Aquarium Systems \

- We creaie your best &ti- *

- FREE - Volume 15

Winter 1998

Raising - Without Rotifers

W k n ~ h a W ~ ~ ~ and (here is not a roofer to be had, what can you do? During June of 1997 I hid ihe

to run twend trial* rwrin cktwnfah-e without usingrotifcn!for food, and swae trials wing puhnenzcd feed s u d d . As CbwnGah Larval, P caring ! k p d m r at C-Qumt Hatchery in Puerto RKO,lhadnotplannedtorunsuchtriab,h the temporary lack of rotifen gave us no chotcr -.

O n a n y - JmW lorn 1r&

~ C - Q p t s t ~ u B i a l l y spawns batch. Each of

.^ouf300wmdcwnfiBhpaÈÈba*a6iiich 12 inch ceramic floor cite upon whicfa to lay its

On theafternoonbeforeaapawn isdue lohuchitbrndfiroaa~aoditankm

comers, which results in starvation of the Iwae, Also, the live algae that gives the green color hdpe to maintain good water quality.

Normally we provide routers early in the morning after the larvae hatch. Last June, however, we dktn't have enough rodfen to give to (be larvae, and so ran alternate larval re- ents. In e d y trials we o f f d

d t c d in very bad water quality, to the point where it waà impossible 10 keep the water habitable. Although [he liquid spirulma sank, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o f i h c l a r v i i c hadgreenfeccs,indica that the larvae were eating it. his fact vended thainewly hatcheddownfishlanaewillstrike at and consume non-living feed,

Thechallengeiheuwtttohdafeeddial ¥wa more buoyant and nutritiou*. After trying several combinations we formulated one that

e water surface long enough for tanactoconsumemottofkbdweitsank

to the bottom. Became the food floated for only about one and a half hours, we f w d it

and Summer of 1992, bhq~ manideabout mv 15ealtoi

then I have incorporated mimerom changes,

feature; of the Berlin method are nrong

major difference between my aquarium as k -in 1992andatrueBcrtinsyrten)wasthat

LZJ em hu a layer of coral gravel or on the bottom of the tank, and nay

lank did not. In 1992 1 waa a proponent of the -hare bottom" method as a meana of

01998 Aquarium Sysicnn, Inc., Mentor, OH -Printed in USA. Corttumed~fxy2

colony of dc-nilrifying bacteria becomes esobluhedindieland.

-dJ- I could MX add a plenum KI die main

display tank w I had two options: add we to thesump,oraddanaddiconalsumpwithlive sand, really i rdugium thai contains a pieom.

window screening attached with plauic cable ties, and used 3/4 inch PVC couplers for

a?' k t . I decided to make the dugium with the wall of the aquarium so I could

observe what was happening them, I placed about four inches oC coarse coral sand-wavei

t ~ w y + g m ~ t r e k i n . t h e ~ o f t h e tank toewetheim~reuhofalaw me. I

lcd Thalassw UstwSrnw"sep , and Udotea algae, and added ~ u n e

invertebrates that include feather b r a , hermit crabs, snails, serpent stars, and corals. A very nice photograph of this refagimn shooing hpitnurn is in die book The Modem Cm Reef Aquarium, Volume I by Fad and Nilseu.

had a large capacity for nitrifting and denitrifvintr. Therefore I no loneer needed a

Iwasabletorem&piece)ofliverockfifm die 13 gdbm aquarium that opened ibe'ttnafl apace and made room for more corab, I meiiikmthistoemphasizelhalasystein~ byiuffidentlivelanddoexnotalaoneedhve rock for biological filtration. The rod can be dForHidecorativevalueandasawurceof £vçn in the aquarium,

by nilriftcaticm/dcninification in mine. With the auben aystem actively pulliBR my nitrate iJ downtonothingandmYproteinAimmer 33" out or* compoundi, Iaeeded to

mo*<foodtothetankforthecorafa.lfat the &h more often and ibc cords recovered. I

^

accumulation of nitrate. -- Orannailv I wed a Tunze protein

ddmnwr'h tdii aquarium. In 1992 I had the older versiou with a non-whtneiaibic TuriieBe nwtor,soI haditinibown+flow-through lanktomaiiitiinibcproperwaertevd.Later that year I bo t a aubmci-sible Turbellc, allowing me to 1 p ec the dammer directly in

that time- If I kt it get dirty so tbal iti output waareduced,Inoticedanincreaseofalgaeon the g h resulting from die build-up of nutrienu in the water. In 1997 I had trouble with the TuifaeSe motor, but I nodced that the lad of protein slaiwniiig did not xem as important a* before, so I removed it front the iiyaem in June.

