Harlequinmania

A new investigation put in evidence the key role of cod as regulator of the whole Baltic Sea ecosystem. The study shows that when the cod population in the central Baltic increases, it spreads into larger areas and spills over into adjacent marginal systems where it usually does not occur, as for example the Gulf of Riga. View the full article

A new investigation put in evidence the key role of cod as regulator of the whole Baltic Sea ecosystem. The study shows that when the cod population in the central Baltic increases, it spreads into larger areas and spills over into adjacent marginal systems where it usually does not occur, as for example the Gulf of Riga. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Advances in technology and utilization of LEDs in particular continue to bring new analytical devices to market and many of these instruments are smaller and much less expensive than those of only a few years ago. Hanna Instruments has introduced two colorimeters (called 'Checkers') specifically designed to test for calcium and iron. We'll pit the inexpensive Hanna Iron Checker and reagents against a $1,150 Hach DR890 colorimeter, Hach reagents, and a Hach Certified Iron Standard. The Hanna Calcium Checker will be challenged by Hanna's own Certified Calcium Standard. How do the results compare, and are these instruments worthy of your consideration? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these two instruments? Hanna Iron Checker What is a Colorimeter? A colorimeter is a device that can measure light transmitted through (or absorbed by) a liquid. Since addition of a specific chemical reagent to a solution containing the target substance may cause the sample to become colored, a colorimeter measures the light (often that produced by a monochromatic light source as a light-emitting diode, or LED) absorbed/transmitted by the colored solution after the zero reference of a non-colored (blank) solution has been made. Hence the concentration can be calculated by the instrument's programmed logic. Importance of Calcium and Iron in the Aquarium Calcium is, of course, a critical chemical parameter in reef aquaria. It is extracted from the water column by calcifying plants and animals. Calcium concentrations vary according to different references but 400 to 420 mg/L are the generally accepted levels. On the other hand, iron is found in seawater at very low concentrations (0.002 to 0.02 mg/L depending upon reference). Iron is a critical element in many biochemical processes and is an important factor in photosynthesis. At very low concentrations, iron can be a limiting element for photosynthesis. Hanna Instruments Hanna Instruments (Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA) has been in business since 1978, and today offers over 3,000 products to its customers worldwide. Many of their products are of interest to aquarist and Hanna has in fact targeted the aquarium market. For more details, see 'Contact Information' near the close of this article. Hanna imports the Checkers and their reagents from Europe (Romania to be exact). Instrument Programming The iron and calcium Checkers have a number of pre-programmed features. In case of the iron unit, perhaps the most important is a timer (some instruments costing 15x as much lack this). Other programming includes high light, low light, inverted cuvette, under range, over range, low battery and dead battery. The Calcium Checker's minimum reading is 200 mg/L while its maximum is 600 (and this is how under- and over-range samples are reported). No timer is required for calcium testing and low battery and dead battery is signaled. Quite a lot programmed into instruments the size of a pack of playing cards. Manufacturer's Specifications: Iron High Range Iron Colorimeter (Model HI-721): Manufacturer's Specifications Range: 0 - 5 mg/L Resolution: 0.01 mg/L Readout: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD; ~1/2") Accuracy @ 25C (77F): ±0.04 mg/L; ±2% of reading LED Maximum Wavelength: 525nm Temperature: 0-50C (32-F) Humidity: 95% non-condensing Battery: 1 AAA Auto Shut-off after 3 minutes of non-use, and 10 seconds after measurement Weight: ~ 2 ounces Hanna's reagent for iron is similar to Hach's and converts all soluble iron and most insoluble forms of iron in the sample to soluble ferrous iron. The ferrous iron reacts with the 1-10 phenanthroline indicator in the reagent to form an orange color in proportion to the total iron concentration. Manufacturer's Specifications: Calcium Marine Calcium Colorimeter (Model HI-758): Manufacturer's Specifications Range: 200-600 mg/L Resolution: 1 mg/L Readout: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD; ~1/2") Accuracy: ±6% LED Maximum Wavelength: 610nm Temperature: 0-50C (32-122F) Humidity: 95% non-condensing Battery: 1 AAA Auto Shut-off after 10 minutes of non-use Weight: ~2 ounces Hanna's calcium test used a modified zincon (1-carboxy-2'-hydroxy-5'-sulformazylbenzene) procedure to test indirectly for calcium. In the test procedure, calcium displaces zinc from an EGTA (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid) complex, which is then analyzed for. A blue color develops and is proportional to the amount of zinc displaced by calcium. Zinc is then measured colorimetrically. Reagent 'A' contains mostly sodium tetraborate decahydrate, a pH buffering agent followed by small amounts of zinc and sodium hydroxide. Possible Interferences with the Zincon Calcium Analysis Method An interference is a positive or negative effect on result of the target substance by an extraneous factor during analysis. For instance, the EDTA titration method is a popular method for calcium analysis but is one subject to a positive interference by strontium as well as a few other substances. Hanna's