Feature Articles
Feature Article: Zooxanthellae: Biology and Isolation for Scientific Study
The mutualistic symbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae is a well-known fact amongst aquarists. To improve our understanding of zooxanthellae biology, scientists isolate these symbionts from the coral host under a variety of environmental conditions. This article will provide an overview of zooxanthellae biology, and how these dinoflagellates are isolated for scientific study. This will give the aquarist more insight into, and hopefully appreciation for, the symbiosis between zooxanthellae and the corals they grow in their home aquaria.
Feature Article: Coral growth under Light Emitting Diode and Light Emitting Plasma: a cross-family comparison
With the advent of new technology, aquarists are able to customize light spectra with great flexibility. However, our knowledge of how light spectrum affects aquarium life, including corals, is still limited. Here, we show the effects of two light spectra, emitted by Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Light Emitting Plasma (LEP), on the growth of ten commercially important scleractinian corals. It appears that the effect of spectrum is highly species dependent, and that most efficient coral growth is invariably attained at low irradiance. The results from this study can be used to optimize sustainable coral aquaculture.
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Maxspect Mazarra P and Aqua Illuminiation Vega
As LED lighting moves further into the mainstream, there is new effort being made to provide a fuller spectrum light that can be tuned by the aquarist to satisfy both the demands of the corals as well as the visual pleasure of the aquarist.
Feature Article: Epizoic flatworms impair coral feeding: evidence for parasitism
Flatworms are well-known in the aquarium hobby and research community. Both in the wild and in captivity, they hide between the tentacles of many corals. Despite their common appearance in aquaria, the nature of the symbiosis between corals and flatworms has long been unclear. New evidence strongly suggests that epizoic acoelomorph flatworms are parasitic. Next to suffocating coral tissue and feeding on coral mucus, flatworms have now been found to impair coral feeding.
Feature Article: Light in the Reef Aquaria
Light is one of the main life-supporting resources on our planet. Being photosynthetic, many marine invertebrates require light to live; Their symbiotic zooxanthellae need light for photosynthesis to produce sufficient nourishment both for their own use and for the host coral.
Feature Article: Improved husbandry of marine invertebrates using an innovative filtration technology - part two: results with two 12 cubic meter DyMiCo systems
In part one of this article I discussed the growing incentive to aquaculture marine invertebrates to increase the sustainability of the global aquarium trade, and presented the DyMiCo technology as a possible solution. In part two, I will outline some of the results that have been obtained with the DyMiCo technology recently. More specifically, I will discuss the successful husbandry of invertebrates that depend on a live plankton population for their survival.
Feature Article: Improved husbandry of marine invertebrates using an innovative filtration technology - Part 1: DyMiCo
In part one of this article I will discuss the innovative filtration technology called DyMiCo (Dynamic Mineral Control) that allows aquarists to culture a rich diversity of marine organisms, especially those that rely on live plankton for their survival.
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Radion, Orphek, Mvava, Ecoray and Ecoxotic
As LED lighting moves further into the mainstream, there a lot of new choices available to the aquarist. Hopefully this data will help the aquarist make an informed choice on what to expect from the individual LED fixtures and how best to utilize them to achieve the desired coverage and light intensity.
Feature Article: Building a Plywood Aquarium
The internet is generally a good resource of information but I did find some sites containing DIY tips for building plywood tanks that presented outdated or inaccurate information. This article will attempt to correct that information and detail the trials and tribulations of plywood aquarium construction along with updated information as well as construction time, a cost breakout and lessons learned.
Feature Article: Inside A Coral Lab
Corals keep mystifying and challenging us, whether we are aquarists, divers or scientists. Our understanding of corals and their symbiotic organisms has been a long road, and knowledge of their biology is ever increasing. Even today, marine biologists are working hard to unravel the complex physiology of these amazing animals. The question however is: how do they do that?
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Ecoray, Reef Fanatic, and MaxSpect
LED lighting for reef tanks is on its way to becoming a reality, and various designs and configurations are making their way into the market.
Feature Article: Experimental Comparison of Measured Flow Output of Aquarium Propeller Pumps
Hobbyists have seen significant advancements in the range of aquarium circulation pumps available over the past decade. While all manufacturers provide a flow rate for the pumps, it is not clear what methods have been used to arrive at the numbers. Further, different manufacturers may use different methods. We have presented a standard method that we hope can be adopted by the manufacturers thus enabling a more accurate and verifiable approach.
Feature Article: Disturbance-Facilitated Coexistence of Sessile Organisms in Space-Limited Environments: A Review of Works in Ecological Disturbance Theory
It is now widely accepted among theoretical ecologists that periodic, severe, localized environmental disruption can increase biological diversity. However, many of the processes by which this takes place are not yet fully understood. Ongoing research in this area will continue to be of particular benefit to government fisheries resource managers as well as producers of sessile marine fauna.
Feature Article: Getting Really Up to Date on Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.)
Why should anyone be interested in a rather obscure subject such as this? After all, we know that coral animals (hosts) and zooxanthellae (symbionts) generally have a mutually beneficial relationship. New information may make us re-think the symbiosis between Symbiodinium and coral animals.
Feature Article: Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming and/or GAC filtration) actually remove bacteria from the water column, and if so, how much? Ken, Allison, Sanjay, and Gary's in-depth article puts these questions to the test.
Feature Article: Measuring Water Movement in Your Reef Aquarium for Less Than $100
Water motion is an extremely important consideration in the husbandry of reef aquaria, yet there are no inexpensive measuring devices on the market. This article will tell how to estimate water motion using a relatively low-cost method. Interpreting the results will also be discussed.
Feature Article: Ecotech Marine's MP-40w ES Propeller Pump And New EcoSmart Driver
This month, we'll look at the MP40w ES 'wave maker' from Ecotech Marine.
Feature Article: Advanced Water Quality Analyses: LaMotte's 'Smart 2' Colorimeter And a Quick Comparison to the Hach 890 Colorimeter
The LaMotte Smart 2 colorimeter is a powerful tool for advanced hobbyists. Many results generated by this instrument are acceptable to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Its accuracy and precision is remarkable for a relatively inexpensive device.
Feature Article: Types of Phosphorus in a Reef Aquarium and Comments and Observations of Removal by Protein Skimming
This testing makes it clear this protein skimmer did remove phosphorus, although the process may not be particularly effective as a sole method of P control, and phosphate could accumulate in the system if other removal mechanisms are not used.
Feature Article: Tunze Wavebox, Turbelle Stream Pump, and Wave Controller
Tunze makes many claims about the Wavebox - a pump producing 'high speed' currents while using little power, wave heights of 3 cm (1.18 inches) with oscillations corresponding 'precisely' to wave action seen on natural reefs. How do these claims hold up under scrutiny?
