Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. ♪♫ “…Shook me all night long Yeah you shook me all night long…” ♪♫ is playing on the underwater speakers as divers in the shark cage stare out into the inky blue waiting. Slowly they begin to show up, the great whites, drawn in by the music of AC/DC. AC/DC? Great white shark tour operators like Matt Waller of Adventure Bay Charters based out of Port Lincoln, Australia have been experimenting with new ways to bring in great white sharks for their tour operations. Chumming the water, while effective, is falling out of style as it makes for a much more aggressive shark viewing experience for divers in dive cages. "We know the AC/DC music works best by trial-and-error, and we are doing more research to see what works best with different species of sharks," Waller told Adelaide Now in an interview earlier this week. The top two songs that seem to be the most effective are "Shook Me All Night Long" and, surprisingly enough "If You Want Blood." (via Australian Geographic, Outdoors, Action and Adventure) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Living Color's 9,000 Gallon Cylinder Tank Location: Corporate Headquarters Building in Raleigh, North Carolina Dimensions: 26′H x 8′ Diameter Cylinder Volume: 9,000 gallons (34,000 liters) Details provided by Living Color At nearly 30 feet tall this amazing acrylic cylinder aquarium is among the tallest in North America and when full of water, it weighs over 83,000lbs. From design to installation the complex endeavor took over 6 months to complete. The stunning aquarium provides a focal point in the lobby of a major corporation. The one of a kind aquarium includes a towering 26′ tall artificial reef structure fabricated in durable epoxy and decorated with over 1000 museum-quality urethane corals. All the aquarium plumbing is integrated into the reef structure so no fittings are visible. The impressive aquarium sits atop a specially engineered earthquake proof steel and concrete base. Water quality is maintained by a sophisticated life support system. Large aquariums typically use high pressure sand filter for mechanical filtration which require frequent backwashing. However to conserve water, we selected high pressure pleated cartridge filters as the primary form of mechanical filtration. Large commercial fluidized bed filters, a 10 foot tall protein skimmer, 2x 1000 watt UV sterilizers and a titanium-plated water chilled heat exchanger are some other major components used to maintain the aquarium’s water quality. The life support system is located in an 600 square foot room on the second floor above the aquarium. Color changing high intensity lighting LED lighting create a dramatic effect while a glass elevator behind the aquarium allows you to enjoy the fishes as you ascend. Construction Photos Day 1: Installation of base and artificial reef structure Day 2: Completion of artifical reef structure Day3: Arrival of cylinder aquarium Day 3: Lowering the aquarium onto its base Day 3: The 9,000 gallon cylinder aquarium in place View the full article

Click through to see the images. A coral is about to die. It has spent well over a week at 6°C above normal water temperatures and it is growing weaker by the hour. The symbiotic zooxanthellae algae has already been expelled and it cannot take much more of the heat. Meanwhile its neighbor is also under heat stress and it too has bleached, but it is holding its own against the warm temperatures. It survives five additional weeks after its neighbor gave up and died. Scientists think they know why. Researchers led by Paul Falkowski of Rutgers University and Dan Tchernov of the University of Haifa in Israel designed this exact experiment to understand why certain colonies of coral better handle the heat than other corals. In their experiment they subjected two different Red Sea corals, Seriatopora hystrix (birds nest) and Stylophora pistillata, to elevated water temperatures and monitored the levels of caspase in each coral colony. Caspase is an enzyme (cysteine protease) that plays a direct role in programmed cell death (apoptosis) and necrosis. The researchers hypothesized that the coral colonies that could handle the high temperatures better were able to somehow regulate the caspase activity levels within their tissue. What they found was that corals that bleached and died showed a sharp increase in their caspase levels followed by programmed cell death where the coral tissue essentially “melted” off the skeleton. Those corals that survived, however, showed a marked increase in caspase levels to a point and then the levels dropped. Following this discovery, the researchers subjected two other “wilting” coral species to identical circumstances but then treated them with a caspase inhibitor. The corals treated with the inhibitor survived. “The coral’s survival depends upon whether its cells initiate a self-destruct program in response to its algae’s stress signals [and the] species that can stand the heat will likely be those that populate coral reefs of the future.” While people cannot go out in a boat and dose large areas of the reef with caspase inhibitors, this research does help scientists better understand what is going on at the cellular level when a coral bleaches and dies. (via ScienceNews) View the full article

