Reef Threads Podcast #270
Don’t miss this week’s podcast about kelp aquaculture and the SheaMoisture commercial.
In this week’s podcast we tie kelp aquaculture, third-world economies, sustainability,biochemistry, personal-care products, and consumer segregation into one package. We also get to learn more about what Christine does during the workday. Download the podcast here, or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes. Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.—Gary and ChristineSponsor: Rod’s Food
Rod’s Food website
Break the Walls
Break the Walls SheaMoisture commercial
SheaMoisture Behind the Scenes
Break the Walls SheaMoisture behind the scenes video
Banggai Cardinalfish and The Endangered Species Act
Collection of Banggai Cardinals for the aquarium trade is the major driver for their harvest. These fish have a extremely limited geographic range of about 5,500 km² and small wild population size estimated at 2.4 million individuals. These cardinalfish are composed of pockets of individual populations concentrated around the shallows small and large islands within the Banggai Archipelago. A small population also occurs off Central Sulawesi, within Luwuk harbor. One additional population has become established in the Lembeh Strait (North Sulawesi), 400 km north of the natural area of the species distribution. They live in very shallow water, and are plodding swimmers that are easily herded out of protective cover. This combination of characteristics, coupled with high demand as a desirable ornamental species, makes them vulnerable to overharvest. DueAquacultured Yellow Tangs have hit Wholesalers
The captive bred Zebrasoma flavescens we’ve all been ogling over from the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University have hit wholesalers Quality Marine and Segrest...What’s Your Aquascaping Rock of Choice?
There are a number of choices when it comes to the rock you use for aquascaping, my personal favorite is live rockToday’s marine aquarists have more options than ever before when it comes to the types of rock used to aquascape their tanks—from live rocks, whether aquacultured or wild-harvested, to all manner of dry rocks and even natural-looking man-made rocks. Each type has its advantages and drawbacks, and the choice that’s best for any given hobbyist depends on, among other factors, his or her aquascaping goals, budget, risk tolerance, and desired level of control over the system’s biodiversity. Call me old-school (or Lord Admiral Jeff of the Universe—whichever you prefer), but my aquascaping material of choice has always been live rock, whether comprising the rockwork entirely or at least a major portion of it. Here’s why:Fascinating biodiversity Live rocks come loaded with organisms that emerge or hatch out for many weeks and months—even years—after they’re added to a tank. Various “pods,” fan worms, sponges, tunicates, mollusks, worms, coral colonies, macroalgae, and coralline algae are just a sampling of what might appear. And this process/progression is truly amazing to observe. I’ve never tried it, but I think it would be fascinating to set up a live-rock-only (LRO?) tank, with no fish or intentionally introduced invertebrates, and just sit back and watch what pops out of the rocks over timePectina: The Spiked LPS Coral
Pectinia alcicornis is an unusual large polyp stony coral that has recently become very popular due to its unique shape, stunning coloration, and regular consistent availability. Over the years, the occasional Pectinia was imported from Fiji or other South Pacific...
