Yellownose Shrimpgoby (S. xanthorhinica) 

A dark specimen camouflaged on dark substrate. Credit: Yuji Izumi

 A common goby throughout the Western Pacific, this is one of the most frequently encountered species offered in the aquarium trade. It can be found in water as shallow as three meters, and its range likely includes all of the West Pacific, though it is apparently unknown from Sumatra, Java and much of Borneo. There is a wide gap to the east of its range separating it from its closest relative, the Marquesan endemic S. medon. Identifying traits to look for are: 1) A short first dorsal fin with a black margin in juveniles. 2) Mature males develop a tall, falcate first dorsal fin, richly infused with melanophores which give it a dusky appearance. 3) Preopercular sensory pores are absent, a trait shared with S. medon, S. nematodes and S. yasha. 

Whiter individuals seen on brighter substrate. Credit:saysea

 Specimens frequently take on a dark brown base coloration, which seems to correspond with darker substrates (like volcanic sands); the stark white forms are found in coral sand habitats. Judging from diver photographs, this is more of a general tendency than a foolproof observation. Marquesan Shrimpgoby (S. medon) 

Large male specimen. Credit: John Randall

 Closely related to the widespread xanthorhinica is a population that is seemingly isolated in the Marquesas Islands. This is an unusual biogeography, as there are no known populations in the nearby islands of Polynesia. Why is this? 

Smaller specimens are nearly identical to xanthorhinica. Credit: John Randall

 It seems unlikely there would be a lack of appropriate habitat; so is it genuinely not present, or has it just not been found? Or is it possible that some time ago an intrepid larval xanthorhinica drifted along with the currents, only to land in the distant Marquesas to form a new population? This too seems unlikely, as gobies have relatively short larval development that would make such long distance travels implausible. Or maybe there were once xanthorhinica in the South Pacific, but these have since been extirpated—another scenario with little to recommend it. Of course, any of these scenarios could conceivably be told in the reverse, with the Marquesan population as a center of origin for the widespread xanthorhinica, but this argued against by the many other Marquesan endemics sister to widespread species.… More:

The post The Evolution and Biogeography of Stonogobiops – part 2 appeared first on reefs.com.

Is it smart to quarantine several fish together?

This week’s podcast chit-chat topics are the reef side of Gary’s bicycle trip, collecting wild food, quarantining multiple fish, DC pumps, pipe organ care, and what we’d pay for fish and corals. 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

Multi-fish quarantine
Is It Okay to Quarantine Multiple Marine Fish at Once?, Saltwater Smarts

Splash-free surge tanks
Finally, a surge tank without the noise, bubbles, space, or plumbing!, LobsterofJustice, Reef Central

Pipe organ coral
Pipe Organ care, GOSKN5, Reef Central

Paying the most
What’s your max fish price?, 3FordFamily, Reef2Reef

Your email:

The post Reef Threads Podcast #239 appeared first on reefs.com.

Photo credit: Paul Nicklen

 Coral, with its porous nature and curled structure, is extremely efficient at absorbing toxic heavy metals; deadly poisons. The mercury that is polluting our oceans is contributing to massive coral die-offs, and is building up in the food chain, eventually resulting in toxic fish. According to the WHO, between 1.5 and 17 in every thousand children living in selected subsistence fishing populations showed cognitive impacts caused by the consumption of fish containing mercury. Coral’s remarkable ability to absorb heavy metals inspired researchers at Anhui Jianzhu University in China to create nano-sized, coral-like structures that use aluminum oxide to absorb mercury out of the water. The team, led by Dr. Xianbiao Wang, published their procedures and findings this week in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. They outlined their process for creating this unique structure, which they found to be about two and a half times more effective at absorbing mercury than traditionally structured nanoparticles –  49.15 mg/g vs.19.56 mg/g.   
These images show the coral-like aluminum oxide nanostructure, composed of hierarchical small units with sizes of ∼1.5 μm, as well as the curled nanoplates that form on the surface of the units. The pore sizes are in the range of 2–140 nm in diameter. Beginning with aluminum and hydroxide, the researchers induced a series of reactions to produce aluminum oxide, or y-AlOOH. Al³⁺+3OH^–→AlOH₃→AlOOH+H₂O The scientists then created a solution of water, aluminum oxide, and ethylene glycol (EG). When the concentration of γ-AlOOH reached supersaturation, crystal nuclei would be formed in the solution and subsequently grow. The volume ratio of EG to water in the mixed solvent was very important; the results could only be obtained at _VEG:_VH₂O=4:1. EG is a general capping organic solvent  which adsorbed on the surface of γ-AlOOH crystal by hydrogen bonding, leading to preferential, nanoplate-like growth.The surface-adsorbed EG molecules would then inhibit the adsorption of other ions in solution and shield the surface charges (kown as the charge shielding effect).  Finally, the charge differences between the nanoplates’ surfaces and edges induced by charge shielding effect drove the structure to form self-curled nanoplates and a coral-like structure. To read the full scientific abstract, visit Science Direct.… More:

The post Synthetic Coral to Clean the Ocean appeared first on reefs.com.

I have gotten an incredible amount of feedback on my follow up to Richard Ross and Nathan Hill’s conversation about the aquarium hobby and morality. What shocked me, is that many advanced aquarists agreed with me 100%, and felt that both the hobby and industry have a lot of work to do, when it comes to morality and our tanks. I also got feedback from those outside of the hobby or industry, whom feel that removing animals from their habitat constitutes environmental abuse, and that individual animals suffering along the chain of custody on up to our aquariums is unacceptable. Those on the outside looking in, seem to think a zero tolerance policy regarding wild caught livestock needs implemented. It’s encouraging to know that aquarists, and those who simply appreciate the planet, are thinking about these issues.  The first step to making a change is acknowledging there is a problem. It would seem that those of us who’ve been in the hobby for a while, are clearly aware that issues are present. In dialogue with fellow aquarists, I have learned that many feel rather helpless. They detest the fact that many fish, corals and other animals die during collection and shipping. Furthermore they hate that wholesalers and retailers often put animals in crammed conditions, where parasites and stress can easily pick them off. The degree of suffering that each individual animal undergoes, during their journey to our aquariums does weigh heavily on many aquarist’s minds. Like me, several aquarists pointed out that they are always on the verge of throwing in the towel, not because they are struggling to keep their tanks healthy, but because they are struggling with their conscious. As more and more pictures of massive amounts of fish become public, dead and thrown away by the livestock industry, even hardcore aquarists are becoming squeamish. Seemingly nowhere to go:Many aquarists feel that the trade has wrapped itself up in abuse. It’s become so common, that it’s impossible to procure a marine fish without contributing to it. As I pointed out last time, fish are collected on one side of the world and hustled to the other. Collectors are paid chump change for newly collected specimens, and what cost an exporter $ 5.00 turns into hundreds by the time it’s advertised for sale online. You would assume with such a mark-up that shipping the fish would employ some advanced method that nearly guarantees a live, healthy arrival.… More:

The post Aquarium morality 2.0 appeared first on reefs.com.

Yasha Goby (Stonogobiops yasha) 

A darkly pigmented male impressing a female. Credit: Sabine Penisson

 First, a brief etyomology interlude, as the origins of the name “Yasha” is an interesting story. The first specimens to be discovered were found in Japan, where they were given the local name “Yashahaze”. “Haze” is a common name for gobies in Japanese, and “Yasha” is a type of female devil-like creature of Buddhist mythology, which is depicted as having a pair of enlarged canines. And so the prominent vomerine teeth of S. yasha are alluded to in its whimsical name. The species has many other common names. One is a bastardized misspelling (Yashia Goby) which certain marine wholesalers insist upon. Others include more prosaic sobriquets, like the White-ray Goby or, confusingly, the Clown Goby 

Juveniles are darkly colored. Credit: himechanz

 Despite its ubiquity in our hobby,the Yasha Goby first began appearing in aquariums around the late 1990’s, and it was only in 2001 that it was scientifically described. It is still only documented from a handful of scattered locations—the distribution map above includes all verified localities for this species—which gives the impression of a widespread Western Pacific population that is apparently highly sporadic in its occurrence. The preferred habitat is no different from others in its genus—sand or rubble bottoms at moderate depths (15-40m). Why it is that this species is so infrequently encountered in the wild is one of its lingering enigmas and perhaps lends some charm to this already charismatic creature. 

An aberrantly spotted and double-striped form. Credit: unknown

 Identification couldn’t be simpler, as this is the only red longitudinally-striped species in the genus, or any genus of shrimpgoby for that matter. S. yasha is often found paired with S. nematodes in the wild, but it is unknown to form other interspecies pairs. This behavioral quirk, in addition to their similar dorsal fin morphology, gives evidence to indicate a close relationship. But it’s difficult to determine whether these two taxa are truly sister species or if yasha is instead basal to the other Stonogobiops. Answers to that await genetic study. One argument to be made against a direct monophyly for these two species is the highly disparate color patterns. The longitudinal stripes of yasha are a feature more commonly seen in the closely-related genus Myersina. Also take note of the large red spots on the head of yasha, which correspond to the location of the first diagonal bar seen in other Stonogobiops species.… More:

The post The Evolution and Biogeography of Stonogobiops – part 3 appeared first on reefs.com.

Two-stripe damsel (Dascyllus reticulatus)Among the pomacentrids (damsels and clownfishes) are many species that rank exceptionally high when it comes to hardiness in aquaria (thus their once common use as tank cyclers) but also tend to mature into little hellions that can turn a peaceful community tank into an underwater war zone. The genus Dascyllus contains more than its fair share of these hardy-but-hostile damsels, including the subject of today’s profile: Dascyllus reticulatus, the two-stripe or reticulate damsel. Though not chromatically gifted, D. reticulatus is striking in appearance nonetheless. Cute and peaceful as a juvenile, the two-stripe damsel can tempt hobbyists into making an impulse purchase only to discover later on that this Indo-Pacific pomacentrid is anything but passive. That aside, it can be a good candidate for a more rough-and-tumble community. You just have to keep that territorial belligerence foremost in mind when choosing a system and tankmates

The post The Two-Stripe Damsel: Hardiness and Hostility in Equal Measure appeared first on reefs.com.

My children are fascinated with sea turtles. Those enormous reptiles that drift peacefully for thousands of miles on the ocean currents, observing the world with gentle eyes, have captured their hearts. If your kids feel the same way, they might enjoy making themselves a pet turtle to play with in the bathtub or pool, or to take for walks in the rain puddles!  You just need a 2-liter bottle, string, a sturdy needle, and something for the body – craft foam like this would work, or substitute something similar that you already have.  

turtle 

turtle 

 1. cut the bottom off your plastic bottle. 2. trace its shape on the foam and draw half-circles for the head and legs (or flippers if its a sea turtle), and a little triangle for the tail 3. punch holes around the bottle’s outline, and sew the bottle on to the foam, as pictured. 4. decorate your new friend! Loggerhead sea turtles are our favorite -. they are named that because their oversized heads sort of look like a big logs. They can crush conchs, horseshoe crabs, and other hard-shelled animals with their powerful jaws, but they also eat softer foods like jellyfish, fish, and seaweed. Loggerheads take 35 years to become full-grown and able to have babies, and they only lay eggs (about 100 at a time) every 2 to 4 years.  If you’d like to explore further, National Geographic Kids has a great page dedicated to these beautiful, endangered creatures here.… More:

The post Reef Kids appeared first on reefs.com.

In the first investigation of its kind, experts from the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth University and the University of Exeter have assessed people’s physical and mental responses to tanks containing varying levels of fish. Their findings were recently published in the journal Environment & Behaviour. The researchers conducted their study when the UKs National Marine Aquarium refurbished one of its main exhibits – a  45ft, 550,000 litre tank – and began a phased introduction of different fish species. Assessing the mood, heart rate and blood pressure of 112 participants as fish numbers in the exhibit gradually increased, they found that found that increased biota levels were not only associated with longer spontaneous viewing of the exhibit, but also greater reductions in heart rate, greater increases in self-reported mood, and higher interest. “Fish tanks and displays are often associated with attempts at calming patients in doctors’ surgeries and dental waiting rooms,” said Deborah Cracknell, PhD Student and Lead Researcher at the National Marine Aquarium. “This study has, for the first time, provided robust evidence that ‘doses’ of exposure to underwater settings could actually have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing.” Dr Mathew White, an environmental psychologist at the University of Exeter, added: “Our findings have shown improvements for health and wellbeing in highly managed settings, providing an exciting possibility for people who aren’t able to access outdoor natural environments.

The post The More The Merrier: Increase The Peace… With Fish appeared first on reefs.com.

So what is the bleeding edge of reef keeping? I sort of think of it as that moment that you step outside of your comfort zone, when an aquarist opens their mind and a new trend emerges. Often the bleeding edge goes against the grain and operates on a new set of rules that redefines common principles. In aquaria it was a bleeding edge approach that led to Lee Chin Eng’s natural system, which remains today the foundation of reef aquariums. The bleeding edge has integrated technology and our aquariums and propelled the hobby forward. Propagation of corals, breeding marine fish and the open sharing of information can all be linked to the bleeding edge. In many ways the bleeding edge represents the innate ability to adapt to change and re-structure methodologies. I will be moderating the Bleeding Edge Forum here on reefs. The goal is to bring aquarists together and create one giant brainstorming session, discussing not only the latest trends and current technology, but also giving insight into the future of coral reef aquariums and how by working together, we can make the hobby better. The bleeding edge forum won’t just represent a place to discuss the newest and best equipment, or trying a different approach to maintaining a reef aquarium. It also represents a place to look at aquaria as a whole, from wild oceans to our living rooms. It’s a place to discuss recent discoveries in piscine intelligence, coral adaptability, micro-reef biology and the practices of the trade. As an aquarium writer I’ve always tried to stand on the edge, because here I have a bird’s eye view of what is around. Instead of a narrow minded approach that locks into one ideology, I like both my systems and my interpretation of the hobby to remain flexible and fluid. If you want to visit the forum and start a discussion, I encourage you to do so here. Below are links to various articles I’ve compiled that help represent what the bleeding edge is all about. https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/07/29/aquarium-morality-2-0/https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/07/16/have-morals-left-the-building/https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/07/02/buying-ich-vaccinated-fish/https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/06/16/does-water-have-a-memory-the-science-of-structured-water/https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/05/12/the-war-on-fish/https://www.reefs.com/blog/2015/02/24/taking-a-look-in-the-mirror/      … More:

The post What is the bleeding edge? appeared first on reefs.com.

Publishing their findings in the July 27 issue of the journal Acta Materialia, engineers at the University of California, San Diego have described how the body of the boxfish Lactoria cornuta could serve as inspiration for improved armour, robots and even flexible electronics. The boxfish joins other reef organisms such as seahorses and stomatopods being studied for such purposes. Drawing its strength from hexagon-shaped scales and the connections between them (similar to the connections in a baby’s skull) the boxfish’s body features a unique construction in which each scale, or scute, has a raised, star-like structure in the centre that distributes stress across the entire surface. In addition, there is an underlying, flexible layer of interlocking collagen fibre which is difficult to penetrate. In combination, this means that even if a predator managed to generate a crack in the outer layer, the collagen fibres would help to prevent the structure from failing. “These damage-resisting structures have evolved for millions of years in nature and are being studied with support of the U.S.

The post Boxing Clever: Engineers Draw Inspiration From Bulletproof Boxfish appeared first on reefs.com.

 Girdled Shrimpgoby (undescribed species) 

Girdled Shrimpgoby. Credit: Gerry Allen

 This species is documented in Allen & Erdmann’s Reef Fishes of the East Indies, but I have failed to find a single photograph of it online. It is reported from depths of 3-20m on mud bottoms in Bali, North Sulawesi, West Papua and the Ryukyu Islands. It’s possible some of these sightings may be erroneously confusing it with other undescribed forms, especially the record from the well documented waters of Japan. This species has a number of distinctive characters: 1) The longitudinal stripes are entirely lacking, as is the diagonal stripe and spotting from the head. 2) The body has a sharply demarcated line delineating a pale anterior and a darker purple-grey posterior, centered near the origin of the anal and second dorsal fins. 3) The first dorsal fin is short, with each spine extending as a white filament well beyond the membranes.Striped-tail Shrimpgoby (undescribed species) 

Note the eponymous striped caudal fin in this Striped-tail Shrimpgoby, from Cebu. Naoshi Suzuki

 I could find photographs of only two specimens of this apparently undescribed form, both photographed on a single dive in Cebu, Philippines. 

A female, from same dive location as male. Note the unusual orange stripe. Credit: Naoshi Suzuki

 This species is most similar to the Girdled Shrimpgoby, but differs in several ways: 1) The caudal fin bears a series of radiating blue lines, on what appears to be a hyaline yellow background. 2) The pelvic fins are mostly clear, not white as in all other known variants. 2) The blue marginal band of the unpaired fins is absent or degenerate. In the caudal fin, only the medial edge of this band is evident. 3) Blue stripes and spots are present on the head, which are seemingly absent in the related Girdled Shrimpgoby. 4) There is no sharp color demarcation to the body, as in Girdled. Banded-fin Shrimpgoby (undescribed species) 

Note the rounded fin in both specimens of this pair. Credit: unknown

 This is another poorly documented variant, with photographs existing from Cebu and Bali. I at first thought this was perhaps a female of the Striped Shrimpgoby, but multiple photographs exist showing paired specimens of both forms, and in both forms the first dorsal fin is similarly shaped in each sex. 

From Okinawa. Credit: geikai_diver

Juveniles from Cebu, Philippines, IDed by rounded dorsal fins.

… More:

The post The Evolution and Biogeography of Stonogobiops – Part 4 appeared first on reefs.com.

 During the last week, a group of researchers from the University of Hawaii has been exploring the depths of Pohnpei in the Central Pacific for new and exotic marine life. Using rebreather diving equipment, these intrepid scientists descended to a remarkable 490 feet. And, like most dives to this habitat, numerous new species appear to have been found. The video above shows a couple of spectacular new anthias. A small group of purple and yellow Grammatonotus can be seen at the beginning of the clip. These are females, and the male appears for just a brief moment (at 0:17) before ducking into a crevice. Look closely to see the medial magenta stripe, a yellow dorsal fin, and a yellow caudal fin with lavender lobes. 

An undescribed Grammatonotus from 490ft, Pohnpei

 Grammatonotus, despite looking very anthias-like, is classified in a separate family, Callanthiidae. This small genus is typically found well below recreational diving depth, with only a precious few photos showing this fish alive in its natural habitat. There is, however, a single record of a juvenile having been collected in just 7 meters at Hawaii, so maybe someday one will find its way into a reef tank. The landscape in this video is obviously far-removed from the stereotypical tropical reef. The only corals to be seen are a variety of octocorals and antipatharians. The rocks teem with a kaleidoscope of sponges and rhodophytes. At one point, a large crustacean ducks into its burrow, though its impossible to decipher what this creature is. Near the end is a fantastic close-up of another potential new species. This is an Odontanthias of some sort. The short caudal fin lobes and the pennant-like dorsal fin spine are most similar to O. flagris from the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, but differences in color and biogeography suggest this fish is distinct. There is also a brief glimmer of a Chromis circumaurea. The name translates to “encircled in gold”, and it clearly fits. 

An undescribed Odontanthias.

 In addition to these finds, there are additional videos showing a potentially new species of the deepwater anthias genus Tosanoides, as well as another new Odontanthias species (similar to O. katayamai)  which has a yellow caudal fin and lacks the elongate dorsal fin spine. Who knows how many more species remain to be discovered in these deep reefs. While I have focused only on the pretty fishes here, how many of the sponges and algae in this video are likely to be new to science?… More:

The post Pohnpei’s Mesophotic Reefs Reveal New Anthias appeared first on reefs.com.

