Harlequinmania

The weekly test kit which i am using which I only test for ca, KH, mg , N03 and phosphate. Another observation after using Nulagi for a few week, without adding any additional coral the weekly uptake of ca,mg and KH actually increase but i see better PE on my SPS which i feel is due to the coral growing faster with the improved water quality.

Just to share that we can actually enhance the nutrition value of normal pallet food using vit C or maybe even mixing with fish medicine to become food for disease treatment. Simply mix the crystalline Vit c powder to dry pallet food and give it a " Good shake " !! Mixing into the pallet food After giving it a good shake , you can actually see that the Vit C powder has been absorb into the pallets.

Tank maturing slowly and can see from the numbers of white sponge growing on the refugium tank glass wall.

Trying out the mighty magnet it come with this "Alage glazing" sock .

Since this is my first acrylic tank, I always heard alot of stories how difficult it is to maintain a acrylic tank without scratching it and now i understand . Some of the stubborn algae need to be manually rub off using a acrylic plate itself without scratching the panel , and the algae free magent cant seem to does the job well. Upon doing some research for a good magnet cleaner which hopefully make my tank maintenance easier, i came across the Mighty magnet from USA. Parcel arrived last week, and cant wait to try it out !

i think it is 110 V version and not suitable for local usage ?

Click through to see the images. EcoTech Marine launches new LED light for smaller tanks, the Radion XR15w [6/30/2014, Allentown, PA]—EcoTech Marine is proud to announce its newest member of the Radion LED lighting line, the Radion XR15wPRO. Available soon at your local fish store or favorite online retailer, this Radion XR15wPRO is ideal for smaller or shallow reef tanks (80 gallons or less) and for hobbyists who want to invest in the health and beauty of their tank. This light has the same dependable, high-quality technology found on the larger Radion XR30w model, for a lower price. With a price of $449 the XR15wPRO offers: 19 energy-efficient LEDs 7 colors (including UV) and 6 channels Full spectrum 24x24 inch light spread Built-in integration with EcoSmart Live The Radion XR15wPRO has the same modularity as all Radion lights, enabling easy upgrades and backwards compatibility. It also seamlessly integrates with ReefLink and EcoSmart Live, EcoTech’s wireless, web-based controller platform. “EcoTech Marine is thrilled to announce this newest member of the Radion LED line,” said Tim Marks, President. “We aim to create the best technology and equipment for aquarium hobbyists and enthusiasts. By introducing the Radion XR15wPRO, we can provide EcoTech Marine’s cutting-edge technology to a wider range of reef tanks and hobbyists.” About EcoTech Marine Founded in 2003 and based in Pennsylvania, EcoTech Marine has revolutionized the way people think about aquarium technology and has raised the industry standard for aquarium equipment. Its technologically superior products, which include its VorTech pumps; Radion lighting products; Elements coral glue; and accessories, offer unmatched performance, and its commitment to elegant design minimizes the equipment’s visual intrusion into customer’s aquarium. The customer-centric company manufactures and assembles products – each of which has been tested and endorsed by marine biologists – that are easily programmable and customizable. For more information about EcoTech Marine, visit: www.ecotechmarine.com, like the company on Facebook or follow on Twitter. ### Brilliant Color Perfect Size! Everything you expect from a Radion, but with an output and form factor crafted specifically for small to medium sized tanks. EcoTech Marine's new Radion, the XR15wPRO is here! The XR15wPRO features the same great spectrum, same features and same warranty as its big brother the XR30wPRO. But with one major difference: it's smaller. The one cluster design means the XR15wPRO has the right size shape, wattage, and PAR for small to medium sized tanks where the full output of an XR30w is not necessary. Right: Sleek and powerful: All the great features that make the Radion family the best aquarium lights available are now specifically suited for a small to medium tank size. Left: Beautiful light quality: The XR15wPRO incorporates the same high output LEDs from Cree, SemiLED, and OSRAM as its big brother the XR30wPRO. Ask about it at you Local Fish Store today! The XR15wPRO will start shipping to retailers shortly. Let your LFS (Local Fish Store) know that you want one to ensure that you receive one before initial supply runs out! XR15wPRO FAQs Q: Is an XR15wPRO right for me? A: The majority of standard commercially available 20-60 gallon tanks (2-4 ft long, 12-24 inch deep) will benefit from 1-2x XR15wPROs vs. the equivalent number of XR30s. So if you are looking for a new light for a tank in that size range - the XR15wPRO is top-of-the-line. Q: What is the coverage of an XR15wPRO? A: Roughly 2ft by 2ft. Q: Why is the spread almost as much as an XR30 model light? A: Spread is more of a factor of optics than wattage or clusters. The XR15wPRO comes with Wide Angle TIR Optics installed standard so the spread from one cluster is not much less than the spread from two clusters. What is different however, is the PAR at the same % output - The Xr15wPRO produces less PAR than the higher wattage multi-cluster XR30 models. The XR15 is ideal for commercially available shallow tanks where PAR at depth is not necessary. Q: Will the Xr15wPRO work with EcoSmart Live and all of my other wirelessly enabled EcoTech equipment? A: Yes - The XR15wPRO is wireless enabled and is as easy to setup as the XR30. If you are new to EcoSmart Live please visit our website to see all of the amazing things that you can do with our EcoSmart Live cloud based control platform. Q: Warranty? A: Fixture 1 year,LEDs 2 Years. Q: I have seen pictures of a mounting bracket for the XR30 - will there be a mounting bracket for the XR15wPRO? A: Yes, In late August/early September 2014 EcoTech will begin shipping the RMS mounting system for both the XR15wPRO and XR30 model lights. Comprehensive information for that product will be provided shortly. If you are interested please watch your email for more information. Q: I have heard rumors that there will be a freshwater version of the XR15 called the XR15 Freshwater - is that true? A: The rumors are true - about a month after the XR15wPRO the XR15FW will be launched. The output, price and configuration will be different. If you are interested please check your email and on EcoTech's website for more information. Q: What is the MRP of the XR15wPRO? A: $449USD View the full article

