensitive and repeatable, and the equipment is potentially inexpensive to manufacture. Old methods of detection tested for the presence of cyanide directly. This new method, instead tests for the presence of metabolized cyanide (thiocyanate) in the fish's urine. The new apparatus uses an optical fiber detector coupled with a selective filter to separate thiocyanate from other chemicals in the water sample. The resulting testing apparatus compared very well to an already established protocol using very expensive laboratory equipment. With a successful protocol and inexpensive equipment found for thiocyanate detection, the researchers next needed to determine: If they could detect thiocyanate in marine fish exposed to cyanide and How long they could detect thiocyanate after exposure to cyanide For their study, the researchers needed a model fish species for evaluation. The fish needed to represent a large percentage of the marine aquarium trade, reportedly caught using cyanide in the past, and guaranteed never exposed to cyanide. Their research indicated that a large percentage of the fish exported were from the damselfish family, Pomacentridae, and that these fish were reported as cyanide caught in the past. Since they could not guarantee that a wild-caught fish was never exposed to cyanide, the researchers decided to choose an aquaculturable species within the Pomacentridae family. That led them to investigate different clownfish species (genus Amphiprion). In talking with marine aquarium retailers, they found that there were numerous recent reports of mortality problems with imported Clarkii clownfish (A. clarkii) so this fish was chosen as their model species. The scientists purchased 27 adult A. clarkii from a captive breeder (Ope´rculo Lda., Portugal) and acclimated them to their new surroundings for 60 days in a common tank. After that, the fish were separated into three groups. The first group was the control group and were not exposed to cyanide. The second group was exposed to a pulsed cyanide concentration of 12.5 mg/L (12.5 ppm). The third group was exposed to a pulsed cyanide concentration of 25.0 mg/L (25 ppm). The exposure duration, 60 seconds, was the same for groups two and three. All three groups were then washed in a “cleaning bath” of fresh synthetic saltwater two times in order to wash off any residual cyanide. After that, each fish was housed in a separate 2-liter container with an airstone. Their water was monitored daily for thiocyanate (SCN-) for 28 days post-exposure. The water was also completely changed daily with synthetic seawater in order to remove accumulated waste. They found that their new optical fiber test apparatus could sucessfully detect thiocyanate in the fishes' water starting at six days after exposure for the 12.5 mg/L group. The 25.0 mg/L group had detectable thiocyanate levels starting at two days after exposure. Both groups continued to show detectable levels of thiocyanate up to 28 days post-exposure when the experiment was concluded (see below graph). The control group showed no detectable levels throughout the 28-day experiment. Going forward This is big news as there now exists a method to non-lethally detect cyanide exposure in imported marine fish! Much more work needs performed as there are yet many unanswered questions: Different fish species may excrete thiocyanate at different levels Body size may play a factor Cyanide exposure times and concentration may change how much thiocyanate is absorbed and excreted How long the fish is held at the export site could influence results The study also suggests that exporting countries should export all of their fish in synthetic seawater as natural seawater can have detectable levels of thiocyanate in it leading to false positives with this testing protocol. This is great news as we can now hold exporting countries accountable for their exports. Importers can report back to exporting nations about which export companies are illegally practicing cyanide fishing and enforcement can take place. I am very excited to see further work performed in this area as exporters must curtail illegal cyanide fishing in order to save the reefs we love. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Mass death by cyanide fishing Cyanide fishing is the practice of capturing fish using a potent, inexpensive poison called sodium cyanide. Pills of sodium cyanide are placed into plastic squirt bottles, mixed with water, and then divers squirt the poisonous mixture into nooks and crannies in the reef to stun fish for collection. This method makes it easy for divers to capture fish for the marine aquarium trade and sometimes, in the case of large fish like groupers, for human consumption in Asian countries. While its usage is effective, cyanide will kill both marine fish and corals leading to massive coral reef destruction. According to Wikipedia, "estimates suggest 70 to 90% of aquarium fish exported from the Philippines are caught with cyanide. [...] Recent studies have shown that the combination of cyanide use and stress of post capture handling results in mortality of up to 75% of the organisms within less than 48 hours