Good morning friends, it’s finally friday!! I have a beautiful school of snappers for you all today that we found living under a remote pier, or at least what was left of it. I know when most of you hear the word “snapper” your mouth starts watering and you immediately associate this with dinner but for me it means keeping them safe and enjoying the time I spend with them underwater getting to be part of their aqua world for just a few minutes. Most of the time when I find these large groups of fish I just stop and chill in hopes of showing them that I come in peace and just want to take a few photos and most of the time it works. Most diver are in such a rush that they don’t have the time to stop and smell the fish thus scaring them off immediately and I can tell you from experience that chasing fish doesn’t work either, they will win every time!

The post School of Snappers appeared first on reefs.com.

A hypothetical phylogeny for this group.

 Stonogobiops & Myersina: In Evolutionary Context 

A rainbow of colors in Myersina adonis, from brackish Thai waters. Credit: Shunsuke Onishi

 The full extent of speciation in this diverse group of gobies is only now coming to light. We still need scientific descriptions for the many poorly known variants, and further exploration to discover the many others which likely await discovery. It seems almost certain that regions poorly documented by divers, (e.g. Eastern Papua New Guinea or the Indian Ocean) would harbor more diversity. Furthermore, molecular study would go a long way towards unraveling the byzantine interrelationships amongst these many similar forms. 

Another beauty, Myersina macrostoma. Similar to the Striped-tail Shrimpgoby Credit: mochitake

 But a general trend seems to become clear, the barred coloration typical of Stonogobiops has its antecedents in the longitudinally-striped S. yasha, which in turn can be traced to the similarly striped complex of undescribed species surrounding S. larsonae. From there, we can find many similar patterns present amongst more traditional Myersina. For instance, the short diagonal stripe present on the cheek can be seen in M. macrostoma, and the appearance of reflective blue spots on the head seems to be present throughout the genus. Many species also have a longitudinally arranged body pattern (e.g. M. lachneri, macrostoma, nigrivirgata). Even the colorful caudal fin seen in species like M. macrostoma and M. adonis can be found in the Striped-tail Shrimpgoby. In total, there are a number of species occurring in Myersina that appear to form a continuum with these little blue-striped shrimpgobies, and ultimately to Stonogobiops. 

Myersina lachneri in Borneo. Note the similar blue lines on the face. Credit: Rika Ikoma

 This article is no place for any formal taxonomic moves to be made or species to be named, particularly when based on something so trivial as color patterns. The ultimate taxonomic fate of this group awaits future study from a taxonomist well-versed in the nuances of goby identification. Until that time, the many mysteries surrounding this enigmatic group will continue to elude us. There is surely a remarkable story of evolution and speciation to be unraveled amongst these astounding little fishes, and their story serves to illustrate just how poorly we know the world we live in. Acknowledgements This article benefitted immensely from the following individuals: Dr.… More:

The post The Evolution and Biogeography of Stonogobiops – Part 5 appeared first on reefs.com.

The Workshop took place at the Cranbrook Institute of ScienceLast weekend I traveled up to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with SWS contributor Dave Bowers to attend the 6th Annual Marine Breeder’s Workshop. It’s the only marine aquarium conference dedicated solely to marine ornamental captive breeding. My last trek to the workshop was three or four years ago, so it was long overdue. Just as I remembered, the day was chock-full of practical and educational content for active breeders, aspiring aquaculturists, and folks simply involved in the saltwater aquarium hobby. In fact, next time I need to bring along an extra brain to store all the information that’s lobbed about, but this year my notebook had to suffice. So now, for your reading pleasure, here are just some of the insights I could readily decipher from my scribbles.Unknowingly rearing anthias The event kicked off with Noel Heinsohn hopping on stage to talk about taking on many gallons of broodstock and unknowingly rearing anthias. At the young age of 21 with just five years spent in aquaculture, Noel has already had quite a variety of experiences and successes.

The post The 2015 MBI Workshop Revisited appeared first on reefs.com.

Good morning friends, after photographing the sub yesterday and waving goodbye I swam over to my giant school of Boga’s and joined them for around 15 minutes. These fish are so amazing and always the highlight to any dive! Instead of swimming away in fear they always swim to me then surround me allowing me to join their school. They seem to have no fear of the camera or the flashes thus allowing me to snap away at my leisure, it’s a total blast!

The post Bogas Fish Ball appeared first on reefs.com.

Vertical Surge Device

 Space in the coral troughs is always at a premium at the ReefGen coral farm, and we all agree that water flow is one of the most important aspects of coral care. When one of my troughs has an area of inadequate flow, such as this Acropora grow out system, it starts under-producing. I needed to build a unique surge device to provide more flow to the stagnant corner, as well as create a chaotic alternating current for the Acropora located downstream. 

Vertical Surge Device

 Extra horizontal space is hard to find, even outside the troughs, but I had an abundance of vertical space. To make the most of what was available, I had to get creative. I constructed the main body of the surge reservoir out of 3 inch pipe, and used a 3 inch T with a 1 inch side outlet. I then glued 1 inch pipe and a 90 degree elbow inside the T fitting that connects towards the bottom of the reservoir. I have a siphon break at the bottom of the pipe, this airline then feeds into the top of the one inch pipe outlet, and finally, exits the T fitting. The siphon break also feeds into the end of the outlet on the side of the tank. This allows enough air into the pipe to break the siphon without feeding excessive air into the water flowing from the unit.  I added a safety overflow drain at the top to prevent any flooding in the case of blockages or problems with the water flow out of the unit. I located the inlet of the pump feeding the unit at an inch below the water surface. If there are two simultaneous failures –  a lack of flow from the main feed pump into the trough and a malfunction of the surge, the water level will remain high enough to keep the coral submerged. Just two weeks later, the coral in the path of the surge are happier and growing well. Happy reefing!… More:

The post Vertical Carlson Surge Device appeared first on reefs.com.

Good morning friends, I have another funny fish face for you all today that was again taken during the day but looks like it was taken at night. I always try to use a much higher f-stop like f-16 for instance to darken the backgrounds which helps to eliminate distractions keeping the focus just on  the animal. And, the higher f-stop will give you much more detail, you just have to add more light when shooting. I believe this is a Redtail Parrotfish because of the black blotch at the base of the pectoral fin but I have been wrong before! Like all parrotfish they have the most unique and comical facial expressions, it’s trying to get them to look at the camera that is the hard part! Here is Curacao we have so many different parrotfish with names like….

The post Funny Parrotfish appeared first on reefs.com.

Juvenile chevron tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis)Tangs and surgeonfish are a diverse, beautiful, and often highly personable group of fish. It is no wonder that so many of us want to keep these fish in our systems. Inexperienced keepers do the right thing by going to their favorite forums and sites to ask which tangs can be kept, what size tank is appropriate, and how many they can keep in a particular system. Unfortunately, there has long been disagreement among certain hobbyists on precisely how to answer these questions—with some being much more restrictive than others when it comes to the species, tank sizes, and number of specimens recommended. In some instances, heated arguments occur as a result. Folks on both sides of the issue are generally well-meaning. Certainly neither side wants to bring harm to captive tangs. So why all the fuss then?An overlooked ailment I believe a good deal of the original disagreement actually stemmed from problems created by an unrelated group of ailments that few people at the time correctly identified

The post Chronic Stress in Captive Tangs appeared first on reefs.com.

Left, Tiger Tail seahorse from MaryG, right Dwarf Seahorse, photo by Felicia McCaulley Regular readers of FusedJaw.com are aware of my concern over juvenile seahorses being sold far too small and young. It came to my attention recently that sometimes very young juveniles of larger seahorse species are being sold as Dwarf Seahorses Hippocampus zosterae due to the exceptionally small size they are being sold at. This issue came to light by way of the our forum member Maryg. She asked to confirm the species of a couple seahorses sold through her local fish store as dwarf seahorses. The seahorses in question were in fact juvenile Tiger Tail Seahorses Hippocampus comes

The post Not Dwarf Seahorses, Baby Seahorses appeared first on reefs.com.