Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. Turbelle® stream 6255 WIDE FLOW For tanks > 4.000 l (1,050 USgal.) Flow performance: 5,000 to approx. 18,000 l/h (1,300 to 4,800 USgal./h) Energy consumption: max. 58 W Power supply unit:100-240V/50-60Hz Length of cable: 5 m (196.8 in.). Dimensions: ø90 mm (3.5 in.), output: ø75 mm (3 in.) Magnet Holder with Silence Clamp with Pane thickness up to 27 mm (1.06 in.). 480.67 € (USD TBD) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Turbelle® stream 6255 WIDE FLOW For tanks > 4.000 l (1,050 USgal.) Flow performance: 5,000 to approx. 18,000 l/h (1,300 to 4,800 USgal./h) Energy consumption: max. 58 W Power supply unit:100-240V/50-60Hz Length of cable: 5 m (196.8 in.). Dimensions: ø90 mm (3.5 in.), output: ø75 mm (3 in.) Magnet Holder with Silence Clamp with Pane thickness up to 27 mm (1.06 in.). 480.67 € (USD TBD) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Scientists have long known that cone snail venom has a great potential for drug discovery. The individual components of cone snail venom, known as conopeptides, are the primary target for drug manufacturers due to their unique properties. One of the first commercial cone snail conopeptides brought to market as a drug is Ziconotid, a powerful anti-pain medication derived from the Conus magus cone snail. Recently, scientists isolated a conopeptide from the Conus striatus cone snail called Conkunitzin-S1 that alters how the pancreas releases insulin. This compound was found to have significant potential for treating type 2 diabetes. Their findings are reported in the magazine EMBO Molecular Medicine. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes making up 90% of the cases diagnosed each year in adults. The disease is characterized by high blood sugar levels and the body's lack of ability to respond to sugar properly for normal daily activities. It is a serious disease affecting 285 million people in 2010. “This potentially could be a new approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes”, says Professor Heinrich Terlau from the Physiological Institute of Kiel University and associate member of the Excellence Cluster “Future Ocean”. “The action of some substances that are ordinarily used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is independent of the blood glucose level”, Terlau describes. This can lead to low blood glucose, also known as hypoglycaemia. “What is new about this substance is that it has a very specific effect. Because of this fact, the likelyhood of side effects such as hypoglycaemia is minimal”, Terlau continues. The newly discovered substance, conopeptide Conkunitzin-S1, binds to a specific potassium channel in the pancreas cells and leads to a temporarily increased release of insulin but only if the blood sugar level is raised. Trials with rats look promising and the next step is to see if the compound can be administered orally. (via Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel) View the full article

The planet is warming up, especially at the poles. How do organisms react to this rise in temperatures? Biologists have now shown that little auks, the most common seabirds in the Arctic, are adapting their fishing behavior to warming surface waters in the Greenland Sea. So far, their reproductive and survival rates have not been affected. However, further warming could threaten the species. View the full article

The planet is warming up, especially at the poles. How do organisms react to this rise in temperatures? Biologists have now shown that little auks, the most common seabirds in the Arctic, are adapting their fishing behavior to warming surface waters in the Greenland Sea. So far, their reproductive and survival rates have not been affected. However, further warming could threaten the species. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Urine is rich in nitrogen (notably ammonia) and phosphorus, making it a natural fertilizer for plants and algae. German fishermen are blaming swimmer's urine for causing algal blooms resulting in the death of 500 fish discovered in the past two weeks. Lake authorities have closed recreational swimming due to high algae levels. The Hamburger Angling Association calculates swimmers add half a liter of urine per swimmer per day. The Urban Development and Environment Authority challenges the claims of the Hamburger Angling Association and is trying to reopen the lake for swimming. But we have to ask: Would anyone still want to swim in the lake after all this unsavory news? http://www.advancedaquarist.com/ Hamburg University scientists say a specific species of cyanobacteria found in Lake Eichbaum may be particularly dangerous to fish because they produce a neurotoxin called anatoxin-a, also said to convert relatively harmless ammonium (NH4+) to asphyxiating ammonia (NH3). The lake's unusually high pH of 8.7 would also make ammonia much more toxic. Lake authorities have already installed 148 tonnes of the anti-phosphate agent Bentophos (Phoslock) at a cost of €516,000 (~$667,000 USD) but with little success reducing algae levels. TL;DR: Don't pee in your aquarium. [via TheLocal] View the full article