of capture. With such high mortality numbers, a greater number of fish must be caught in order to supplement post catch death." Many trade insiders believe cyanide is the single most destructive practice perpetrated by our industry. This is a big problem. This practice is outlawed in many exporting countries but corrupt authorities routinely turn a blind eye to its usage. This problem is very hard to police by importing countries because current methods for detecting cyanide fishing require either tissue, blood, or destroying entire fish to test for the presence of cyanide. A diver squirts cyanide into a reef in an attempt to capture fish. Also note the bleached coral surrounding the area. Photo: J.M. Cervino Development of a promising new cyanide test Published this weekend in PLoS ONE, researchers have made a breakthrough in detecting cyanide in marine ornamental fish. As mentioned above, the method is non-lethal, non-destructive, fast, highly sensitive and repeatable, and the equipment is potentially inexpensive to manufacture. Old methods of detection tested for the presence of cyanide directly. This new method, instead tests for the presence of metabolized cyanide (thiocyanate) in the fish's urine. The new apparatus uses an optical fiber detector coupled with a selective filter to separate thiocyanate from other chemicals in the water sample. The resulting testing apparatus compared very well to an already established protocol using very expensive laboratory equipment. With a successful protocol and inexpensive equipment found for thiocyanate detection, the researchers next needed to determine: If they could detect thiocyanate in marine fish exposed to cyanide and How long they could detect thiocyanate after exposure to cyanide For their study, the researchers needed a model fish species for evaluation. The fish needed to represent a large percentage of the marine aquarium trade, reportedly caught using cyanide in the past, and guaranteed never exposed to cyanide. Their research indicated that a large percentage of the fish exported were from the damselfish family, Pomacentridae, and that these fish were reported as cyanide caught in the past. Since they could not guarantee that a wild-caught fish was never exposed to cyanide, the researchers decided to choose an aquaculturable species within the Pomacentridae family. That led them to investigate different clownfish species (genus Amphiprion). In talking with marine aquarium retailers, they found that there were numerous recent reports of mortality problems with imported Clarkii clownfish (A. clarkii) so this fish was chosen as their model species. The scientists purchased 27 adult A. clarkii from a captive breeder (Ope´rculo Lda., Portugal) and acclimated them to their new surroundings for 60 days in a common tank. After that, the fish were separated into three groups. The first group was the control group and were not exposed to cyanide. The second group was exposed to a pulsed cyanide concentration of 12.5 mg/L (12.5 ppm). The third group was exposed to a pulsed cyanide concentration of 25.0 mg/L (25 ppm). The exposure duration, 60 seconds, was the same for groups two and three. All three groups were then washed in a “cleaning bath” of fresh synthetic saltwater two times in order to wash off any residual cyanide. After that, each fish was housed in a separate 2-liter container with an airstone. Their water was monitored daily for thiocyanate (SCN-) for 28 days post-exposure. The water was also completely changed daily with synthetic seawater in order to remove accumulated waste. They found that their new optical fiber test apparatus could sucessfully detect thiocyanate in the fishes' water starting at six days after exposure for the 12.5 mg/L group. The 25.0 mg/L group had detectable thiocyanate levels starting at two days after exposure. Both groups continued to show detectable levels of thiocyanate up to 28 days post-exposure when the experiment was concluded (see below graph). The control group showed no detectable levels throughout the 28-day experiment. Going forward This is big news as there now exists a method to non-lethally detect cyanide exposure in imported marine fish! Much more work needs performed as there are yet many unanswered questions: Different fish species may excrete thiocyanate at different levels Body size may play a factor Cyanide exposure times and concentration may change how much thiocyanate is absorbed and excreted How long the fish is held at the export site could influence results The study also suggests that exporting countries should export all of their fish in synthetic seawater as natural seawater can have detectable levels of thiocyanate in it leading to false positives with this testing protocol. This is great news as we can now hold exporting countries accountable for their exports. Importers can report back to exporting nations about which export companies are illegally practicing cyanide fishing and enforcement can take place. I am very excited to see further work performed in this area as exporters must curtail illegal cyanide fishing in order to save the reefs we love. View the full article