method is not the EDTA method (it is instead the zincon method). I wondered of potential impact on the calcium result by another metal (strontium). I performed a quick analysis of deionized water spiked with a few crystals of strontium chloride and found the sample developed a blue color indicative of calcium. I cannot say for sure if strontium is a positive interference or if the strontium chloride (A.C.S. grade) used to spike the blank contained a small amount of calcium. From my limited data, I suggest this test may be subject to interferences. Testing Protocol A solution containing 3 mg/L iron (a drinking water standard from Hach Company) was initially tested, and then diluted and tested by a Hach DR890 colorimeter and a Hanna Checker. Deionized water served as the control for both instruments. Results are shown in Figure 1. A Certified Laboratory Standard (400 mg/L as Calcium, ±20 mg/L) checked instrument calibration. It consists of two 10-mL cuvettes - one contains a blank (unreacted sample) and the other a reacted sample containing a known amount of calcium. The Certified Standard I received contained 400 mg/L (±20mg/L) and results of 4 checks I performed were 399, 401, 399, and 400 - close enough for me! The Standard is marked with an expiration date (expect a shelf life of about 6 months). One standard check should be performed for about every 10 calcium analyses for quality control purposes. The Standard is relatively inexpensive at ~$15 US plus taxes and shipping if applicable. I highly recommend this option. A standard was prepared from deionized water and commercially available calcium chloride. Once a baseline figure was obtained, this sample was diluted by 10% several times. These results are in Figure 2 below. A single sample grabbed from the waters of a natural reef was analyzed several times in order to judge my laboratory technique. Results are shown in Figure 3. Results A comparison of results of iron testing by Hanna's Checker and a much more expensive Hach colorimeter are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. The results generated by the Hanna Checker and Hach's colorimeter are almost identical. Figure 2 shows the results of a standard calcium solution diluted several times to span the range of results reef hobbyists might expect to see. Figure 2. The blue markers and line shows the anticipated results of a calcium standard and multiple dilutions while the yellow line and markers are the actual test results. Analyses of Calcium and Iron in a Water Sample from a Natural Reef As a matter of curiosity, a water sample was gathered from the littoral zone at the 4-Mile Marker Reef in Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii and tested for Calcium and Iron. Salinity of the sample was 34 ppt. When we consider variations of calcium naturally found in seawater (400-420 mg/L) and the margin of error Hanna reports for their instrument (±6%) we could expect acceptable measurements of natural seawater to be in the range of 376 - 445 mg/L. Figure 3 shows the results. Iron tests all generated readings of 'zero' (or below the detection of the instrument - chart not shown). Figure 3. Calcium content of natural seawater as measured by a Hanna Marine Calcium Checker. Test #2's result was slightly above the 6% margin of error while that of Test #3 fell slightly below. Time per Test: Hach v. Hanna: The more difficult the task, the less likely it is to be performed hence ease of use and time invested are important considerations. Hanna's iron test can be performed in about 6-7 minutes (including reagent dissolution and 3-minute chemical reaction times. Hach's recommended procedure includes a 3-minute reaction period). The Calcium test requires about 3-4 minutes. Changing the Battery: Some instruments require a certain degree of talent in order to change the battery. Not so with the Checker brand - simply remove a small Philips Head screw and slip a new AAA battery in. Conclusions It appears that the lower detection limit of the HI721 High Range Iron Checker is somewhere around 0.05 mg/L Total Iron (suspended and dissolved ferrous and ferric iron). The 721 is probably most useful for hobbyists specializing in freshwater or marine planted aquaria where iron is routinely dosed due to high demand. Due to detection limitations of the Checker, it suitable for analysis of natural and artificial seawater only if a high concentration of iron is known or suspected to exist (the reagent chemistry is sound and no normal interferences are expected). For marine hobbyists measuring calcium of about 400 mg/L, expect readings of about 375 to 425 or so when practicing good laboratory technique. Hanna uses a highly diluted sample (~100x) and a small cuvette path length (~17mm) to extend the range of this test hence care should be exercised when performing the test procedure. The high dilution factor might account for the advertised accuracy of ±6%. Your dedication to properly performing this test is perhaps the most important factor. Be aware some components of natural and artificial seawater might introduce positive interferences. Likes Instrument Price Iron Reagents are suitable for use in fresh, brackish, and seawater (be aware of instrument minimum detection limits. Calcium reagents are suitable for concentrations of 200-400 mg/L, likely limiting it to brackish and saltwater analyses) Good Accuracy for the price, especially for iron Reagent Price: ~36¢ per iron test; ~80¢ per calcium test Calcium reagents are marked with an expiration date Built-in timer (iron only) Instrument Error Messages Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) available on-line Hanna offers optional calcium and iron standards for quality assurance Dislikes Reagent foil packages are large and not easily bent to allow pouring of