Click through to see the images. EcoTech Marine launches new LED light for smaller tanks, the Radion XR15w [6/30/2014, Allentown, PA]—EcoTech Marine is proud to announce its newest member of the Radion LED lighting line, the Radion XR15wPRO. Available soon at your local fish store or favorite online retailer, this Radion XR15wPRO is ideal for smaller or shallow reef tanks (80 gallons or less) and for hobbyists who want to invest in the health and beauty of their tank. This light has the same dependable, high-quality technology found on the larger Radion XR30w model, for a lower price. With a price of $449 the XR15wPRO offers: 19 energy-efficient LEDs 7 colors (including UV) and 6 channels Full spectrum 24x24 inch light spread Built-in integration with EcoSmart Live The Radion XR15wPRO has the same modularity as all Radion lights, enabling easy upgrades and backwards compatibility. It also seamlessly integrates with ReefLink and EcoSmart Live, EcoTech’s wireless, web-based controller platform. “EcoTech Marine is thrilled to announce this newest member of the Radion LED line,” said Tim Marks, President. “We aim to create the best technology and equipment for aquarium hobbyists and enthusiasts. By introducing the Radion XR15wPRO, we can provide EcoTech Marine’s cutting-edge technology to a wider range of reef tanks and hobbyists.” About EcoTech Marine Founded in 2003 and based in Pennsylvania, EcoTech Marine has revolutionized the way people think about aquarium technology and has raised the industry standard for aquarium equipment. Its technologically superior products, which include its VorTech pumps; Radion lighting products; Elements coral glue; and accessories, offer unmatched performance, and its commitment to elegant design minimizes the equipment’s visual intrusion into customer’s aquarium. The customer-centric company manufactures and assembles products – each of which has been tested and endorsed by marine biologists – that are easily programmable and customizable. For more information about EcoTech Marine, visit: www.ecotechmarine.com, like the company on Facebook or follow on Twitter. ### Brilliant Color Perfect Size! Everything you expect from a Radion, but with an output and form factor crafted specifically for small to medium sized tanks. EcoTech Marine's new Radion, the XR15wPRO is here! The XR15wPRO features the same great spectrum, same features and same warranty as its big brother the XR30wPRO. But with one major difference: it's smaller. The one cluster design means the XR15wPRO has the right size shape, wattage, and PAR for small to medium sized tanks where the full output of an XR30w is not necessary. Right: Sleek and powerful: All the great features that make the Radion family the best aquarium lights available are now specifically suited for a small to medium tank size. Left: Beautiful light quality: The XR15wPRO incorporates the same high output LEDs from Cree, SemiLED, and OSRAM as its big brother the XR30wPRO. Ask about it at you Local Fish Store today! The XR15wPRO will start shipping to retailers shortly. Let your LFS (Local Fish Store) know that you want one to ensure that you receive one before initial supply runs out! XR15wPRO FAQs Q: Is an XR15wPRO right for me? A: The majority of standard commercially available 20-60 gallon tanks (2-4 ft long, 12-24 inch deep) will benefit from 1-2x XR15wPROs vs. the equivalent number of XR30s. So if you are looking for a new light for a tank in that size range - the XR15wPRO is top-of-the-line. Q: What is the coverage of an XR15wPRO? A: Roughly 2ft by 2ft. Q: Why is the spread almost as much as an XR30 model light? A: Spread is more of a factor of optics than wattage or clusters. The XR15wPRO comes with Wide Angle TIR Optics installed standard so the spread from one cluster is not much less than the spread from two clusters. What is different however, is the PAR at the same % output - The Xr15wPRO produces less PAR than the higher wattage multi-cluster XR30 models. The XR15 is ideal for commercially available shallow tanks where PAR at depth is not necessary. Q: Will the Xr15wPRO work with EcoSmart Live and all of my other wirelessly enabled EcoTech equipment? A: Yes - The XR15wPRO is wireless enabled and is as easy to setup as the XR30. If you are new to EcoSmart Live please visit our website to see all of the amazing things that you can do with our EcoSmart Live cloud based control platform. Q: Warranty? A: Fixture 1 year,LEDs 2 Years. Q: I have seen pictures of a mounting bracket for the XR30 - will there be a mounting bracket for the XR15wPRO? A: Yes, In late August/early September 2014 EcoTech will begin shipping the RMS mounting system for both the XR15wPRO and XR30 model lights. Comprehensive information for that product will be provided shortly. If you are interested please watch your email for more information. Q: I have heard rumors that there will be a freshwater version of the XR15 called the XR15 Freshwater - is that true? A: The rumors are true - about a month after the XR15wPRO the XR15FW will be launched. The output, price and configuration will be different. If you are interested please check your email and on EcoTech's website for more information. Q: What is the MRP of the XR15wPRO? A: $449USD View the full article

