Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. If captive bred tropical fish in the United States and Canada are hard to find during winter months, it's because Florida is suffering its third consecutive super-cold winter. In parts of Florida, temperatures once over 80 degrees F (26.6C) can suddenly drop below 20 degrees F (-6.66C) in a matter of two weeks. Prolonged exposure to temperatures below 50 degrees F (10.0C) often means mass mortalities for tropical fish bred in the Sunshine State. The winter of 2010 was particularly harsh. Florida ornamental fish farmers lost between 80 and 100 percent of their stock when temperatures dipped below 50 degrees F for eleven consecutive days in January 2010 with an encore in December 2010. Floridian coral reefs were also devastated by the record breaking low temperatures, with a study published in PLoS Biology reporting that the coral mortality rate shot up to 11.5 percent compared with 0.5 percent in the previous five summers, making 2010 even worse than the 2005 heat-induced bleaching event. The Arctic chill is back again this January 2012, but Floridia's fish breeders and coral reefs dodged the first bullet; Last week, temperatures dropped close to freezing in some locations but quickly warmed up. Some tropical fish farmers now try to sell off most of their inventory by November in order to minimize losses. Remaining fish are removed from outdoor ponds into sheltered vats. Broodstock are also protected during the winter months to ensure breeding pairs and speedier recovery when Spring returns. For the sake of coral reefs and fish farms, let's hope Florida's cold spell is not too severe this year. View the full article

Any exotic shipment for CNY coming yet ?

Click through to see the images. Fiji is in the South Pacific east of Australia. Located just outside the Coral Triangle, Fiji's reefs teem with life; Fiji's biodiversity and density rivals any coral reef in the world. It's little wonder that these reefs are popular collection sites for the aquarium trade. I apologize for the non-HD videos this week, but I think you'll still find the footage quite amazing. What stands out to me is the sheer number of azooxanthellate (non-photosynthetic) corals sharing prime shallow water real estate with SPS corals. Fiji is often referred to as the Soft Coral Capital of the World ... a well earned distinction! 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. Our world is truly a wondrous place! Here's a bonus snorkeling video by Tui Tai Expeditions, further testifying to Fiji's amazing reef life. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Just how deep is deep? This L.robinsi was collected at over 150 meters (500+ feet)! Over the past year, Curacao has been a hotbed for extremely deep water species entering the aquarium trade for the first time (all presumably collected by Dynasty Marine). Last year, the first live specimens of the Bladefin Basslet (Jeboehlkia gladifer) and the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma aberrans) sold for close to $10,000 USD each (not a typo). The video is not very eventful aside from this being the first time anyone has recorded footage of a live Lipogramma robinsi as far as we know. But for rare fish aficionados, videos like these are gems. If you want to be the first aquarist to own this species, be prepared to pay an ungodly sum of money for this cichlid lookalike. " height="410" style="width: 680px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article

Scientists work to assist fishermen in ways to avoid accidentally hauling in butterfish, a species protected by fishing limits. The researchers develop models to predict where the fish will be. View the full article

Scientists work to assist fishermen in ways to avoid accidentally hauling in butterfish, a species protected by fishing limits. The researchers develop models to predict where the fish will be. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The content below is provided by Eric W. Roth (Mr. Microscope at Nano-reef.com) from his thread: Scanning Electron Microscopy of Pocillopora. Acknowledgements to Northwestern University NUANCE Center for the use of their Electron Microscope. View Eric Roth's other electron microscopy. Scanning Electron Microscopy of Zooplankton Hello All! It's taken me a while to gather all of this data; a minute here and there after sessions of looking at actual research samples, but I've finally managed to gather a decent collection of images. This entry's samples consist of some pods that I managed to get out of my fuge. I found an infant amphipod, a copepod, something that looks vaguely like a caterpillar, and something that may be a microscopic bivalve of sorts. Enough chatter, here's the good stuff! Amphipod First off, here is the amphipod I found. I used some static to get him to stand on his hind legs so that I could look him straight in the eye. Roooar!! Actually, I think he looks a little like Tony the Tiger. What do you think? Let's zoom in on that mouth a little. "The better to EAT you with!!!" Arms: The Claw! Copepod Finally, here is the copepod. This little pod was a lot of fun to explore. I understand how these things can stick to our glass walls now. Their spikes have spikes of their own. I even think their spike's spikes have spikes. There's something to think about. I took the time at home to colorize this one. Did you know that copepods only have one eye? You can see it in the front. Spikes! Here's a closer look at the tail: There was some bacteria caught up here: This reminds me of a hunting knife: View the full article

12mm is ok, but you need bracing around the tank to support it as seawater is heavier than freshwater.. Maybe you can share with us some photo of your existing tank ? Going for 15mm is ideal but could be very costy..

