Oddball Reef System Symbiosis
Symbiotic relationships are among the most interesting aspects of this hobby. A coral reef is a battlefield for real estate; however, there are still amazing examples of cooperation between completely different animals. Everyone is very familiar with clownfish and anemones, and for good reason! This combination is likely responsible for drawing more people into the hobby than anything else. This article, however, looks at some less common partnerships. Hermit crabs and coral Hermit crabs of the genus Paguritta are definitely oddballs. When aquarists typically imagine a hermit crab, it’s a crab living in a shell and motoring around the tank looking for algae and bits of food to scavengeReefs Exclusive: Coralvue Details the KH Guardian
Earlier this year we shared a DIY Alkalinity Monitor created by David Cheng. Since then we have been keeping a close eye on this unit, along with other similar devices for monitoring alkalinity. Fast forward to today and we now have a production model of David...Dosing Nitrates to Improve SPS Coloration
Many years ago when I started in this hobby my main mission was to keep nutrients as low as possible. But it was tougher back then since the equipment was not as efficient or advanced as what is available today. Yes, I used a a skimmer, did regular water changes, avoided overfeeding my fish and employed mechanical filtration. I wasn’t a refugium guy but others used this method successfully for nutrient export by growing macro algae and promoting the growth of nitrate-consuming bacteria. Eventually, GFO was developed to manage phosphates and I jumped on that bandwagon to keep my levels near zero. Over time, technological advances led to many more innovations, giving reef keepers a slew of options such as bio pellet reactors and liquid additivesZETLIGHT 96w UFO LED
Upon unboxing I was quite impressed by the fit and finish of the light. We utilize a lot of other multi-chip LEDs in the store and due to past experiences, I didn’t have soaring expectations for the UFO light but was surprised by a few key features and accessories. The mount and hanging kit that comes with the light is a big selling feature especially at the price point being offered. The mount is fairly easy to set up and is similar to other mounts that are currently on the market, and it holds the light well with little to no sag or wiggle over the aquarium. If you are using the light without the app, the touch bar works just fine for controlling the intensityReef Threads Podcast #302
This week it’s our suggestions for reef-hobbyist gifts.
In our last show of the year we offer our ideas for holiday gifts for reef aquarists. Thanks to everyone for listening and helping us pass the 300-show milestone in 2016. We wish you all a joyous holiday season and look forward to making noise in your ear buds in 2017. 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