Click through to see the images. An Aiptasia by Any Other Name ... The reclassification of Aiptasia pallida into its own new genus doesn't really really make much of a difference for reefkeepers who are battling this age-old pest. Still, it's always good to be up-to-date on science pertaining to our hobby. It's also not every day that a species described over 150 years ago gets reclassified into a new genus. Also of interest: Ragactis lucida, a curly-cue/knobby tropical "Aiptasia" aquarists sometimes encounter, gets moved to a new genus, Laviactis. The new genus is now reclassified into the family Aiptasiidae (Ragactis used to be classified outside the family, but DNA shows they below to in the same family tree as other Aiptasia). Aiptasia pulchella or Exaiptasia pallida. Photo by Tim Wijgerde. Learn more about the potential three-way symbiosis between Aiptasia, dinoflagellate, and cyanobacteria. The new morphological revisions are published in the latest issue of ZooTaxa. View the full article

Interesting fact

Click through to see the images. Carry crab is the common name given to several species of reef crabs that pick up and carry around objects on their backs in order to protect themselves. They use special up-turned hind legs to to clamp down whatever they choose to carry on their backs ... essentially taking hostage of unwitting creatures and using them as living shields. It's a pretty bad day for any animal a carry crab decides to "bond" with. A photograph by Anna DeLoach of an urchin carry crab. We're talking about some pretty freaky and funny stuff they choose for their ad hoc armor. Carry crabs usually latch on to urchins or upside-down jellyfish for their camouflage and protection ... pretty good choices considering few predators want to chomp down on urchin spin or suffer a jelly sting. However, they've been observed carrying starfish, sand dollars, crinoids, anemones, sea slugs, sea pens, and even non-aquatic material like banana skins, tin/aluminum cans, and cardboard boxes! To read more about carry crabs, visit our friends at blennywatcher.com. Here are a couple of videos of these resourceful weirdos in action. " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article