Click through to see the images. Download it now! This month's issue is 31 pages in length (PDF), is a 9.2 MB download, and only costs $0.99! It comes in three formats (PDF, Kindle, and Nook) which makes it great for taking it wherever you go. Articles include: Building a Plywood Aquarium, Sun Corals, Tomato Clownfish, and more! See the Table of Contents for more information. The PDF version is full-color and we designed it to look great printed either single-sided or duplex (back-to-back). If you would like to see a couple example issues before purchasing, we have made a number of our older PDF issues available for free. Download a couple and check them out. The Kindle and Nook versions also included in the download are fully optimized for your eReader of choice. The layout is clean and easy to read as you would expect for reading on your device. Take a look at our January 2011 issue in Kindle / Nook format before you buy to get a feel for its layout and readability. Once you have looked through a couple example issues and like what you see, head over to http://www.advancedaquarist.com/pdf and purchase this month's issue (and a couple more while you are at it). Each issue is only $0.99. Purchasing a $0.99 downloadable issue is a great way to support Advanced Aquarist and helps keep this website and it's content free for our online readers. We also have many of our back issues in PDF / Kindle / Nook format and they can also be purchased from the PDF section of our website. We encourage you to send us your feedback. If you have any thoughts, please contact us at feedback@advancedaquarist.com. We hope you enjoy the issue! View the full article

Neurons fire in a synchronized bursting pattern in response to robust signals indicating nearby food. View the full article

Neurons fire in a synchronized bursting pattern in response to robust signals indicating nearby food. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Close-up of the aquarium. International Concept Management, the creators of the massive AquaDom, has done it again. They have succeeded in creating the world's largest cone-shaped aquarium and like it's predecessor the AquaDom it has an elevator that travels down through it where riders can get up close and personal with marine life like sharks, rays, and other marine life. This aquarium is the centerpiece in the luxury Morocco Mall in Casablanca and has been named AquaDream. While not as large as it's predecessor, it still measures in at an impressive 9.3 meters tall by 13.4 meters across at its widest point (30.5 feet tall by 44 feet across) and contains 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of water. The aquarium is shaped like an inverted cone and takes guests on a five minute elevator ride to the top floor of the mall while educating them about reef life. As it stands, the aquarium houses over 3,000 animals comprised of over 40 species. An example of the marine life an elevator rider would see as they take the elevator to the next floor. Through the elevator view. One interesting fact about the aquarium was that it needed to be designed and installed to resist earthquakes. To overcome this hurdle, the aquarium was designed to be completely free-standing and its base is actually completely isolated from the foundation of the mall in which it resides. As evidence to its robust design, two tremors shook the area during installation - neither of which damaged the structure in any way. Because of the size, the actual aquarium exterior had to be manufactured in seven pieces and assembled on site. The interior elevator shaft was manufactured in one piece and lowered into place once the exterior pieces were assembled and bonded together. The life support system of the installation turns over 100% of the water per hour and includes fail-safes in case of power outages: A multitude of filters supporting this installation. To give you an idea of the sheer size of this aquarium, here are two videos. The first one was shot from the outside of the aquarium and the second one was shot from inside the elevator: If you are ever in the Morocco Mall in Casablanca, you will definitely need to check this one out! (via International Concept Management, PRWeb) View the full article

Anyone got any spare chaeto for spare / sales ? Looking to restart my refugium tank with chaeto to reduce my nutrient. preferably around CCK or in the west.

i just discovered the detail of Danano's tank detail can be found on our site here on this link ; http://www.sgreefclub.com/srctotm/srctotmdanano.htm

Warming in the North Atlantic over the last 32 years has significantly reduced winter sea ice cover in harp seal breeding grounds, resulting in sharply higher death rates among seal pups in recent years, according to a new study. View the full article

Invasive Burmese python hatchlings from the Florida Everglades can withstand exposure to salt water long enough to potentially expand their range through ocean and estuarine environments. View the full article

Nature's game of intimidation and imitation comes full circle in the waters of Indonesia, where scientists have recorded for the first time an association between the black-marble jawfish and the mimic octopus. View the full article