It is the end of January, 1998 as 1 write thk and my "15 gallon* wan has never looked better. Thia ia not M much a result

Rather, the t y ~ c m has matured and

and refiighun. After VSaz n ! * T b a i d i h u t h e l l i W wmMlwE&pt re-mtlw Aquarium Systems SeaTesT* "~ow-Ran~e Nitrate kit, and I decided m stop pcrfonnitia;

compounds that accumulate in all .dosed swam aouariunu. The carbon M located in a

conditioners. Reef Evolution* products have been

researched and develooed bv marine biohylsts Usingoniyhe &t Ingredient.. Evolution* untofourtime*

Reel ~volution* water conditioners& the hlgM quality iKidltfves you can buy. You wlll quiddyseeadifferencelntheheafthofyour reef animals.

Calcium Chloride. Calcium W u m Iodide, Strontium, an ymde* Trace

Elements are available in 8 and 16 ounce sizes. Try the new Water Conditioner Trial Pak which

mtains a 2 ounce bottle ot Calcium Chloride, otassium lotfde, Strontium, and Trace Elements, $as a THEE SAMPLE of hmex" Ammonia, Chlorine, and Chlormi- p-- -

adding ~UffWaent calcium, maintaining aHalimty, wing protcw .'UnmiBis occasionally, and using activated carboa filtration.

I harvest algaefromthewdkmw. When

Mtwkf, and an unidentified Indonefuo Oastaptt speck that I obtained from Dick Pnrin- The numerous colorful of algae is mv reef arc reaUv a i m . and also beneficial became of die rcfuxc they Ear amphipod; and other cnutaceal~ BT0t at &h hunt fikfood.

Algae are not the only meant ofnutrient export* The. - *cagtaà piano remove nutrients {rom the water and from die deep substrate where they send their rood. Somefflne* I harvest old Wà from these

growing trees. Harvesting corals sawn abo be vwwedçinutrient0(1)00,sotheXmwan CatwUawftcoral*thatIdoutwcdcivand

chew specie* that req& frequ'~<pruning: -- -k An* Kwn ftJiaJnia, PoaUofon dot/wwwt and

wafie*. w a n rnqionaiit meana of uutnent exponBtbewamatefdetritiBiAaIn0

(ponim owing in the lump utilize detrituf, h i i t itiir-on ihebattoro-. About once- twoownditlription out the deotoludwiywUhanairfinebowandaDow thedaudywater tow* IdeeaatasDoodi of thedeçrwateruponblebadint~thetank

when I cleaned out the- dectijon cup of die

ornaturalseawatur.TheuxofbafauicedKHUC cakhm and allodmity C-Baiance haw Ac aaroe=

u such as

twict a day. schedule a l l o d the larvae to grow am) reach - withoutwbmlgcomumed - * d h c b t & w suiniiunzcdbckw.

dum The-hrvaewereftdeach

9fl0,aDd lO:30,ainoon,dittthe

avalveandtrfcktewattrcontinuouiiyintoow larval rearingtanki. WftdonotmakeniaKwe, quick water change;. A hobbyist could atowiy

Two new reef bodca have been relcued thaithfnddbediniaeMtomarinehobbviti.

are f^faturalReefAqiwriurot by John H. a and The Reef Aquarium, Volume H byJulianSflnioKand).Qiaria-

Aquarium Systems A We create your best utions *

Volume 15 Spring 1998

UabtMÇ Untilrecently,moilbobbyutiwedLux

meters to meamre light. Latdy, a number of advanced hobbyisti we joined (he scientific

that PAR (Photo- meters are

initnunenu to me when aquarium*. Lux meter* COD-

cent- -t to the middle of h e viableli trange,greenUght,anddonot

the fill nuiff iynthedc t,whichincludestheredandblue ends of the spectrum. A blue light producing the same amount of light energy M a white light would have an equal PAR much lower Lux hpbotolyn cifendal lor -and coralline algae, we &odd meuure all of the phoKMynthetically active light when rtudying coral growth.

