Harlequinmania

I think it got to do with the bio pallet as well. My N03 has been consistently been very low with the amount of fish i had now in my tank which is a miracle lol..

Hi james, as show on the photo i use a small filter sock which i got from Madpetz for the output of the FR to prevent any spillage into the sump. The two DD FR is connected together using one pump ,one running Rowa and the other with the P04 X4.

Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date. View the full article

Evidence is lacking that populations of jellyfish and similar gelatinous plankton are surging in numbers globally and will likely dominate the seas in coming decades. Rather, increasing scientific and media interest as well as the lack of good baseline data seem to explain the widespread perception of an increase. View the full article

Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date. View the full article

Humpback whales on both sides of the southern Indian Ocean are singing different tunes, unusual since humpbacks in the same ocean basin usually all sing very similar songs. View the full article

A global study has questioned claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide. Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new global and collaborative study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date. View the full article

A global study has questioned claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide. Blooms, or proliferation, of jellyfish have shown a substantial, visible impact on coastal populations -- clogged nets for fishermen, stinging waters for tourists, even choked intake lines for power plants -- and recent media reports have created a perception that the world's oceans are experiencing increases in jellyfish due to human activities such as global warming and overharvesting of fish. Now, a new global and collaborative study questions claims that jellyfish are increasing worldwide and suggests claims are not supported with any hard evidence or scientific analyses to date. View the full article

Click through to see the images. As most aquarists are well aware, the State of Hawai‘i’s twenty-sixth legislative session is underway. With a total of 18 aquarium-related measures in the hopper, it can be hard to know where to begin when trying to understand what this means for the trade. In an effort to provide a little clarity, here is your Advanced Aquarist Cliffs Notes version of the new aquarium-related bills and resolutions. Seven New Bills Seven new bills and four new resolutions have been introduced. Of the seven new bills, two seek to shut down Hawai‘i’s marine aquarium fishery outright—they are SB2042 and HB1780. For the purposes of this article, we’ll call them the “Ban Bills.” The remaining five bills—SB2002, SB2408, HB2129, HB2125, and HB2067—all aim to further regulate the State’s marine aquarium fishery, although some fishers believe the passage of a couple of these regulatory bills, especially SB2002 and SB2408, is tantamount to closing the fishery. We’ll call these two later bills the “Regulate to Ban Bills,” and we’ll call the remaining three the “Regulatory Bills.” Four New Resolutions - SR2, SCR1, HR6, & HCR8 All four new resolutions—SR2, SCR1, HR6, and HCR8—urge the State to shut down the marine aquarium fishery statewide. These four resolutions reached the State Legislature as a direct result of a November vote at the County Council level on Kaua‘i. I wrote about some of the serious concerns about that vote in a Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA) blog post recently. Given the serious issues with the Kaua‘i vote I outline there, I am hopeful the legislators in Honolulu will allow these resolutions to die without further action being taken. The same holds true for both SB2042 and HB1780—the so-called “Ban Bills” named above—as they both originated with the same Kaua‘i vote. The “Regulate to Ban” Bills - SB2002 & SB2408 Two of the new bills—SB2002 and SB2408—would not close the fishery outright, but some individuals close to the industry in Hawai‘i believe both bills, if passed, would eventually result in a closure. SB2002 would transfer regulation of coastal marine aquarium fisheries from the state to the county level, while SB2408 would require DLNR to establish new marine life conservation districts in each county, introduce quarterly closures of the marine aquarium fishery (January, April, July, and October), establish violations as a misdemeanor, and increase the aquarium permit fee to $500. In the cases of both these “Regulate to Ban” bills, there are real concerns the science is being sidelined. When it comes to SB2002, in 2011, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Counties both established track records of voting about data-centered fishery