Nature's game of intimidation and imitation comes full circle in the waters of Indonesia, where scientists have recorded for the first time an association between the black-marble jawfish and the mimic octopus. View the full article

Researchers have made a new discovery into the complex world of spiders that reflects what some might perceive as similar behavior in human society. As male wolf spiders go searching for a mate, it appears they eavesdrop, match and even try to outdo the mating dances of their successful rivals, a behavior seen mainly in vertebrate animals. View the full article

Click through to see the images. There is a considerable amount of variation within the subfamily Amphiprioninae, the clownfishes. These fishes are customarily divided into five groups, or species complexes. These include (in descending order with respect to number of member species) the Clarkii Complex, the Skunk Complex, the Tomato complex, the Saddleback Complex, the Percula Complex, and the Maroons. Of these, the first three were each discussed in preceding parts of this series. This part will focus on one of the smaller, and certainly lesser known, of these groups, the Saddleback Complex. The Saddleback Complex has only three member species, namely the wide-band clownfish, the saddleback clownfish, and the sebae clownfish. Each of these bears white bars or stripes; these markings often appear as saddles across their backs. Clownfish of this complex are typically very dark in color, having predominantly brown or black base coloration, perhaps with highlights of yellow and orange. They are somewhat larger and more slender in shape than most other clownfish. Many aquarists seem to agree that there is something about the overall appearance and behavior of these fishes that soundly conveys their delicate nature and exotic provenance. All things considered, clownfish of this species complex are among the most problematical to maintain in captivity. From the time of purchase, specimens may suffer from trauma associated with acute shipping stress. They are particularly susceptible to ailments and crippling physical conditions (e.g., pop-eye). They are not particularly quick to adapt to life in enclosed spaces; especially at night, movement around the aquarium can send these skittish fishes crashing into the glass panels or even leaping from the tank altogether. A considerable amount of planning and resources will be required of those who hope to successfully keep, much less breed, fishes of the Saddleback Complex. While it could be said that all new acquisitions should be quarantined prior to introduction into a display, it is certainly wise to allow a period of isolation/adjustment for these fishes. During this period, the animals should be observed often, but disturbed as little as possible. An emphasis should be placed on the type of enclosure that will be used. Recommended features of aquaria containing fishes from this complex include: A size of 40 gallons or (preferably) more. Aquascaping that includes plenty of shelter, as well as wide, empty spaces through which individuals can dash if startled. A lighting system that gradually increases/decreases intensity of illumination (rather than suddenly turning completely on or off). A hood that is secure enough to prevent escape. Placement of the quarantine system, as well as the main system, in a low traffic area. At present, these species are very much underrepresented in the ornamental fish trade. This is due mainly to the locales from which they are collected. In the case of the wide-band clownfish, collectors do not frequent its extreme southerly range (some of which is protected); in the case of the saddleback clownfish and sebae clownfish, collectors tend to pass over the relatively unproductive sandy/silty flats where they mainly occur. It seems that this vacuum in the trade is being filled by "imposter" fishes; for instance, while there is a ready supply of specimens being offered as Amphiprion sebae, many of these are actually misidentified members of the Clarkii Complex. Particularly because identifications made by dealers are often less than dependable, it can be of great value to the aquarist to be aware of the distinguishing characteristics of each of these species. The Saddleback Complex in profile Wide-band clownfish (Amphiprion latezonatus Waite, 1900) The Wide-band clownfish is found on cooler rocky and coral reefs from the eastern coast of Australia to New Caledonia and the Lord Howe Island group (subtropical). It is typically associated with the sea anemone Heteractis crispa. Wild specimens of this species are rare in the trade, and captive bred specimens are perhaps even rarer. For reasons that are not yet completely clear, captive bred wide-band clownfish are frequently misbarred (a trait which is, at least in the case of this species, generally considered to be undesirable). It is distinguishable by its blue "mustache," its very dark base color, and its very broad mid-body stripe. It reaches a maximum length of 14 cm. Amphiprion latezonatus, displaying its blue upper lip. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Amphiprion latezonatus, displaying its wide mid-body stripe. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Saddleback clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus Linnaeus, 1758) The saddleback clownfish occurs in sediment-rich inlets and lagoons from Northern Australia and New Guinea to Southeast Asia (tropical). It is typically associated with the sea anemone species Heteractis crispa and Stichodactyla haddoni. The saddleback clownfish is available in two strains. The "common" strain bears a white head stripe and mid-body stripe (which is usually saddle-like) with a yellow to orange face, pectoral fins, and ventral area. Individuals from New Guinea may have much orange in the ventral area. The "black" strain is very dark-bodied but with bright yellow highlights. Both strains reach a maximum length of 13 cm. Some varieties of Amphiprion polymnus can darken substantially with age. Photo by Jens Petersen. A group of Amphiprion polymnus in East Timor. Photo by Nick Hobgood. Young Amphiprion polymnus. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. As it is with other members of the subfamily, Saddleback Complex clownfish do not form obligate associations with their sea anemone hosts; they do, however, require plenty of hiding places. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Sebae clownfish (Amphiprion sebae Bleeker, 1853) The "true" sebae clownfish is native to shallow waters of the Indian Ocean from the Arabian Peninsula to India and Sri Lanka to parts of Indonesia (tropical). It is typically associated with the sea anemone species Stichodactyla haddoni; interestingly, it is not typically associated with the so-called sebae anemones Heteractis crispaand Heteractis malu. With its saddle-like mid-body band and yellow-orange face and ventral area, it can be quite similar in appearance to Amphiprion polymnus. It is distinguished by having the most and brightest yellow-orange coloration (though specimens from Bali can be quite dark). It is the largest member of the complex, reaching a maximum length of 16 cm. Amphiprion sebae, displaying its bright yellow-orange face. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Amphiprion sebae, displaying its completely yellow-orange caudal area. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Members of the Clarkii Complex are frequently misidentified as Amphiprion sebae. Photo by Miles Wu. Conclusion Members of the Saddleback Complex are among the most challenging species of clownfish to maintain in captivity. A rather high level of care must be reached to ensure (if it can be ensured) the health and wellbeing of these sensitive animals. Generally, attempts to keep these fishes should be undertaken by advanced aquarists (especially so if host anemones are to be kept as well). Properly cared for, the wide-band clownfish, the saddleback clownfish, and the sebae clownfish alike will undoubtedly enhance the beauty and distinctiveness of any marine aquarium display. References Wilkerson, Joyce D. Clownfishes: A Guide to Their Captive Care, Breeding, & Natural History. Shelburne, VT: Microcosm Ltd., 1998. Fautin, Daphne G. and Gerald Allen. Anemonefishes and Their Host Sea Anemones. Morris Plains, NJ: Tetra Press, 1994. Skomal, Gregory B. Clownfishes in the Aquarium. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 2004. http://fishbase.org http://www.sustainableaquatics.com View the full article