a ?. -- Marine fish have adapted to tofcrate (heir

harsh salt/ eiivironroeat. Sea wmef conrain$ aboutfocrtinio.~muchs*Ilasisiatheblood awlintendfluKbofafab.TTwtowsofphysici W k & - h * i v - seawaterouisxtethefishadtheflunfeiaaklà the fiafa row somehow he conwtd The Sdi risks dehydraiiou because d t cannot diflicc into its body, but water can be pumped out through the glib aodsldn. In hcalAyfah the mucuscoveringtheildcactsasabarrier,

treatment tank will decrease osmotic preaturc and lessen the mk of dehydration to the debilitated fish,

Marine filh drink sea water to replace lost fluids and excrete excess falls through kidneys, in the fecq and aorou J- metnbiaoe*.TheIddneyipro+avery. w urine, and the y9t traqmtsaltionsbademto

01 998 Aquarium System*, Inc., Mentor, OH - Printed in U S A

the aahy water agaout a higher OWBOOC msswv.Thaisdoneatahi&metabolic~~~~ It takes cnefgy to excrete dt. !atini~rtdu<xÈ<h<exModiturede~er~ - a

A SOPHmCAm ENHANCEMENT TO

MODERN REEF KEEPING

UP TO 4 TIMES MORE CONCENTRATED THAN OTHER

WING BfUHDS!

spontaneous proliferation of pink CTicnisU]~g corallie algae. I have no trouble growing coralline algae in larger systems where the dkdhity i s coiukmdy higher. It is v q dear hat the respiration of life in this small

uarium, combined with the rapid calcification of stony corals, produced an situation where coralline algae grew slowly. I have alw> experimented with using C-Balance, a 2 pan balanced WD calcium and alkalinity

hw- When I bait the 15 gallon tank in 1988 1

installed the overflow partition BO that the ld-wasbdowthe topofthe tank. This

return water to (he tank from the sump, d e d in a tank capac$y of about one gallon les than normal. Over fnc, as the corab grew

to the surface, I added more for more ~ ~ ~ d ~ m ! - . ~ also built up the lop of (he overflow partition with epoxy, further c h i k g (he water I d . The growth of Aavpwa, JWtono, and Twjmamtcorabhaseaotyhptupwuhtherk in sea Icvd. Now I have no muse room to add water,soImustprunethecorabtokeepthan from reaching the surface. Recently I acddenlaUy broke off a large chunk of growth thaihadobttrucUfdthefrontdug.Thnpiece meamredfixmchciby(burmchcsbythree incho and weighed ahnon a pound. Although thecoralbaasinceSledinsomeoftheawcc,I can fee into my little reef from the froot again, anditlook* if1wmpeeringiirtoagrotto- aniueSccL

Low S d d t y an Q mud T t d M u i a à § F i a h P t t r à ‘ i t

SaJimJy hen:.- nuutmmd . . at 27 to 30

pm (specific gravity 1.020 to 1.022). Both

l m m a b e d b 79 and 82

t 994 to 1997, luh Indo-Pacific, and

Caribbean, were kept in both When Ai KBts< lidianivddfimiWbofcmfcnamd

,theywere(fividedbetweenthe $-and weit to die taoki with no aedimatitm procedure*. We did not olaervt say diffmce in behavior among the fid) in ibe two systems. Outbreaks of velvet (Afi suAtaos ooffaflwt), dlh ipol(0^toatr;MM *), black qmt (wAdlanaw), or inooogcaelictwnaiodk8-notfeonindy low salinity *yà tem P e e nucrotcopic exanumtkfflaofibin icraiftBjp *.N

tfidxtotrevcalaoy tkparasitw. %%normal uhmty controllyttem continued

Infected haveperiodic(wtbnabofp- fiom the control system that were

ahliTyeare. .My experieaeç,~~-mthfirttreportir

utilizing low falinity water Ibr quarantine treatment. In addition to the Instant Ocean Hatcberie* methods, RandolphGeodfett aad LanceIchinotJuboreoeadyoçdmedtbetrlo

atleast weetecxpwureat 14ppt(specific grarity 1.010) ibr a broad range ofmam~: tropicalBstetpcocs.Theyabofbundd#fah handled immtdiatc uwsSer into tow salinity water"bfaudfiilly." - ..