Click through to see the images. A coral is about to die. It has spent well over a week at 6°C above normal water temperatures and it is growing weaker by the hour. The symbiotic zooxanthellae algae has already been expelled and it cannot take much more of the heat. Meanwhile its neighbor is also under heat stress and it too has bleached, but it is holding its own against the warm temperatures. It survives five additional weeks after its neighbor gave up and died. Scientists think they know why. Researchers led by Paul Falkowski of Rutgers University and Dan Tchernov of the University of Haifa in Israel designed this exact experiment to understand why certain colonies of coral better handle the heat than other corals. In their experiment they subjected two different Red Sea corals, Seriatopora hystrix (birds nest) and Stylophora pistillata, to elevated water temperatures and monitored the levels of caspase in each coral colony. Caspase is an enzyme (cysteine protease) that plays a direct role in programmed cell death (apoptosis) and necrosis. The researchers hypothesized that the coral colonies that could handle the high temperatures better were able to somehow regulate the caspase activity levels within their tissue. What they found was that corals that bleached and died showed a sharp increase in their caspase levels followed by programmed cell death where the coral tissue essentially “melted” off the skeleton. Those corals that survived, however, showed a marked increase in caspase levels to a point and then the levels dropped. Following this discovery, the researchers subjected two other “wilting” coral species to identical circumstances but then treated them with a caspase inhibitor. The corals treated with the inhibitor survived. “The coral’s survival depends upon whether its cells initiate a self-destruct program in response to its algae’s stress signals [and the] species that can stand the heat will likely be those that populate coral reefs of the future.” While people cannot go out in a boat and dose large areas of the reef with caspase inhibitors, this research does help scientists better understand what is going on at the cellular level when a coral bleaches and dies. (via ScienceNews) View the full article

i gave up on my CRS tank now and go back to my sexy shrimp.. Maybe you should join too lol..

Click through to see the images. Scientists attribute the complete lack of observed coral bleaching to the intermittent rains in the region. The rainfall has brought welcomed relief to the high temperatures common during this (their summer) season. The reefs at the Gulf of Mannar are predominantly shallow (less than 15ft/4.5m), so these reefs are naturally warm year-round (29oC/84oF) and more vulnerable to temperature variations. Over the past decade it is common for surface temperatures to reach over 31oC (88oF) and as high as 33.5oC (92oF) during April to June! Researchers observe when water temperatures exceed 31oC for an extended period of time, corals start to bleach in the Gulf of Mannar. The rains, however, have depressed temperatures this year and consequently no coral bleaching has been observed - the first time no bleaching has been observed since researchers began regular monitoring of these reefs. Furthermore, half of the corals that bleached in 2010 have recovered due to the cooler temperatures this year. And in even more good news, the favorable environmental condition has also helped corals successfully spawn in March, 2011. (via The New Indian Express) View the full article

Go back to marine again ?

As seawater is collected locally , the salinity tend to be lower than places where corals is blooming and salinity is much higher.. That's also explain why Singapore dont have much corals on our shore... NSW is good for FOWLR tank or small volume water change,but if you are doing a large water change you can add in some salt mix to bring up the salinity . It is always good to test the salinity and water parameter of your NSW during your water change since NSW tend to have lower Ca,mg and kh as compare to saltmix.

To survive temperatures below -50 ° C and gale-force winds above 180 km/h during the Antarctic winter, Emperor penguins form tightly packed huddles and -- as has recently been discovered -- the penguins actually coordinate their movements to give all members of the huddle a chance to warm up. View the full article

The comparison of the light is usually measure against the lumen or PAR output of the light . You can find the PAR reading by using a PAR meter , or comparing with what the manufacturer said about their lighting. The wattage mean the power consumption of the equipments so lesser the watt = lesser power consumption = saving $$ .. The lumen over Watt comparison show the efficiency of various type of lighting.

