by AquaNerd | Feb 16, 2014 | Corals, Opinion, Science, Tanks
Sunny delight Zoas, Photo Credit: ReefKoi Corals In this hobby we see coral and invert phases come and go. From clams to chalices and even maxi mini anemones, it seems like they all go through a lot of initial hype then slowly decline in popularity. One of the mainstays in the hobby have been zoanthids and palythoas, which have been the craze for quite a while now. They have been in demand for what seems like an eternity and they do not appear to be getting less popular. Instead, it seems like they’re constantly on the rise. Zoas and palys are highly favored in the hobby by both beginner and expert reefers alike. They don’t require much in terms of care like other specimens and they grow under many types of lighting from T5s to LEDs. Polyps grow at the bottom of the sand bed or on your highest rock. They don’t necessarily need to be target fed like other corals and they also do not require us to dose things like calcium. by AquaNerd | Feb 12, 2014 | Corals, Fish, Science, Tanks
Nano aquariums are so much fun. It’s as simple as that. The tiny little glass boxes can be put just about anywhere, and while they can’t house every fish or coral, they can be personalized in so many ways. One such nano that we’ve recently gotten to play with is the EcoPico from Ecoxotic. This tank measures 10”x10”x12”, which translates to just a shade over 5 gallons, and has a small LED light and filter that make it pretty much saltwater friendly out of the box. We have a hard time calling it reef ready, which for the record is not one of Ecoxotic’s claims, but it certainly has a lot of features to get it off to a good start. by AquaNerd | Feb 6, 2014 | Fish, Opinion, Science, Tanks
Yesterday, we broke news on the amazing aberrant moorish idol that popped up in the holding tanks of Segrest Farms. Unfortunately, the images in that post were not the best quality, but Segrest delivered the goods today with a fresh batch of high res photos showing the amazing moorish idol in all its splendor. They just uploaded them to their Facebook page moments ago, and the images confirm, at least in our humble opinions, that the fish is a moorish idol and not the proposed hybrid that many folks were chattering about on social media sites. That said, this is the most unique moorish idol we’ve ever laid eyes on. This aberrant form has significant yellow markings all over its body, with only slight hints of the black bars that are normally seen. It’s such an amazing fish and we’re grateful to Segrest Farms for keeping us in the loop in a big way. Continue below for a rather impressive gallery.
<!CDATA]> by AquaNerd | Jan 7, 2014 | Corals, Science, Tanks
Because it’s a cold and dreary Friday (at least around here) and it seems like we haven’t posted about any corals lately, we present you with the Creeper Monti, a new offering from The Candy Shop. This encrusting montipora coral is beyond bright, sporting a neon pink base that is broken up with small patches of green and even some shdes of purple. And it doesn’t appear to be the green fluorescing protein (GFP) that infects various corals only to eventually go away completely. Instead, it might be the result of grafting two colors variants of the same species into one individual, a popular practice that also results in the coral reverting back to a single color in most situations. Regardless of whether this is the case or not, that pink is just too eye-catching to pass up, especially when our tanks are usually dominated with blues and greens. There are tons of variations of monti corals on the market, and this one will surely catch your eye. by AquaNerd | Dec 20, 2013 | Fish, Science, Tanks
By: Carrie Shamo Apparently, it all comes down to luck when keeping Blue-Green Chromis. First-time saltwater tank owners want an easy-to-care-for fish to start their collection. So, when I asked my local fish store guy which type of fish he would recommend for a beginner with a 90 gallon tank, I was immediately directed to the Blue-Green Chromis (Chromis viridis). These fish are inexpensive (I paid $4.00 each) and have remarkable coloration where the blue blends into the green, creating a shimmer effect. This really stands out, especially when you buy a school of them. They are pretty hardy and can tolerate fluctuations in water quality that commonly occur in beginner tanks. Blue-Green Chromis are listed as peaceful, community fish that will swim openly around the tank. I purchased five. For the first month, everything was peachy in my tank. The Chromis investigated the entire aquascape as a group
