Running a low nutrient system? You might consider testing for Potassium (k). As Logan over at stony reef suggests, your potassium levels could run low. Water changes may not be enough. Be sure to check it out.
In October of 2004, started with a smaller 30 gallon reef setup, still have some of the same corals and fish that I started with in that tank, but it was always a dream of mine to do a saltwater tanks as the back drop of bar. Well when we decided to finish our basement I knew that my dream would finally come true. We started planning and decided on the 125 gallon.
We know you have been thinking where you can aquire a hexapus for your reef aquarium. You thought about a octopus, but that is so 1990’s. Recently, “caretakers at a British aquarium recently discovered that one of its newest residents, an octopus named Henry, had six legs instead of the usual eight.” This is the first one ever discovered in the world. Pretty neat eh? Seems the reason why his limbs are missing is about a genetic mutation.
Interested in reef tanks? Live in the Springfield Illinois area? Then you might consider joing the Springfield Illinois Reef Builders Club (SIRB). They just set their new site up and you can access and join if you like. Tell them “mother” RB sent ya.
by Holle Abee
Think of all the divers who go to such lengths to visit saltwater reefs for a view of the amazing sea life that inhabits the area. Now imagine that you can have a little corner of that magic in your own home. With a saltwater reef tank, you can have the mezmerizing tranquility and the brilliant natural beauty of a tropical sea, all vividly displayed in an aquarium.
A reef tank isn’t just a regular saltwater aquarium. The key word is “reef.” The main focus of the tank is the soft or hard corals. Colorful fish, sea stars, eels, anemones, urchins, shrimp, and sea horses can certainly be added, but everything should revolve around the coral itself.
The beautiful black, white and yellow butterflyfish, much admired by eco-tourists, divers and aquarium keepers alike, may be at risk of extinction, scientists have warned. The case of the Chevroned Butterflyfish is a stark example of how human pressure on the world’s coral reefs is confronting certain species with ‘blind alleys’ from which they may be unable to escape, says Dr Morgan Pratchett of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University.
In a study published in the journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Dr Pratchett and Dr Michael Berumen of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA) warn that the highly specialized nature of the feeding habits of this particular butterflyfish – the distinctively patterned Chaetodon trifascialis - make it an extinction risk as the world’s coral reefs continue to degrade due to human over-exploitation, pollution and climate change.
The small Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has become a global conservation leader by establishing the world’s largest marine protected area – a California-sized ocean wilderness of pristine coral reefs and rich fish populations threatened by over-fishing and climate change.
BOULDER—Natural processes may prevent oceans from warming beyond a certain point, helping protect some coral reefs from the impacts of climate change, new research finds. The study, by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), finds evidence that an ocean “thermostat” appears to be helping to regulate sea-surface temperatures in a biologically diverse region
In the United Kingdom, $98,199 worth of corals were spoted in seized in air freight from Indonesia. They were heading to specialist shops across the UK. Meanwhile, the corals were transported to the London zoo where they could take care of the them. Brian Zimmerman which is the head keeper of the zoo had this to say: “It is disheartening to see so many protected species being smuggled into the UK. “These species are vulnerable to over-collecting which is why their trade has been banned in the EU.” The investigation is ongoing. We at reef builders discourage buying banned or protected corals if you see them at a local fish store.
Have you noticed that we haven’t updated the official reef builders tank? That is because we completely tore it down and built a new stand and sump system. The stand is 72″ wide and will easily support a 180 gallon aquarium for future growth if need be. We will talk about the stand later, put we got the tests in from our elos test kits in and it seems we will be waiting a bit longer to introduce our corals back into the tank. Readings are as follows:
Salinity 1.025
Ph:8.24
NO2: 0
NO3 : 10
PO4: 0.01
Kh: 8
CA: 475