EconomicalUxhting Options LIGHT INTENSITY ON TROPICAL REEFS

6AM NOON ÇP

- - - - Photo saturation level of many corals - Minimum light levels for many corals

OftfaeniKfcfayDeaL Itmaybemorepracticaltocreatea

twation lynon level Ox (or product, 5 hour> a 75% day than of two or three dmef the Maximum

~oiuide a l ~ l b e * e u p e c U , w e m a ~ ~ coming G ~ D or^ to using loikraidy b* whiteItthBfitted~ilhcoloredfilterstoProvide anadequatt3unountdhghin(bedeoredpan of the s~ecmtm. Because white bulbs are less exp- than specialty bulbs, and len prone tocotordiift,thecosttoreplacethemcouldbe reduced significantly. The same level of the

desirable blue light would still be available. This method m a y aho work for the corn- rnercial coral farmers who use greenhouses. -* Currently many ofthem musi we up to 80% shade cloth to reduce solar healing of the water. Shade do& removes light (rom dl areas ofthespectrumequaDy.Thesefanner*aboà clear plastic sheets to eliminate rainwater and

Also, For a researcher trying to underMand effects of various colored ho, fibers applied to the same well defiined "8 ight source add a degree of control to the teats. Such control is missing when dealin with b u b containing specid auorucent phowhon or ixre eanh metal halides. These bulbs are not asstable as standard bulbs.

Using colored filters over standard bulbs

A ~ ~ u a r i u r n We create vowbest Systems a Volume 15

Summer 1998

(W first w& at C-Qtiot in 1992, I walked % the aisle* of the M o c k y e m i and snared at the many different fish mmmhg in the tank When I reached the

-- There ia no reported texml dimorphism

inthisspecie*.GerwioLeui,abroocbtock inariculturist ai C-Quest, observed the fpawnbgntuxl of pun atc-Qutst and reponcd m 1997 that, in pain that spawn tucceduily, the spws on males are smaller than the spots on femalei. Very little infonu& is available on whether thu fith has the ability ID changesex.

C-QucM's ad& cornets are housed in 40 tankainSystemD.Thisif thetuya/tof

nuem, 6lud by means of conventional trickle Ghraiioa and foam tracuonator-s,anditreceive*a 10%dailywater exchange using natural >ea water. The pH ia

p d 8.3, and ulin' ii 26 paw per thousand @I), fpecilk gravity 1.019. h o n k nnriics, and +m are ex~remely low. No aitifidal lighting à employed. We have

There are two 1 of people in the marine aquariiun bobby one type cnjoyi small c o l d norrnal-looking filh such a* ydhwtangsandroyalgnunmai.Theother type a mwttantly looking the unusual, the ugly, or the odAaU. Unusual fish havt become

Lkmfidi are perhaps the nmfi popular umnual Ma, bong extremely twrdy and &taut to moatducaacs.Theyarcpeacefiil,cotoriul,and make&- belong WE to

family, known as scorpion fish.-r pwpo~c* l W h can be of two flaw or Ztafeitru. h u b are wbik

referred to as dwarf =zZ% m m h m d h e ~cofpion rub family are characterized by fbi; preieocc of venom-bearing spines that can came serious pain to unwary uarists, The

h a n . a q o m a *he puncture can be leist-ned by holding the w e under hot running water. All nine

dtion&b are venamoui. Aquarut* mouldbe very careful d e n tnuuporung M or performing tank rnaimenance.

tins

01398Aqnarium Systems, Inc., Mentor, OH -Printed in U.SA.

Lionfish are Ibund in the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. Often brilliantly colored and adorned with flowing feu,ihwcfishuse camouflage and dcccption to capturetheirp""y.They amongtherocfa and corals on shallow ree6 and ambush any urtfuspeciing Gab that conic too close. T h e i i 1wallow a fish haUibcir size whole wrtfe Ijghtning tpctd. They arc nocturnal, in cave* and crevices during (he day and m m g outatnighttoteed.

-&- Lionfish are hardy and h g lived, and

adapt well lo aquarium conditions- They do not require extremely large tasks relative IO their size, as they are not active: swimmer*. A

wane, as will a camtec or power niter. Water changes should be performed on a regular baratleaumeiwymonth.