You need a big tank to keep shark or a pond

Click through to see the images. If you need another reason to hate algae (or devilfish damselfish), here is some fodder. There are many species of damselfish that farm microalgae. That's right. Algae agriculture ... by fish! These industrious reef fish tend and prune fields of filamentous algae, with some species even going so far as to selectively weed out inedible algae. Most damselfish will farm multiple algal species but some only farm a monoculture of the algae they most enjoy eating. They're terrific farmers and fiercely defend their prized crop from other herbivores. The problem isn't that damselfish attack corals. Rather, it's their algal crop harbor microbes that significantly increase the prevalence of coral diseases such as black band disease. Researchers studying Stegastes sp. damselfish at the Great Barrier Reef "revealed distinct bacterial communities associated with turf algae and a two to three times greater relative abundance of phylotypes with high sequence similarity to potential coral pathogens inside Stegastes's territories." In other words, algae-farming damsels increased the bacteria count linked to coral disease by two to threefold. And these damsels love to farm their algae fields under the cover of stony corals like Acropora sp. You see the problem. This association is obviously nothing new. Healthy coral reefs have dealt with this for millenia. The problem is that many reefs are not healthy anymore, including (sadly) the Great Barrier Reef. Algae-farming damselfish may tip the balance for some reefs already under natural and man-made pressures. Journal Link: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1788/20141032.abstract?sid=3a8fe48e-2e06-404f-8334-bea7d0a7ccc8 View the full article