As sea temperatures rise, stocks of some fish species can decline while others may grow, reveals new research looking at gastrointestinal function in fish. View the full article

As sea temperatures rise, stocks of some fish species can decline while others may grow, reveals new research looking at gastrointestinal function in fish. View the full article

Reticulated dragonet have been found in Väderöarna -- "Weather Islands" -- off the west coast of Sweden. It is not often that a new species of fish is discovered in Sweden. View the full article

Reticulated dragonet have been found in Väderöarna -- "Weather Islands" -- off the west coast of Sweden. It is not often that a new species of fish is discovered in Sweden. View the full article

Using the latest satellite tracking technology, conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Exeter (UK), and the Government of Mexico have completed a ground-breaking study on a mysterious ocean giant: the manta ray. (2012-05-14) View the full article

Prickly pufferfish could hold the key to why humans do not continually replace their teeth and may lead to advances in dental therapies. View the full article

The competition between farmers and fish for precious water in California is intensifying in wine country, suggests a new study by biologists. The study links higher death rates for threatened juvenile steelhead trout with low water levels in the summer and the acreage of vineyards upstream. View the full article

The competition between farmers and fish for precious water in California is intensifying in wine country, suggests a new study by biologists. The study links higher death rates for threatened juvenile steelhead trout with low water levels in the summer and the acreage of vineyards upstream. View the full article

New research offers a blueprint for the long-term sustainability of tuna caught using the pole-and-line method. View the full article

New research offers a blueprint for the long-term sustainability of tuna caught using the pole-and-line method. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Cortez Marine has already exported a majority of specimens to Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, et al.), so Asian markets should expect to see Clarion Angels shortly. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Fish Tank Kings aired their first episode* this weekend on Nat Geo Wild TV. The episode was completely dedicated to the Marlins Stadium aquarium build. Future episodes will feature much more diverse and educational content with multiple builds per episode, a collecting expedition to Curacao (the second episode), and tours of professional facilities. In other words, the first episode is not indicative of the rest of the season. Case in point: Nat Geo has cut for Advanced Aquarist a special clip of their June 9 FTK episode, "Fish Upon A Star" where LCA visits ORA Farms, the largest marine ornamental aquaculture facility in North America. The number of coral frags and cuttings at ORA will astound you. Watch as Dustin breaks Francis and his client's hearts when they try to buy a mother colony of the ORA Red Planet Acropora. *For those who missed the first episode of FTK, Nat Geo Wild will re-air it this Tuesday at 9pm. " height="408" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="680"> "> "> View the full article

Another new week for shopping. Is the long awaited tonga shipment here yet ?

Click through to see the images. Despite the similarity in their names, Apo Island and Apo Reefs (Mindoro) are two different locations but in fairly close proximity. Apo Island is a tiny volcanic island just south of Cebu (seen in last week's Destination Reefs installment). What it lacks in land mass it makes up for in coral reef. Steve De Neef shares two absolutely stunning videos of Apo Island. Apo Reef at Mindoro lies north of Cebu and is also jaw-droppingly beautiful, as evidenced by our third video by Tony Exall. View the full article

Click through to see the images. iBluewaters has built a reputation finding unique clownfish, and their latest maroon clown is a winner. This particular specimen was collected in Papua New Guinea (said in close vicinity to where the famous PNG Lighting Maroon Clown was collected). PNG is clearly fertile grounds for aberrant clownfish. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The shipment was confiscated because it did not have the correct documentation. It is unclear whether this is a clerical error or willful smuggling. A 23 year old man was arrested and released on bail pending trial. [via DailyMail] View the full article

Click through to see the images. The shipment was confiscated because it did not have the correct documentation. It is unclear whether this is a clerical error or willful smuggling. [via DailyMail] View the full article

Using the latest satellite tracking technology, conservationists have completed a ground-breaking study on a mysterious ocean giant: The manta ray. View the full article

Using the latest satellite tracking technology, conservationists have completed a ground-breaking study on a mysterious ocean giant: The manta ray. View the full article