This has been an exciting week for wrasse aficionados, as the long-awaited revision of the flasherwrasse genus Paracheilinus has finally appeared, along with three newly described species. Two of these (P. paineorum & P. xanthocirritus) are merely regional color variations of the familiar aquarium species P. filamentosus, the Filamented Flasherwrasse, which have now rightfully been recognized as distinct. However, the other new fish, P. alfiani, is a rather unexpected find with many questions surrounding it. Fortunately, despite its apparent rarity in the wild, it has been well-documented in photographs and, for the first time, in a stunning new video from the reefs of Indonesia. 

P. alfiani male seen at Lembata Island, Indonesia. Credit Ned DeLoach, from Allen, Erdmann & Yusmalinda 2016

 Alfian’s Flasherwrasse is unusual in the genus for its lack of filaments on the dorsal fin, a trait shared most obviously with its reputed sister species, P. rennyae. This latter species is unfamiliar to most aquarists, having only recently been described and still uncollected for the hobby. Renny’s Flasherwrasse is currently known exclusively from Komodo and Flores, while just to the east is where we find the type locality of P. alfiani at Lembata Island, as well as another likely specimen documented at Alor, though, presumably, it ranges further east into the Banda Arc. 

P. rennyae, togeanensis & angulatus are presumed to form a single clade based on similarities of fin shape, genetics and biogeography. How does “P. alfiani” fit into this?

 The great peculiarity here is why these two nearly identical species should occupy such a fragmentary distribution in this region when other fish groups present in the Lesser Sunda Islands and Banda Arc display homogenous populations. Related wrasses in Paracheilinus and Cirrhilabrus are never speciated in this way, nor are hyperendemic groups like the Trimma gobies or Ecsenius blennies. The closest analogy is perhaps seen in the Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis clade of fairy wrasses, which show an essentially identical distribution centered on Central Indonesia as that seen in the presumed clade of P. alfiani, P. rennyae and P. togeanensis. 

P. alfiani observed at Alor, an eastward range extension. Credit: Richard Smith/Oceanrealmimages.com

 In my upcoming review of this genus, I’ll be documenting the stunning abundance of naturally occurring hybrids in the Coral Triangle. Flasherwrasses often swim in mixed-species schools comprised of many individuals, which creates a mechanism through which hybridization is encouraged.… More:

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It’s important to reach novice marine aquarists with good information early in their hobby experienceA few weeks back, I had the privilege of speaking at the first annual Buckeye Reef Marine Expo down in Bowling Green, Ohio (which, by the way, was a tremendous success, thanks to the tireless efforts of Jesse Lambdin, Joe Perkins, and all the other folks at Buckeye Reef, who clearly went all out to make this a stellar debut event!). In the presentation, I discussed the role of information in promoting success in our hobby, particularly with respect to beginners. Among the various topics touched upon was “Challenges to Effective Information Sharing.” Today, I’d like to share these challenges with you and invite your input on others that might belong on the list as well as what you think we could do to overcome them—not just here at Saltwater Smarts, but throughout the hobby.Anyhow, here are some of the reasons we think we’re collectively “missing the boat” when it comes to reaching novice hobbyists with good information in a timely manner. But we’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, so if you have anything to add, please don’t hesitate to share it in the comment section afterward. 1. The Echo-Chamber Effect In this all-too-familiar scenario, hobby information—or misinformation—gets picked up and repeated ad nauseam across the internet (e.g., garlic cures Cryptocaryon irritans). It can be very difficult for the novice hobbyist to distinguish between fact and fiction, and the repetitive nature of the information lends it an air of authority that may or may not be justified.

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It’s important to reach novice marine aquarists with good information early in their hobby experienceA few weeks back, I had the privilege of speaking at the first annual Buckeye Reef Marine Expo down in Bowling Green, Ohio (which, by the way, was a tremendous success, thanks to the tireless efforts of Jesse Lambdin, Joe Perkins, and all the other folks at Buckeye Reef, who clearly went all out to make this a stellar debut event!). In the presentation, I discussed the role of information in promoting success in our hobby, particularly with respect to beginners. Among the various topics touched upon was “Challenges to Effective Information Sharing.” Today, I’d like to share these challenges with you and invite your input on others that might belong on the list as well as what you think we could do to overcome them—not just here at Saltwater Smarts, but throughout the hobby.Anyhow, here are some of the reasons we think we’re collectively “missing the boat” when it comes to reaching novice hobbyists with good information in a timely manner. But we’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, so if you have anything to add, please don’t hesitate to share it in the comment section afterward. 1. The Echo-Chamber Effect In this all-too-familiar scenario, hobby information—or misinformation—gets picked up and repeated ad nauseam across the internet (e.g., garlic cures Cryptocaryon irritans). It can be very difficult for the novice hobbyist to distinguish between fact and fiction, and the repetitive nature of the information lends it an air of authority that may or may not be justified. 2

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Good morning friends, we had a little “fake rain” last night that barely wet the ground and did nothing for the plants. We are really seeing a pattern of less and less rain here each year and a major increase in the wind which is great if you are into flying kites and wind surfing! We have another very busy day underway with a large group of kids from Bonaire that are in the sub today so your truly is in and out of the water. NEWER POST:

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Here’s the FishBit monitor mounted in my 125 gallon reefRegular Saltwater Smarts visitors are well aware that I’m not exactly what you’d call “tech-savvy” or an “early adopter” when it comes to the latest gadgetry (though I am intrigued by this newfangled doohickey the kids call an “eight-track player”—it’s gonna be yuuuge!). So, it should come as no surprise that I take a pretty low-tech approach to the marine aquarium hobby. Nothing in my system is really automated (unless you count the timer on my lights), and I don’t use a lot of devices beyond your basic heater, protein skimmer, and submersible pumps. And, until very recently, I monitored all my water parameters the way God intended—using a hydrometer, floating thermometer, and various and sundry colorimetric test kits.I tell people that I like to keep things natural, but the truth of the matter is, my lone functioning brain cell has always struggled with technology and figuring out how the various components of a high-tech system interconnect (how I managed to finish Air Force Crypto School with high marks back in the day is anybody’s guess!). So, when Nathan Levine, founder of Current Labs, asked me to beta test their new FishBit monitor and controller, I was a bit apprehensive. How embarrassing would it be if I had to admit I couldn’t figure the thing out or, much worse, if I somehow damaged the unit by installing it upside down or…I don’t know…accidentally swallowing it? But after hearing that FishBit is specifically designed to be easy, trouble-free, and intuitive for people like me (analog folks trapped in a digital world), I felt somewhat reassured and agreed to give it a try. FishBit allows you to monitor key water parameters in real time as well as control multiple aquarium devices, such as your lights, pumps, and heater, through an app on your smartphone or other device.

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Over the years, a kalk reactor has always been an integral part of my reef keeping setup.  I have used one to dose kalkwasser via my RODI top off to boost pH, which is lowered by my calcium reactor, and to augment my tank’s calcium and alkalinity levels.  I did have reliability issues with the one plumbed into my old 225 gallon system so I was on the lookout for a more solid and trustworthy unit for my new 187 gallon setup. I did some homework and eventually settled on a My Reef Creations Nilsen (Kalk) Reactor. These reactors are available in small, medium and large sizes. I went with a medium, which has a footprint of 8-1/2 inches, 12 inches including the pump, and is 19-1/2 inches tall. Essentially, this unit

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Hello friends, I have a fun Caribbean reef scene for you all today with a Golden Crinoid being the main subject. I rarely see these prehistoric looking creatures any more and if I do they are usually the all black ones, these orange ones are super hard to find. Crinoids are marine animals that make up the class Crinoidea of the echinoderms (phylum Echinodermata). Crinoidea comes from the Greek word krinon, “a lily”, and eidos, “form”. They live both in shallow water and in depths as great as 6,000 metres (20,000 ft). Sea lilies refer to the crinoids which, in their adult form, are attached to the sea bottom by a stalk

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Penguins of Cape Denison in Antarctica effectively trapped by iceberg the size of Rome and face 120km round trip to feed. [embedded content] An estimated 150,000 Adelie penguins living in Antarctica have died after an iceberg the size of Rome became grounded near their colony, forcing them to trek 60km to the sea for food. The penguins of Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay used to live close to a large body of open water. However, in 2010 a colossal iceberg measuring 2,900 square kilometres became trapped in the bay, rendering the colony effectively landlocked. Penguins seeking food must now waddle 60km to the coast to fish. Over the years, the arduous journey has had a devastating effect on the size of the colony. Since 2011 the colony of 160,000 penguins has

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A recent shot of Paul B’s 40+ year old reef aquariumMany marine fish can survive in captivity for decades, and many corals and other sessile invertebrates can hang in there, well, who knows how long. In any case, maintaining a marine aquarium “for the long term” can mean an awfully long time. Just ask Paul B, author of The Avant Garde Marine Aquarist. His current tank has been up and running with much of the same livestock since somewhere around the Second Battle of Bull Run (being a New Yorker, Paul presumably wouldn’t have called it Second Manassas). My style of aquarium keeping also leans toward the long-term, so I thought I’d dedicate today’s post to what I consider the pros and cons of this approach (versus keeping specimens for relatively brief periods and frequently changing up your livestock) for those whose hobby experience doesn’t yet span decades:Pros: You gain a new respect for the growth potential of specimens—and thus the benefits of spacious housing. For example, reading that fish species X can reach Y inches/centimeters in maximum length doesn’t compare to actually seeing the genuine article fully grown and swimming around in your tank alongside a bunch of other fully grown specimens.

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A recent shot of Paul B’s 40+ year old reef aquariumMany marine fish can survive in captivity for decades, and many corals and other sessile invertebrates can hang in there, well, who knows how long. In any case, maintaining a marine aquarium “for the long term” can mean an awfully long time. Just ask Paul B, author of The Avant Garde Marine Aquarist. His current tank has been up and running with much of the same livestock since somewhere around the Second Battle of Bull Run (being a New Yorker, Paul presumably wouldn’t have called it Second Manassas). My style of aquarium keeping also leans toward the long-term, so I thought I’d dedicate today’s post to what I consider the pros and cons of this approach (versus keeping specimens for relatively brief periods and frequently changing up your livestock) for those whose hobby experience doesn’t yet span decades:Pros: You gain a new respect for the growth potential of specimens—and thus the benefits of spacious housing. For example, reading that fish species X can reach Y inches/centimeters in maximum length doesn’t compare to actually seeing the genuine article fully grown and swimming around in your tank alongside a bunch of other fully grown specimens. The same applies to the growth potential of coral colonies. Those little frags can end up consuming a heck of a lot of space in your tank when left to their own devices for years and years

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A group of Paracheilinus filamentosus in situ. Photo credit: Gerry Allen.

 The flasher wrasse genus Paracheilinus has never had a formal taxonomic revision, that is until now. In the latest paper published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, Gerry Allen and Mark Erdmann attempt at untangling the messy nature of this genus, and, in doing so, have christened three new species from the Indonesian archipelago. The seventeen other species in the genus are also listed in chronological order, complete with biogeographical distributions and phylogenetic relationships. The paper is free access, and for that reason, we’ll only briefly summarise the new species descriptions. Paracheilinus alfiani 

Paracheilinus alfiani. Male in nuptial display. Photo credit: Ned DeLoach.

 The first of three to be added to the genus Paracheilinus is P. alfiani. This species most closely resembles P. rennyae from Komodo, but unlike the former, is restricted to the nearby island of Lembata, Indonesia. Phylogenetic analysis as well as biogeographical distribution patterns reveal that P. alfiani forms part of a species group together with P. rennyae and P. angulates. The distribution of P. alfiani is quite curious, being so closely adjacent to its presumed sister species, P. rennyae. Biogeographically, there is probably very little separating the two species. It is quite bizarre that two species would assume allopatric distributions on a narrow portion of this island group of Komodo (rennyae) and Lembata (alfiani). It is possible that P. alfiani is a natural hybrid between P. rennyae with a southernly waif of P. angulatus, or even P. togeansis. Other photos of this species online depicts a slight filament on the edges of each caudal fin lobe, which might be suggestive of genetic input from angulatus or togeansis. P. alfiani is known from two male specimens, and was named in honour of Rahmad “Yaan” Alfian, the collector of the holotype. 

Biogeography of the angulatus group. Photo credit: Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Yusmalinda, N.L.A. (2016) Review of the Indo-Pacific Flasherwrasses of the genus Paracheilinus (Perciformes: Labridae), with descriptions of three new species. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 19, 18–90.

 Paracheilinus paineorum and P. xanthocirritus 

Paracheilinus paineorum, Sulawesi. Note the red dorsal filaments. Photo credit: Gerry Allen.

Paracheilinus xanthocirritus, Anambas Is. Photo credit: Gerry Allen.

 The single, widely distributed taxon that is Paracheilinus filamentosus has, unsurprisingly, been split.… More:

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Build My LED, known by aquarists for it’s customizable and standard color LED lighting strip lights, is pulling out of the aquarium lighting market and focusing it’s efforts on the horticulture market.  If you own a Build My LED (BML) light already, then there is no need to worry about service after the sale.  BML will continue to service and support existing aquarium lighting customers for the three year warranty period. From the Build My LED team: Build My LED is closing down production of all aquarium and custom products on Monday, 22 February. New orders can be placed through midnight on 21 February, after which the website will shift to service and warranty support. No new orders will be accepted after this time. I want to take

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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

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Compliments of Matthew Proudfoot’s sister, Reef Threads has now reached all seven continents.

It’s podcastin’ time again and the big news is we’ve reached our seventh continent, compliments of Australian listener Matthew Proudfoot and his sister. Thanks Matt and Matt’s sister. This week we also talk about food protein content, two-part dosing, and Gary’s tank plans. Download the podcast here, or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes. Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.—Gary and Christine

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If you get lost in Antarctica, Reef Threads will be there to help.

Reef Threads connects with penguins in Antarctica.

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I often get all sorts of mud thrown in my direction, when I suggest that the practices of the aquarium trade, and even the practices of individual hobbyists, threaten our ability to keep reef aquariums as a whole. Many aquarists think I am just trying to point fingers, and often claim that I am jealous at the trade’s success. They forget that I too am an aquarist, and want an active marine livestock trade that allows me to expand my own aquariums, but also works toward a sustainable trade that follows and adheres to all rules and laws, especially those that manage and protect species. The last thing I would want to see is the end of the aquarium trade, or enhanced regulations that make keeping a reef aquarium more difficult, or limit what we as aquarists can procure. I’ve been called a “hater” which is something I find rather funny, since I’ve had an aquarium since I was a small child. When engaging in discussions online that focus on potential regulations or forced sustainability, I assume that many aren’t aware of how conservation legislation works, or the fact that there are a host of powerful, influential groups that would love nothing more than to see the aquarium trade highly regulated or discontinued. No, these aren’t a bunch of tree-hugging hippies living on a commune, but well oiled-conservation machines that carry with them political clout, scientific expertise and genuine concern about the future of animal species and planet Earth.    Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has famously enacted a campaign (Operation Reef Defense) that aims to end the aquarium trade, and considers the entire trade trafficking in coral reef animal life for profit. Whether or not individuals within the hobby like or hate Sea Shepherd, it’s hard to argue that they aren’t a successful organization. Alone, they have taken on the nation of Japan and made a serious dent in their commercial whaling industry, which is no small feat, especially for one organization. To try to educate other aquarists as to my concerns, and why I often push individual aquarists and the industry at large to do better, and ask hard questions about certain trade practices, I want to talk about Wild Earth Guardians. Wild Earth Guardians are responsible for the successful petition that has placed the Bangaii Cardinalfish on the Endangered Species List, and they have been vocal about what they hope to see as the future for the species, and the marine aquarium trade as a whole.… More:

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Hey gang, here’s a monster Green Moray Eel that our friend Emma found yesterday on the Superior Producer. For those of you new to the blog the “Superior Producer” is a giant cargo ship that sunk in the 70’s  near the famous Mega Pier in around 120 feet of water and is now one of the top dive spots on the island. NEWER POST:

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Pollution and global warming are no new trends in the fight to protect our coral reefs. But since the beginning of the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide has been released in greater numbers than ever seen before. This has lead to a significant change in the PH levels of the ocean in the past hundred or so years. The Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels has lead to ocean acidification, or the changing in chemistry of the ocean caused by the increase in carbon dioxide. An estimated 30-40% of the carbon dioxide from human activities is absorbed by our waterways.
Between warming water temperatures and ocean acidification, coral reefs are suffering. Researchers in a study published by Nature, have shown definitely that ocean acidification in the past hundred or so years was negatively effecting coral reefs. They essentially ‘turned back the clocks’ changing the chemistry to pre-industrial revolution conditions. To do this, the researchers created a natural laboratory of coral reef that was separated from the rest of the reef in the Great Barrier Reef. They then pumped in alkaline solution over 15 days, making the reef less acidic. The less acidic portion of the reef grew more corals. Sadly, pumping alkaline solution into our coral reefs is not a realistic solution to the problem. “The only real, lasting way to protect coral reefs is to make deep cuts in our carbon dioxide emissions”, researcher Ken Caldeira said. “If we don’t take action on this issue very rapidly, coral reefs-and everything that depends on them including both wildlife and local communities-will not survive into the next century.” MORE… More:

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When you realize the salinity in your aquarium is off, making slow adjustments is importantSaltwater Smarts visitor Andrew had the following question about our post titled “5 Tips for Maintaining Stable Salinity in a Saltwater Tank.” Since we get similar questions quite frequently, we thought it might be helpful to elaborate on our response in today’s post: QuestionThis article says, when doing a water change, make sure the salinity is the same as [that of] the dirty water. My question is, what if the salinity in the tank is a little high or low?” – Submitted by Andrew Answer If the salinity (hereafter expressed as specific gravity) in your tank is slightly off, you can adjust it up or down in a variety of ways. Let’s look at each scenario separately, keeping in mind that each remedy may need to be repeated several times to restore the desired level: If you need to raise your specific gravity, your options are to: Dissolve a small amount of sea salt in aquarium water (e.g., in a cup or beaker) and drip the mixture slowly into your sump or a high-flow area of the tank. This is best done in several doses over the course of a few hours or even a day or more, depending on how far the level must be raised. When performing water changes, replace the dirty water that you remove with clean salt water mixed to a slightly higher-than-normal specific gravity. Top off water lost to evaporation with salt water rather than fresh water until the desired specific gravity is reached. If you need to lower your specific gravity: Remove small amounts of salt water and replace them with equal volumes of purified fresh water. During water changes, mix your replacement water to a slightly lower-than-normal specific gravity.

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We all know the inherent risks that come with using live rock. Sometimes we’ll even be gifted hitchhikers on new coral. One of the most undesirable pests has to be a giant worm from the Eunice genus, commonly labeled a ‘Bobbit worm’. Some of these worms can grow to massive sizes while leaving coral and fish skeletons in their wake. All the while evading detection by stealthily moving within your aquascape, only to reveal themselves at night. This reefer, known on YouTube as gurutek, finally had the privilege of seeing the size of his little monster while breaking down the tank in preparation for a move.  He went on to say, “I was breaking down the tank (as I was moving it), hence it looking shoddy. That unice was in there 2 years before I noticed, and only noticed because I had whole coral colonies missing after a single evening. I first saw it after I spent a few nights sat up (after lights went out) for about 3 hours per night looking for the critter who was eating my corals. Even when I knew it was there, I only ever saw it 3 times within the space of a year. It hides in the rocks, and only comes out at night, impossible to catch without taking everything out the tank.“ Just another reason to keep that red flashlight near the tank for the occasional midnight observation, particularly if you’re losing entire coral colonies in a single evening.  … More:

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Good morning friends, I have a super cute, two inch long juvenile Rock Beauty for you all today that I found under the pier at Caracas Baai and YES fish can be cute!! Over the years this little fish has been very illusive and we have only seen these babies a handful of times. Like most tiny newborn fish these Rock Beauties find a safe home and will stay there in the same place until they are older only coming out to socialize and feed. Photographing these fish can be very difficult as they usually won’t come out until it’s safe so I usually have to wait in the same place for an extended amount of time, sometimes for the whole dive. NEWER POST:

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