reagent into the test tube Cuvettes are tall and easily tipped over Calcium test requires use of deionized water that is not supplied Bottom line Both instruments are recommended if the minimum and maximum detection limits meet your requirements and good laboratory practices are maintained. Good job Hanna! Suggested Retail Price The going price for the HI-721 High Range Iron colorimeter and the Calcium tester (HI-758) seems to be $50.00 - $55.00 US each. Additional iron reagents were found online $8.99 for 25 tests. Calcium reagents were priced at $19.50 for 25 tests. The Hanna Calcium Standard (highly recommended) is about $15 US. Shipping and taxes might be additional. Optional Accessories The Iron and Calcium Checkers come standard with two 10-milliliter cuvettes (test tubes) and caps. Should the need for additional cuvettes arise, order Hanna part number HI731231 (4 cuvettes); the part number for 4 additional caps is HI-731225. These part numbers are identical for all Checkers, regardless of test. Hanna offers a Calcium Standard (HI758-11) for about $15 US; a similar standard for Iron is offered by Hanna (HI721-11; 1 mg/L) is also available for ~$10 US. Cuvette Cleaning Solution (HI93703-50; 230 mL) will clean dirty vials but really isn't needed if good lab practices are maintained. Other options include Cleaning Tissues (I use Kim Wipesâ„¢ or camera lens paper). Batteries (AAA) in my opinion should be purchased locally. Other Instruments from Hanna Many of Hanna's other instruments may be of interest to aquarist, including: HI-727 Color of Water (0-500 Platinum-Cobalt Units; absorbance @470nm) HI-736 Phosphate Ultra-low Range (0-200ppb; Ascorbic Acid Method) HI-718 Iodine (0-12.5 mg/l; DPD Method). Note that chlorine and bromine are positive interferences to the DPD method of analysis. HI-706 Phosphate High Range (0-15mg/l; Ascorbic Acid Method) HI-717 Phosphate High Range (0-30mg/l; Ascorbic Acid Method) HI-764 Nitrite Ultra-low Range (0-200 ppb) A Magnesium Checker is under development Although Hanna markets the HI721 as able to analyze 'High Range' iron, there is no 'Low Range' instrument offered Contact Information Hanna Instruments has targeted the aquarium market and has devoted a webpage to hobbyists. See: aquariums@hannainst.com Specific questions concerning Hanna instruments and aquaculture can be addressed to Jessica Hoagland, Email: jhoagland@hannainst.com Or write to: Hanna Instruments, Inc. 584 Park East Drive Woonsocket, RI 02895 Testing Procedures and Suggestions Since Hanna's Marine Calcium Checker involves a series of steps and a large dilution factor, perhaps we should review things a hobbyist can do to ensure acceptable results. The iron test is easier to perform but basic requirements still apply. First of all, find a comfortable, uncluttered, and well-lighted area for your miniature laboratory. Recall that the normal amount of calcium found in freshly mixed seawater (~400 mg/L) depends on a specific gravity of about 1.025 or salinity of about 35 parts per thousand (ppt). Good laboratory practices should be followed to ensure consistent repeatable results. The manufacturer's directions are a good starting point - follow them! Treat the glass cuvettes with respect. Keep them clean, avoid using them if they become nicked, scratched or otherwise damaged. Don't allow the testing sample to sit for very long after the test is completed - this might result in inaccurate measurements and can stain the cuvette's glass. Don't add the powder reagent to the cuvette when it is in the Checker device. This invites fouling of the cuvette chamber, subsequent cleaning and the possibility of instrument damage. Hanna's liquid reagents have a screw top with a snap ring to prevent spillage during shipping and for security reasons. Once the cap is removed, discard that annular ring remaining around the top. It is an accident waiting to happen - you'll eventually grasp that loose ring and spill the bottle's contents (I speak from experience!). The Meniscus Meniscus (from the Greek word menikos or "crescent") is a crescent shape formed at the surface of a liquid and its container. A concave meniscus is formed when the liquid adheres to the container. Figure 4 shows how to correctly read the surface of a concave meniscus. Figure 4. For best accuracy, properly filling the reactor chamber (test tube or cuvette) is a must. The bottom of the curved water surface (meniscus) should be even with the top of the filling line. Observe this by holding the cuvette at eye level. An Inexpensive Cuvette Holder While on the subject of the cuvette - I highly recommend use of some sort of cuvette/test tube rack to minimize the chance of spillage during the testing procedure. You likely have one already if you have access to a basic laboratory. If not, and you've got a few bucks to spend, check with a local lab supplier or online vendor. A perfectly serviceable cuvette holder can be made by drilling an 18mm (11/16") hole in a short piece of dimensional lumber (such as a 2" x 4"). Cheap but effective. Tips on Sampling and Testing Test results will be only as good as the care taken during the sampling and testing procedures. Samples should be analyzed immediately (usually 'immediately' means with 15 minutes but this time can be stretched to perhaps an hour). If this is not possible the samples must be preserved. Sample Preservation Methods for Calcium and Iron Proper sample preservation requires use of reagents normally found only in a laboratory setting. For the vast majority of hobbyists, these procedures should be avoided by analyzing the sample immediately. Use of acidic and caustic reagents should not be attempted unless you have access to proper personal protection devices and are trained to use them while handling laboratory chemicals. This