should be ok. i tried using those commercial epoxy stick which i bought from madpetz and it seem to bond better ...

Click through to see the images. A Reef Creation is a local fish store and online livestock vendor specializing in high-end coral located in a suburb of Buffalo, New York. In the early hours of January 2nd, 2012, the store was broken into by two mid-20's white males, where they stole a combined $20,000+ in cash, dry goods and live corals. Two suspects smashed the glass door at the front entrance of this business and began stealing hard goods on a shelf located near the front door. The pair soon returned, breaking in the interior entrance to the store and quickly grabbed an armful of the stores own salt buckets. No sooner, they were navigating around the dark store using a cell phone to illuminate the tanks and grabbing coral by the handful, carelessly throwing them into the buckets with no care as to the health of the animals. To make matters worse, after burglarizing nearly $20,000 worth of live coral, the thieves stole a substantial amount of money out of the cash register. Below is an infrared surveillance photo showing the two perpetrators in the action. And here the local news report of the crime, including more surveillance video and details about the crime. It's always unfortunate to hear about our local brick and mortar stores being subjected to tragedies like this and we really hope that the reefkeeping community as well as the law enforcement can aid in catching the criminals responsible for this heinous crime. Fingerprints and -recognition software are also being utilized to identify these two men. If you or anyone you know has any information leading to the arrest of these burglars, please contact store@areefcreation.com or call the local police department at 716-686-6500. View the full article