Click through to see the images. The sponge brittle star, Ophiothrix suensonii. There are numerous sorts of marine creatures in the Phylum Echinodermata, ranging from sea biscuits, to starfishes, to feather stars, to sea cucumbers, all of which belong to one of five extant classes within the phylum. This month we'll take a look at the members of just one of these classes though, specifically the brittle stars, serpent stars, and basket stars. All of these belong to the Class Ophiuroidea, and some of them are regular offerings, while some are frequent hitchhikers that end up in our aquariums unintentionally. Many ophiuroids may look superficially like starfishes, which are in the Class Asteroidea, but the ophiuroids are a different bunch of echinoderms for a number of reasons. So, I'll go over some of the things that unite all these creatures, why the ophiuroids are in a class of their own, and then some information about keeping them in aquariums. Echinoderm Basics To get started, let's run through some echinoderm basics. As I said, there are all sorts of echinoderms, and many of them look nothing alike at all. However, if you take a closer look at them, a few physical features that are characteristic of the group become obvious. First, their bodies/body parts are arranged around a central axis. Whether or not they have arms (like a starfish), they still usually have a round or nearly round body, with parts radiating from its center. This is called radial symmetry, and it's the same body plan that cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish, etc.) are built on. Echinoderms and cnidarians both have a centrally located mouth and a round(ed) body, and many have numerous arms/tentacles radiating from the center. However, similarities between members of the Phylum Echinodermata and the Phylum Cnidaria end there for the most part. An echinoderm's radial body can be divided into five roughly equal parts, or a multiple of five, while a cnidarian's can generally be divided into six or eight, or a multiple of six or eight. To be more specific, the echinoderms are properly said to have penta-radial symmetry rather than just radial, since their parts come in fives. However, you may come across a few exceptions to this five-fold plan on occasion. For unknown reasons, there are occasional sorts of starfishes that have six or seven arms, or some other non-five number, but these are the oddballs. While almost all echinoderms have five-fold radial symmetry, there are exceptions like these asteroids with 6 and 7 arms. Moving on, all echinoderms also have a unique water-vascular system, which is complex system of muscles, canals, pouches, bladders, tubes, and suckers that allows them to move about and/or to feed. It also acts as a circulatory system, as these animals lack gills, blood, and a heart.1 If you've ever looked at a starfish up close and noticed the rows of little sucker-feet on their undersides, then you've already seen part of this system yourself. They have hundreds of suction cup-tipped "tube feet" that emerge from grooves in their undersides, which can be used for both locomotion and food collection. To the contrary, the same sorts of tube feet emerge from the arms of ophiuroids and are used for food collection, but lack sucker-tips, and are not used for locomotion. More on that in a moment, though. When looking at the underside of an asteroid, the sucker-tipped tube feet, which are a distinct part of its water vascular system, are easy to see. Lastly, echinoderms also have a skeleton of some sort, which is composed of the mineral calcite (CaCO3), and is covered by an epidermis (outer skin). In the case of starfishes and all of the ophiuroids, this calcitic skeleton is composed of numerous individual plates called ossicles, which are held together by special connective tissues that can be made very soft or very firm. This arrangement allows them to be very flexible or extremely tough when they stiffen their bodies in a defensive manner. Other echinoderms, such as urchins and sand dollars also have a skeleton made of plates, but they're fused together to form a shell, which is properly called a test. If you should look closely at a dead urchin's test you'd see that the whole thing is comprised of individual plates that are melded together by the same type of suture joints that you'd find holding the bones of a human skull together. Still, in other types of echinoderms like the sea cucumbers, the skeleton is rudimentary, and is nothing more that a number of tiny, oddly-shaped calcitic plates which are embedded in their thick skin of connective tissue. Asteroids and Ophiuroids So, with several similarities covered, now it's time to explain why starfishes and ophiuroids are in separate classes. Most ophiuroids may indeed look like starfishes at first, but there are actually several fundamental differences between them. First, ophiuroids have long, thin arms that are clearly distinct from their organ-containing body, which is typically rather small and somewhat flat. Conversely, an asteroid's body isn't distinct and there's no clear line where the body ends and the arms start. The ophiuroids are also restricted to having only five arms, which are used for feeding and for locomotion. And, in contrast to the asteroids, ophiuroids don't use their tube feet on the underside of their arms to slowly move around, but crawl around using the arms themselves (although there are a handful of exceptions1). This gives them considerably more speed than asteroids, and some can move surprisingly quickly. Many asteroids feed by turning their stomach inside out and sticking it out of their mouth, which works very well for those that eat clams in particular. They only have to use their sucker-tipped tube feet to pull a clam's shell open just a bit and then stuff their stomach inside the shell to finish the job. However, the ophiuroids lack an eversible stomach, and thus cannot eat clams (at least not in the same way), or many other items that asteroids can. Still, many are successful scavengers and predators that eat a variety of worms, snails, and crustaceans. Some can even use their arms to hold their body off the bottom while they sit and wait for a small fish or other prey animal to swim or crawl in under it. The trap is then sprung and the arms close down and quickly move the body downward onto the prey. The victim thus ends up under the mouth where it is consumed. Others are detritivores that move around over the bottom picking up bits of fish wastes and such, while some burrow through the sediment, extracting what they can. The basket stars are quite unique though, as they're suspension feeders that open their arms into the current and snare anything that bumps into one of them. Anything from large zooplankton to small fishes can be grabbed this way, and then passed to the mouth and eaten. Certainly different from any asteroids. The basket stars are quite unique, as they typically roll up into a fist-size ball during the day and extend their highly-branched arms at night to feed primarily on large zooplankton. Now, within the Class Ophiuroidea itself, for the most part it's pretty easy to tell the three basic types apart. Many brittle and serpent stars may initially appear to be very similar, but the outwardly visible difference in the two is the general lack of any sorts of projections from the arms of a serpent star. The arms of brittle stars are much fancier and are typically covered with lots of spines, spikes, and/or clubs of various sorts and sizes, while those of a serpent star are relatively smooth and are typically unornamented, looking something like the body of a snake. Ophiuroids (other than basket stars) that have relatively fancy arms are typically called brittle stars (L), while those that have relatively smooth arms are often called serpent stars ®. This division of brittle stars and serpent stars is actually a non-biological one though, and is not based on real taxonomic differences between the two groups. It's only a division based on general appearance, as some hobbyists, divers, etc. may call various ophiuroids either brittle or serpent stars, while other folks may just call them all brittle stars regardless of what they look like. So, don't get confused if you see or hear it some other way. The fact is, there are actually several ophiuroids that look to be in between, with smooth discs and just a row or two of relatively small projections coming off their arms. However, basket stars have five arms that are exceptionally long and thin and are branched at their base and then branched, and branched, and branched, and branched from there. In the Aquarium Okay, let's get to some more specific info about keeping various ophiuroids (or not keeping them) in aquariums. There are about 2,000 species of ophiuroids, making the Class Ophiuroidea the largest of the five, and some species or another inhabits essentially all marine habitats.2,3 So, I can't really go into much detail about so many kinds, as their sizes, lifestyles, diets, etc. are highly variable. However, I can give you some general information about them as a whole, and some more specific info about a few types commonly seen for sale and those that frequently enter our aquariums as hitchhikers. To start, as mentioned above, various ophiuroids are carnivores, scavengers, deposit