management issues without 1) seeking or consulting the most current data (Kaua‘i County) or 2) directly ignoring the data presented (Hawai‘i County). While ignorance of the current data was cited on behalf of at least one Kaua‘i County councilmember I interviewed, one Hawai‘i County councilmember who voted for the Resolution told me he was doing so not because he thought the aquarium fishery was devastating the reefs as the Resolution claimed. Rather, he said, he was using his vote to “send a message” to Honolulu regarding enforcement. Science-based, adaptive fisheries management requires a real-time commitment to the data and to using the appropriate management tools at the appropriate time. It requires decision-makers (if those decision makers are not the already existing state fisheries managers themselves) to have faith in the recommendations of those most familiar with the data and the management tools. The Counties have shown no will to manage the aquarium fishery, and transferring aquarium fisheries management decisions to them would certainly be a step in the wrong direction when it comes to sustainability and resource management. Further, if SB2002 passed, the County would be forced to create a carbon copy of the fisheries management infrastructure that already exists at the state level. Finally, county control of the aquarium fishery would mean that regulation would be based on use—a fish harvested for the recreational or commercial food fishery would be managed by the State, while a fish harvested for the marine aquarium trade would be managed by the County. Certainly this would not be in the interest of the resource, which benefits most from a comprehensive management plan. Real Concerns the Science is Only an Afterthought In the case of SB2408, there are again real concerns the science is only an afterthought. One of the central provisions of this bill is to mandate a quarterly closure of the marine aquarium fishery. There is, however, no credible scientific study supporting this approach to fisheries management, and it shows a lack of understanding of both the animals’ biology and the ecosystem. As one fisheries manager said to me, “I wouldn’t want to be a politician. I’m not sure why some of these politicians suddenly want to become fisheries managers.” Both the “Regulate to Ban” bills—SB2002 and SB2408—are problematic because they ignore, minimize or sideline science, and they would both result in taking management decisions out of the hands of the people best suited to make those decisions—fisheries managers. Nonetheless, observers of the Legislature believe one of these bills may have the best chance out of the “Ban Bills” and “Regulate to Ban Bills” of progressing. The Three Remaining Regulatory Bills - HB2129, HB2125 & HB2067 Some fishers and fishery managers argue the remaining newly introduced regulatory bills would be good for the fishery. I wrote extensively about HB2129 in an article for CORAL Magazine last week. Fisheries managers and some fishers believe this is a good bill, as it gives fisheries managers the ability to manage the fishery in real time. Other fishers, however, criticize the bill as it is currently written. In most cases, critics are against HB2129 because they believe it is too broad and that provisions are already in place for emergency regulation. In some cases, individual fishers are also against a provision in the bill, which would institute limited entry to the fishery beginning in 2014. For more information on this bill, see my CORAL Magazine article. HB2067 is a bill that would grant enforcement the ability to check a cooler, livewell or other potential fish holding device without due cause. In Hawaii, under current law, an enforcement officer may not inspect a fisher’s closed container unless the enforcement officer has due cause. Fisheries managers say HB2067 is crucial to making some of the management tools they are employing enforceable. They cite, in particular, the West Hawaii “white list” and other species-specific rules. Most fishers have no problem with this bill and generally support it as long as inspection policy does not jeopardize animal health. In terms of the Bill becoming law, some serious constitutional issues that have killed similar bills in the past remain. Finally, HB2125 is a bill that would increase the fines for fishing violations commensurate to the number of fishes caught illegally. In general, fishers have no problems with this bill. Stay Informed The situation in Hawai‘i is very fluid right now, and it's important for anyone interested in the situation to stay informed. In most cases, hearings may be announced only two days before the hearing date, so individuals wishing to testify should make sure they understand the measures and are prepared to respond. View the full article

Spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds are adapting to their toxic environments, according to new research. The study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. View the full article

you can get the reef nutrition products from Aqua fauna . Bascially, you just need to buy one bottle of trigger pods, and one bottle of Phytofeast Live to feed it. Dip one drop per day, and put in some chaeto or plant for the pods to hang on .

Another FTS from another angle..

Click through to see the images. The aquaculture and husbandry of exotic marine species is ever evolving, with breakthroughs occurring regularly. Currently, marine invertebrates that completely rely on heterotrophic feeding are not easily maintained in closed aquarium systems. Despite their husbandry difficulties, large quantities of these organisms are exported to Western countries annually due to high demand from the aquarium trade. As marine ecosystems are currently in decline, there is a growing incentive to aquaculture these commercially interesting animals. In part one of this article I will discuss the innovative filtration technology called DyMiCo (Dynamic Mineral Control) that allows aquarists to culture a rich diversity of marine organisms, especially those that rely on live plankton for their survival. Coral reefs are of high ecological and economic importance, and are currently in global decline (Hughes et al. 2003; Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007). This is caused by global climate change and local anthropogenic disturbances, including pollution, coastal development and overfishing (Hughes et al. 2003). Overfishing is a threat to local reefs in Asia, for example in Indonesia and the Philippines, where reef organisms are collected for the international aquarium trade (Wabnitz et al. 2003). Fueled by a high demand for tropical species as home ornamentals, this trade is not sustainable as only a subset of exported animals is produced by aquaculture or mariculture. As the international aquarium trade may aggravate the detrimental effects of climate change and other human disturbances, there is a growing incentive to sustainably aquaculture reef organisms. Important candidates for culture include sponges and corals, as they are used as ornamentals and are becoming increasingly interesting for the pharmaceutical industry. A major caveat however is knowledge of their husbandry, which is still limited for many species. This impedes successful aquaculture of these invertebrates. To optimize the aquaculture of any species, detailed knowledge of factors affecting growth is of high importance. Today, several major factors for aquaculture of marine invertebrates have been identified, including light, water flow, water quality and nutrition (reviewed for corals by Osinga et al. 2011). The irradiance and water flow the average reef organism is exposed to can be mimicked quite effectively with modern technology. The same goes for water quality, although inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations usually are an order of magnitude higher than those found on a pristine reef. Nutrition, more specifically in the form of plankton, remains a major issue in most closed systems. Either the proper feeds are unavailable to the aquarist, or the amounts of feed required make it difficult to maintain water quality. In part one of this article I would like to present a filtration system that allows the aquarist to maintain a live plankton population in water of high quality, which will significantly improve the aquaculture of many invertebrate species. A DyMiCo system at Rotterdam Zoo (The Netherlands) housing Caribbean corals in the main display aquarium, and indo-pacific corals in the filter compartment. Note the flourishing red gorgonians (Swiftia exserta), which completely rely on plankton and dissolved nutrients for their survival. Heterotrophic animals and plankton Before I discuss the DyMiCo technology, I would like to establish that maintaining a vibrant plankton population in the aquarium is essential for the aquaculture of many organisms, especially those that are completely heterotrophic. What exactly are heterotrophic animals, and why are they sometimes difficult to care for? Based on metabolism, life on earth can be roughly divided into two groups; autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Autotrophic organisms are those that use inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide (CO2) to build organic molecules, including carbohydrates, alcohols, fatty acids and amino acids. I use the term organic here for molecules that have a carbon chain, or "backbone". Glucose, a simple carbohydrate, contains a chain of six carbon atoms and is highly important to life on earth because of the chemical energy it contains. Common examples of autotrophic organisms are plants, including unicellular algae, and cyanobacteria. These organisms are considered photoautotrophic as they use the sun's energy to convert CO2 and bicarbonate (HCO3-) to organic molecules, which they use to fuel their metabolism and grow. Autotrophic organisms are also called primary producers, as they represent the first step in the food chain that leads to biomass production from inorganic molecules. Heterotrophic organisms are those that cannot produce their own organic molecules from inorganic ones (although they can interconvert organic molecules), and therefore have to acquire these from their environment. Organic nutrient acquisition may vary from direct uptake from a solution such as seawater, to ingestion and digestion of other organisms. Common examples of heterotrophic organisms are herbivores or plant-eating animals, such as cows or sea urchins. These organisms are called primary consumers. Examples of heterotrophs that of relevance to this article are certain sponges, corals and echinoderms. Reef-building corals however, like many other reef organisms, host symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) in their tissues, arguably making them polytrophic as they have both autotrophic (photosynthesis) and heterotrophic (plankton and organic matter uptake) feeding modes. Another system at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) dominated by octocorals, which also holds surgeon- and rabbitfishes, wrasses