procedure is required if the sample cannot be analyzed within an hour or so. For calcium, collect the sample in a pre-cleaned plastic or glass bottle (using a detergent followed by rinsing with 1:1 nitric acid and deionized water). Adjust pH to <2 with nitric acid and refrigerate for up to six months at 4C (39F). Before analysis, warm the sample to room temperature and adjust the pH to ~7 with potassium hydroxide. Iron samples should be collected in clean plastic or glass bottles. Adjust sample pH to <2 with nitric acid and store at room temperature. Before analysis, adjust pH to 3-5 with sodium hydroxide. Waste Disposal None of the reagents used in the iron or calcium tests are particularly hazardous, but avoid contact or inhalation with any reagents. Wear all applicable personal safety devices. Reacted samples can be flushed down the drain. Note that the zincon calcium reagent has a tendency to stain. Thoughts of Product Quality Control in the Reef Aquarium Industry Like many, I was disturbed when I recently learned of heavy metals contamination of activated carbon marketed by a well-known international supplier of aquarium goods. For two months this company shipped potentially contaminated carbon. To their credit they recalled their product but real damage had been done to this company's reputation, not to mention the possible harm to more than a few aquarium inhabitants. By chance, just a few days prior to this announcement, I attempted to mix a standard solution of calcium chloride (commercially available from this same marketer with a stated minimum guaranteed analysis of 33% calcium and a maximum of 37%). I calculated the amount required to mix a standard of just under 600 mg/L calcium. I have access to a relatively well-stocked wet lab and practiced conscientious laboratory techniques. Analyses were then performed by the Hanna Calcium Checker and checked against a Hanna laboratory-certified calcium standard. Test results were consistently below the expected concentration suggesting that 'guaranteed analyses' of the calcium chloride were incorrect. This revelation, followed by the incident described above, made me recall a few other events where marketers' hyperbole did not match results generated in my laboratory. In fact, I began purchasing laboratory equipment in the early 1990's due to 'too-good-to-be-true' claims made by a self-promoting and self-proclaimed aquarium 'guru'. Two phrases come to mind: 'Caveat emptor' and 'Trust but verify'. In Closing All items tested were obtained through normal retail channels. Questions? Comments? Leave them in the comments section below. Private correspondence should be address to RiddleLabs@aol.com. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Picture this: It's late Saturday night and you hear a noise coming from your fish room. Upon investigation, you find your return pump is buzzing loudly and not pumping water. "Huh? What's going on here?!" You disassemble the pump and discover that an impeller blade has sheared off, and you don't have a replacement on hand. "Uh-oh!" Like any normal person you swear up and down lamenting that you can't get a replacement part until Monday, that is if your local fish store even has the part. If not, you will have to order online for next day arrival on Tuesday. This is going to be a long weekend. A replacement impeller. However, you are no ordinary hobbyist because you have a 3D printer at your disposal. You fire up your favorite modeling program and quickly model a replacement impeller then hit the [Print] button. The printer begins spitting out molten plastic. 15 minutes later you are fitting your replacement impeller in place and have saved yourself a lot of heartache and worry -- and possibly the lives of many critters in your tank. The concept sounds far fetched, doesn't it? 3D printers must be expensive! Not so. Within the last two years, 3D printer prices have come down significantly and if one is resourceful, a decent one can be self-sourced from online plans on reprap.org and eBay for as little as $500. How do I know? I did it. In my case, I opted for a kit and purchased my 3D printer on Father's Day, 2010. I bought a Makerbot Cupcake 3D printer and I got it for a steal - $450. That's the price of a good protein skimmer, and the 3D printer will do so much more than skim my tank! A simple 3D printable frag plug. With it, I can design and print all sorts of things: frag plugs and racks, eductors, algae scrapers, food clips, connectors, Locline, pump parts, replacements for broken equipment, and even a new 3D printer. Or you can prototype modifications to existing equipment such as custom pinwheel impellers for your skimmer. Think back to 2006-2007 when people were modding MaxiJet powerheads with propellers by hacking together cowls to make small in-tank propeller pumps. With a 3D printer a person could have modeled different blade configurations, different cowl designs, and different connectors to come up with something really cool and polished. Heck, you still can! Jimmy Chen could have done a lot with one of these when he was designing the first ReefTec propeller pumps back in 2002. If I know that I will be doing a bit of fragging, I can fire up my printer and print off a dozen or so frag plugs. If I need to setup an emergency quarantine tank I can print out a sponge filter. Or if my banggai cardinal pair spits out fry and I need to setup a larval tank I can print out a brine shrimp hatchery and a sponge filter for the rearing tank. The only limit is my imagination and knowledge of 3D modeling. A brine shrimp hatchery that I designed, from 3D model concept to completed print fitted with a 2 liter bottle. So far for my reef tank, I have designed two different kinds of frag plugs, a brine shrimp hatchery (above), a sponge filter