Chiller reserved by matt0005

ctc me at 9231 6904 for fast deal

Click through to see the images. On May 19, Advanced Aquarist reported that Banger's Berghia nudibranch breeding book is available from Premium Aquatics and that those interested in learning how to breed them may benefit from the information published within its pages. After posting about the new book, I ordered a copy, as I was curious about his breeding setup and techniques. 'Breeding Berghia Nudibranches' is a 140 page black and white book documenting how to rear Berghia nudibranchs from egg strand to adult. Title: Breeding Berghia Nudibranches - The Best Kept Secret Author: Dene Banger Book: 6" x 9", color cover, black and white interior, 140 pages Publisher: Self-published, CreateSpace, April 4, 2011 Language: English ISBN-10: 1461065674 ISBN-13: 978-1461065678 Dene Banger was the owner of Sea Life Aquaculture Inc. based out of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where in addition to breeding seahorses and Banggai cardinalfish, they bred Berghia nudibranchs by the thousands. The book did not contain an author biography, so here is what Amazon has to say about the author: "Dene Banger is an experienced saltwater hobbyist that turned a passion into a small aquaculture business. Applying his experience from years of automotive engineering with his passion for breeding marine organisms he designed and built his own systems and has successfully bred several species of seahorses, the Banggai Cardinalfish and the Berghia nudibranch." Banger was also active on the Sea Slug Forum for a couple of years and had many discussions about the Berghia nudibranch with other professionals on the listserv. As mentioned in the book, the Berghia nudibranch was reclassified in 2005 from Berghia verrucicornis to Aeolidiella stephanieae. The author, however, continues using the old genus classification throughout the book since this is how most reef hobbyists know them. I will too for consistency's sake. The "Berghia" nudibranch: Aeolidiella stephanieae formerly known as Berghia verrucicornis. For those new to the subject, the Aeolidiella stephanieae nudibranch (colloquially referred to as the Berghia nudibranch in the hobby) is used to deal with Aiptasia spp. anemone infestations. Their sole food source is the Aiptasia anemone, and they eat them with gusto. They are hermaphroditic (each specimen has both male and female genitalia) and readily breed in captivity so long as there are at least two adults. It is a challenge to grow them to saleable lengths of ½ to ¾ of an inch (12 to 19 mm) in a significant quantity because it takes 4-6 weeks from hatching to reach this size. A breeder needs to have a breeding and grow-out system conducive to retaining large numbers of the tiny Berghia larvae without them accidentally being sucked into the filtration system. Another requirement is to have a large population of Aiptasia anemones to feed their voracious appetites. Herein lays the challenge. As the title suggests, "Breeding Berghia Nudibranches" documents the system design and maintenance for breeding Berghia nudibranchs for fun and profit. The first 30 or so pages deal with basic Berghia anatomy and physiology, husbandry, marketing, and shipping. The remaining ~100 pages deal with system design and maintenance for Berghia and its Aiptasia food source. Three systems are presented: a hobbyist system, an intermediate system, and a semi-commercial system. Additionally, a system is described for growing Aiptasia spp. anemones as the Berghia's sole food source. The book delivers on what the author states: it shows how to setup a simple, modular, hobbyist system for breeding a few hundred Berghia. It also demonstrates how to increase the Berghia output by increasing the number of breeding modules that plug into the existing breeding setup. Each breeding module connects to a central sump that provides filtration (skimmer, heater, etc). Ten modules plug into one common sump, and each module can produce 100-400 saleable Berghia every 4-6 weeks. By adding more modules and sumps (when needed), the hobbyist can scale their system(s) to meet demand. The overall design is straight forward, and planning went into making it simple, pluggable, and mobile. If there is a problem with a module, it is easy to remove it from the system and perform maintenance on it without affecting other breeding tanks. Parts for the system can be purchased from a local fish store, online, and from a local hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes. The construction is written in detail; Anyone handy with power tools can put a system together in a weekend, assuming he or she has all the required parts at their disposal. After setup, it is a waiting game until the farmed Aiptasia population increases to a point where it can sustain a breeding population of Berghia nudibranchs. According to the book, the real trick behind the entire system is scaling the Aiptasia anemone farm in order to feed the growing Berghia population. If Aiptasia output cannot keep pace with Berghia demand, one will have either to severely cull the existing Berghia population or liquidate the excess Berghia at below market prices in order to downsize to a manageable level. It is not as if a breeder can go to the local fish store and buy a couple hundred Aiptasia anemones for their Berghia to eat as a hobbyist can with goldfish for an Oscar. The breeder has to stay ahead of the game at all times. Banger explains how to induce the existing Aiptasia population to reproduce at a faster than normal rate in order to scale-up its output. It is a bit odd wanting Aiptasia to spread and grow faster (?!), but