and Tridacna clams. As heterotrophs such as marine invertebrates require some form of nutrition to meet their metabolic energy demand, grow and reproduce, the aquarist will have to supply this in one form or another. In many cases this is no issue, as many high quality commercial feeds are available nowadays. Fishes for example often thrive in aquaculture or in the aquarium as a wide range of appropriate feeds can be provided. Most reef corals have formed a mutualistic symbiosis with zooxanthellae, which supply their host with significant amounts of organic carbon. These corals usually grow well in the average aquarium. Animals that however rely on specific food sources that are insufficiently available in a closed system fail to grow, and eventually die. These animals are known as specialists (as opposed to generalists, which are able to use a wide range of nutrient sources), and they include a whole array of marine species. This brings us to plankton as a food source, which is essential for many organisms that are primary candidates for aquaculture. But what exactly is plankton? Plankton, derived from the Greek word planktos or drifter, is a common name for an astoundingly large group of organisms that float around in a body of water. These include bacteria, algae and small animals such as crustaceans. Plankton is often divided into several classes based on particle size. The size classes relevant to this article are pico-, nano-, micro- and mesoplankton. Picoplankton consists of organisms having a size between 0.2 and 2 micrometers (m), such as cyanobacteria, archaea and protists; nanoplankton comprises organisms between 2 and 20 micrometers in size, including algae and larger protists; microplankton consists of small crustaceans such as rotifers, protozoa and larvae that range from 20 to 200 m in size; mesoplankton, finally, encompasses larger crustaceans and the larvae of many animals that are between 200 to 2000 m in size. Plankton as a whole is used as a major food source for many animals that live in water bodies, including the world's oceans. Animals that feed on plankton are called filter and suspension feeders, as they filter or capture particles from the water in order to digest them. Filter feeders actively filter dissolved and suspended matter from the water by pumping water through filtration structures, and include zooplankton, tunicates, bivalves and sponges. Suspension feeders actively capture food particles from the water which travel in close proximity, by using tentacles. This strategy has been adopted by e.g. scleractinian corals, octocorals and crinoids. Zooplankton was not considered to be an important food source for marine organisms for many years; it was believed concentrations on the reef were too low to have any significant role. In the meantime, more accurate estimations have been made, based on improved measuring techniques. The abundance of plankton can be significant, especially when nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and iron are elevated. This leads to so-called phytoplankton blooms, on which many planktonic animals thrive. Phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria such as Synechococcus, can reach very high concentrations of up to a billion cells per liter and are a major food source for many invertebrates. Although the concentration of zooplankton in reef waters lies in the range of 0.007 and 4.4 individuals L-1 (Heidelberg et al., 2004, 2010; Palardy et al. 2006; Yahel et al. 2005), the presence of these small animals and their larvae is vital to the health of many filter and suspension feeding organisms. This is because they carry important elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are required to synthesize new tissue for growth and injury repair. It is exactly these filtering and suspension feeding organisms that are hard to culture or maintain in any closed system, as small plankton, despite the myriad of products on the market today, usually is not available in sufficient quantities. This has led to dismal survival rates of such animals in the average aquarium. Well-known popular examples are sponges (e.g. Haliclona spp., Trikentrion flabelliforme), bivalves (Lima scabra), hydrozoans (e.g. Distichopora and Stylaster spp.), echinoderms such as crinoids (e.g. Comatula, Comanthus and Himerometra spp.) and octocorals (e.g. Dendronephthya spp. and gorgonians such as Menella, Diodogorgia and Swiftia spp.). Although relatively little is known about the feeding habits of these animals, large numbers are imported to Western countries where they live short lives as aquarium ornamentals. Filtration - plankton's Nemesis? Although it is clear that many reef organisms require plankton to survive, the best way how to provide this is not. Most marine systems are closed off from the ocean and depend on a foam fractionator (protein skimmer) for high water quality. By mixing water and air using aspirator or eductor-jet pumps, fine air bubbles remove organic (waste) molecules from the system water that condense in collection beakers. This process works especially well in marine water due to its low surface tension, resulting in very fine air bubbles and thus efficient organic waste removal. Although foam fractionation has resulted in successful efforts to aquaculture fishes and invertebrates such as scleractinian corals, species that heavily rely on plankton have not fared well in systems using this technology. This may, to a great extent, be the result of the disruptive nature of foam fractionating. The problem seems obvious: the mechanical destruction and removal of small organisms that make up the plankton. Other filtration devices such as sand filters and biological filters, with their high water throughput, may have this problem, too. Indeed, Feldman et al. (2011) demonstrated that aquaria equipped with a foam fractionator contain significantly lower bacterial concentrations than reef waters, by approximately one order of magnitude. The question that follows from the above is this: How can we maintain high water quality and a vibrant plankton population simultaneously, thereby mimicking nature? Fortunately, a new emerging technology may be the answer to this question. This technology is called DyMiCo, short for Dynamic Mineral Control. Maintaining living water - Dynamic Mineral Control As foam fractionators, sand filters and densely packed biofilters used in most systems are not up to the task of sustaining the "plankton soup" many (in)vertebrate animals require, a different approach is required. Around the year 2000, a small company known as EcoDeco started working on a new concept that was based on a very old idea. By taking nature's principles, more specifically the biogeochemical processes that occur in the oceans, the company wanted to do something new. Peter Henkemans, EcoDeco's founder and CEO, set out to develop a novel filtration system that was to be simple, effective, and most of all, natural. The final goal was to use this system to cultivate endangered corals and other marine organisms. He coined and patented his technology as DyMiCo, or Dynamic Mineral Control. Now, twelve years later, several institutions are using EcoDeco's technology with compelling results. With virtually no water changes and no mechanical filtration, these systems flourish. But how exactly does it work? DyMiCo is based on the following principle: by using a denitrification reactor that dynamically (Dy) responds to the system, minerals (Mi) such as nitrate and phosphate can be controlled (Co). In more basic terms, this technology is computer-controlled denitrification reactor. DyMiCo monitors and controls the biogeochemical processes occurring in the reactor with two parameters: oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) and pH. These parameters are measured inside the reactor, by using the so-called interstitial water that flows through it. As the computer receives feedback from the ORP and pH probes in the reactor, it constantly adjusts the amount of water that is drawn through the reactor for denitrification. In addition, it controls the amount of organic carbon that is injected into the reactor, thereby manipulating the ORP through bacterial metabolism. This also prevents a carbon limitation for the heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria, as they require a carbon source to break down nitrate. In the same way as we humans breathe oxygen, the bacteria in a DyMiCo reactor respire nitrate to obtain energy from an organic carbon source. Through a series of biochemical reactions, nitrate is eventually converted into nitrogen gas (N2) that dissipates through the water column. For those who have a more intimate knowledge of filtration and the role of bacteria in this process, DyMiCo may sound a lot like the Deep Sand Bed (DSB) and Jaubert method. In essence, this is true as all three systems employ denitrification to maintain high water quality. DyMiCo, however, goes a few steps further by measuring the biochemical processes that occur in the reactor, and using that information to maintain optimal ORP values for denitrification by modulating water throughput and carbon injection of the reactor. In addition, CO2 injection ensures that the reactor maintains a slightly acidic pH, allowing it to function as a calcium reactor as well as a denitrification unit. A system that uses DyMiCo does not require a foam fractionator or calcium reactor. A basic cycle of the DyMiCo control unit consists of several steps; first, nitrate-containing water is pulled into the reactor by a pull-through pump. Next, a pulse of organic carbon and CO2 is injected into the reactor, which is mixed throughout the reactor by a process pump. The last step is a lag phase that allows the bacteria in the reactor to break down the nitrate that came in with the fresh batch of water. This cycle is repeated continuously, and is dynamically adjusted based on the ORP and pH readings obtained from the interstitial water from the reactor. The schematic below provides a brief overview of the principles behind DyMiCo. A schematic overview of the DyMiCo principle. A pull-through pump draws water through the reactor, and returns it to the water column after denitrification. A process pump ensures that carbon and CO2 are mixed homogeneously throughout the reactor, which are delivered by a carbon pump and CO2 bottle. The ORP and pH value of the reactor are controlled automatically by a computer, which dynamically adjusts the carbon, CO2 and water input, ensuring optimal denitrification rates. A flush pump can be used to back flush the system for cleaning purposes. Photograph by Tim Wijgerde The end result of using DyMiCo in a closed system is clean water with a vibrant plankton population, including amphipods, isopods, copepods, small shrimp, and their nauplii. As a consequence, many invertebrates such as sponges, corals and echinoderms thrive. With this system, water changes are no longer required in most cases. To make things even better, the total power usage of the average DyMiCo system compares to the desktop computer you are reading this on. The standard model can be used to filter a system of up to 30,000 L or about 7,900 USG, at a total power consumption of only 300 Watts. Filter media for phosphate (Granular Ferric Oxide or GFO) or organic carbon (activated carbon) removal are not essential as the reactor is able to sequester various forms of inorganic phosphorus and organic carbon. Air stones may be used to prevent a decrease in pH and oxygen concentration of the water column, especially when stocking densities are high. The main component of DyMiCo is the reactor or sand bed, here located underneath the black pump tank. The reactor is filled with a form of limestone and is adjusted to system volume and demand. In this case, the reactor size is 1,000 L (263 USG) or approximately 8% of total system volume. Photograph by Tim Wijgerde The second DyMiCo component: the pump tank which is suspended over the reactor. The left process pump powers an internal water circuit through the reactor, ensuring that a carbon source and carbon dioxide are delivered and mixed throughout the sand bed. The pull-through pump on the right returns clean water to the system, generating an under pressure which draws nitrate-rich water into the reactor. Two probes measure the ORP and pH values of the interstitial reactor water, and relay this information to the computer. Photograph by Tim Wijgerde The final component that allows the system to operate is the control unit, a computer that receives information from the ORP and pH probes installed