Reef Keeping can be very intimidating for most people. From softies like leathers, to Zoanthids, LPS, and even to SPS, each group provides a unique challenge. For many of us, it is a challenge to go beyond just the minimum requirements, and help our corals not only survive, but flourish in our little slice of ocean. An understanding of the interactions of a few chemical elements are needed to build and maintain a thriving eco-system. Proper lighting, temperature, and salinity are important, and after them, there are three major elements that seasoned hobbyists and experts agree is the “Holy Trinity of Reef Keeping”. Those elements are Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. What are they? What do they do, and how do they affect our tank? Why are they so important? In the video above, Mark Esquenazi from ME Coral explains the purpose of these essential elements, and their importance to the survival of the corals in our tank. We need to carefully monitor these elements as they can be the key to a successful system or its potential downfall. Hopefully you guys learn a thing or two from this video and stay tuned because so much more is coming! Happy reefing and enjoy!… More:

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Epimenia sp. on Scleronepththea(?). Credit: unknown

 One of the most enigmatic and poorly known marine creatures is surely Epimenia—an animal so obscure and of such seemingly unspecialized morphology that most zoologists and aquarists would struggle mightily to correctly identify it. The larger taxonomic group to which it belongs was only discovered in 1875, and since that time, its phylogenetic relationships have stumped generations of researchers. In keeping with its obscurity, there is no real common name for these, so let’s coin one. Introducing… the amazing “worm-mollusk”! As the name suggests, despite their remarkably vermiform appearance—particularly similar to the unsegmented ribbon worms of the Phylum Nemertea—these are actually mollusks! The Phylum Mollusca is one of the largest and most morphologically diverse branches of invertebrate life, including such familiar creatures as snails & sea slugs, clams & oysters, squid & octopodes, and chitons. These groups share several morphological characters: a unique rasping mouthpart known as a radula; a mantle that produces calcified plates/shells and that forms a cavity used in excretion and respiration; paired nerve cords. Another nearly ubiquitous feature is a muscular foot that is varyingly modified within the phylum (e.g. the arms of squids, the gliding “foot” of snails, the digging “foot” of clams).
 

Epimenia sp. with tan spots. Credit: Toba Aquarium

 The 300+ species of worm-mollusks are traditionally united as the Class Aplacophora. Their classification as a distinct class highlights their evolutionary novelty, being analogous to the difference between a fish and a mammal in our own phylum. Despite their unassuming external morphology, this group shares most of the important molluscan characteristics. Their most obvious difference compared to more-familiar mollusks is the worm-like (=vermiform) body, which lacks any trace of a shell or plate (Aplacophora can be roughly translated as “without a shell” in Greek). In its place are subdermal aragonite spicules of varying number and arrangement that are held within an epidermis toughened by chitin, the same protein that gives arthropods their rugged exoskeleton.The anterior end of the animal is seemingly unspecialized externally, lacking eyes and any obvious sensory organs (there are small papillae that appear to serve an olfactory role). The “mouth” is located internally within a small chamber that opens at the terminal tip.
 

Epimenia spp. Credit: unknown

 There are two distinct groups of worm-mollusk that differ markedly in size, diet, and behavior. They have traditionally been assumed to form a single monophyletic group, but it has always been uncertain if the similarities in their bodies were just a result of convergent evolution caused by similar ecological specializations.… More:

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Reef reconstruction has come a long way, and it is now incorporating digital 3D technology. Monaco will be installing six 3D printed coral reef ecosystems, to restore coral population and marine life.  Netherlands-based maritime services company Boskalis, who was contracted by the Prince Albert II of Monocao Foundation, will be installing Six 3D printed coral reef structures in the Lorvatto reserve in 2016.The coral reef structures are made of dolomite sand and take 13 hours to print for each segment. Each structure will be installed 27 meters under water in 2016. The reef weighs in at whopping 2.5 tons and measure 1.2 x 2 meters. “Scientists drew the curves and cavities of the reefs, adapting them to the specific marine species. The goal is for the biodiversity in these waters to appropriate the reefs and colonize them as they do in nature,” said Philippe Mondielli, scientific director the Prince Albert II Foundation. “It’s an innovative device for helping improve or restore ruined marine areas,” said Bernard Fautrier, VP of the Foundation, reports 3ders.org. “We intend to duplicate this experience in other sites.” Scientists plan to observe and study the coral reef structures for two years to see the effects on the local marine life and coral reefs. I would love to be a fly on the wall when this massive reef structure is installed! MORE… More:

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Coral catfish (Plotosus lineatus)A school of juvenile coral catfish (Plotosus lineatus) rolling and wriggling en masse along the ocean floor is among the more endearing sights one can behold in the marine realm. Not surprisingly, after seeing this phenomenon in nature or on video, many hobbyists are inspired to recreate it in their home aquaria. What’s more, individual juveniles of the species—the only catfish found on tropical coral reefs—are irresistibly cute, so even those hobbyists who have never observed their schooling behavior may be charmed by them at a local fish store. But before yielding to temptation and acquiring P. lineatus for your tank, it’s important to be aware of some key facts with respect to its growth potential, social behavior, and defensive capability. So, let’s take a closer look at these and other characteristics exhibited by this species.Coral cats and CJS The coral catfish, aka the striped eel catfish or saltwater catfish, is one of several fish species available in the marine aquarium trade that exhibit what I (as of this morning) like to call Cute-Juvenile Syndrome, or CJS.

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Epimenia and two possible Cavibelonia, the last of which was discovered feeding on a coral. Credit: Toba Aquarium

 The diet, as judged from in situ photographs and feeding studies, seems to be specialized on nephtheid corals, particularly Scleronephthya. This presents the possibility of keeping Epimenia alive in captivity, presuming that a steady supply of its prey can be acquired. Of course, this would be an absurdly expensive creature to feed for the home aquarist, given the current market rate for a decent sized Scleronephthya. There’s no published information on the amount or frequency of coral tissue a full-sized Epimenia might need to consume to meet its metabolic requirements. I would hazard a guess that a six-inch tall coral might provide several weeks (or more) of nutrition, assuming the coral doesn’t wither and die before then.It should go without saying that Epimenia doesn’t make its way into the aquarium trade, at least not intentionally. There are photographs from Japanese aquarists that indicate it has been collected on occasion alongside its cnidarian prey (possibly Stereonephthya in this instance). It’s not uncommon for nephtheid corals to fare poorly in aquariums, and it seems quite probable that, on some occasions, this is due to a hitchhiking Epimenia that has gone unnoticed. Studies on specimens in the wild have shown them to be nocturnal, hiding under rocks near their prey during the day, often in great numbers. An aquarist with a nephtheid that fails to inflate it tissue fully would be wise to search at night for the presence of a worm-mollusk.
 

A particularly flamboyant Solenogastre. Photo by cgillsphotos.com

 Realistically, keeping a specimen successfully longterm would likely require living near a coral reef, specifically one with large stands of their preferred prey species. They are found in shallow water and are reported to be common, at least in areas with their nephtheid prey.
 

This worm-mollusk is certainly looking pretty in pink. Credit: brucelee物体X絞ったやつ

 For the adventurous aquarist looking for a truly unique husbandry challenge, Epimenia presents itself with the opportunity to keep a bizarre and poorly-understood species. While it may not be the flashiest or most charismatic creature on the reef, the “nephtheid worm-mollusk” is certainly a beautiful animal with a fascinating evolutionary history. Epimenia reminds us that the true diversity of a tropical coral reef is far grander than what is found in any home aquarium.… More:

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ABOUT Avid outdoorsman and underwater photographer, Barry Brown has spent the last ten years documenting life above and below water in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. He is currently working with the Smithsonian Institution documenting new Caribbean deep-water species and building a one of a kind database. His underwater images can regularly be seen in Sport Diver, Scuba Diver and on the Ikelite website. His image of a "Collage of Corals" seen under blue-light at night recently placed in the TOP 10 images for the 2014 NANPA (North American Nature Photographers Association) photo contest. General Underwater Photography.com

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Triggerfishes have a deserved reputation as pugnacious and problematical fishes within aquariums, but the half-dozen species of Xanthichthys offer a peaceful exception to this rule. Because of their smaller size and zooplanktivorous diet, they are a surprisingly amenable choice for larger reef tanks. Their natural diet is reported to be almost entirely comprised of tiny calanoid copepods, meaning they have zero interest in dining on your corals, though smaller crustaceans ought be wary. Xanthichthys are primarily associated with deeper waters (40-140+ meters), though juveniles can be found as shallow as 5m. Adults are most common along the forereefs of oceanic islands, while juveniles are found in more diverse habitats. These fishes often occur beneath a sharply demarcated line separating waters of different temperature—the thermocline. As an example, X. greenei is found beneath a thermocline of 68-72℉, above which it is 77-82℉. As their preferred temperature is far below that of the typical reef aquarium, Xanthichthys can require a great amount of food to maintain their thermally-increased metabolism.
 

Black=auromarginatus, Blue=mento, Red=lineopunctatus, Yellow=greenei, White=ringens

 The precise biogeography of many Xanthichthys species is imperfectly known, with many having large gaps separating known populations. Whether this is an artifact of their deeper, colder-water preferences or is indicative of a true absence is not fully understood. For instance, is X. lineopunctatus to be found in the regions between the many scattered locations it’s known from? Is their a member of the ringens Complex present throughout the Central Pacific? Do the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean populations of X. caeruleolineatus maintain any genetic connectivity across their apparent absence in the Coral Triangle?

Credit: Brian Gratwicke

• Range: Western Atlantic (North Carolina & Bermuda to Brazil)
• Size: 25cm
• Etymology: Latin “gaping”
• ID: Body w/ lines of spots; dorsal/anal fins unmargined
• Aquarium Rarity: Common
• Notes: Juveniles in shallow water, associated with Sargassum

Credit: John Randall

• Range: Antiequatorial, Indo-West Pacific (S. Africa+Reunion+Mauritius, SW India, NW Australia, Taiwan, Ryukyu+S. Japan,+Izu+Bonin)
• Size: 30cm
• Etymology: Latin “lined-dots”
• ID: Dorsal rows of spots conjoined into short dashes
• Aquarium Rarity: Rare
• Note: X. lima is a synonym, both fishbase and Catalog of Fish mistakenly list it as valid
  

Credit: Pacific Island Aqua Pics

• Range: Kiritimati, Line Islands, possibly at nearby Phoenix Islands
• Size: 15cm
• Etymology: After mesophotic reef biologist Dr Brian Greene
• ID: Two rows of spots limited to beneath dorsal fin base
• Aquarium Rarity: Rare
• Note: This appears to be a Polynesian sister species to lineopunctatus, though the extent of its range is very poorly understood.

… More:

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Symphyllia spp. coralSymphyllia are some of the most colorful large-polyp stony corals out there. Their bodies resemble Lobophyllia in many ways, but unlike lobos, they have a much more diverse color arrangement. I’ve seen them come in just about every color imaginable, and it is very common for them to have large bands of colors. Unfortunately, I don’t do very well with Symphyllia. As colorful and amazing as these corals are, they’re a no-go for me until I learn more about why they might be struggling in my system.

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Good morning friends, sorry about all the problems with the blog lately but it is really out of my hands. Recently we switched from one server to another and in doing so it’s created all kinds of new problems that we are still trying to fix. Here’s something cool from my trip to Klein Curacao last friday. These are NOT live crabs, they are molts or skeletons that got left behind during the night. We found these Tidal Spray Crab molts (Plagusia depressa) over the shoreline and each was so different and colorful that I figured why not post a bunch of them for you to see. The crabs pick a rock with a rough surface and hook their claws into it and pull it’s new body out of the old shell exiting from the rear, it is so cool!!

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Curaçao Blue.

 Curaçao log: My traveling muse Day 3 – October 13, 2015
Tuesday. The sun has set hours ago, casting the sky into a featureless obsidian. But unlike the hapless humans, creatures of the ocean seek solace and comfort in the stars and spotlight, inching their way towards the steel hull of the Chapman. A condition most favorable to pen down my thoughts, for today was nothing short of exciting. As I surround myself in the rhythmic sloshing of the waves, I pour my memories into this entry. Fluid consciousness seeks nothing more than a paper on which to paint, and like a silent metronome, my day began at the crack of dawn. With Bruce and Dutch waiting, and the curasub humming, today would prove to be an intense tango in the twilight, a moment filled with piscine enthrallment. We wasted no time in setting off. I fondly recall a smidgen of toothpaste still present at the corner of my lip. Hair a mess, clothes crumpled, I went from supine in my bunk bed to prone position in the curasub faster than you can say Prognathodes. The air is still and fraught with science. Serious science. Today, fancy alcoholic beverages were not to be had. It was all about the fish, and all about the fish it shall be. Something that I am more than perfectly okay with. 

Bryan Horne preparing the curasub for its launch.

 We’re no longer on the mainland, but instead, are 42.6km away in Klein Curaçao. A little island inhabited by none. The Chapman was docked about a hundred feet from shore. Bryan made preparations for the curasub launch as usual, and we climbed in. Vanessa stayed on board for the next run after lunch. She was thinking of swimming to shore to check out the sights on Klein Curaçao. I might do that tomorrow instead. There’s an eerie lighthouse that permeated the land with a tangible presence. That looked interesting. Anyway, the launch zone was only a couple feet away from the Chapman. The stark contrast between aquamarine and cobalt signaled the presence of a steep drop off. Above, a cloud of Creole Wrasses paraded, like gatekeepers of the imminent deep. Following a towline, we descended down the drop off. A curious pair of Pomacanthus paru, colloquially known as the French Angelfish, followed our bright orange submersible until it was orange no more.… More:

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ABOUT Avid outdoorsman and underwater photographer, Barry Brown has spent the last ten years documenting life above and below water in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. He is currently working with the Smithsonian Institution documenting new Caribbean deep-water species and building a one of a kind database. His underwater images can regularly be seen in Sport Diver, Scuba Diver and on the Ikelite website. His image of a "Collage of Corals" seen under blue-light at night recently placed in the TOP 10 images for the 2014 NANPA (North American Nature Photographers Association) photo contest. General Underwater Photography.com

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 This is segment three in a multi-part series on the marine aquarium trade and marine aquarium trade data. I’m Ret Talbot reporting from the Philippines as a special report to Reefs.com. In this segment, we’ll look at the data collection project that yielded the most comprehensive marine aquarium dataset ever published and how that project laid the groundwork for the data collection that is about to begin in the Philippines. Thanks for watching, and if you have questions or comments feel free to comment below or email me directly at Ret@RetTalbot.com. Once I return to the States, I’ll be looking to answer any questions and continue the dialog with you on why data matter. Click here to watch Part 2 in the series.… More:

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Though in many ways keeping a marine aquarium is easier today than it’s ever been, entry into our hobby is still fraught with confusion. To a large extent, this is can be attributed to the incredible variety of choices available nowadays for meeting the husbandry requirements of marine livestock as well as solving various problems that arise. Heck, the reef-lighting options alone are so diverse that if I were just starting out in the hobby today, my head would probably explode trying to process all that information! And, of course, there’s still a pretty hefty learning curve to mastering the fundamentals of the hobby.That’s why I urge all you experienced salties out there to share your wisdom with at least one novice hobbyist as a marine aquarium mentor. Here are 4 other good reasons to do so: 1. It’s refreshing Ask any teacher, and he or she will tell you that explaining a concept to students or guiding them through a step-by-step process is the best way to refresh your own knowledge on the subject. Not to mention, if the flame of your passion for the marine aquarium hobby has been burning a bit low as of late, mentoring an enthusiastic newcomer might just be the spark to reignite it. 2

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 Typically, my last dive of the season in New York takes place by late October, but, since poor weather kept me out of the water for the last two weeks of the month, I thought I would push the limits of my cold tolerance with a November dive this year.  With water temperature down to 59°F, I knew I wouldn’t last long in the 7mm wetsuit I use all summer, and I didn’t expect to see any tropical fish, but after a break in the rough autumn weather and with visibility improving, I just couldn’t resist. As I sat in the comfort of my car, looking out at the choppy water on this gray day, I hesitated a little longer than usual. To help motivate myself to take the frigid plunge, I permitted myself to indulge in some fantasizing about what I might encounter. I reasoned that since I had never been in the water this late in the season, I might see something new – maybe a stray from deep water. We get more than 100 species of fishes from the tropics that can survive here for the brief period during which the water temperature is appropriate for them. At 59°, what might be able to survive here? I tried not to get my hopes too high, but once the thought of a Prognathodes aya popped into my head, I couldn’t shake it. Sadly, I didn’t find anything nearly so exotic, but I was surprised to see a few spotfin butterflyfish and groupers (red, snowy, and scamp) hanging on. They were all hiding deep in rock crevices and seemed pretty lethargic, so I assume they won’t be around much longer. The video above is the highlight of my dive: a sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus) – a large member of the sculpin family (Cottidae). Sculpins in general (and sea ravens in particular) have the body shape, spiny head, cryptic coloration, and fleshy appendages reminiscent of many of their scorpaeniform relatives. Although they are considered native to New York, they are rarely seen inshore and this was the first time I’ve encountered one here. Further north in New England, sea ravens can be found in shallow water throughout the year, but in New York, they are most often found in the deeper waters of the continental shelf. In the southern part of their range, inshore water temperatures get too high for them during the summer.… More:

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This formulation contains 6% oxybenzone. Keep it out of the reefs.

This week it’s sunscreen and reefs and making a mess in your aquarium with sand. Listen to the Evangelist provide some in-depth information about sunscreen ingredients, where they come from, and what to look for, all based on a study that indicates active ingredient oxybenzone is poisonous to corals at very low doses. We also talk about the joys of creating a dust storm in your aquarium when adding sand. Download the podcast here, or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes. Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.—Gary and Christine

Sponsor: Rod’s Food
Rod’s Food website

Oxybenzone in sunscreen
Wash your hands before putting them in your reef tank, Leonard Ho, Advanced Aquarist

Sand is everywhere
Added sand after water, I’m an idiot, Splix, Reef Central

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It’s almost surreal to think that Sea World will be discontinuing their killer whale show in California. It’s quite possible that this will follow in other states, eventually culminating in the end of the epic killer whale performance. I grew up in Sea World’s golden age. About four hours from where I live in Maryland, Sea World had a park at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio. As a kid, my family and I visited it several times and I remember pressuring my parents to buy me a host of Shamu memorabilia. At Sea World we pet dolphins, watched killer whales perform incredible tricks and were immersed in the amazing world of Earth’s oceans. In 2001 the cost of operating the park, compiled with the fact that for most of the year the park was closed to visitors, led to Sea World selling its Ohio location to six flags. The marine animals were shipped off to other Sea World locations, and today the park is roller coasters and water slides. The reality is that the world has changed.  How we perceive wildlife and captive animals has changed. 25 years ago the public was wowed by killer whales jumping, spinning and seemingly dancing with trainers. Today there is a body count of Sea World trainers, and serious questions have been raised about the ethical implications of placing intelligent marine life in closed quarters. Experiencing Mother Nature has changed as well. Automated drones can fly over vast distances, capturing ultra-high definition footage of wild places previously inaccessible to mankind. The ability to remotely pilot vehicles greatly reduces the risk of human injury and ensures that watching wildlife does nothing to disturb a natural balance. Anyone who follows the technology behind drones is aware that the consumer drone market is beginning to advance into the underwater realm. Already consumer drone submarines are available, equipped with high definition video cameras, built for the sole purpose of exploring and filming the deep. 

Three of the orcas demonstrate a trick near the end of the show. This trick is actually meant to show how killer whales can jump on on ice edges to catch their prey.