feeders, or suspension feeders. Most of them actually feed in several ways, yet they typically have a preference/primary means of eating.1 This flexibility means that it's typically pretty easy to keep most of them alive. As best as I can tell, you can feed brittle and serpent stars any sort of fish food, such as bits of fish, clam, or shrimp meat, various sinking pellet foods, and even flake food, and they'll usually gobble it up quickly. I have two in one of my aquariums that stay hidden in the rockwork for the most part, but they'll catch flake food with their arms when it drifts close enough to them. All I typically see is some skinny arms flailing between some pieces of rock near the bottom, and every once in a while they snag something. Anyway, aside from occasionally catching some fish foods, even these surprisingly large specimens that are several inches across can apparently find enough leftover fish food and edible detritus to keep themselves alive. And, to the best of my knowledge they've never bothered any of my other livestock, and neither has any other small to medium-size brittle/serpent star I've ever had. However, I have read and heard that some of the commonly-offered small to medium brittle/serpent stars will dine on one particular type of invertebrate often found in reef aquariums, being feather duster tube worms like Bispira sp. Apparently some species will indeed extract such worms from their tubes and eat them.4 So, be mindful of this if you have, and plan on keeping, any of these in your aquarium. Small to medium-size brittle/serpent stars, like Ophiocoma echinata, can typically be kept in reef aquariums without problems. Larger brittle/serpent stars, on the other hand, can cause problems at times. Many are primarily detritivores, like most brittle stars, but some are carnivores, and some of the large species will eat everything from small fishes and shrimps to hermit crabs.4 I described their primary means of catching fishes above, like a trap, but many other prey items are simply grabbed by the arms and ingested. I had a very large red serpent star, Ophioderma squamosissimus, that would smell fish food I put in one of my non-reef tanks and would immediately come out from underneath the (dead) coral head it called home, stand on two arms, and prop itself up on the front pane of the tank waving the rest of its arms for food. Dropping in a few sinking shrimp pellets was all it took to keep it healthy and growing, but then I did come up with a missing damsel every once in a while, and was left to wonder if it had caught them. The red serpent star, Ophioderma squamosissimus, is an example of a large serpent star that will feed on many other motile invertebrates and small fishes, and are best left out of reef aquariums. I definitely wouldn't have put it in a reef aquarium for fear that if nothing else, it would bowl over anything and everything in the tank that wasn't too heavy for it to move. Mine was about a foot across and faster than you might think, and some others, such as the commonly-offered green brittle star, Ophiarachna incrassata, can get even larger, sometimes growing to over a foot and a half across.5 So, be mindful of potential sizes and diets before adding any of the larger species to an aquarium. The green brittle star, Ophiarachna incrassata, is one of the most common offerings in the hobby, but it can get awfully big. I'd also refrain from adding something of this size to a reef aquarium, as they may knock over anything they crawl on. Of course, they'll feed on many motile invertebrates and small fishes, too. Aside from these, while you won't likely see them for sale, there are numerous species of relatively tiny brittle stars that live in rocks, sponges, and/or corals, which typically have very thin arms that are quite fuzzy looking. These are the common hitchhikers I mentioned above, which can get into your aquarium when live rock, corals, etc. are added to it. So, you might find one (or lots of them) living in your aquarium at some time, but these are nothing to worry about. I've never seen any of these do any harm to whatever they were living in/on, and they don't require any special feeding. These can fend for themselves quite well, and oftentimes reproduce in captivity, as well. There are numerous species of small brittle stars, like Ophiothrix spp., that can enter our aquariums as hitchhikers on corals and such. These are harmless, and do not require any special care. It might sound odd that invertebrates such as these will often reproduce in aquariums, but I've seen it happen on many occasions. Most have separate sexes, but many are hermaphroditic, some being simultaneous hermaphrodites, and they sometimes spawn in aquariums, which is often a tank-wide event.1,6 I've seen dozens of them simultaneously emerge from their hiding places in rocks and such, climb up the tallest thing they can find, and then start releasing tiny puffs of gametes into the water. Some can also brood their young, which are kept in pouches in their bodies and released as miniscule juveniles from the parent.1,6 Many species can also reproduce via fission by splitting off parts of their own bodies. Echinoderms in general have the ability to regenerate lost or damaged body parts, and this ability also allows them to produce more of themselves in an asexual manner.1,7 So, don't be surprised if you start with one brittle star and end up with many. I'm sure I have several hundred of the small ones in my large reef aquarium, despite never adding one intentionally. I didn't catch a cloud of gametes coming from these, but here are a couple of small brittle stars perched atop corals and spawning. With all that said, it's the basket stars that all aquarists should best stay away from. Basket stars catch relatively large zooplankton, including crustaceans and polychaete worms, and there typically isn't much (or any) appropriate zooplankton available in aquariums.1 So, they are not suited for life in captivity. While I've seen them for sale from time to time, after doing quite a lot of searching I wasn't able to find a single case of a hobbyist keeping one of any size alive for more than a few months. Moving on… Lastly, there are a couple of other things to know about brittle/serpent stars before I finish. The first is that you need to be very careful when acclimating any of them. For whatever reason, I've found that these are generally quite sensitive with respect to changing conditions, and should be given plenty of time to adjust to your aquarium's water. A slow drip acclimation is likely the best way to go, and all you need is a small bucket and a piece of airline tubing. Put the specimen in the bucket with the water from the store, and then start a siphon from the tank to the bucket with the tubing. To slow down the flow, just tie a knot in the tubing. Then, let the tank water slowly mix into the store's water, until you have at least four times as much water in the bucket as you started with (roughly). Then add your specimen to the tank. Also be sure to look for any sort of white, slimy looking matter on a specimen while shopping. They tend to sort of turn white and mushy when they're in bad health, so be on the lookout for anything that doesn't look right. In my experience they very rarely recover once this starts to happen, so pass over a specimen showing any such signs. However, there is no need to pass on a specimen that has a lost an arm or two, as long as it otherwise appears healthy and is actively growing back the lost arm(s). Arms can be lost during collection, and oftentimes an arm is dropped by the owner as a means of escaping predators similar to the way some lizards can pop off part of their tail for the same purpose. Again, echinoderms as a whole are well-known for their capacity to regenerate lost parts, so as long as there is no sign of decay, and you can see that a new arm is growing back, rest assured that it will continue to grow and the owner will recover as long as conditions are good in its new home. Echinoderms can have impressive regenerative powers. If you should find a specimen that has lost an arm, but appears to be re-growing it - don't worry. It'll grow back to full size over time under good aquarium conditions.. References Rupert, E.E., R.S. Fox, and R.D. Barnes. 2004. Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach: 7th ed. Brooks, Cole, Thomson, Belmont CA. 963pp. Brusca, R.C. and Brusca G.J. 2003. Invertebrates. 2nd ed. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts. 936pp. Stöhr, S., T.D. O'Hara, and B. Thuy. 2012. Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea).PLoS ONE: 7(3). Fossa, S. and A. Nilsen. 2002. The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, Volume 4. Birgit Schmettkamp Velag, Bornheim, Germany. 480pp. World Register of Marine Species, undated. Ophiarachna incrassata. URL: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213207. McGovern, T.M. 2002. Patterns of sexual and asexual reproduction in the brittle star Ophiactis savignyi in the Florida Keys. Marine Ecology Progress Series: 230. Mladenov, P.V., R.H. Emson, L.V. Colpit, and I.C. Wilkie. 1983. Asexual reproduction in the West Indian brittle star Ophiocomella ophiactoides (H.L. Clark) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology: 72(1). View the full article