since they are the sole food source for Berghia, this is a high priority. What is interesting to me is how large the Aiptasia farm needs to be in relation to the number of Berghia breeding modules in a breeder's system. As an example, the author provides a floor plan for a semi-commercial setup with ten Berghia breeding modules producing a combined total of 1000 - 4000 saleable Berghia monthly. One-eighth of the floor plan is the Berghia breeding and grow-out system. Another eighth is worktables, storage, and a brine shrimp hatchery for feeding the Aiptasia. One fourth is for boxing and shipping. The other half of the floor plan is the Aiptasia farm. Berghia eat a lot of Aiptasia! Aiptasia sp. anemone. Photo by Dana Riddle. Since Banger states that his design is new and unique compared to how others are breeding Berghia, I decided to check the Marine Breeding Initiative (MBI) website to see if there are hobbyists using similar methods for breeding Berghia or other organisms like shrimp. In all cases I found hobbyists using bare-bottom tanks or tanks with simple sponge filters with a bit of crushed coral substrate. Banger's system, while basic, is more involved than I have seen others using at the MBI. A very basic view of his setup would be akin to an undergravel filter system with crushed coral substrate with a way to pull water out from the interstitial space under the filter plate. This water then flows to a central sump containing filtration equipment and then back to the larval tank. While I cannot comment on whether this system works as advertised, it is certainly more "advanced" than what hobbyists are using. Banger states this is how he ran his Berghia breeding business for years in Canada, producing a couple thousand Berghia monthly. Now for the things I did not like about the book. These are all editorial in nature. I mention these problems since I want to present both the good and the bad so that the reader can make an informed decision about spending $20 for this book. Here were some of the issues I found: Punctuation mistakes, run-on sentences, and misspellings were evident in the text. One notable misspelling is the plural of nudibranch (it's 'nudibranchs' not 'nudibranches'). The title of the book even suffers from this misspelling. The author repeats himself at times - sometimes mere paragraphs apart. I found myself saying, "I just read that on the previous page!" on more than one occasion. There are a couple of chapters that span only a page to a page and a half that could be consolidated. This was especially prevalent in the beginning of the book but less so once the author began describing the design of his systems. Many of the photos placed within the text were not resized proportionally, which made them look stretched. A number of the Berghia photos were skewed in this fashion including the one on the cover. The interior photos were all black and white. It is because the author chose to self-publish instead of using a publishing house that these issues exist. Had the book been published through a traditional publishing house, the aforementioned problems should have been resolved. CreateSpace (an Amazon.com subsidiary), which Banger chose to publish his book, gives an individual the tools to self-publish their works, get placement on Amazon.com, and become listed in additional book distribution channels. Anyone can publish their own book using CreateSpace. The downside is that the author is completely responsible for everything that a traditional publishing house would normally take care of: proof reading, cover art and design, marketing, sales, distribution, etc. I do not want the reader to walk away from this review believing that self-published works are unacceptable. Quite the opposite, I wish more hobbyists would choose this route! Self-publication is a viable way for individuals to distribute information in a consolidated format on specific topics. April Kirkendoll, Martin Moe, Jr. and Advanced Aquarist's editor Terry Siegel chose the self-published route years ago when information was not easily available in the marine aquarium hobby. Self-published works may not be the most polished product, but they are accessible all-in-one volumes. The alternative is for individuals to piece together information from numerous forum posts, personal emails, conversations, articles, etc. into a method for doing something specific like breeding Berghia, building equipment, or caring for azooxanthellate corals - all of which is time intensive, confusing, and error prone. The criticism about the black and white photos is a bit nit-picky, as I have grown accustomed to aquarium publications having full color interiors. This can be forgiven, however, as I am certain Banger is trying to hit a certain price point with his book. Publishing the interior photos with 100% color would have added significantly to the cost, especially since the book is self-published. Even with these caveats, I believe that this book is still beneficial to the hobby, and persons interested in breeding Berghia would find this book useful if nothing more than using it as a springboard to learn a new technique. At this point, it looks as though Mr. Banger is no longer in the aquaculture business, so maybe this is why he has chosen to publish his "best kept secret" for the general public. Incidentally, the book is also available from Amazon.com (aff) for the same price that Premium Aquatics is selling it for on their website (an Advanced Aquarist sponsor). We highly recommend that if you do purchase the book, you purchase it from our sponsors as they keep this website free for everyone to read. View the full article

1) Deltec Calcium Reactor PF601 with free C02 tank ( Need to top up gas ) ,solenoid valve and extra Rowalith C+ Ca media and Deltec mg media. PLUG AND PLAY ! - All these for $ 400.00 This CR is a little bit under size for my tank ,maybe Switching to balling method instead. CR is currently still running in my system. For Aquariums up to: Heavy Stocking and High Illumination 1350 Ltrs (300gals) Normal Stocking and Normal Illumination2000 Ltrs (444 gals) Footprint Dimensions: L: 240mm W: 180mm H: 610mm 2) Dolphin Mini chiller MC789 - Used only once to test so can consider it brand new with box - $ 60.00 Initally bought it to set up for my CRS tank, but gave up the idea instead. Tested on a 20 ~ 30 litres nano tank and is able to chill down t0 3 degree . ** Photo extract from internet 3) Coral Life Turbo Twist 12 X ( 36 W ) , used for about 6month - $180.00 Reason for selling, upgraded to a 55W laguna UV. Viewing / collection in CCK ave 3, or near clementi MRT during week day workind hours.

Click through to see the images. Hermit crabs are found in just about all reef tanks, key members of the 'clean up crew' and often introduced after a comment on a web forum about how you should 'chuck in a handful of hermits' to any new tank with an algae problem. Hermits are often the most hardworking, undervalued and unloved residents of our tanks. In this article I hope to share with you my love of these amiable, remarkably well designed and often brilliantly coloured characters. Blue Legged Hermit Crab Clibanarius tricolor. A main-stay in the aquarium trade, also known as the Dwarf Blue Legged Hermit Crab, C. tricolor is considered an essential aquarium resident by many, though several authors warn against creating too much competition between specimens for limited food resources and available shells by keeping stocking densities low - 1 or fewer per 10 gallons for example (Shimek, R., 2009). </h2><h2>Taxonomy More closely related to Squat Lobsters and Porcelain Crabs than they are to the true crabs (brachyurids), six families of hermit crabs are recognised in the superfamily Paguroidea, making over 1100 recorded species: Coenobitidae - 2 genera of terrestrial hermit crabs including the largest land living arthropod the Coconut Crab (Birgus latro). Diogenidae - 20 genera of 'left handed hermits'; includes well known aquarium species such as the Blue Legged Hermit (Clibanarius tricolor). Paguridae - 76 genera including the Red Legged hermit Crabs, Paguristes cadenati and P. Digueti. Parapaguridae -10 genera of deep water hermits, some associated with deep water hydrothermal vents. Pylochelidae - 10 genera of hermits that show little interest in shells, but often choose wood, live sponges or bamboo. Pylojacquesidae - 2 genera with one species each. Biology Hermits are found throughout the seas and oceans of the world apart from the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Many terrestrial genera have fascinating lives and are important in the pet trade in their own right. This article will focus on marine dwelling hermit crabs. The fundamental and most obvious feature of hermit crabs is their dependency upon a rigid structure for shelter and protection from predation. In most cases this is a shell from a gastropod such as a Whelk, Triton or Cerith for example, though not exclusively so. Hermits from the order Pylochelidae have been recorded as using Tusk Shells, lengths of bamboo or even living sponges. Species such as Discorsopagurus schmitti from the Pagurids inhabit the tubes of tubeworms such as Sabellids and occasionally enter tanks as hitchhikers on live rock. Blue Knuckle Hermit Crab - Calcinus elegans. This highly attractive species should come with a health warning - it often targets useful species of snails. In this example, this specimen killed a Mexican Turbo prior to taking its shell. C. elegans is often bought by novices as a small specimen and is regularly 'sumped' as time passes. Some species have specific shell requirements such as Ciliopagurus strigatus, the Cone Shell Hermit Crab. This dandy of the group, with its yellow and red 'stocking' striped legs is often seen in the trade and sometimes sold as the Hawiain Hermit. Needless to say, hermits rarely wait for their future 'homes' to become free through natural causes - original inhabitants are commonly picked out and eaten prior to the hermit moving in. Occasionally, examples of 'vacancy chains' are noted, often in terrestrial species, where the largest specimen moves into a larger shell, thus freeing up its vacated shell, the next largest moves in and so on and all specimens benefit. This is sometimes seen in aquaria, when overnight all an aquarists hermits have 'upgraded'. Living in a borrowed shell offers a significant benefits - hermits are freed from the biological 'effort' of growing and maintaining their own hard carapace as other arthropods are required to do, though this does limit hermits to habitats where 'homes' are available. Hermits will fight and remove smaller specimens from shells where 'upgrades' are scarce and a hermit without a shell is easily picked off by predators. Moving to a larger shell is required when the hermit moults its rigid exoskeleton; often this is the first time aquarists become aware of the hidden morphology of hermits as the ghostly remains are found. The inability to move into a larger shell will slow growth as well as increase competition. Red Sea Anemone Hermit Crab - D.tinctor. Sporting five Calliactid anemones this crab from the Red Sea may be unwieldy but is certainly well protected. Some hermits such as the Anemone Hermit Crabs (Dardanus pedunculatus for example) take protection to the next level and recruit anemones (Calliactis sp.) to provide protection from predators. The anemones benefit by snaring particles of the crab's food. A crab will keep its anemones with it as it changes shells and will collect others when the opportunity is presented. Hermits use two sets of legs for walking; the others are for moving their bodies in their shells and gripping the shell interior. The pincers (chelipeds) can be used as a 'door' or operculum to block entry to the shell when the hermit has retreated. Reproduction is by dispersal of free swimming larvae from eggs carried by the female. Reports of spawning in home aquariums are not uncommon. The 'shrimp like' free swimming juveniles will go through several moults before settling and looking for their first shell. Hermits are omnivorous, enjoying many algae species, uneaten fish food and dead animals. Many aquarists will provide the occasional treat for their hermits, such as a piece of mussel or cockle, though many rely on the hermit's ability to scavenge food. Hermits are often sold for their algae eating ability, but beware - many species of algae seem to be ignored by hermits; Briopsis, Asparagopsis and Valonia all seem to be passed over. It would be better to treat the cause of the algae rather than throwing hermits at the problem. Conservation in the Wild In general, marine hermits are not considered as threatened, though imports for the aquarium trade are significant. Collection of the Blue Legged Hermit Crab from waters off Florida has caused concerns for some authors. The removal of over nine million individuals in 2009 has led some to suspect that important algae control on the reefs will not occur - though this has yet to be proven. Calcinus tibicen. Maybe reef safe, but certainly not 'snail safe'. Note the left 'pincer' eclipsing the right - the key morphological feature of this order. Reef Compatibility Smaller hermits such as C. tricolor and the Red- Legged hermits (P. Cadenati, P. digueti) seem to be a main-stay of the trade and rightly so - dealing industriously with uneaten food and dead creatures. In large tanks removal of dead fish may be impossible - hermits along with other 'clean up crew' will perform this duty. In sensible numbers these hermits will cause a reef keeper no significant problems, apart from the occasional over exuberant removal of captured food from a sand dwelling coral such as Catalaphylla. At this point though, I should remind readers that in my experience ALL hermits may kill other shell dwelling creatures, Ceriths are particular favoured by C. tricolor, so reef safe doesn't mean snail safe. Larger species such as C. elegans are reputedly reef safe, though seeing one destroying a fragile hard coral as it drags a large shell across the reefscape can raise the blood pressure somewhat, leading to the hermit being relegated to the sump. Significantly larger species such as the Giant Hermit Crab (Petrochirus diogenes) and the Halloween hermit crab (Ciliopagurus strigatus) are going to be a real threat due to their outright size and ability to damage corals and even knock over unsecured live rock. In most cases though the old adage seems true - some reefers have no problems, whilst others do, and key to keeping your hermits happy and your reef safe, is supplying empty shells in a range of sizes, ready for growing hermits to move into. Hermits will use a wide variety of shells, but in my experience a trip to the seaside to collect Common Periwinkles (Littorina littorea) and whelks such as the Dog Whelk (Nucella lapillus) is well worth it. Murex, Ceriths and Top Shells also make good homes. As noted earlier, without sufficient empty shells and food, hermits will not prosper and for this reason aquarists should be encouraged to avoid the 'throw a load in' approach and only add a few hermits at a time. I suspect many hermits starve in today's low nutrient tanks and the addition of hermits is carried out as a 'just in case' strategy, i.e. if there's too much waste the hermits will live and deal with it, if there's not enough food then the aquarist is succeeding in keeping a low nutrient system and the hermits perish. The outlook for many 'janitors' is equally grim, millions of snails commonly sold as 'Turbos' will encounter a similar fate - assuming the hermits don't eat them first of course! Dardanus lagopodes. A species not commonly seen in the aquarium trade. Hermits are very sensitive to copper based medications, but are generally considered tolerant of less than perfect water conditions, being often found in tidal in shore habitats in the wild rather than in more pristine reef conditions. The Joy of Hermits Hermits offer no end of amusement and their antics can provide much entertainment. I feed my hermits with the occasional tablet of Spirulina algae; the merest whiff of these treats in the water will cause hermits to hurl themselves from the decor and race across the substrate. A lucky hermit will then grab the tablet and not let go despite the attentions of a Tang or two that no doubt are grateful someone is holding the algae steady in the current. Reef keeping is replete with these simple pleasures and hermits provide so many; they are cheap, durable, often long-lived and useful. Seeing a well known hermit sporting a new shell one morning is always a pleasant sight and is a sign that things are going as they ought. Hermit proofing a tank need not be difficult, if you accept their nature and their clumsy ways by securing rockwork and accepting potential damage to fragile corals then a hermit tank can be rewarding and the larger species can be kept with ease in a suitably sized tank. So celebrate your hermit crabs, enjoy them for the marvellous creatures they are; look after them and their needs and they will keep doing what they do for many years to come. References "Hermit Crab." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 29 May 2011. Marine Invertebrates, R. Shimek, TFH, 2004. Coral Reef Guide - Red Sea, E. Lieske & R. Myers, Collins, 2004. View the full article

Baby clownfish use hearing to detect and avoid predator-rich coral reefs during the daytime, but new research demonstrates that ocean acidification could threaten this crucial behavior within the next few decades. View the full article

Baby clownfish use hearing to detect and avoid predator-rich coral reefs during the daytime, but new research demonstrates that ocean acidification could threaten this crucial behavior within the next few decades. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Every Thursday evening throughout the year the UH Sea Grant Hanauma Bay Education Program brings scientists and environmental leaders to share their work with the community in Hawai‘i. The talks, which are always free to the public, share cutting edge research on a wide range of topics important to Hawai‘i and beyond. Throughout the month of June UH Sea Grant, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawai‘i Aquaculture Program, will host Hawai‘i’s leading aquaculture experts. The fascinating talks will highlight specific projects as well as provide an overview of the aquaculture industry in the state. Aquaculture, the farming of ocean and freshwater plants and animals for human consumption, totaled $32.3 million in 2009 in Hawai‘i and is important economically, culturally, and as a source of food for the state. The June lectures include: June 2: “Aquaponics” by Glenn Martinez, Proprietor, Olomana Gardens June 9: “Aquaculture Activities in Hawai‘i” by Dr. Benny Ron, Aquaculture Program Coordinator, UH Aquaculture Program and Todd Low, Manager, Aquaculture Development Program, Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture June 16: “The Mediterranean Monk Seal” by Alex Aguilar, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pinniped Specialist Group* June 23: “Kona Blue” by Neil Sims, Co-Founder and Vice President of Research, Kona Blue Water Farms June 30: “Aquaculture Activities at Hawai‘i’s Natural Energy Laboratory”, Jan War, Operations Manager, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority The events begin at 6:30 p.m. in the theater at the Hanauma Bay Education Center. Parking after 5:30 p.m. is free at the bay. * this talk will not focus on aquaculture issues Contact: Cindy Knapman Phone: (808) 956-7410 lknapman@hawaii.edu The Hanauma Bay Education Program is administered by the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program with support and generous funding from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. The University of Hawai’i Sea Grant College Program is part of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s prestigious School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. It supports an innovative program of research, education and extension services directed to the improved understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources of the state, region and nation. Science serving Hawai’i and the Pacific for over 40 years. (via press release from Reef Watch Waikiki) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Using viruses to fight bacteria, called phage therapy, isn't anything new. However, this practice has not been applied to coral research ... until now. Eugene Rosenberg, a microbiologist at Tel Aviv University, has set out to prove that we can use viruses to help protect corals from bleaching. How? Scientists have observed some corals in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf are resistant to bleaching. Rosenberg proposes that the presence of a different form of bacteria is why these corals are able to withstand temperature rises. He states: “Coral has thousands of bacterial species living within it, just as humans do. These bacteria can help coral adapt to environmental changes.” According to Popsci.com: When water temperatures rise to 77º in the Red Sea, for instance, a nonresident species of bacteria called Vibrio coralliilyticus attacks the algae of some corals. But that same temperature spike may also trigger some of the corals’ bacteria to defend the algae, which could explain why certain corals aren’t susceptible to bleaching even at high temperatures. So if the reason for some bleaching events is bacterial infections - and if corals who fight off these infectious bacteria are resistant to bleaching - then why not attempt to kill these bacteria to prevent bleaching? Thus far, lab results have been positive: corals administered with bacteriophages have staved off bleaching, Furthermore, the bacteria-attacking viruses remain attached to the coral for up to two months, further protecting against bleaching. Rosenberg plans field studies at the Red Sea and Great Barrier Reef this summer. If all goes as expected, we could see large-scale application of this technique. At four million bacteriophages per gallon, 13 gallons of solution could treat up to 30 miles of coral reef. This concept could have direct ramifications for reefkeepers as well. It would be possible to perform bacteriophage in-tank treatments or "dips" for newly introduced corals to combat such diseases as Rapid Tissue Necrosis (RTN). A strain of Vibrio sp. is widely believed as the culprit for RTN. (via Popsci.com) View the full article