Click through to see the images. As one of the few institutions that creates detailed logs of all video produced with the submersibles, HURL has created and built up a knowledge base that is featured in a photo-guide of all the organisms one might encounter in the deep-sea around Hawai‘i. Until recently, that guide was only available to scientists preparing for upcoming dives. Now scientists around the world, as well as the general public, can access HURL’s deepwater animal photo-guide online at: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HURL/animals/id/. HURL’s deepwater animal photo-guide is a collection of over 1,500 images from video still captures, digitized 35 mm slides, and pilot camera photos. The guide serves as a taxonomic reference of all deepwater animals encountered during submersible and ROV dives over HURL’s 30 year history. The images have also been loaded onto Apple iPads which are provided to the pilots to carry down in the submersible for observers to use during the dives. Scientists may familiarize themselves with this guide in advance of diving to be prepared for what organisms they may encounter. Bellonella molokaiensis coral. According to HURL Biologist Christopher Kelley, “only in situ images are included in the guide in order to show how beautiful and unique the animals are when seen alive and in their natural habitat.” The guide is organized according to major taxa and identifications are made following consultation with taxonomists specializing in these groups. Kelley hopes no one will be intimidated by the scientific names, which are necessary since many of the animals don’t have familiar common names. “HURL simply wants people to appreciate the amazing variety of life forms that exist in deeper waters around Hawai‘i,” he adds. Each image is tagged with a color that indicates the depth at which the representative photo was taken. Now that the guide is online, communication with taxonomists and specialists is easier than ever before since they can provide feedback and/or corrections directly from the website. Kelley has already received a request to use some of the images in the online Encyclopedia of Life and to present a link to the guide at the upcoming Deep Coral Symposium in Amsterdam. Fishermen in Hawai‘i may also find it useful when they catch something unusual that they haven’t seen before. HURL is planning to add some simple keys to the guide that will make it easier to search for images of particular species. The Hawai‘i Undersea Research Lab operates the Pisces IV and Pisces V submersibles, two of only eight human occupied submersibles in the world that can dive deeper than 1500 meters (~5000 feet). These submersibles provide the ability for people to explore, discover and study the unique ecosystems, endangered habitats, life-sustaining marine processes, and other wonders of the deep ocean floor – up close and in person. “We've been around for over three decades and have developed the equipment, personnel, and local knowledge of the study areas important to scientists and marine managers,” said HURL Director John Wiltshire. Over the past 30 years HURL's accomplishments include long-term studies of Lō‘ihi submarine volcano and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Notable discoveries include an historically significant Japanese midget submarine and deep-sea corals that are some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Work in the newest U.S. Marine National Monuments led to an international five-month investigation throughout the central and southwestern Pacific that involved 58 scientists from 12 research entities and included the first submersible dives on 13 different undersea volcanoes. A new 6000-m capable ROV will further enable exploration of NOAA’s four new Marine National Monuments in the Pacific. More information about HURL is available at their website: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HURL. HURL Operations Contact: Dr. John Wiltshire, HURL Director (808) 956-6802 HURL-Dir@soest.hawaii.edu (press release University of Hawai'i) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Unboxing