Click through to see the images. Press Release from Smithsonian National Zoological Park National Zoo’s Invertebrate Exhibit To Close June 22 The Smithsonian's National Zoo Invertebrate Exhibit, home to dozens of small aquatic and terrestrial species without backbones, will close to the public Sunday, June 22. The last day to visit the Invertebrate Exhibit is Saturday, June 21. "This difficult decision is not a reflection of the importance of invertebrates or how we feel about them," said Dennis Kelly, Zoo director. "The exhibit has been a hidden gem cared for by passionate and expert staff. But this was a necessary decision for the financial and operational health of our organization." Closing the Invertebrate Exhibit permits the Zoo to reallocate funding, staff and resources to other areas of the Zoo that need attention. With overall costs escalating, the Zoo must adapt its activities and programs to live within its existing budget while continuing excellent animal care and planning for the future. Every permanent staff person will retain their job and be reassigned to other positions throughout the Zoo. The Invertebrate Exhibit, as it exists today, is not included in the Zoo's Strategic Five-Year Plan or its 20-Year Programmatic Master Plan. The long-term vision includes a future Hall of Biodiversity, which will include some invertebrate species. The annual operating cost for the Invertebrate Exhibit is $1 million. The exhibit currently needs an estimated $5 million in upgrades to equipment, life-support systems, building infrastructure and exhibit interpretation. In 1987, the National Zoo opened the Invertebrate Exhibit in the basement of the Reptile Discovery Center. Hailed as a ground-breaking exhibit at the time, it allowed the Zoo to showcase and educate visitors about invertebrates as nature's unsung heroes, quietly playing vital roles in Earth's ecosystems. Invertebrates make up about 99 percent of all known living species. Today, the Invertebrate Exhibit is home to the common cuttlefish, corals, anemones, the Chesapeake Bay blue crab, water scorpions, the giant hermit crab, leaf-cutter ants, the American spiny lobster, giant clam and butterflies, among others. Per Smithsonian protocol, most of the animals will be de-accessioned through formal processes to new homes. Some will be moved to Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facilities, and some may be moved to another location in the Zoo. Those with short life spans will likely live out their lives in the Invertebrate Exhibit. The Zoo will provide updates on the invertebrate collection via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and through National Zoo News. View the full article