Click through to see the images. A Reef Creation is a local fish store and online livestock vendor specializing in high-end coral located in a suburb of Buffalo, New York. In the early hours of January 2nd, 2011, the store was broken into by two mid-20's white males, where they stole a combined $20,000+ in cash, dry goods and live corals. Two suspects smashed the glass door at the front entrance of this business and began stealing hard goods on a shelf located near the front door. The pair soon returned, breaking in the interior entrance to the store and quickly grabbed an armful of the stores own salt buckets. No sooner, they were navigating around the dark store using a cell phone to illuminate the tanks and grabbing coral by the handful, carelessly throwing them into the buckets with no care as to the health of the animals. To make matters worse, after burglarizing nearly $20,000 worth of live coral, the thieves stole a substantial amount of money out of the cash register. Below is an infrared surveillance photo showing the two perpetrators in the action. And here the local news report of the crime, including more surveillance video and details about the crime. It's always unfortunate to hear about our local brick and mortar stores being subjected to tragedies like this and we really hope that the reefkeeping community as well as the law enforcement can aid in catching the criminals responsible for this heinous crime. Fingerprints and -recognition software are also being utilized to identify these two men. If you or anyone you know has any information leading to the arrest of these burglars, please contact store@areefcreation.com or call the local police department at 716-686-6500. View the full article

Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents. The discoveries include new species of yeti crab, starfish, barnacles, sea anemones, and potentially an octopus. View the full article

Click through to see the images. #10: Product Review: Inexpensive Analytical Devices: Hanna Instruments' Checkers: Alkalinity and Phosphate By Dana Riddle In many cases, results from colorimeters are superior to visually judging colored samples. Will an inexpensive device deliver results comparable to an expensive spectrophotometer? Dana tests the Hanna Checkers to find out. Read more... #9: Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Ecoray, Reef Fanatic, and MaxSpect By Sanjay Joshi, Ph.D. LED lighting for reef tanks is on its way to becoming a reality, and various designs and configurations are making their way into the market. Read more... #8: Aquarium Chemistry: The Nitrogen Cycle: New Developments and New Prospects By Marco Colasanti So far we have always thought of the nitrogen cycle as a series of linear reactions that conclude in a circle. But is it really a cycle? Important discoveries made in these recent years have drastically revolutionized this concept. In this article, I will try to discuss some of these research studies, with the intention and hope of being able to make this complex topic, understandable. Read more... #7: Aquarium Fish: A Look at the Gobies By James W. Fatherree, M.Sc. After all, many (but certainly not all) are quite hardy and easy to care for, and many are attractive and/or have interesting behaviors. This is especially so when it comes to some of my personal favorites, the shrimp gobies. Read more... #6: Feature Aquarium: The Aquarium of Craig Bagby By Craig Bagby Craig shares his 335 gallon reef system with us this month. His 247 gallon peninsula-style main display - with elegantly minimalistic aquascaping - and frag tank are home to an impressive assortment of vibrant corals and fishes. Read more... #5: Feature Aquarium: Mike Cao's Non-Photosynthetic Reef By Mike Cao Mike shares his gorgeous 155 gallon non-photosynthetic tank with us this month. Read more... #4: Feature Aquarium: The 246 Gallon Reef Aquarium of Sonny Harajly By Sonny Harajly When designing this aquarium, I had openness and negative space as my top priority. This aesthetically looks better, and allows for a more natural and pleasant display. All too often reefers are quick to stack massive amounts of rock and corals into an aquarium. This in turn gives the display the appearance of a fruit stand, and it is much too cluttered and busy. By allowing the corals a large area to grow, you will be rewarded with natural growth patterns and a better looking display. Read more... #3: Feature Aquarium: The 240 Gallon Reef Aquarium of Joe Peck By Joe Peck If you want to be a successful coral gardner too, my advice is find some friends who have already done it, read as much as you can stand before you start, and take your time to do it "right." Read more to find out how Joe has done it "right." Read more... #2: Feature Article: Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration By Ken S. Feldman, Allison A. Place, Sanjay Joshi, Gary White What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming and/or GAC filtration) actually remove bacteria from the water column, and if so, how much? Ken, Allison, Sanjay, and Gary's in-depth article puts these questions to the test. Read more... #1: Feature Article: Experimental Comparison of Measured Flow Output of Aquarium Propeller Pumps By Michael Sandford, William Straka, Sanjay Joshi Hobbyists have seen significant advancements in the range of aquarium circulation pumps available over the past decade. While all manufacturers provide a flow rate for the pumps, it is not clear what methods have been used to arrive at the numbers. Further, different manufacturers may use different methods. We have presented a standard method that we hope can be adopted by the manufacturers thus enabling a more accurate and verifiable approach. Read more... View the full article