and Design Details The Vectra is sold in two parts. The left box contains the Vectra Lid. Vertex offers six lid diameters to accommodate a wide range of protein skimmers: 150mm, 160mm, 180mm, 200mm, 250mm, and 300mm. Lid prices range from $19.99 to $49.99. The right box contains the universal Vectra Engine ($169.99). This is the motor unit used in conjunction with any lid. I gotta say ... loving the slick, minimalistic graphics. The back side of the Vectra Engine box. The lid (200mm version) sits securely in its fitted box thanks to a cardboard insert. The lid is constructed using very substantial/heavy white acrylic. Here is the underside of the Vectra lid. The Engine's wiper extension stem slides through the center hole. Once the stem is inserted, three titanium screws with rubber gaskets (provided) hold the Engine to the lid via the three smaller holes flanking the center hole. Three additional titanium screws are located on the edge of the lid to allow users to fine tune the lid's fit on their skimmer's collection cups. Note: Owners of Vertex and Bubble King protein skimmers will not need these screws because the lid's inner groove fits perfectly on their skimmers. Here is the Vectra Engine in its box. The box contains the sealed motor unit with wiper extension stem, (detached) wiper blade, AC wall plug, and a bag containing three titanium screws and rubber washers (to attach the motor to the lid). And here is the Vectra Engine and Lid fully assembled. The wiper blade slides into a square hole located at the end of the Engine's extension stem. Users can adjust the blade in and out for optimal wiping distance. Another titanium screw locks down the blade into place. A look-down view of the Vertex Engine over the Lid shows the motor assembly is completely encased in acrylic. Additionally, an O-ring between the Engine and Lid along with the rubber gaskets used to secure the Engine to the Lid results in a motor that is isolated from water/skimmate. Since the motor assembly is so tightly sealed, it is susceptible to overheating if operated continuously for extended periods. Vertex recommends setting the Engine on a timer to operate a few minutes per day. Blue LED lights flash when the motor is activated. Performance The design is clearly drop-dead gorgeous, but how well does the automatic skimmer neck cleaner work? In two words: As advertised. Fit and finish was top notch as one would expect from a company such as Vertex. Assembly was a cinch. The motor is whisper quiet and reliable. Most importantly, the Vectra effectively cleaned the skimmer neck. I observed both darker and more consistent skimmate production after using the Vectra for a month. Without the Vectra, my Vertex Alpha 200 protein skimmer would experience periods of lull in between skimming; This has been my experience with all skimmers I've ever owned. With the Vectra, skimmate production was much more regular, with shorter (to no) production lulls. I was not surprised by the darker skimmate; Waste which had previously built up on the neck is now wiped and skimmed out. Additional Discussion The only criticism I have about the Vectra is its power cable. The cable is technically detachable by unscrewing the nut on the gland and pulling on the cable to detach the 2 pin connector from the circuit board. However, it's pretty clear this design was not meant for regular detachment (reattachment by itself is an unpleasant chore). I would like to see Vertex redesign the power cable with a detachable water-tight union because it is a major hassle having to unplug the AC wall adapter to remove the collection cup (with AC adapter in tow) for servicing. $200+ is a significant investment for a skimmer accessory. However, automatic skimmer cleaners like the Vertex Vectra significantly prolong service intervals. If you're like me, cleaning skimmer cups is one of the least desirable chores we do in our hobby. I leave you with a parting shot of the Vectra Engine and Vectra lid on a Vertex's Alpha 200 collection cup. This unit was provided to Advanced Aquarist for this review. View the full article

Wow..The snowflake is damm nice.

Click through to see the images. The picture perfect white sands of the Maldives' atolls are the stuff postcards are made of. But it's what's under the waves that makes the Maldives what it is ... quite literally. Over the millenia, corals built an impressive formation of 1,192 tiny coral islands grouped in 26 atolls. The corals have also built an underwater haven for over 2,000 species of reef fish. The first video by Derek Emmett showcases the Maldive's beauty (both topside and underwater) with an emphasis on the impressive schools of manta rays that "fly" these waters. Our second video highlights the biological richness of fish species at the Maldives. From tiny gobies to giant whale sharks, the Maldives is truly a fish lover's paradise. " height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> Interesting factoid: The Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world, as some of the footage in our third video shows. The average ground level is a mere 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, with highest point on the entire island nation registering only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in)! Alas, this distinction poses a serious threat to he atolls because of rising sea levels. The Destination Reefs video series showcases the diversity of coral reefs around the world. Through these high quality videos, Advanced Aquarist hopes we can all gain a greater appreciation of reef life beyond our glass boxes. View the full article

Asian carp now make up more than 60 percent of the total fish biomass in one of Illinois' major river systems. View the full article

Click through to see the images. We hope you're ready for more Fish Tank Kings video clips because we suspect Nat Geo will post many more up until the premiere of their anticipated new series on May 12. Advanced Aquarist has a new video clip to share, which provides more insight into what viewers can expect. Living Color Aquarium takes us along for an incredible Caribbean fish-collecting expedition in a special submersible operated by Curacao Seaquarium. The submersible visits the great depth of Curacao's reefs. How deep? Over 400 feet! In the past year, many exotic and extremely expensive deep water fish made their way into the aquarium trade for the first time ever by way of this submersible. Prior to this technology, fish species such as Lipogramma robinsi, Liopropoma aberrans and Jeboehlkia gladifer have never been collected live before. Nearly as rare as these fish is the unprecedented access into the process of collecting them. These types of episodes is where we believe Fish Tank Kings can really shine. View the full article

Click through to see the images. "The particular violet coloration might just have evolved by chance, and must not necessarily have a very specific function or reason aside from being a general visual signal for recognition," said Henrik Freitag, the author of the study that is found in the latest issue of The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Freitag also stated that the purple coloration of this crab could also have evolved over time so that others of its species could recognize each other. This trait would help especially with multiple species of crabs in the area. Each of the four described crabs measure between one and two inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) in diameter. Interestingly enough, there is only one additional crab in this genus, I. unicorn, and it was described in 1992 -- 20 years ago. (via IBTraveller) View the full article

Scientists have studied loggerhead turtles’ re-adaptation to the environment. The results show that after a lengthy recovery in rehabilitation centers these animals display changes in behavior and may not adapt well to being free. View the full article

Scientists have studied loggerhead turtles’ re-adaptation to the environment. The results show that after a lengthy recovery in rehabilitation centers these animals display changes in behavior and may not adapt well to being free. View the full article

Click through to see the images. About Flashback Fridays: Every Friday, Advanced Aquarist will repost a blog article from this week one year ago. With all the content we publish, we want to share the timeless and interesting articles for our new readers as well as regulars who may have missed the original blog article. First and foremost, Advanced Aquarist thanks Ricardo Pinto of www.h2oplusomething.com for sharing his blog with us. Machado de Sousa's system was started in 2007. Here is a brief summary of his impressive coral farm: A 650L (~170g) Maternity Tank where the parent colonies are housed. A 450L (~120g) Nursery Tank where new polyps and tiny frags are kept until they are moved to ... Daycare Tanks (what USA hobbyist would refer to as "grow-out" tanks). Machado de Sousa uses a total of six 780L (~200g each) Daycare Tanks! (see photo to the right) A 100L (~25g) aquarium to temporarily house freshly glued frags A 200L (~50g) quarantine aquarium used for treatment and observation. A 2000L (~500g) sump system consisting of "live rock, DSB, mangrove, skimmers, calcium reactor, degassing calcium reactor, reactors for bio-pellets and zeolites, heaters, etc." I was surprised to find this coral farm is a non-commercial project. Machado de Sousa is a civil engineer by day. This is what you call passion and dedication! Please head over to www.h2oplusomething.com's outstanding blog post for a lot more information (including detailed equipment lists) and pictures on this amazing system. As Richardo Pinto describes it to us: "This is a non-commercial project and it has inspired many reefers in Portugal and Spain." Correction, my friend: It has inspired many reefers around the world! Photos and video of the Portugal Coral Farm The Maternity Tank The Sump System " height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"> "> "> View the full article

Click through to see the images. About Flashback Fridays: Every Friday, Advanced Aquarist will repost a blog article from this week one year ago. With all the content we publish, we want to share the timeless and interesting articles for our new readers as well as people who may have missed the original blog article. First and foremost, Advanced Aquarist thanks Ricardo Pinto of www.h2oplusomething.com for sharing his blog with us. Machado de Sousa's system was started in 2007. Here is a brief summary of his impressive coral farm: A 650L (~170g) Maternity Tank where the parent colonies are housed. A 450L (~120g) Nursery Tank where new polyps and tiny frags are kept until they are moved to ... Daycare Tanks (what USA hobbyist would refer to as "grow-out" tanks). Machado de Sousa uses a total of six 780L (~200g each) Daycare Tanks! (see photo to the right) A 100L (~25g) aquarium to temporarily house freshly glued frags A 200L (~50g) quarantine aquarium used for treatment and observation. A 2000L (~500g) sump system consisting of "live rock, DSB, mangrove, skimmers, calcium reactor, degassing calcium reactor, reactors for bio-pellets and zeolites, heaters, etc." I was surprised to find this coral farm is a non-commercial project. Machado de Sousa is a civil engineer by day. This is what you call passion and dedication! Please head over to www.h2oplusomething.com's outstanding blog post for a lot more information (including detailed equipment lists) and pictures on this amazing system. As Richardo Pinto describes it to us: "This is a non-commercial project and it has inspired many reefers in Portugal and Spain." Correction, my friend: It has inspired many reefers around the world! Photos and video of the Portugal Coral Farm The Maternity Tank The Sump System " height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"> "> "> View the full article

Click through to see the images. Kessil has released a lot of information about their anticipated "Tuna Blue" LED pendant lights. Both the A350 and A350W output approximately 90 watts of light using their Dense Matrix LED™ platform; Kessil claims the A350/A350W provides twice the light of their A150W. The fixtures are cooled using Kessil's "vapor cooling thermal management system" — the same fan-cooled system used in the A350/A350W's predecessor, the H350 hydroponics LED light. So what's the difference between the two models? The beam angles. The A350 is designed with narrower optics and is meant for tanks deeper than 24 inches deep or for intense spotlighting of light-hungry stoney corals. The A350W features wider 140 degree edge-to-edge optics for more even, universal light distribution. "Tuna Blue" is a cute phonetic word play of "tunable." Both units employ the 90W "Dense Matrix LED" with two separate, adjustable channels. Channel 1 outputs Kessil's "Deep Ocean Blue" "actinic blend" while channel 2 outputs "Sky Blue" (approximately 10,000K). Users can manually adjust each channel via top-mounted control knobs in order to tune the combined spectral output. When both channels are operated at full intensity, the output is close to Kessil's 15,000K "Ocean Blue" spectrum. Price and Availability Both the A350 and A350W will retail for $399 USD. Kessil will first release the A350 at the end of April, 2012 followed by the A350W at the end of May, 2012. Kessil shared the following two videos. " height="408" style="width: 680px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> " height="408" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article

Scientists have detected evidence that pollutants from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have entered the ecosystem's food chain. Preliminary results demonstrate that oysters collected post-spill contain higher concentrations of heavy metals in their shells, gills, and muscle tissue than those collected before the spill. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Read more information about Fish Tank Kings. Watch video clips from upcoming episodes. Advanced Aquarist: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us about Fish Tank Kings. There is obviously a lot of interest in the upcoming Nat Geo TV show. The obvious place for us to start: Who is Living Color Aquariums? Francis Yupangco: We are a group of individuals with varying specialized skills ranging from engineering, manufacturing, art and biology backgrounds. We all work together to create some amazing aquarium exhibits. Advanced Aquarist: And what is your role at LCA? Francis Yupangco: I am Living Color’s Director of Business Development and Head Marine Biologist. My primary job is to liaise with the many public aquariums and institutions we work with. I help our clients turn their complex exhibit visions into reality. As head marine biologist I make sure that the aquariums are built with animal care as the primary goal. Advanced Aquarist: In three or fewer sentences, describe what Fish Tank Kings is all about. Francis Yupangco: Fish Tank Kings is a series that shows audiences both the art and science behind creating some of the world’s coolest aquariums. Our audience will be treated to some very special behind the scenes tours at amazing public aquariums and aquaculture facilities. They will also get to meet some interesting characters who are very passionate about the aquatic world. Advanced Aquarist: Can you give us a brief history about the development of the Fishtank Kings? Francis Yupangco: Fish Tank Kings was created by Sharp Entertainment, a well known New York based production company. We began talks with them over a year ago. They sent a small crew to Living Color and we shot a 4 minute “sizzler” reel a month later. The sizzler reel was then shopped to several networks. National Geographic International loved the show’s concept so much that they went ahead and ordered 6 1-hour episodes. Advanced Aquarist: How much creative input does LCA have for the show's content? Francis Yupangco: All of the aquariums featured on the show were projects that we had already committed to even before the show was finalized. Advanced Aquarist: Can viewers expect a general structure to each episode? Francis Yupangco: The entire premiere episode is dedicated to the Miami Marlins Aquariums because of the complex nature of the project. Every other episode has 2 stories which consist of 2 different aquarium builds. There are also a couple of very cool field trips to some amazing places on the series. Advanced Aquarist: TV shows are marketed towards a general audience by necessity, but will Fishtank Kings delve into more advanced husbandry topics in any of this season's episodes? Francis Yupangco: FTK is marketed to anyone who has an interest in the aquatic world and animals in general. Advanced husbandry topics are covered in several episodes including shark transport, coral keeping, deep water fish collection and acclimation, cephlapod husbandry and general quarantine. Advanced Aquarist: Speaking of advanced topics ... LCA is known for quality replica corals, but reefkeepers want to know: Will we see any live coral reef builds in this or (knock on wood) future seasons? Francis Yupangco: Yes, we build a 600 gallon “hybrid” live coral system with corals and fish from ORA. Viewers also get an exclusive tour of ORA from Dustin Dorton, ORA’s president. Advanced Aquarist: I know LCA is a regular reader and contributor to Advanced Aquarist, so you are likely aware that aquarists are some of the toughest critics of TV programming about our hobby. Many aquarists have expressed concerns about the welfare of livestock, educational quality, and the portrayal of our industry. What of these concerns, if any, will Fish Tank Kings take into consideration? Francis Yupangco: The National Geographic Channel has a long history of high quality educational programming. The transcripts and video from every episode were scrutinized by National Geographic’s Standards and Practices team. The team includes a PhD. who reviews all the transcripts and footage to ensure that everything stated on the show was scientific fact and that all the animals were handled with proper care. Advanced Aquarist: I would be remiss if I didn't ask: What differentiates Fish Tank Kings from Animal Planet's Tanked? Francis Yupangco: Well you will have to watch our show to find out! I will say, that our show was fortunate to have the cooperation of several well known public aquariums, aquaculture facilities and biologists who support the great work our company has been doing for nearly 25 years. Advanced Aquarist: What do you hope viewers will ultimately come away with? Francis Yupangco: I hope that viewers come away with a greater understanding and deeper appreciation for our aquatic world. Advanced Aquarist: Thank you so much for your time. We look forward to the May 12 premiere! View the full article

Click through to see the images. CoralVue has been hard at work putting together a new RODI unit for their product line. As mentioned, this unit is a 100 GPD 4-stage system that comes with an integrated controller and pressure pump. The controller not only flushes the membrane automatically to prevent blockage but also offers filter change reminders, temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS) readings of the exiting water, safety controls, and booster pump. It measures 14.75" x 9" x 17.5" tall and is attached to a rugged free-standing metal frame that can either sit on the countertop or mounted to the wall to keep it out of the way. Here's the full system feature list: Easy to use system controller Fully-Automated water management Accurate Digital TDS readings of outgoing product water Automatic membrane flush system prevents TDS creep Cyclic Membrane Flush (Full Membrane Flush upon shutdown to help prevent membrane scaling) Back-pressure electronic shut-off for reservoir use High and low pressure safety kill switches (For pump protection and full system automation) Alarm Filter change notifications Water temperature read out Adjustable up to ~1:2 Product/Waste water ratio (source water temperature dependent) Over-sized oil-filled pressure gauge High efficiency booster pump Clear filter canisters with silicone o-ring seals Rugged metal frame for convenient free-standing placement or for space saving wall mounting Technical Data: Footprint 14.75" x 9" Height 17.5" 1 - 100 GPD membrane 1 µ polypropylene sediment cartridge 5 µ carbon block cartridge 1 refillable DI cartridge with high capacity color changing resin Quiet booster pump (Located Post Pre-filtration for extended pump life) Includes canister & membrane wrench, detailed instructions, installation connection fittings, RO tubing and accessories. All standard 10” canisters, cartridges and ¼"push-connect fittings The unit will sell for somewhere between $200 and $300 and available this summer. View the full article

Jellyfish are increasing in the majority of the world's coastal ecosystems, according to the first global study of jellyfish abundance. View the full article

Jellyfish are increasing in the majority of the world's coastal ecosystems, according to the first global study of jellyfish abundance. View the full article