Try to get a system with a sump tank, it will be so much easier for future upgrade and add on equipment down the road.

Click through to see the images. Scientists are learning more each day about the surprising mental capacity of fish, including multiple documentation of them using tools. Fish can also be trained to do tricks people normally assume only mammals and birds can learn. Take, for example, Comet the goldfish. Granted, the sort of leaning exhibited in the video below is nothing more than operant conditioning via positive reinforcement; Comet really isn't playing soccer but rather learning anthropomorphic behavior that earns it food. However, this is no different than how most animals (including dogs) are trained. " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> R2 Fish School (created by the owner of Comet) actually sells a goldfish training kit for aquarist who are interested in teaching their goldfish these tricks. To prove Comet isn't a special genius-level one-of-a-kind, here is another (really cute) Shukin goldfish trained to do similar tricks using R2 Fish School. " height="383" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article

Yap, I bought it from madpetz. It is the improved version of the biopallet which suppose to improve in p04 removing as well Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

Trying out the new all in one bio pallets. Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

Sponge which is good for the tank Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

Click through to see the images. From Macquarie University (Australia) Not so fast – our fishy friends can also feel pain Do you still believe that fish are dumb and cannot feel pain? That we do not have to worry much about how they are cared for or caught? Think again, says Associate Professor Culum Brown, in a review article in Springer’s journal Animal Cognition. The research notes that fish cognition and their sensory perception are generally on par with that of other animals. Brown therefore argues that more consideration should be given to fish welfare and anti-cruelty issues. Brown says that most people rarely think about fish other than as food, or as pets. However, they are second only to mice in terms of the numbers used in scientific research, and the more than 32,000 known species of fish far outweigh the diversity of all other vertebrates combined. Very little public concern – which is so important to inform policy – is ever noted about fish welfare issues. Brown believes this relates to incorrect perceptions about the intelligence of fish, and ultimately of whether they are conscious. Such attitudes are also influenced because humans rarely come into contact with fish in their natural environments. Brown’s review focuses especially on bony fish. It suggests that fish are, in fact, far more intelligent than many previously believed. Fish have very good memories, live in complex social communities where they keep track of individuals, and can learn from one another. This helps to develop stable cultural traditions. Fish even recognise themselves and others. They also cooperate with one another and show signs of Machiavellian intelligence, such as cooperation and reconciliation. They build complex structures, are capable of using tools, and use the same methods for keeping track of quantities as humans do. For the most part the primary senses of fish are just as good, and in many cases, better, than that of humans. Their behaviour is very much the same as that of primates, except that fish do not have the ability to imitate. The level of mental complexity fish display is on a par with most other vertebrates, while there is mounting evidence that they can feel pain in a manner similar to humans. While the brains of fish differ from other vertebrates, fish have many analogous structures that perform similar functions. Brown concludes that if any animals are sentient, fish must be considered to be so too. “Although scientists cannot provide a definitive answer on the level of consciousness for any non-human vertebrate, the extensive evidence of fish behavioural and cognitive sophistication and pain perception suggests that best practice would be to lend fish the same level of protection as any other vertebrate,” concludes Brown, who acknowledges that such a move has implications for the fishing industry, among others. “We should therefore include fish in our ‘moral circle’ and afford them the protection they deserve.” Journal Reference: Brown, C. (2014). Fish intelligence, sentience and ethics. Animal Cognition. DOI 10.1007/s10071-014-0761-0. View the full article

5) adding new fish and corals without doing research of it's behaviour and requirements. Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

Click through to see the images. The new law will: Prohibit the importation of live lionfish into Florida; This means that Floridian aquarist can no longer mail-order lionfish, Allow the harvest of lionfish when diving with a rebreather, And increase opportunities that will allow participants in approved tournaments and other organized events to spear lionfish or other invasive species in areas where spearfishing is not allowed. This will be done through a permitting system. Note: The new regulations does not make it illegal for aquarist to own lionfish in Florida. It only makes it illegal to import lionfish from out-of-state/country. Floridian aquarists wishing to keep lionfish must purchase a specimen caught in Floridian waters. Although the law is a proverbial drop in the bucket to fight an epidemic that has bloomed over the past three decades and may be too little too late, the ban was expected. Any step to help control lionfish populations in the Atlantic (eradication is unrealistic at this point) is a positive step, however small. [via FWC] View the full article

Maybe u can try checking with de lighting Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

It means the phosphate level is very low which should be happy Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk