Good morning friends, did you all have a wonderful Easter vacation??? I had a four day holiday and was busy from sun-up till down-down every single day with watering my baby agaves, dog walks, diving and mountain biking, that seems to my World in a nutshell!! Stijn and I did fun night dive Sunday evening, he went in search of lionfish while I worked on more blue-light images. Near the end of the dive Stijn franticly signaled me to come over and help him with a seven foot long green moray eel that was wrapped around his lionfish bucket. These eels have such an incredible sense of smell, you think sharks can smell blood, heck I think eels can smell it even better! I ended up chasing him off with my light and using my fins to create a surge of sorts that he felt immediately

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15-20 years ago, algae scrubbers were all the rage. We knew that nitrates were bad news in a reef tank, but many of the current methodologies for assimilating them had not yet made an appearance. Bio-plastics (bio-pellets) had not been invented, sulfur based de-nitrators weren’t offered for reef aquariums, and zeolite had yet to cross over to aquarium keeping. Refugiums existed on a few tanks, but back then wet/dry filtration (a dreaded nitrate sink) was still popular. We had mastered the ammonia cycle, and much of aquarium filtration was aimed at keeping ammonia and nitrite, out of reef aquarium water. Many tanks had algae scrubbers, and I personally had a large homemade scrubber that included several feet of plastic mesh, along with a couple hardware store lights. It was most certainly a fire hazard, but it was semi-effective.  Since the good old days, I’ve used a host of algae scrubbers. Some were large homemade units, while others were compact manufactured units. Algae scrubbers exist that float on the water’s surface, magnetically attach to the tank’s sides, and connect to the aquarium a variety of ways. What I always found, when using an algae scrubber, was that I got a lot of algae growth, but may tank always carried a measurable nitrate load. Often this exceeded 5 ppm of nitrate, even though algae was growing at a rapid pace. Since then, I’ve abandon algae based nutrient assimilation, in favor of bacterial nutrient assimilation. In my experience, microbes are far more effective at breaking down nutrients, than algae. Pax Bellum has just released the ARID reactor, what is promised to be a super-charged way at growing macro-algae, capable of providing the aquarium with all its filtration needs. After contacting Pax Bellum, I began remembering my experience with algae scrubbers in the past. According to Pax Bellum, the ARID reactor is all the filtration you’ll ever need, eliminating the need for protein skimming, carbon dosing, GFO and even ozone. With a $ 749-dollar price tag, the ARID reactor costs almost as much as other filtration items combined, but is it possible that algae alone, can purify reef aquarium water? The ARID reactor:ARID looks like a regular reactor. There is simply an inlet for water to enter, and an exit for it to flow back into the tank. The difference is the center column, housing what Pax Bellum calls a light pole.… More:

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SPS Deep Dive – Tyree Red Dragon Limited edition corals generate a lot of buzz when released and the Tyree Red Dragon was at the top of the LE hit list a few years ago. Why did this coral grab so much attention? Well, it was unique due to its red/fuchsia color, white color polyps and growth pattern. The coral’s uniqueness and limited availability did translate into a very high price tag back then but today it is more readily available and can be had for a much more reasonable price. The Red Dragon is a deepwater Acropora with smooth skin, a low density of polyps and delicate, open branches. The coral requires good flow and does well in the middle part of the tank under

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France’s Aquarium de Paris, or the Paris Aquarium, has teamed up with Airbnb to offer an awesome competition that will appeal to thrill seekers and aquarium lovers alike. Three lucky winners and their guests will get a chance to spend the night in the Paris Aquariums pretty swanky ‘submarine bedroom’ on either April 11, 12 or 13 of 2016. The lucky winners will enjoy dinner, aquarium entrance and a private tour led by Fred Buyle, shark enthusiast, photographer and world record setting free diver. The room is available for three nights only, and then will be turned into an observatory for the aquarium. The competition is part of Airbnb’s Night At series, which takes amazing places around the world and transforms them into amazing accommodations for the night. All you have to do is go on the site and enter to win. But make sure you do it by tomorrow, April 3, 2016, when the competition ends. And don’t worry you don’t have to be a local to win, Airbnb will fly the winners in from anywhere in the world! Airbnb describes the ‘accommodations’ as follows: “Ever gaze into an aquarium and wonder what it’s like to live under water? Imagine yourself submerged in three million liters, in an aquarium ten meters deep, alongside 35 of the most majestic creatures on Earth: sharks! Experience what it’s like, even for a night, to live among these feared creatures. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sleep in a underwater bedroom, where the only thing separating you from your neighbors is the 360-degree transparent wall.” The ‘house rules’ include: no selfies after dark since sharks are sensitive to light, no diving, don’t eat the chum and keep your hands and feet inside!  MORE… More:

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Good morning from the super HOT Caribbean!! I have some wild, “open for business” glowing Giant Star Coral Polyps for you all today that I found the other night at around 70 feet. Each one of these single polyps is about half inch in size and what makes this photo really cool is they are all open! Why’s that so cool you ask when all coral polyps are open at night?? It’s because for once I got a photo of it

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Due to ever increasing demand for the Dreambox Filter System in North and South America and abroad, Royal Exclusiv will be relocating to an expanded production facility and reorganizing its production and distribution operations.  Presently, all Dreambox Filter Systems are custom made individually and entered chronologically into the production schedule at its facility in Cologne, Germany.  To meet the present and future demands for its products, Royal Exclusiv will be acquiring new production equipment and production/support staff to augment their existing manufacturing capabilities. “Such changes require major time and effort in planning, training and execution”, says Scott Leif, Director of Customer Support, Royal Exclusiv USA. To facilitate the downtime involved in moving their existing production equipment to the new facility, Royal Exclusiv has placed a

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What do octopus, clownfish, and chickens have in common? They all lay eggs. Both chicken and octopus mothers care for their eggs, while clownfish fathers take on that role in the breeding relationship. And while clownfish and octopus lay hundreds of tiny eggs at a time, chickens only lay one a day, though it is much, much bigger – just the right size to make eggshell planters! 
This gardening project is perfect for early spring – peas, spinach, and lettuce can all be started indoors right now, and transplanted outside once they sprout, while more tender plants like herbs and flowers need to be kept inside until the danger of frost has passed. For this project, you need: rinsed eggshell halves
soil (I recommend seed starter soil, which is available at any gardening or home improvement store)
seeds
empty egg carton Simply fill the eggshells with soil, plant a couple of seeds in each, according to each plant’s seed-sowing directions, and place in a sunny, south-facing window or under that extra tank light you can’t bring yourself to get rid of. When you are ready to bring your seedlings outside, gently crush the shell, removing any big pieces that fall off, and plant in your garden. thank you to Make Magazine for use of their eggshell planter picture!… More:

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Thousands of jellyfish washed up on South Florida beaches last week. Hallandale Beach in North Miami, Florida was covered with bluish and purple jellyfish as far as the eye could see. These bluish and purple jellyfish are Velella Velella, also known as  ‘by the wind sailors’ or ‘blue-buttons’, and they typically live far off shore in open waters. They have a body with a stiff fin that catches the breeze like a ship would. However, they are often blown ashore by strong winds in massive numbers. The good news is these jellyfish are not harmful to humans. This should go without saying, but you should never touch any jellyfish washed ashore, especially in Florida. Especially since these Velella look similar enough to man-of-war, which are very venomous to humans, it is a good idea to leave all jellyfish alone and avoid the beaches where the jellyfish have watched ashore. “This happens about every three years. We are flying our Purple flag for dangerous marine life,” city officials said. “Public works beach tractor did rake up numerous, but they continue to wash up and cleanup will be a gradual process,” officials said. Not much fun for the many tourists and spring breakers ready to hit the popular South Florida beaches. MORE… More:

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This week we talk more about carnivorous plants and a lot about nano bubbles.

We return once again to talk more about hobbies, where our listeners are located, and nano bubbles. 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
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Notice the lateral line on this Anthias in my tankEverything about fish is amazing and fascinating. To me, the most fascinating thing about fish (beside their taste) is their lateral line system. The lateral line is the most important thing fish possess because without it, they would get around about as well as a supermodel in a bikini but no high heels. All fish have a lateral line, and you can usually see it. It is a line of scales that are slightly different from the rest of the fish’s scales, and they run from near their mouth, around the eye, to the tail. That line is made up of epithelial cells, which are basically modified skin cells. They are mucus-filled canals that have hair cells in them—kind of like what we have in our ears to help us determine which direction our spouse is yelling at us from. For our participation in this hobby, we don’t need to know exactly how all this works, but you can delve into it if you desire.Basically, the lateral line system allows the fish to know what is around it, what it is chasing, and how close it is to anything solid, including other fish, which is how millions of fish can swim in a school and never touch each other

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Chromera velia. Credit: Gert Hanson

 Most corals from shallow tropical reefs rely heavily upon an intracellular alga, Symbiodinium, to meet their nutritional demands. This hugely important symbiosis is the foundation on which a coral reef’s biodiversity is built, but, as it turns out, this is not the only algal symbiosis to be found. Over the last twenty years, researchers have been slowly piecing together clues to a startling discovery—a mysterious protozoan with close ties to some of mankind’s worst parasites. To appreciate the importance of this find, we first need to take a stroll through the evolutionary history of these organisms. Symbiodinium is a photosynthetic genus of dinoflagellate, a phylum of protozoa which is defined morphologically by the presence of two flagella and (usually) an armor-like covering called a theca. The group is familiar to aquarists for their occasional tendency to form stubborn blooms on aquarium substrates—similar blooms in coastal habitats can cause the toxic phenomenon known as a “red tide”. 

Symbiodinium. Credit: Todd DeJeunesse/Penn State University

 Researchers working with Symbiodinium often must physically separate them from their coral host. This requires the maceration and centrifugation of coral tissue to isolate the individual algal cells, followed by growing the algae in a new medium. The technique had been performed for decades, when, in 2001, a couple unusual contaminants were recorded for the first time in Australian samples of Plesiastrea and Leptastrea.These contaminants would eventually be described as new species—Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis. Their discovery was doubly important, as not only had a new coral symbiont been found, but morphological and genetic study indicated that these algae represented an entirely novel phylum of single-celled organism allied closely to the Phylum Apicomplexa—a diverse and exclusively parasitic group that includes the causative agents of malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis and many other unpleasant and economically important diseases that afflict our species (and our livestock).The apicomplexans are named for a unique type of cellular organelle called an apicoplast, which is situated at the apical end of the organism and used for various metabolic functions and to aid in entering their host’s cells. Because of its uniqueness, the apicoplast is a major focus for research into targeted malarial drugs, but culturing parasitic apicomplexans to allow for such study is no easy feat, as it requires both the host (e.g. human blood) and the vector (e.g.… More:

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Good morning from Curacao! I have four photos for you today showing a behavior we see quite often called “Shadowing or Shadow Hunting”. This is a unique hunting technique that usually involves a trumpetfish (the long fish) slowly swimming behind or on top of a large herbivorous fish, using the larger fish as camouflage, then coiling its body into an s-shape and rapidly lunging at prey when an opportune moment to strike presents itself. Trumpetfish seem to select a shadowing fish based on color but this doesn’t always hold true as you can see from the photos above: red-brown trumpetfish tend to shadow brownish fish like grouper, blue-grey trumpetfish shadow schools of blue fish like blue tang, and occasionally even scuba divers. Trumpetfish are carnivores that feed on fish and crustaceans. They are ambush predators so they rely on camouflage and stealth to allow them to get close to potential prey.

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Beluga whales are a popular aquarium exhibit animal from the arctic and easy to spot because of their striking white color and lack of dorsal fin. However, as the issue of cetaceans in captivity has become more and more controversial, the U.S. is trying to get involved in the fate of Russian Beluga whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed a ban on the import of any threatened Beluga whales residing in Russian waters. Under the proposal, the belugas living in the Sea of Okhotsk would be designated as ‘depleted’ under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and it would then be illegal to transport  them into the US for public display. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, for the past 24 years ,the Sea of Okhotsk has been the only regular source for Beluga whales in captivity.If the proposal is approved, this will be the first time the US will have used the MMPA to declare a marine population living in foreign waters as depleted. “This is definitely a precedent-setting decision,” Dr. Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute, told HuffPost over email. “While of course the MMPA has no jurisdiction in foreign waters, if this population of belugas is in fact designated as depleted, then the relevant US agency now has a tool to use to approach the Russian government and offer assistance, expertise, and ideas to recover this population.” MORE… More:

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For a zooplanktivore such as Anthias, who are frequent feeders, withholding food isn’t necessarily advantageousQuestionI’ve been told that it’s a good idea to avoid feeding aquarium fish on occasion, for example once every week or once every other week. I guess this stands to reason because fish in nature can’t always get a meal. Do you agree with this, and if so, how frequently do you recommend doing it?” – Submitted by Candace Brown Answer While I don’t have an issue with the practice of occasionally fasting fish, I’m always wary of making any sort of blanket recommendation such as “Marine fish should be fasted every X number of days.” In my opinion, a much better approach is to think in terms of feeding in a manner appropriate to the particular species—which may or may not include fasting. For instance, some predatory species, such as groupers and moray eels, naturally take in large prey items in one sitting and then go without eating for a relatively long interval until another prey item happens along. With these fish, it may be appropriate to feed only once or a few times per week and then allow them to fast in between meals. On the other hand, zooplanktivores and herbivores (such as anthias and many of the tangs/surgeonfishes respectively) naturally feed frequently, if not continuously, throughout the day. Thus, in an aquarium setting, it’s appropriate to provide multiple small feedings each day for zooplanktivores and continuous grazing opportunities for herbivores.

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Good morning all, I have a beautiful colony of Orange Cup Corals at the base of a giant sea fan for you viewing pleasure today that was taken on one of our numerous night dives. As you may or may not know, many corals feed at night. These cup corals collapse into a hard “button” during the day but at night they open and extend their tentacles to capture floating plankton. Many don’t know this but Tubastrea coccinea “Orange Cup coral” is an invasive species just like the lionfish. While lionfish get all the attention and are subjected to extraction derbies and are appropriately placed on a platter, orange cup coral silently keeps on growing. Fortunately it is much more selective than lionfish

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The Theiling Roller Mat is a new spin, on a tried and true filtration method. Sorry, I couldn’t resist, as the roller mat’s selling point is that it automatically spins, replacing debris laden cotton fabric with clean fabric. Mechanical filtration still remains a hallmark of maintaining ultra-clear reef aquarium water, and while some aquarists have abandon the use of filter socks, those of us obsessive about the clarity of our water, still use them on a full-time basis. The roller mat promises a more efficient and effective way to filter sediment and particles from water, while greatly reducing the work required to change, and clean, filter socks or foam pads. The device lives up to its promise, and using a simple design, maintains clean filter fabric while effectively pulling sediment out of aquarium water. However, it’s large size, exuberant price and overall design, makes it an imperfect solution for many reef aquarists. Mechanical filtration:Some aquarists ditched this standby in reef filtration long ago. Over the years, aquarium experts have suggested that mechanical filtration (mainly filter socks and sponge pads) traps debris, creating a place for aerobic bacteria to build-up, while releasing a steady stream of nitrates. In general, as long as the aquarist is diligent about replacing filter socks or pads, then it’s not typically an issue. While filter socks polish water of unsightly sediment, including un-eaten food, they don’t last long before needing replaced with a clean sock. On my reef, I am lucky to get more than three days from a filter sock. To keep up with the demand, I had over a dozen on hand, constantly rotating them. The real challenge comes when the socks need cleaned. Since the filter media is full of minute weaves and crevices, it’s nearly impossible to easily clean off seemingly caked in debris. This leads most aquarists to turn to un-scented bleach, which breaks up trapped debris, allowing it to be rinsed off. The problem, is that you’re left with a bleach soaked filter sock, not even remotely safe for use in a reef aquarium. In order to solve this problem, the socks then need soaked in a bleach absorber or chlorine assimilator. Even with ardent cleaning and maintenance, sooner or later filter socks (and foam pads) become some worn, and trapped with debris, that they must be replaced. Overall, the entire process is time consuming and pain staking, making it no surprise that many aquarists have abandon mechanical filtration, allowing debris to move through the system, eventually being removed via protein skimming or biological processes.… More:

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Public aquariums are among the most popular tourist attractions in the world, drawing in tens of millions of cumulative visitors every year. The United States is lucky to be home to many outstanding institutions. The Virginia Aquarium is one of my favorites and I am glad to hear that there is some interesting expansion underway. The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is planning an expansion that is already estimated at costing over nine million dollars. The Aquarium is owned and operated by the city,while the animals and exhibits are owned by the non-profit. The Aquarium opened on June 14, 1986 and has focused on hands on exhibits. The project is still in the design phase, but the plans include adding a Giant Pacific Octopus Exhibit and Jellyfish touch tank. The Aquarium recently had an expansion to add the zip line adventure center and coastal garden. The new plans include further expansion to the adventure center and the Mid-Atlantic Marine Animal Conservation Center. A childrens watershed activity center will go behind the Marsh Pavillion and allow children to take a shower under a rain cloud and dig in the sand. A new wing will be built for the Aquariums veternary center which will allow aquarium vets to provide continued care to the over 13,000 animals residing at the aquarium. Construction is expected to begin in 2018. MORE… More:

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Being a Florida resident since 2009, I have been alarmed by the dramatic increase in lionfish seen during my dives. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages people to remove lionfish from State waters in an effort to control the negative effects of these invasive fish. So I am very glad to hear that supermarkets and restaurants are finally coming together to support the consumption of lionfish. Having participated in local lionfish fishing tournaments and fry-ups, that were organized in an effort to control this pest, I can say that lionfish is a pretty delicious, mild tasting white fish. Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, a respected consumer resource for selecting sustainable seafood, has recently labeled lionfish as a ‘best choice’, which is the highest available rating from the organization. For example, the high end supermarket chain Whole Foods only sells fish with the ‘best choice’ rating.  Whole Foods recently indicated that it will begin selling lionfish in stores on the West Coast within the next six months, which is welcome news for lionfish hunters and Florida reef lovers alike. Previously, supply had been a concern and it was difficult to find a steady source of this venoumous species. However, Restuaranter Ryan Chadwick is helping to solve this problem and is in the process of starting what is believed to be the first lionfish wholesale business in the Carribean, using local divers. Additionally, Chadwick is also working on creating a trap that would enable lionfish to be caught without depending solely on labor intensive spearfishing. Finding lionfish in a national supermarket and on more chefs menu’s will hopefully raise public awareness and interest, and create a market for eating this fish in the mainstream foodie community. We need to remove the perception of the lionfish as merely an aquarium resident, and more like a tasty seafood menu item, in order to help rid them from the waters of Florida and the Carribean. So if you see lionfish for sale at your local supermarket or on your favorite restaurant menu, I encourage you to give it a try.  MORE… More:

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Cirrhilabrus blatteus. Photo credit: John Randall.

 On today’s Epithet Etymology, we find ourself examining the naming origins of yet another fairy wrasse of the genus Cirrhilabrus. While I try to inject a little bit of diversity in my posts, I can’t help but circle back to my favourite labrid genus from time to time. This time though, it’s warranted, because C. blatteus is truly one of the most unique species ( in terms of its naming and the reason behind it anyway). As described in previous fairy wrasse installations, the generic epithet “Cirrhilabrus” is a combination of the words “cirri” and “labrus”. The former alludes to a row of fleshy, curved like organs present on the tips of the dorsal and anal fin spines, and the latter simply means wrasse. It’s specific epithet, however, is more interesting and exciting.  

It is in preserved specimens that the true meaning behind its naming becomes apparent. Notice how the osseous and cartilaginous elements of the gills and fins are stained purple in the absence of any dyes. These were preserved only in ethanol! Photo credit: Lemon TYK.

 The specific epithet “blatteus” is latin for purple. The naming is in reference to the unique properties of this species. In alcohol, many of Cirrhilabrus blatteus‘ osseous elements, as well as its fins, are stained purple, almost as if they were coloured with the dye alizarin red. This is quite unusual for the genus, as many Cirrhilabrus stain clear or bluish-green in alcohol. The common name “purple-boned fairy wrasse” is therefore quite fitting, not because they are purple when alive, but purple when preserved. Cirrhilabrus blatteus is a rare species endemic to the deep water reefs of the Red Sea, appearing only at depths starting at 60m. The species is absent from the aquarium trade, and is rare even in scientific collections. The three specimens photographed above were taken at the California Academy of Sciences, where ichthyological curator Dr. Luiz Rocha works. Incidentally, it is his hand that is seen holding the fishes in the photo above, fishes which he collected with the use of a spear gun (notice the wounds in the lowermost specimen).… More:

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Also commonly know as the Flowerpot coral or Daisy Coral, Goniopora species are generally considered difficult to moderately difficult to keep alive in captivity. When opened up these corals look similar to a bouquet of flowers.  Not considered to be overly aggressive towards other corals they can still sting neighboring corals within close proximity as their polyps can extend well beyond their coral skeleton base.  Joe’s Passionfruit Goni is of exceptional color and contrast and this why we have featured this WYSIWYG coral as the AquaNerd Featured Coral of the Week. Goniopora corals come in a wide range of colors and species and the genus contains the following species: Goniopora columna Dana, 1846 Goniopora stokesi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 Goniopora fruticosa Saville-Kent, 1891 Goniopora somaliensis Vaughan, 1907 Goniopora

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