for larval breeding tanks, a seahorse hitching post, and an eductor, with more ideas in the works. There are plenty of models available on Thingiverse, a free online repository for 3D models. At the time of this writing, there are over 21,500 models on Thingiverse that can be printed. In the upcoming weeks, I thought that I would showcase some of the things I have designed and printed with my Makerbot in hopes of getting more people interested in 3D printing within our hobby. There is a huge potential for its usage in everything we do. It just takes a bit of skill at assembly and possibly learning 3D modeling with free software like Google SketchUp, which I've discussed before in two past articles. I would like to ask readers to comment your ideas for things you would like to see 3D-printed for our hobby. If you have an idea, sound off in the comment section at the end of this article. Oh, and just for the "wow factor" as I close out this post, take a look at something else that I printed on my Makerbot: a RC controllable Mario Bothers Turtle Shell Racer. A single racer took me 30 hours of printing but it was so worth it! The photo below is courtesy of Skimbal, the designer of this RC car. Mine looks like the black one on the right minus the wings. A 3D printable Mario Brothers RC controllable Turtle Shell Racer. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Picture this: It's late Saturday night and you hear a noise coming from your fish room. Upon investigation, you find your return pump is buzzing loudly and not pumping water. "Huh? What's going on here?!" You disassemble the pump and discover that an impeller blade has sheared off, and you don't have a replacement on hand. "Uh-oh!" Like any normal person you swear up and down lamenting that you can't get a replacement part until Monday, that is if your local fish store even has the part. If not, you will have to order online for next day arrival on Tuesday. This is going to be a long weekend. A replacement impeller. However, you are no ordinary hobbyist because you have a 3D printer at your disposal. You fire up your favorite modeling program and quickly model a replacement impeller then hit the [Print] button. The printer begins spitting out molten plastic. 15 minutes later you are fitting your replacement impeller in place and have saved yourself a lot of heartache and worry -- and possibly the lives of many critters in your tank. The concept sounds far fetched, doesn't it? 3D printers must be expensive! Not so. Within the last two years, 3D printer prices have come down significantly and if one is resourceful, a decent one can be self-sourced from online plans on reprap.org and eBay for as little as $500. How do I know? I did it. In my case, I opted for a kit and purchased my 3D printer on Father's Day, 2010. I bought a Makerbot Cupcake 3D printer and I got it for a steal - $450. That's the price of a good protein skimmer, and the 3D printer will do so much more than skim my tank! A simple 3D printable frag plug. With it, I can design and print all sorts of things: frag plugs and racks, eductors, algae scrapers, food clips, connectors, Locline, pump parts, replacements for broken equipment, and even a new 3D printer. Or you can prototype modifications to existing equipment such as custom pinwheel impellers for your skimmer. Think back to 2006-2007 when people were modding MaxiJet powerheads with propellers by hacking together cowls to make small in-tank propeller pumps. With a 3D printer a person could have modeled different blade configurations, different cowl designs, and different connectors to come up with something really cool and polished. Heck, you still can! Jimmy Chen could have done a lot with one of these when he was designing the first ReefTec propeller pumps back in 2002. If I know that I will be doing a bit of fragging, I can fire up my printer and print off a dozen or so frag plugs. If I need to setup an emergency quarantine tank I can print out a sponge filter. Or if my banggai cardinal pair spits out fry and I need to setup a larval tank I can print out a brine shrimp hatchery and a sponge filter for the rearing tank. The only limit is my imagination and knowledge of 3D modeling. A brine shrimp hatchery that I designed, from 3D model concept to completed print fitted with a 2 liter bottle. So far for my reef tank, I have designed two different kinds of frag plugs, a brine shrimp hatchery (above), a sponge filter for larval breeding tanks, a seahorse hitching post, and an eductor, with more ideas in the works. There are plenty of models available on Thingiverse, a free online repository for 3D models. At the time of this writing, there are over 21,500 models on Thingiverse that can be printed. In the upcoming weeks, I thought that I would showcase some of the things I have designed and printed with my Makerbot in hopes of getting more people interested in 3D printing within our hobby. There is a huge potential for its usage in everything we do. It just takes a bit of skill at assembly and possibly learning 3D modeling with free software like Google SketchUp, which I've discussed before in two past articles. I would like to ask readers to comment your ideas for things you would like to see 3D-printed for our hobby. If you have an idea, sound off in the comment section at the end of this article. Oh, and just for the "wow factor" as I close out this post, take a look at something else that I printed on my Makerbot: a RC controllable Mario Bothers Turtle Shell Racer. A single racer took me 30 hours of printing but it was so worth it! The photo below is courtesy of Skimbal, the designer of this RC car. Mine looks like the black one on the right minus the wings. A 3D printable Mario Brothers RC controllable Turtle Shell Racer. View the full article

Understanding the damage that pollution causes to both wildlife and human health is set to become much easier thanks to a new green-glowing zebrafish. The fish makes it easier than ever before to see where in the body environmental chemicals act and how they affect health. The fluorescent fish has shown that estrogenic chemicals, which are already linked to reproductive problems, impact on more parts of the body than previously thought. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Advanced Aquarist first broke the news about the Fish Tank Kings last week. Now we've got the first video clips! But we didn't stop there; Check back tomorrow for our interview with Living Color Aquarium's Francis Yupangco. Enough chit chat and on to why you actually clicked the link ... the video clips! View the full article

This Friday, April 20, will mark two years since the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused vast quantities of crude oil to flow into the Gulf of Mexico. But despite the size of the spill, "the natural recovery is far greater than what anybody hoped when it happened," said a professor of biology. "The fears of most people -- that there would be a catastrophic collapse of the ecosystem in the Gulf -- never materialized." View the full article

This Friday, April 20, will mark two years since the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused vast quantities of crude oil to flow into the Gulf of Mexico. But despite the size of the spill, "the natural recovery is far greater than what anybody hoped when it happened," said a professor of biology. "The fears of most people -- that there would be a catastrophic collapse of the ecosystem in the Gulf -- never materialized." View the full article

For decades, scientists have known that dolphins and other toothed whales have specialized fats associated with their jaws, which efficiently convey sound waves from the ocean to their ears. But until now, the hearing systems of their toothless grazing cousins, baleen whales, remained a mystery, largely because specimens to study are hard to get. Now, a new study has shown that some baleen whales also have fats leading to their ears. View the full article

Click through to see the images. We've seen how Fungiid corals can inflate and deflate themselves in order to combat sedimentation. However, other corals aren't as lucky as these Fungiids and they need help from outside sources. In their paper "Housekeeping Mutualisms: Do More Symbionts Facilitate Host Performance?" researchers Adrian Stier, Michael Gil, C. Seabird McKeon investigated this question using the coral Pocillopora cf. verrucosa and the commensal organisms normally found on them: the crab Trapezia serenei and the snapping shrimp Alpheus lottini. These two symbionts were chosen as they are highly associated with Pocillopora spp. corals and are known to aid in the health and survival of this particular coral. Stier, Gil, and McKeon performed their study on the island Moorea in French Polynesia on its western shore. There they removed heads of similarly sized Pocillopora sp. coral from the reef and transferred it to their testing facility nearby. Prior to testing, all of the commensal shrimps, crabs, and fish were removed from the corals and saved for later sediment removal potential. What the researchers found was that by themselves, Pocillopora sp. corals can remove at most a 10% sedimentation level. However, with two and four commensal organisms present, the sediment removal increased from 30% to 48% respectively. The mode by which the sedimentation was removed remained unclear to the researchers: Three possibilities exist: 1) active removal where symbionts pick off grains of sediment, 2) passive removal, where sediment is removed during movement of symbionts, or 3) symbionts facilitate the coral’s own sediment removal ability (e.g. by stimulating mucus sloughing, cilia movement, or polyp extension). This may be the focus of future work to better understand how the sediment was being removed. That being said, they positively correlated increased sediment removal with total number of symbionts within the coral. As the coral continues to grow, it should continue to support more and more crab and shrimp symbionts in order to help with sediment removal. Incidentally I also covered how these same shrimps and crabs fend off attacks by seastars so they are performing double-duty for the corals as well. View the full article

Click through to see the images. As you can probably guess with the inclusion of the electronic CO2 generator, Aquavista Panoramic Aquariums are designed for freshwater planted aquariums. Aquavista does not recommend their aquariums for saltwater. And the touch screen control? The touch screen computer panel displays the date and time and even displays room and water temperature. The LCD panel is embedded on the side of each aquarium and allows you to easily program different settings for the automatic feeder, filtration, air pump, illumination, and CO2 generator. For instance, you can program what time you want to feed the fish, what time the lights in the aquarium should be on, and how frequently the CO2 generator should be on. The panel also can be locked to prevent tampering. Aquavista 500 The Panoramic line is available in two lengths: a 58" 20 gallon model ($995 USD) and a 70" 25 gallon model ($1195 USD). Either model is only 6 inches thick in keeping with its wall-mount design so aquascaping will present a significant challenge. The aquariums are available in your choice of silver or black brushed aluminum bezels. For aquarists with limited wall space, Aquavista also manufacturers a smaller 6.6 gallon, 26" x 4.3" x 26" wall-mounted aquarium called the Aquavista 500 (seen on right). The Aquavista 500 is designed to mimic a framed picture so it's no surprise there are many more frame choices available for this model. Aquavista is based in Menlo Park, California. They introduced their wall-mount aquariums in 2010 although not much coverage was given in aquarist media outlets. They may not be ideal aquariums for serious aquatic enthusiasts, but I can imagine creative freshwater/planted displays using these wall-mount aquariums — or as Aquavista calls it, "living art." View the full article