Lkmfish show tittle aBgnaaoo toward an to swallow. ~atqip and angd*

. Triggers may injure - good lionfish, and moray eels ma eat them. Damsels and other mall, agile fish, however, vnSt eventually turn up rnifiing.

m e people don't want to set up aquariums vac they think aquariums re uire too much attention. They picture e n L tank deanuig, water on (be Boor, dead fish, complicated water testing, and lots of scrubbing. Most a uarisis know this docs not need to be reality.The larger a s tern is, the 1m an aquarut ha* to do. ~ s t a & h h g and maintaining a regular schedule (or testing, feeding, and maintenance will increase enjoyment of any aquarium. A logical program fdkws thai can serve as a checklist.

Checkthetnwiadfceverytimewatookal the tank. Are thev behavui~f no&? Do ihev look healthy? ~h'k is the best way judge the State of any aquarium.

Dftflr Feeding time im a good op rtuniv for

~ e w i n g ~ ~ ~ m o s ~ ~ k m w d l b e active. Allow lime lo watch the (ish. Feeding times should be scheduled depending on the types of fsh to be fed. This could be daily, xveral times a day, or every other day for large canuvo~a.

Water temperature should be checked M y . Hatem can ran^, from aii,lea;; sophudcated, but any ewce can fa) water tcinpeiature # very easy to monitor. A ukk glance will also be

wcriBia enoughm-'=- L P , p o w e r ~ airpurnpsare

mi skimmers, also called foam

W-W Various aspects of water quality should be

checked weekly. Specific vity or salinity is one of die easiest to cheatand adjust. Some aquarists use deionized, reverse osmosis filtered, or even dutillcd water. For fish aquariums tap warn b usually adc uate. Filter J components such as sponges, we dry media, trays, and spray bars should be checked and cleaned or replaced as necessary. Chemical atrants have a useful life determined by several factors, including amount oranimals and size of aquarium. I strongly encourage putting such fijtrants In individual polyester bags, and not replacing them all at the same time.

After an aquarium has been established for a few monlhs, testing i~ often ignored until probicnu arise. Weekly checks of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels should be peri-mcd. It is atm good to check pH and alkalinity. Low pH can inhibit biological Quation and lead to a high ammonia If the pH is dropping or the nitrate level is kine. some mrreciive action should be taken. ~ e d & or change the feeding schedule, add buffer, or increase frequency of - - water exchanges.

Some ump motors require periodic chnmg$ky water cooled pumps haw a small tu that must be cleaned regularly for reliable operation. Ultraviolet sterilizers algo should be inspected, although the lamps and tktvia may need cleaning only monthly.

The best salt in the yrid,,, rn v

Weekly maintenaim if also a good tirnc to

-r- of the tank bottom,change the filter m 'um, rearrange decor, and pcrha à ~vettock. ~cplacernem water should be pre-mixed, and of the same pH, salinity, and temperature as the water it hqueni part)al water exchange* a r h 2 3 e dal in so many ways, and also rather controversial, so I will devote an entire article 10 them alone. There is no more economical method to ensure adequate water quality than frequent

supplements, additives, vitamins, minerals, and all other chemical additionsshouldbeusedonlyasdirectcdona regularschedule.~besttimetodothemia m conjunction with water exchanges. 1 am concerned with the possible toxic effects of such additive* over h e . Adding them when these effccu may be diluted by the water exchangeseemsto be agoodidea.

Heaters should a h be on the monthly schedule for checfeina for cracked f ass and salt iniruaon in die electrical compoiienis. Outlet

should be mounted vertically or with the

deaiL Update your a arium lv monthly with

m B p w h w d a ~ acomaaons. ~ a y b e thereisroomforonemorewgalusm-

h- Nuorucent, ultraviolet, and ewn metal

halide bulbs have cflccrive ulcrimq even if they do not à ee to have lower light output. TheÈ bulbs should be rotated or replaced rn

Tel: 4lC-255- 1997 ~ane: 44M56-89M Toll Free 1 -800-822- 1 100

recommended by the manufacturer. ImlaDatKin date can be noted in the aouanum log, or on each butt) with a grease M a n y ultraviolet wad fluorescent bulbs m good for six months, but even this will vary depending onwe.

Other less h p c n t maintenance sho d inch& inspection of plumbing, fi- and valves, as well a* water and air tubing. Air valves should also receive attention.