Click through to see the images. For a century following the asteroid impact 65 million years ago, the planet was shrouded in darkness by immense plums of ash clouds. Massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and wildfires rocked the Earth. With the dark clouds blocking out the sun, our planet first experienced drastic cooling, then a dramatic warming due to the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from volcanoes and wildfires. The life-sustaining Earth had suddenly turned into a hostile wasteland. Many plants and animals died off, never to be seen again. But coastal plankton had an ace up its sleeve. They formed cysts, laying in dormancy for a century of inhospitable conditions. Just as astonishing as their ability to survive is how effective plankton were able to repopulate after their long "sleep." Their revival helped to reform the base of the food chain and reshape the atmosphere for other life to survive. The study concludes plankton's amazing resiliency and resurgence aided the planet's recovery and likely saved Earth from more extinctions ... extinctions that would have drastically altered life as we know it today. Aquarists hold diatoms, dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria in contempt (and for good reason). But next time we set out to eradicate them from our tanks, perhaps we should whisper a little thank you to these life savers. Read the full study at Nature Communictions. View the full article

Murphy law does come knocking on our door at time, and i remember the time when we are almost done setting up the competition tank and about to leave, the "One day old" skimmer suddenly stop running Next thing we know when we try to rectify the problem, the pipe give way and the water came rushing out and trip all the other tank there Think of it as an opportunity to get ride of what you doesn't want and to re-plan what you always wanted to try / keep this time. Some time restart is not a bad thing after all keke,,

Click through to see the images. </h2><h2 style="text-align: left; "> Let's take a trip around the world! HONG KONG | This aquarium epitomizes Asian reef tanks: immaculate and high tech. Lights are a pair of Aqua Illumination Sol LEDs. Water movement is created by Tunze 6055 in pulse mode and Ecotech MP40 in lagoon mode working together to create waves. Fair warning: you may want to mute the music. LATVIA | Here's a lush 140L (37 gallon) reef that looks a lot bigger then it really is. The tank is lit by a DIY LED system consisting of 14 Cree XP-G White, 24 Cree XP-E Royal Blue, 12 UV Purple 405 nm - all powered by Mean Well ELN-60-48D Dimmable driver. A Vortech MP10 and Hydor Koralia Nano 1600 provide the current, and skimming is accomplished with a H&S Type A-110-F2000. UNITED KINGDOM | This "squat" tank measures 48"L x 30"W x 24"D and is beautifully aquascaped. While still young, it's easy to see how this reef will mature into a spectacular display. KUWAIT | You are looking at a professional 1000L (280g) acrylic aquarium. The system is "specially designed for SPS corals, with a combo of closed loop & TUNZE Turbelle water circulation system. Filtration is simply an open type (Berlin) sump with refugium, Deltec Skimmer, Deltec Calcium Reactor, Deltec Kalkwasser, Deltec UV Sterilizer, Phosban + Carbon fluidized reactors, Sfiligoi Chiller. Lighting fixture is a custom made 6*400 watt MH + 6*150 watt Super Actinic VHO. The entire system is controlled through an Aquatronica Control System. The system is mainly maintained with Brightwell, Deltec and Caribsea supplements." CHILE | Yes - reefkeeping is alive and well in South America. No information is available on this system, so let's just enjoy the video of a truly beautiful captive reef from south of the equator. THAILAND | Despite Thailand being home to some of the world's most beautiful natural reefs, it's still hard to resist having a reef of your own. Like the Chile tank, no details are provided on this system. It is reminiscent of healthy "old school" systems from the late 90s, with crushed corals, LPS and soft corals, and a "reef wall" aquascaping. Reminds me of the good ol' days! GREECE | In the birthplace of democracy, mixing LPS, SPS, and soft corals creates vibrant results. Vortech pumps make yet another appearance. No further information is available. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkr1_CAMhP4 GERMANY | This Aqua Medic Percula 120 bowfront system (468L/120g) is clearly a mature reef tank, with SPS corals growing to the very top of the water. View the full article

Click through to see the images. MACNA 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa will be one of the largest marine hobby events ever held. Join us for this spectacular event! Des Moines has been voted the best city to host a trade show with easy access from a large section of the country and very affordable prices. Come see the largest trade show floor in MACNA history: Over 200 Vendors, daily demonstrations and 16 speakers in a single track - see them all! This is your last chance to register for the full conference at the discounted rate of $110.00. The Full Conference includes: Opening dinner reception with open bar and entertainment Three days of speakers and demonstrations - Single Speaker Track! Three days of trade show access Awards banquet with special presentation and entertainment The largest trade show in the history of MACNA And of course a HUGE raffle with all the things you dream of having for your tanks! This is an event you don't want to miss!! REGISTER TODAY - The discounted price of $110 expires May 31st! View the full article

Ocean acidification, along with increased ocean temperatures, will likely severely reduce the diversity and resilience of coral reef ecosystems within this century, new research suggests. View the full article

Almost miss this interesting nano tank from skimz , make specially for marine with a skimmer incorporated.