 No longer will tens of thousands of dollars of scuba gear, a highly trained dive team, decompression chambers and enriched gas be needed to film underwater. Within the next 10 years, it’s highly likely that for a few hundred dollars consumers can purchase a drone that offers ample time underwater, and streams live footage of the deep sea realm right to an iPad or iPhone.… More:

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When I first started keeping reef tanks a long time ago there seemed to be much less awareness of certain pests that can infiltrate and harm a reef tank. “Back in the day” wild colonies were all the rage and reef keepers were not as diligent about checking for pests. Dealing with Red Bugs and AEFW (Acro Eating Flatworms) wasn’t even on my radar when I had my first 90 gallon reef and it took a while before it crept into my conscience when I had my 120 gallon reef. The 120 gallon reef was my best tank to date and it was dominated with large and colorful SPS that grew from small frags and colonies My 120 Gallon Reef Tank However, over time, a few acros didn’t look as colorful as others so I tried certain remedies like changing my lighting setup or doing more water changes but nothing seemed to help.

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It is amazing that we still have animals today that have not been seen or studied. Although modern science has come a long away, the ocean always seems to remain a step ahead of us. The first adult Glyphis glyphis, or Speartooth Shark, has been tagged and released. Previously, only juvenile species of this shark were known. Prior to 2014, no adult species of this shark were ever even seen! In 2014, a fisherman in Papua New Guinea had caught some adult sharks. This species is endangered and it is estimated that there are only 2500 of the species remaining. This shark resides in the fast moving waters of tropical rivers in New Guinea and Australia. This species is gray in color and has a broad snout with tiny eyes. The shark was caught and tagged by Richard Pillans and his colleagues from the CSIRO, Australia’s national research organization in Brisbane. A male and female were captured, tagged and released. The sharks were caught at the mouth of the Wenlock River, which is known to be a nursery area for the sharks.  A sample of DNA was also taken from each of the sharks, which will hopefully give scientists more information as to how the sharks breed. The tags will release from the sharks in 60 and 120 days, and will hopefully transmit information via satellite on the their travels. MORE … More:

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Part of my clan rejoicing in their “dose” of clean waterYesterday, I finally got around to performing an overdue water change in my 125-gallon tank. Admiring the fruits of my labor afterward, I couldn’t help wondering, “Why on earth do I wait so long to do these when the result is always so rewarding?” Actually, I know exactly why I wait so long, and it’s probably the same reason many of you do as well—sometimes life just gets in the way. Writing and editing projects begin to pile up, deadlines loom one after another, and I just don’t have enough time or energy left by the end of the day to squeeze in yet another project. Weekends usually find me catching up on articles or SWS posts or at least trying to squeeze in a little relaxation, so I don’t exactly relish the thought of doing water changes then either.Still, whenever I discipline myself to push through and tackle this essential maintenance chore (which actually doesn’t have to be as challenging or time-consuming as I make it out to be in my head), not only do my fish and corals reap the benefits, but my enjoyment of the tank is significantly enhanced as well. How so? First off, the dilution of all the bad stuff in the water and replenishment of the good stuff—like a rush of fresh air into a stuffy room or that first warm spring day after a cold winter—seems to bring out the very best in my fish. Never are they friskier or more vibrantly colored than right after a water change.

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Germany’s Fauna Marin, a leader in the marine fish and coral food industry for over 20 years, has just announced the opening of their first U.S.-based warehouse! In April of this year, the company’s products became available in the U.S. through both Los Angeles-based Oculus Aquatics and internet giant Bulk Reef Supply, and the overwhelmingly positive customer response prompted Fauna Marin’s management to move forward with plans to open a permanent facility in the country. The company is also known for its line of premium tank supplements and additives, including Balling Method supplies. This daily-dosing regime involving calcium, magnesium, carbonate hardness, and trace elements replaces the use of a calcium reactor for saltwater and reef tanks; Leonardo’s Reef has a great article explaining the method. The move will allow the company to improve product availability, bring in new products, and directly handle support questions as it distributes products wholesale to the trade. All North American dealers will now be able to order directly from “Fauna Marin USA”, located in West Haven, CT.  And if there is a specific product that you are looking for, the company encourages you to call them at (203) 871-1194 or send an email to sales@faunamarinusa.com, and someone will be happy to help you find the retailer closest to you.… More:

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