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Items by Leonard Ho

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine

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  Baby fish mimics flatworm

  Posted: May 22nd, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  Life Imitating Art Imitating Life

  On the northwest coast of Bali, Indonesia, our good friends at blennywatcher.com shot video of one of nature's great mimicry acts: A tiny, thumbnail-sized juvenile sole (Soleichthys maculosus) masquerading as a colorful (and toxic) polyclad flatworm.

  Tell us that wasn't one of the coolest things you've ever seen!  Learn more at blennywatcher.com.  Our thanks to Ned and Anna and the entire blennywatcher team for sharing this information and for their talented work exploring and documenting tropical sea life.

  Thaumoctopus mimicus, eat your heart out!
  

  
  
  
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  Tunze uploads a lot of Interzoo videos previewing their new products

  Posted: May 21st, 2012, 7:25pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  Tunze LED (read more)

  TUNZE® Comline® DOC Skimmer 9004 (read more)
  

  TUNZE® Comline® Filter 3162 (read more)

  TUNZE® Osmolator® nano (read more)

  
  

  TUNZE® Turbelle® stream 6255 in tank (read more)

  
  

  TUNZE® DOC Skimmer 9415 / 9430 (read more)
  

  
  

  
  
  
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  Cirrhilabrus humanni, a newly described fairy wrasse

  Posted: May 21st, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  Anna DeLoach tells Advanced Aquarist:

  I first saw the fish on April 20, 2010 in about 40 feet off Alor, Indonesia. Ned was not with me so I shot video. We were able to return 2 weeks later and he took photos. We sent them to [Dr. Gerald] Allen and Dr. Hiroyuki Tanaka who both felt it was undescribed.  [Allen] and Dr. Mark Erdmann were able to collect 2 specimens last year during one of their CI [Conservation International] survey trips.

  Ned and Anna were given the honor of naming the new fish.  They chose to name the fish after Paul Humann, esteemed author and underwater photographer.  The Alor Fairy Wrasse will make its public print debut in Allen and Erdmann's upcoming book, Reef Fishes of the East Indies, published by the University of Hawaii Press.

  Watch Anna DeLoach's video of C.humanni "flashing."  Its brilliant courtship display makes it all the more surprising this shallow water species alluded discovery for so long.

  Read more about the the Alor Fairy Wrasse's discovery at www.blennywatcher.com.  It's amazing how much we still do not know about the animals whom share our world.  We tip our hats to the scientists and ocean explorers for expanding our knowledge and appreciation of our living planet.

  
  
  
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  Destination Reefs: Philippines (Dauin)

  Posted: May 20th, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  We spent the past couple Sundays at Apo Island and Cebu, Philippines.  This Sunday, we visit Dauin, a municipality in the Philippines just south of Cebu.  Once again, Steve De Neef shoots some of the best underwater videos anywhere.
  

  
  
  
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  Siam Reef Club shows us how it's done

  Posted: May 18th, 2012, 5:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  I think it's safe to say any reefkeeper would love to kick up their feet, sip java or down a cold beverage while chatting about fish and corals with fellow hobbyists at the Siam Reef Club.  With a gathering place like this, it's no wonder Thailand is full of talented reefkeepers.

  Follow the new Siam Reef Club "sit-around" aquarium build at ReefCentral.

  

  Club members gather around the new cube tank and cabinet.  The slots in the cabinet are designed for pull-out trays for people to place their drinks as they lounge at the sit-around reef tank.

  
  
  
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  Preview/review of Fish Tank King's second episode

  Posted: May 17th, 2012, 4:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  We won't spoil the second episode (airing this Saturday, May 19 @ 10pm on Nat Geo Wild), but to whet your appetite, here are some of what you can expect:

  • The Florida Aquarium seeks Living Color Aquarium's help to stock their new deep water Caribbean exhibit, so they trek to Curacao Seaquarium to view their facility but more importantly to collect deep water reef fish with a submersible.  We're talking depths of 800+ feet!  A large portion of the show is dedicated to exploring the twilight zone.
  • Rare fish lovers will see cameos of such holy grail species as the Golden Basslet (Liopropoma aberrans) and Spanish Flag (Gonioplectrus hispanus).  To put what you'll see in perspective, the first ever live Golden Basslet was collected and sold in the aquarium trade just last year for nearly $10,000 USD.
  • Viewers are shown a great deal of the collection process, including innovative decompression chambers required to safely bring up such deep water fish.
  • After surfacing from their collecting expedition, Allan Marshall (VP of Florida Aquarium's Biological Operations) exclaimed: "That was freaking cool."  We could not agree more.
  • One of the fish they collected is the ultra-rare Sabre Goby.  It almost doesn't make it into the display tank ... watch the episode to see what we mean.
  • Living Color Aquarium is tasked to build a 3000 gallon shark tank for a new pet store ... with a deadline of three short weeks.  Ben heads the stressful aquarium build while Francis oversees the livestock, including a black-tip shark that, despite Francis' objections, must be readied for the pet store's opening on short notice.