Catcamna dements in an

fiiu-ation, the rate depending on surface area and solubility. Much of this potential is used up over time. Periodic addition! of new material and repIaoeHMDt of some of the old will help maintain the alkalinity level and (be beneficial eflecbdwatwexchanges -

A spem of routine cpefarion and kintwnanf^nthetialkn*^rrtfa organized aquarist- Aa aquarium ¡¡¡ bog a include notes on livettock addidonx and losses, behavioral observations, and sy~crn maintenance r o d Farmulate a xhedule and std to it- You and your livestock

maintenance.

BttfchBK am- that ¥wm' eat. Fecdiac a '~~~oredbyi i~wctnt 'n t .~hhooghgo~feh~~ frequently offered a* food bccawc the fish acceptthem,ifaeyarenot themostnutritious

Ill ^^

S q& For m& information contact MACK% X, 1616 ~ ~ ~ v e n u c , TfioLfiind Oafc, CA 91 360, witphone (805) 496-8 182, fax (805) 49644% or visit (heir web slie ai

Aquarium S stems , We -it your best l i o n s @

fl..-W. . WM I.- Fall 1998 * - - Â ¥ l - f l - r",-,, ;4cp,-, ,. - m:

then into a iccond

ugacn t*. The only maintenance is a y 5% water exchange and calcium and

buffer supplements. I now make 5% water

noleadingQ6wat~~quaUty.- h

of%,. ~ n c e ~ b i d nutr ia I t inywpllwi?lankiii

added 20 poundt of W s mud to (he swap. Water circulation was stopped lor nine hours ,

to alloy the mud to scttk in the I t k

Â¥ in dry fonn and mot a g to an aquarium. After the circulation was restartedit ranfor about a weekbefore I added 100 pounds of fully cured F4 live rock- I put it on a PVG skdeton for easier maintcoanccandto(wluceihenumberofrock to rode interfaw. Detritus is 6 this way. The removal dexcess nutrients

ar hoatscrucialmthesuccessofthissystem- "? we: to use (aired live nu& b n a - extra

nutrients are released into die water as rock

. - 01 998 Aquarium Syflem*. Inc., Mentor, OH - P h e d in U.SA.

In the international marine aquiimun tradetodaythereifahqhlevelofinterestm,

tropical Indo-Pacill ' a. Many of these imyaiill*dilkd^cnib,indu

uaevdplaaicflowerwernhddenandother'hy receptacles to hold individual fraemaitt, and the me ofmonolilaiiwiii line or rubber banA -

During the ccnir*c of studies on SFS coral ropagation at the Micronesian Mariculturc

bemonatratk~i daiter (MMDC) in ~ a u between 1990 and 1995, our reçcarc team lought 10 develop a reliable protocol for ootnmercial acalc mam productioii of SPS coral fragments destined (or export to the United Slates marine aquarium trade. Experiment! with a variety of methods, including the onef described above. sumuted several desirable criteria for the i n k

rfCaout to aDow true k production. We defined a* a reliable output of 200 or

on a level surface. These ba*ei should as mural aa p d e when +la= hobbyist reef aquariums. Moreover, the kagmmts and attached base* should be

To make coral bases using sand casting, a simpleboxorplastictubatleast 18"by24 by 6" deep is filled with fine calcium carbonate beach sand and placed in a shady area on a table or bench at a codonabk worki bewhi. I ~ K M i d is &ened w f i i o e ~ ~ w fresh water until it hdds the impn-asion of a

vervw to stabilize and set die ftumienu m d y into the bass. By the dine 10 fragmians have been "planted" thu way the cement will have become qah ailt A row of 10 more depreariolu h prmed into the &and, andtheprocesshiqmd.

a mixed bed of different species be collected fromtheGartblxsan,

thetime,so~ The warns sixteenadhea<hamiten ~6Afromanodwtank.Mlhecoral*extended

rocfa, and added more Izh and invertebrates. After three months the &and comb were

the tankwasfalLanditwasatleast a~ ==a typical Berlin system- One minor problem thai eveloped wm the mb+ growtfa of Dwbtsia hair algae. After with ic for nine months I realized thai siruj ing the

coral bead!, and numerous other invertebrate*. I make bi-weekly 6 gallon water exchaiifid, wcddy dott* of calduJn arid buflia-, and change (he ' t bulbs every six months. Common c o d thrive in this 4 but 10

do other, more ' -.Hue d p 4 e w = d m

skimmer, which removes pl*on, a potential

w.AhY? the mud is shipped dry, within three mont it i? leeining with worro,

molhiscs,andaiDphipods. food for anirnab that

typically do not take - prepared

found in a year old traditional hh aquarium. The mule also point oui the need for perkxfe