Click through to see the images. "Coral reefs are sometimes regarded as canaries in the global climate coal mine - but it is now very clear than not all reef species will be affected equally," explains lead author Professor Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. The emerging picture, he says, is one of 'winners and losers', with some corals succeeding at the expense of others. Rather than experiencing wholesale destruction, many coral reefs will survive climate change by changing the mix of coral species as the ocean warms and becomes more acidic. This in turn has implications for humans, who rely on the rich and beautiful coral reefs of today for food, tourism and other livelihoods. "A critical issue for the future status of reefs will be their ability to provide ecosystem services like reef tourism and fishing in the face of the changes in species composition. For example, if susceptible table and branching species are replaced by mound-shaped corals, it would leave fewer nooks and crannies where fish shelter and feed" their report in the journal Current Biology cautions. The research team carried out detailed studies of the coral composition of reefs along the entire length of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. They identified and measured a total of 35,428 coral colonies on 33 reefs from north to south. Studying corals on both the crests and slopes of the reef, they found that as one species decreases in abundance, another tends to increase, and that species wax and wane largely independently of each other. "Previous studies around the world have focused on total coral cover as the main indicator of reef health, but we wanted to explore what happens within the coral assemblage itself. The way these individual species are mixed together is extraordinary flexible," Prof. Hughes explains. "We chose the iconic Great Barrier Reef because water temperature varies by 8-9 degrees along its full length from summer to winter, and because there are wide local variations in pH. In other words, its natural gradients encompass the sorts of conditions that will apply several decades from now under business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions." This study has given us a more detailed understanding of the sorts of changes that could take place as the world's oceans gradually warm and acidify. "And it has increased our optimism about the ability of coral reef systems to respond to the sorts of changes they are likely to experience under foreseeable climate change." The good news from the research, says Professor Hughes, is that complete reef wipeouts appear unlikely due to temperature and pH alone. "However, in many parts of the world, coral reefs are also threatened by much more local impacts, especially by pollution and over-fishing. We need to address all of the threats, including climate change, to give coral reefs a fighting chance for the future." Their paper Assembly rules of reef corals are flexible along a steep climatic gradient by Terry P. Hughes, Andrew H. Baird, Elizabeth A. Dinsdale, Natalie A. Moltschaniwskyj, Morgan S. Pratchett, Jason E. Tanner and Bette L. Willis appears in the journal Current Biology. This study has given us a more detailed understanding of the sorts of changes that could take place as the world’s oceans gradually warm and acidify. Rather than experiencing wholesale destruction, many coral reefs will survive climate change by changing the mix of coral species as the ocean warms and becomes more acidic. More information: Prof. Terry Hughes, Director, CoECRS, +61 (07) 4781 4222 or +61 (0)400 720 164 Jenny Lappin, CoECRS, +61 (0)7 4781 4222 Jim O’Brien, James Cook University Media Office, +61 (0)7 4781 4822 or 0418 892449 View the full article

Scientists have shown that ammonites -- an extinct type of shelled mollusk that's closely related to modern-day nautiluses and squids -- made homes in the unique environments surrounding methane seeps in the seaway that once covered America's Great Plains. The findings provide new insights into the mode of life and habitat of these ancient animals. View the full article

Scientists have shown that ammonites -- an extinct type of shelled mollusk that's closely related to modern-day nautiluses and squids -- made homes in the unique environments surrounding methane seeps in the seaway that once covered America's Great Plains. The findings provide new insights into the mode of life and habitat of these ancient animals. View the full article

