Reefkeeping South Africa » Reef Builders | The Reef and Marine Aquarium Blog » February 6, 2012

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Reef Builders | The Reef and Marine Aquarium Blog

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  Pseudanthias privitera captured on video schooling in the deep of Moorea

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 9:43pm CST by Jake Adams

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  Pseudanthias privitera is a stunning medium sized, slender species of deepwater anthias known mostly from the Cook Islands. Sometimes when gorgeous reef fish like these delicate privitera anthias are shipped halfway aroudn the world to aquarium hubs, their subtle beauty doesn’t exactly show. However in these in-situ videos of Pseudanthias privitera taken at 70 meters deep (230 feet) near Moorea shows how stunning the privitera anthias can be, especially in a small shoal. At this depth the Pseudanthias privitera is joined by familiar aquairum fish including watanabe angelfish, multicolor angelfish, helfrich’s firefish and the gorgeous earmuff wrasse, Halichoeres xanti. The video above is kind of slo-mo but the one after the break zooms to a really good money shot of Pseudanthias privitera. 

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
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  • Pseudanthias charlenae offered for the trade via Indonesian sources
  • Charlene’s Anthias, Pseudanthias charlenae from Western New Guinea, Indonesia
  • Rare Japanese white-bar fairy basslet and golden hawkfish appear in Thailand!
  • Randall describes two new anthias species, Pseudanthias bimarginatus and P. unimarginatus
  • Pseudanthias pictilis, amazing painted anthias specimens arrive at Quality Marine

  
  

  
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  Giant amphipods discovered near New Zealand at a depth of 7 km

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 7:48pm CST by Brian Blank

  

  A giant amphipod measuring nearly a foot long is making the news circuit after being discovered near New Zealand at a depth of 7 kilometers. This was not an isolated occurrence as scientists were able to capture seven of these giants that measured in at 28 cm (around 11 in.) that are 10 times larger than your “normal” deap-sea amphipods and three times larger than your typical giant amphipods.

  Ever so often a stray giant is found, like the giant isopod that made the Reddit rounds nearly two years ago, but this time the research team was able to film them in their own environment and capture multiple giant amphipods to study. Not to be outdone, there is one supergiant amphipod that got away that scientists estimate measured 34 cm (over 13 in.).

  According to new reports, scientists with the university and New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research were hunting for deep-sea snailfish when a trap they were using made the unexpected catch of these giant amphipods.

  These supergiant creatures were found around Hawaii in the 1970s and 80s but haven’t really been reported since. Being caught 7 km (around 4 miles) beneath the surface also marks the deepest point these supergiant amphipods were found. Check out the video below more more detail.

  Thanks Mr. Sprung for the tip!

  [via CNN]

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
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  Adee’s reef is a sunlight driven beast from South Africa

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:46pm CST by Joost de Vries

  

  Although we spend hours covering the latest lighting fixtures here on Reef Builders, nothing really comes close to actual sunlight. Adee’s aquarium is a  1340 L (355 G) reef, measuring 2oocm x 1oo cm x 67cm (78in x 40in x 26in). The tank is illuminated exclusively by skylight during the summers, although a MH/T5 fixture is added during the winter simply for better coral colors. Adee noted measuring PAR levels of 350-450 during winter, and 750-850 during summer when using just skylights and ran the tank without supplemental lighting for a almost a year.

  The Reef Inmates SPS 400w fixture with 3x Reeftek 10 000K 400w Metal Halide bulbs and 8x 39w of assorted Geisman actinic pure and Geisman aquablue+ T5′s actually shades the tank during the summer – 1500w of lighting is not exactly able to keep up with sunlight apparently. Beside the more natural look sunlight gives to the tank, the growth rate of this tank is absolutely mind blowing. Keep reading for full system details, a video, how much the corals actually grew in a 14 month period and simply a lot more pictures.

  

  Biological filtration on this 355 gallon sunlight reef is provided  by 500kg (1100lbs) of Liverock, a DSB with 500lbs of sand, a refugium with Chaeto, and a massive Algae Scrubber measuring 120 cm x 100cm (48in x 40in). Interestingly Abee also uses Aiptasia as a natural filtration in his refugium, yes you read that right aiptasia, a Copperband butterfly is used however to keep them in check in the display tank. Mechanical filtration is provided by two Reef Octopus Bubble Blaster 5000s Extreme skimmers, two canister filters with carbon, and 500ml Brightwells Phosphate Remover in a Phosban 150 reactor.

  The tank is dosed a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and vodka, along with Lugols Iodine, Zeovit Amino Acids, MicrobeLift Special Blend (Bacteria), and Brightwells Potassium. A Reef Octopus 140 Kalk Stirrer and Reef Octopus CARX with Calcium and Magnesium media keep up with the massive Calcium and Magnesium demand. Flow is provided by several Tunze’s and SEIO’s.  A nursery tank measuring 200cm x 120cm x 25cm (70in x 48in x 10in), with a volume of 600 liters (158 gallons) provides housing for the huge amount of coral fragments and corals that Adee can’t fit in the tank.

  Adee’s reef houses around 30 anthias including a harem of Pseudanthias bimaculatus, a group of tangs, an assortment of angels, and several smaller fish. Although the selection of angels include a majestic angelfish, a sulfur angelfish, a flame angelfish, and a regal angelfish all known to be potential coral pickers, the massive colonies do not appear to be much affected. Be sure to check out Abee’s thread for additional info and pictures of this amazing sunlit reef tank.

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
  

  
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  Brand new and better videos of the one and only Lipogramma robinsi

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 6:15pm CST by Tea Yi Kai

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  We posted about the only captive Lipogramma robinsi in the world not too long ago, and then updated with a short video of it. The old video, nice as it may be, cannot compare to these brand new out of this world videos of the now comfortably settled fish. The tiny basslet is now conditioned and has improved in coloration.

  The Robins basslet also seems much more relaxed – notice how it flits around the tank, and flares its fin at every pause, very Gramma like. The uber rare fish is also sharing its tank with a very tiny juvenile Prognathodes guyanensis, but the butterfly, as rare as it may be, is paling out in comparison next to the superstar basslet. Enjoy these two videos of the first and only L. robinsi to enter the market. Big thanks to BlueHarbor for the updates on this magnificent find.

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
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  Digital Aquatics announces new SL2 version 2 module, addresses common complaints with updated model

  Posted: February 6th, 2012, 2:51pm CST by Ryan Gripp

  

  Digital Aquatics has been hammered lately about their older (System Lab 2) SL2 module. The module just didn’t work right, with incorrect readings with probes and what not. However, Digital Aquatics is set to release a new SL2 module that is expected to fix all those issues. What’s more, Digital Aquatics has decided to initiate a full warranty process. Meaning, if you have an older SL2 module, you’re allowed to return it for a new SL2 module as a replacement for no charge. Of course, with every update their are a few caveats, the biggest being “The new SL2v2 will require the new conductivity probe. Without a proper pairing, the unit and your readings will not be reliable or correct. Because this is so critical, we’ve changed the “jack” that we use on the probe, so that old probes will not work with new SL2s.” When will the new models ship? Digital Aquatics tells us “it looks like we’ll be about 8 weeks out due to longer than expected lead time on a couple of the new parts in the SL2 v2″.

  via [Aquanerd] vs Digital Aquatics
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