in the pump tank. The injection of a carbon source, carbon dioxide and water throughput are adjusted based on the ORP and pH values measured in the reactor water. Photograph by Tim Wijgerde Typical water parameters DyMiCo has proven to yield water parameters that are well suited for the aquaculture of marine organisms, including invertebrates. Inorganic macronutrients such as calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) are invariably high as the reactor substrate, a form of limestone, slowly dissolves and releases these elements to the system water. Alkalinity, here defined as the ability of marine water to resist a change in pH, usually is very high due to the same reason; bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO32-) anions are released together with the above mentioned kations. Potassium (K+) and trace elements such as iodine (I-, IO3-), which are important for a variety of biological processes, can be maintained using high quality artificial salts, water changes and supplementation. Calcium (Ca2+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+) in mg L-1 and alkalinity in mEq L-1 in a typical DyMiCo system. Error bars show standard deviations (N=2). Photograph by Tim Wijgerde Ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-) and phosphate (PO43-) in mg L-1 in a typical DyMiCo system. Error bars show standard deviations (N=2). Photograph by Tim Wijgerde Plankton-friendly pumps A related issue which I should address is the usage of aquarium pumps, more specifically return pumps. High pressure and cavitation produced by these devices could damage a significant proportion of the resident plankton, thereby negating the plankton-saving properties of DyMiCo. Although plankton-friendly pumps are on the market today, these are not yet mainstream for (home) aquaria. These pumps are currently in use in various industries and are able to pump fluids without affecting resident particles. A solution to this problem is making use of large propellers which can displace large water volumes at low rotational speeds. Low RPM pumps prevent damage to sensitive particles such as plankton, and are highly cost efficient. For example, a propeller with a diameter of 30 cm (one feet) can displace roughly 50,000 L or 13,000 USG per hour, at a power usage of only 30 Watts! Of course, this solution is not applicable to home aquaria, for which small high RPM pumps have been designed. In these small systems, pumps that do not produce pressure or cavitation may have significant value in terms of saving plankton. A modified outboard motor generates strong water motion at low energy cost. In addition, damage to plankton may be reduced. Photograph by Tim Wijgerde Downscaling DyMiCo At this moment, a downscaled version of the DyMiCo system is being developed for use in home aquaria. If such a small reactor yields the same results as its larger brothers, it could potentially revolutionize the marine aquarium hobby. Not only is this system a lot more economical in terms of energy and water usage, the husbandry of marine organisms would be greatly improved. Fish, shrimp and jellyfish breeders may also benefit from this system, as Kreisels are no longer required to prevent larvae from being killed. The protein skimmer as a filtration device, which has been the backbone of the marine aquarium hobby for decades, may lose ground over the next few years. We may, in the end, return to nature's principles and rely on bacteria and the geochemical processes they drive. I did not expound on all details surrounding DyMiCo, as my goal with this article was to provide the reader with a brief overview of this technology and what it can do for aquaculture and the aquarium hobby. In the second installment of this article, I will present some of the results that have been obtained with this technology over the last year. More specifically, I will address the aquaculture of live plankton and several commercially important marine invertebrates. Tim Wijgerde, M.Sc. is a Ph.D. candidate at Aquaculture and Fisheries, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University. His research focuses on the heterotrophy of scleractinian corals. To find out more about the Dynamic Mineral Control technology, visit the official website at www.ecodeco.eu. References Feldman KS, Place AA, Joshi S, White G (2011) Bacterial counts in reef aquarium water: baseline values and modulation by carbon dosing, protein skimming, and granular activated carbon filtration. Advanced Aquarist, March 2010. <http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/3/aafeature> Heidelberg KB, O'Neil KL, Bythell JC, Sebens KP (2010) Vertical distribution and diel patterns of zooplankton abundance and biomass at Conch Reef, Florida Keys (USA). J Plankt Res 32:75-91 Heidelberg KB, Sebens KP, Purcell JE (2004) Composition and sources of near reef zooplankton on a Jamaican forereef along with implications for coral feeding. Coral Reefs 23:263-276 Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ, Hooten AJ, Steneck RS, Greenfield P, Gomez E, Harvell CD, Sale PF, Edwards AJ, Caldeira K, Knowlton N, Eakin CM, Iglesias-Prieto R, Muthiga N, Bradbury RH, Dubi A, Hatziolos ME (2007) Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science 318:1737-1742 Hughes TP, Baird AH, Bellwood DR, Card M, Connolly SR, Folke C, Grosberg R, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Jackson JBC, Kleypas J, Lough JM, Marshall P, Nyström M, Palumbi SR, Pandolfi JM, Rosen B, Roughgarden J (2003) Climate Change, Human Impacts, and the Resilience of Coral Reefs. Science 301:929-933 Osinga R, Schutter M, Griffioen B, Wijffels RH, Verreth JAJ, Shafir S, Henard S, Taruffi M, Gili C, Lavorano S (2011) The biology and economics of coral growth. Mar Biotechnol. 13:658-671 Palardy JE, Grottoli AG, Matthews KA (2006) Effect of naturally changing zooplankton concentrations on feeding rates of two coral species in the Eastern Pacific. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 331:99-107 Wabnitz C, Taylor M, Green E, Razak T (2003) From Ocean to Aquarium. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK Yahel R, Yahel G, Berman T, Jaffe JS, Genin A (2005) Diel pattern with abrupt crepuscular changes of zooplankton over a coral reef. Limnol Oceanogr 50:930-944 View the full article