Click through to see the images. We're pleased to announce the release of a coral from ORA (Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums), the Pink Stylophora. As an SPS coral lover myself, I can honestly say that coming by a healthy and colorful pink "Stylo" frag isn't always easy to find. Based on my own experiences, a majority of these Stylophora colonies imported from the wild typically bleach (or worse) and don't fare well in captivity... especially in anything but the most well-conditioned aquariums. While perusing the booths at MACNA in Des Moines, I couldn't help but notice the bright pink Stylo frag well hidden in a bed of Acropora in the ORA cylinder tank. Unfortunately for me, this coral wasn't for sale but I knew a day would come where I'd be able to get my hands on one. After an eight year hiatus of offering this coral, Dustin Dorton and his team have let loose and are now offering the Pink Stylophora to the masses. Unlike it's Green and Purple predecessors, this Stylo has a very tight growth pattern with small, abundant polyps. In order to maintain the the bright coloration, ORA recommends medium to high light (with proper acclimation, of course). It's very refreshing to see corals like this one aquacultured in captivity where they can be enjoyed by SPS lovers everywhere without damaging the natural reef. Keep an eye out for the Pink Stylophora coming soon to your favorite local fish store (and online coral retailer) and be sure to share your thoughts on the release of this beautiful new coral from ORA below. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Please join the folks of the North Central Pennsylvania Aquarium Reef Society for their annual spring Frag Swap at the Williamsport High School. This event will feature a vast majority of coral sellers, special guest speakers Gary Parr and Bob Fenner, a lunch buffet and a raffle big enough for everyone to walk away with a prize. The school is also home to a few really awesome reef tanks that are maintained by the students. Admission Prices: NCPARS Members: Free Admission & Tank Table/Setup (if requested) Single Admission: $15 Family Admission: $25 Table/Tank Setup: $10 (additional) Schedule: 10:00AM: Doors Open 12:00PM: Free Buffet Lunch 1:30PM - 2:30PM: Speakers 3:00PM: Members Meeting 4:00PM: TBA 4:30PM: Raffle 5:45PM: Breakdown/Cleanup Be sure to register for this event by visiting the NCPARS site and also visit Fragswapper to RSVP on some awesome equipment and coral pre-sales. Our very own staff blogger Jon Carvallo (along with many others) will be attending- hope to see you there! View the full article

Click through to see the images. Rock collector Bill Wolosek dug up the fossilized GBR coral rock in his backyard. Ray Reser, director at the Museum of Natural History (University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point) says the coral broke away from the Great Barrier Reef. Over the millenia, glacial movements of many ice ages eventually carried the fossil to central United States; That's nearly 10,000 miles (15,000km) away! [via WKOW] View the full article

Click through to see the images. Rock collector Bill Wolosek dug up the fossilized GBR coral rock in his backyard. Ray Reser, director at the Museum of Natural History (University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point) says the coral broke away from the Great Barrier Reef over 200 million years ago. Over the eons, glacial movements of many ice ages eventually carried the fossil to central United States; That's nearly 10,000 miles (15,000km) away! [via WKOW] View the full article

Is this available locally ? Didnt see it before on local LFS .

Click through to see the images. The first half of NOAA's video showcases the Flower Garden Banks, a U.S. National Marine Sanctuary in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico south of Sabine Pass, Texas. These protected waters harbor many species of reef fish, stoney corals, and gorgonians and sea whips. The video includes nighttime footage of closed brain coral spawning (2:30). The second half of the video (6:00) takes us to Hawaii. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (try saying that 3 times) is a remote World Heritage region in Northwest Hawaii to Midway Atoll. It is the largest marine reserve in the United States encompassing 140,000 square miles (360,000 km2) and home to over 7,000 species, over 1,700 of which are endemic only to these waters. Some of the rarest and most expensive marine angelfish are found here: Masked Angelfish (Genicanthus personatus), Japanese Pygmy Angelfish (Centropyge interruptus), and Bandit Angelfish (Apolemichthys arcuatus). In fact, a beautiful and inquisitive male Masked Angelfish makes a cameo at 6:58. 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

Generally speaking, mystery wrasse can be kept with clownfish, but if the tank is small and it may trouble these new comer in the tank. You can either condition your fish better and letting them grow up for another few week before releasing ,or you can release it into the main tank and observe for aggression.

Click through to see the images. Truth is stranger than fiction Nebraska LFS owners can sleep a little more soundly tonight. Justin Meyer (23) was arrested in connection with a March 25 Lincoln LFS burglary where approximately $1,400 of saltwater fish decorations and equipment were stolen. A nearby bank surveillance camera recorded Meyers leaving the scene of the crime. Turns out, this is the same man allegedly responsible for a bizarre December Lincoln LFS burglary Advanced Aquarist reported on. In his previous bulgary, Meyers allegedly stole the following odd list of items: A single aquarium of unspecified size, one filter, 10 lbs of decorative rocks, sand, and some fish food, along with 56 marine and freshwater fish. [via KETV] View the full article

Click through to see the images. Truth is stranger than fiction Nebraska LFS owners can sleep a little more soundly tonight. Justin Meyer (23) was arrested in connection with a March 25 Lincoln LFS burglary where approximately $1,400 of saltwater fish decorations and equipment were stolen. A nearby bank surveillance camera recorded Meyers leaving the scene of the crime. Turns out, this is the same man allegedly responsible for a bizarre December Lincoln LFS burglary Advanced Aquarist reported on. In his previous bulgary, Meyers allegedly stole the following odd list of items: A single aquarium of unspecified size, one filter, 10 lbs of decorative rocks, sand, and some fish food, along with 56 marine and freshwater fish. [via KETV] View the full article

A new study using satellite mapping technology reveals there are twice as many emperor penguins in Antarctica than previously thought. The results provide an important benchmark for monitoring the impact of environmental change on the population of this iconic bird, which breeds in remote areas that are very difficult to study because they often are inaccessible with temperatures as low as -58 degrees Fahrenheit. View the full article