by AquaNerd | Mar 29, 2016 | Corals, Fish, Invertebrates, Reef, Science
ProDibio the makers of BioDigest, Bioptim and other aquarium supplements have developed an FDA approved line of freshwater and saltwater fish medications. The medication lineup includes 6 new products; three for freshwater ailments and three for marine. The 6 products include: Spots & Velvets for Freshwater Fish Spots & Velvets for Marine Fish Worms & Parasites for Freshwater Fish Worms & Parasites for Marine Fish Bacteria & Fungi for Freshwater Fish Bacteria & Fungi for Marine Fish <![CDATA[ #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } ]]> Like all of the other Prodibo products, each medication is packaged and dispersed by Saltwater Smarts | Mar 26, 2016 | Corals, Reef, Science
Pulsing Xenia, a wanderlust of a coral, requires some forethought on your part to keep the colony only where you want it in your aquariumIn discussions of coral placement in reef aquaria, topics such as spacing between colonies, distance from the light source, level of water flow, sweeper tentacles, and coral chemical warfare (allelopathy) often predominate. But there are special considerations beyond these that one must take into account when determining the best placement for certain soft corals and polyps. Here are just a few examples: Major tissue expansion and contractionWith many of the SPS corals, the difference in the size of a colony between its expanded and contracted state tends to be fairly negligible. On the other hand, with certain soft corals, such as Sinularia, Lobophytum, and Sarcophyton leather corals, this difference can be quite dramatic, with colonies in their fully expanded state easily doubling or tripling their size when contracted. The degree of a colony’s expansion can vary not just based on daytime/nighttime, but also the system’s lighting, water flow, water quality, and other factors. If you don’t take this into consideration when placing a new colony in your system, a neighboring colony that has plenty of “elbow room” (corals have elbows, right?) today might be overshadowed tomorrow. The cascade effect Some soft corals have a nice compact tree-like growth habit when they’re relatively small, but as they grow, they tend to become more loose and top-heavy and then ultimately lie over, oftentimes cascading down the rockwork (depending on where they’re situated, of course). by AquaNerd | Mar 25, 2016 | Corals, Reef, Science
Joe’s Tye Dye Acan Joey Nichole’s always has beautiful corals for sale at fair prices and this Acan is no exception. Joey calls this beauty his Tye Dye Acan. Husbandry: In the reef aquarium, Acanthastrea corals are typically very hardy and fast growing. They are some of the most ideal corals for fragging with a quality frag saw. Like many aquarists, coral farmers and coral importers, Joey uses the Gryphon Aquasaw to cut through the hard skeletons of these corals. These corals will do well in a variety of lighting conditions but it’s best to keep them in lower in the aquarium if your lighting is more intense or you are acclimating them to the aquarium environment for the 1st time. Acanthastrea Lordhowensis Traits Acanthastrea generally by Saltwater Smarts | Mar 8, 2016 | Corals, Fish, Reef, Science
Sun coral (Tubastraea spp.)When ascribed to the various species of the genus Tubastraea, the common name “sun coral” is both fitting and ironic. It’s fitting when you consider that the spectacular polyps of many Tubastraea species can quite justifiably be described as sun-like in both color and shape. On the other hand, it’s ironic in that these species, unlike so many of the corals that grace our aquariums, lack symbiotic zooxanthellae and, therefore, don’t depend on sunlight—or intense reef-grade aquarium lighting—for their sustenance. Having no special lighting needs might seem to suggest that these corals would be a good choice for the novice reefkeeper. However, just the opposite is actually true. Tubastraea are heavy feeders that require a high level of commitment and exceptional husbandry skills and are generally best left to more advanced hobbyists.Physical traits Tubastraea spp. are considered large-polyp stony (LPS) corals, with several species possessing striking yellow to orange polyps that emerge from tubular, and in some cases branching, corallites. There are also darker-polyped species that appear in the aquarium trade from time to time, such as T. by Joe Rowlett | Mar 4, 2016 | Corals, Science
Northern Africa is not a part of the world known for its coral reefs, but three newly described species are helping add to the region’s biodiversity. The new corals are part of an identification guide published late last year covering the corals and anemones of the...