Just clean my skimmer cup 2 day ago, and now it is black again.. Wow

Some more coral pics to share, taken with my iphone . This monti was given to me by tench and i am glad that it has grow so much now.

This is a reefing essential especially for a SPS tank !

Just replace my dymax PL light to a new LED PL light which i bought from oversea.. Interestingly the chaeto is still growing very well, and it is so bright now that i can see my external refuguim is fill with alot of Amphipod and other pods..

Recently just try out this P04 remover from P04 X4 which claim to be much more effective in removing phosphate than other media ? The media is rather smaller as compare to other P04 remover in the market, so i have to install a filter sock just in case it slip pass the mesh .. First day of trying out my P04 drop from 50 to 9 on my Hanna tester !

you can run the chiller together with your main pump, and maybe you would like to add a wave maker as well in case the pump fail and there is still circulation in the water. Ideally, the chiller pump should be run Interdependently since having a correct flow will enhance the efficiency of the chiller. i.e ; too strong a pump through , the chiller will kick in more often, too slow a pump flow the chiller will kick in run longer than it should ect.. Maybe you can monitor for some time and see.

Click through to see the images. In their paper "Indirect consequences of fishing: reduction of coralline algae suppresses juvenile coral abundance," researchers O’Leary, Potts, Braga and McClanahan elaborate on this finding. Scientists initially observed that if large predatory fish were removed from the reef, sea urchin populations exploded. While this doesn't necessarily sound bad, certain sea urchins feed on crustose coralline algae (CCA) and one interesting thing about CCA is that certain coral larvae species respond and settle out onto CCA. Therefore, the less CCA around a reef, the less potential there is for some species of coral to settle properly. O'Leary and others studied three types of fisheries management systems: Closed: no fishing allowed Gear-restricted: fishing allowed Open-access: fishing allowed In these management systems, they evaluated the taxonomic makeup of local CCA in addition to correlation of four families of coral to given species of CCA. The research team found that the CCA cover for both the gear-restricted and open-access reefs were half of what it was on closed reefs and that the urchin populations were also significantly larger for the gear-restricted and open-access reefs as well. They also observed a positive correlation between Hydrolithon spp. CCA and four families of coral: Agariciidae, Faviidae, Pocilloporidae, and Poritidae. These four families of coral "preferred" settling on Hydrolithon spp. crustose coralline algae. Based on the findings, O'Leary, Potts and others postulate that over-fishing reefs could not only have an effect on local urchin populations but on coral settlement too. Fisheries need to take this finding into consideration when drawing up rules and regulations for fishing practices in these areas. View the full article