I testing even if everything looks great If you onlytestwhenthereiaaproblemyouwittnot

4 know what the normal kveb arc. Other tdtigreveals diat the caldum kvd

is 390 ppm and aUBlinity ia 3.6 dKh. Specific vity u 1.023 and he ie inp~~ature a

f " d e à § r e n . ~ 3 1 0 0 t ~ ~ ~ f t i o m c e n ' l ' E light the tank twelve hours a day. Polyp externion in all the corals is quire good and they have grown welL The onJy supplement I useiÈawecklyadditionof30graiiuofTrapi MannBn-Caldmm.

Thereba 1/2inchlayerofaragooitcon the bottom ofthe tank. Thà docs not make it difficult to remove dctritm because the anufonitc is only present in (he front of the

~ ~ k p m m t i n h

producedoffipringd toracucthanfromthe tank. I had no free tank in the swap of my Eco last month! they have p m from one ctoumctermlengthtoadultnze,withoutever having been fed directly. The only available

addition opbnktonf and (race elements from Acmud bebeneficialtoatankwitha protea) skimmer.

I suggest regular water t d n In thi* lank, ammonia and nilrile are at undetectable level*. However, a recent teat revealed a

A, hate level of 0.78 mgA, and a mte/Nitrogen Id of 2.5 mg/L In + d

these high Icveb the corab are nuuarice algae is absent- Keep in 9 nun that this tank has a heavy load of fish. These nutrient levek are far M o w what would be

outwwfaontotheiwwbaseofthefragment*. Under good conditions, panial ovffgrowth of the cement baw can occur m as tilde as ten days, yielding a durable and healthy that will ship w d and be accepted =by Y f i m n d that with a bide training and practice an urnkilled worker could woctuce k t h Sar coral fragments at a raw or morethan200an hourusing thesandcasting tcctmkpicdescribedhere.Asixpoundboxof Ace QuicUTug cement coating about 16.00 yidda about 200 hsaes, at a out of about three cenb each. This is substantially kw than the

of various underwater e p x k currently used, and is an imignUicant fraction of the rahwofthefinishedproduct,

tank, not behind& live rock. I vac only a thin layer because I have found thu a thick layer towers the oxygen level of the lank

TheEcosystemmethodifprobablyaboa methodforahh

gaflomorleu.Thissy^cinnotonly(Uienthe water and produces plankton, but it abo

of iwftwnff or preventing =inTS.e

d b W t o h m r t b c -of other hobbyists. I can be contacted through Aquarium Systems.

The Ecosystem method a~~matiw to *e krtin m e Z h

an

% time may be better wayi to keep reef tanlu. And despite can- to the contrary, I have m financial ties to Lcng Sy or the Ecosystem Company, nor have I received any remunerationfiwn iheni- A

under condilioni of maw culture it is dctirable to niininuze the number of nmef each fragment ia touched by human hands. Thus we developed a method of the fragment? wing a standard plastictrayofthetypedinthe nursery trade. Thdc trayi, called 1020 Qau, can hold exactly fifty Iragmenu minding upright on their attached cement baas. The mp- -cMhdh tank to tank with case and may even be taken cut periodically f o r m s cleaning. To do this, t h e e n t i r e n a y ~ r d h m t h e w a t e r f o r a iw minute* and t i e r m i l l . m c

with a gentle sea removesediment(rom

the trays and the bases of the fragmenu. Ai Ion as the operation is done & m a it m not M rn ~!S?A~

The seventh a i m - Vesiem Marine Conference 1999 will be hosted by the Vancouver Marine Aquarium Society April 16-18, 1999 ai the M a m o ~ Vancouver Airport Hold. An exciting program has been put to~vttn'r to make tlik an informative and mcmorabSc occasion. Earlytird Registration iu ii l4U Canadian [about 8100 US); Regular Registration is S 160 Canadian (ahinii 5 I12 US).

For more iiit'onllatio~~ contact: Mike hfcAra&, Viinrniivrr Mnrinc Aquarium Society, 13 1 10 Bullork Drive, Sunry, BC, Canada V3V bY3

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