Clementi C328 also can find the wave maker

A new species of prehistoric crocodile has been discovered. The extinct creature, nicknamed "Shieldcroc" due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today's crocodiles. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Aquarium circulation have trended towards internal propeller pumps for their high flow rates and controllability, but we may see a slight shift back towards closed-loops with advanced, variable-speed, highly-controllable pumps such as these. The extreme head pressure capabilities of these pumps may also open up numerous other implementation possibilities. The prices, however, are not for the feint of heart. According to Deltec distributor AQ-arium Solutions (Barcelona, Spain), the E-Flow pumps feature: Electronic Control Low power consumption Super silent Extremely low heat transfer Operation in "cold", which prevents the jamming by calcification Display of power consumption True effect "waves" * No metal parts in contact with water Can be used submerged or dry Can be controlled with a Deltec programmer (available in March 2012) * * To produce effects of waves, it is necessary to have the controller. The three "E-Flow" models: E-FLOW 10 Min / Max consumption: 20/80 watt Min / Max Flow: 5000/9000 lph (1300-2400 gph) Maximum working height: 5.8m (19 feet) Connections In / Out: 40/32 mm (1.5/1.25") Price: 710 € ($940 USD, 1/31/12) E-FLOW 12 Min / Max consumption: 25/130 watt Min / Max Flow: 5000/12000 lph (1300-3200 gph) Maximum working height: 8m (26 feet) Connections In / Out: 40/40 mm (1.5/1.5") Price: 860 € ($1130 USD, 1/31/12) E-FLOW 16 Min / Max consumption: 25/180 watt Min / Max Flow: 5000/14000 lph (1300-3700 gph) Maximum working height: 8.9m (29 feet) Connections In / Out: 50/40 mm (2/1.5") Available March 2012 Price: 990 € ($1300 USD, 1/31/12) Advanced Aquarist thanks reefnews.eu for the heads up about this news. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Quick Specs Dimensions: 10.0 x 7.3 x 1.9 inches (25.5 x 18.5 x 4.8 cm) Weight: 5 lbs (2.3 kg) Body Color: Matte silver anodized and optional high gloss "pure" white (pictured) The LED array consists of: 10 x Cree XM-L white 4 x Cree XP-G Blue (465-485 nm) 4 x Cree XP-G Royal Blue (450-465 nm) 2 x Unspecified "Special" 7000-8000° Kelvin LEDs Loss-free 120º lens Total Output: 66 watts Programmability: 4 differently assembled circuits separated into three groups for individual programming. Dimming is controllable from 0-100%. Cooling: Passive and active cooling employing stepwise (variable) temperature controller. Recommended Aquarium Size: 20 x 20 x 20 inches (50 x 50 x 50 cm) The thermally-controlled cooling fan is located on top. The user interface is located on the front bezel. Promotional Literature provided by Giesemann GIESEMANN´s brand new TESZLA LED is an innovative lighting solution for all LED lovers. TESZLA features an unusual, elegant design and its high quality functional aluminium housing contains all the important functional elements. Two versions of TESZLA are available - the standard version with a matt anodized aluminium finish and the special “pure” edition with a shiny white powder coating. Each version features black varnished glass elements. LED technology made in Germany When developing our LED systems every tiny little detail was important to us. All the components including the housing, the thermo-elements and the electronics board – the heart of each TESZLA – was made by us in Germany. Fully automated board assembly and robot-controlled manufacture allow for compe titive production whilst, at the same time, ensuring extremely high manufacturing quality and construction precision. Every TESZLA light is equipped with a micro-controller which monitors the internal operational temperature of the LED. Once a predetermined temperature has been reached, an integrated fan is turned on. The speed of this fan is adjusted depending on the heat generation. This ensures that every light can always work under optimal conditions and will not be damaged due to overheating. Fascinating light output The selection and assembly of the light boards alone prove that the TESZLA series features the most up-to-date technology. Every group of lights is controlled its own output driver. All the driver circuits are controlled via an ultra-modern processor which monitors all lighting and operational parameters so as to ensure constant colour and light values. Thanks to the latest XLamp® XM-L High-Voltage LED from CREE, the system uses less electricity and provides an impressive amount of light. Every board features a combination of CREE XM-L white LEDs, CREE XP-G blue and royal blue LEDs as well as two special LEDs – the entire output is 66 Watts. With regard to the optics we avoided using additional lenses as this means that a lot of the light output is lost. TESZLA is therefore equipped with a loss-free 120° lens which provides the aquarium with the entire amount of light emitted. Contrary to many other lighting systems with lenses, there is no danger of coral being bleached by concentrated beams. GIESEMANN’S many years of experience come into play when developing this light and when defining the light distribution. Integrated mirrors reflect all light beams onto the surface to be illuminated and thus guarantee perfect lighting. Fully automated lighting program We constructed TESZLA so that it only requires a few programming steps to enable the perfect light simulation throughout the day. The board features 4 differently assembled circuits with a total of 20 LEDs which are separated into three groups for individual programming. Select the desired light output for each colour group to create your personal mix of colours. Once you have confirmed the colour selection, the light will automatically start with the sunrise cycle and regulates the system at predefined times turning the desired light output up and down as required. During the night phase a moonlight simulation kicks in using the royal blue LED on a reduced setting. In addition to this, each TESZLA light features an interface to your existing aquarium computer thus making it possible to control each individual group of lights externally. This means that numerous lighting scenarios can be implemented depending on your computer. Modular assembly options TESZLA lights can be used in a variety of situations. For assembly on or above the aquarium we provide two options – attachment via an adjustable steel wire suspension or via an assembly bracket designed especially for the TESZLA series that attaches to the edge of the aquarium (available as an accessory). Extensive warranty As the TESZLA series is 100% made in Germany we are able to guarantee the highest performance and quality standards. At the same time we offer a simple replacement parts service so that your lighting does not become a disposable product. As with all GIESEMANN products, the TESZLA series has undergone extensive long-term testing. As the only TÜV certified company for aquarium illumination worldwide, we can therefore guarantee both the high standards and the safety of our products. That is why all our products come with a 24 month guarantee. Technical data and specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright 2011 –GIESEMANN – all rights reserved. Developed and assembled in Germany by Giesemann Lichttechnik GmbH Buerdestrasse 14 – D-41334 Nettetal View the full article

For those who wish to know and keep updated on what Reef systems has to offer , do check out this new sponsor section of theirs for regular updates of their quality products and information . They are located at ; Reef Systems & services Ltd 8 Boon Lay Way, #04 - 11, Trade Hub 21 Singapore 609964 http://www.reefsystems.sg Tel : 9137 2290 Ctc: Hui Shan Feel free to PM to them or send them an email for any query.