   

  In our opinion, this is the episode Nat Geo should have aired last week to kick off the series.  Whatever your opinion is about the first episode, we strongly encourage you to tune in to the second episode.  We are told this is the type of show viewers can expect for the remainder of the season.

  Spread the word.  Fish Tank Kings is an aquarium show aquarists can be proud of and one Advanced Aquarist would like to see back for a second season.  Both LCA and NatGeo are receptive to aquarists' opinions, so we encourage you to sound off your constructive thoughts.

  
  
  
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  Tunze's waterproof and controllable LED light

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 5:30pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  The new Tunze LED employs 62 Nichia ELITE LEDs (approximately 14 watts worth) in a special thermally conductive plastic fixture.  They will be available in three different color options (see below).  In combination with the new TUNZE Multicontroller 7097, up to four separate TUNZE® LED can be controlled in terms of color and luminescence.  A two channel driver is built into the waterproof strip light.  Aquarists may use the Tunze LED as main lighting for smaller aquariums or supplemental lighting for larger aquariums.

  Euro prices are listed below.  US prices should range between $180-210.  Tunze anticipates retail release towards the end of 2012.

  

  According to Tunze, the LED light features:

  • Fully corrosion-resistant plastic construction, completely passively cooled without noisy or failure-prone fans.
  • Fully waterproof (IP 68) sealed with resin, and mountable close to the water surface in order to reduce the luminance loss.
  • Compact design which can be positioned at any point.
  • Highly flexible mounting with a magnet holder.
  • High degree of safety through 11V DC operation, cable length: 2.5 m (98.42 in.).
  • Low operating costs and a high efficiency through 62 energy-efficient Elite-LEDs, white LEDs with up to 130 lm/W.
  • Long service life due to a low operating temperature and perfect heat distribution.
  • Optimal light distribution, ideally suited as the main lighting source for a nano-aquarium or supplement lighting for larger aquariums.
  • Light color and intensity are controllable time-dependent with the new Tunze® Multicontroller 7097 (not included).
  • No problems in case of power failure: The safety connector permits a normal operation with the TUNZE® power supply unit, but in case of a power failure it will automatically switch over to a car battery or a DC source.
  • Thanks to its small housing dimensions, combinations of multiple lamps are easily possible. The light output is multiplied almost completely according to their number, if the lights are mounted in close proximity.
  • Dimensions: Lamp without bracket: L 305mm x B 25mm x H 17mm (L 12.00 in. x W 0.98 in. x H 0.66 in.), vertical mounting with holder: L 320mm x B 50mm x H 50mm (L 12.59 in. x W 1.96 in. x H 1.96 in.), parallel mounting with holder: L 46mm x B 305mm x H 50mm (L 1.81 in. x W 12.00 in. x H 1.96 in.).

  

  
  
  
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  New Tunze Comline® DOC Skimmer and Filters

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 5:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  Comline® DOC Skimmer 9004

  The Comline® DOC Skimmer 9004 is rated for saltwater aquariums up to 250 litres (66 US gal) or low-nutrient systems (such as SPS tanks) up to 150 litres (40 US gal).  The 9004 draws water from the water's surface helping to eliminate surface slick.  A Tunze Foamer 9004 pump quietly generates the foam using their patented self-adjusting "anti-overfoaming system."  Tunze refers to the DOC Skimmer's short-contact-time-skimming as "flash skimming."  The 9004 comes with an air flow valve and silencer.

  As with almost every Tunze product manufactured today, the DOC Skimmer 9004 is held to your aquarium (or sump) using a supplied magnet holder.  Two magnets are necessary for pane thicknesses greater than 12mm (.47 in.), although we doubt any aquarium this skimmer is rated for will require two magnets.

  Price of the Comline® DOC Skimmer 9004 is listed at 107.45 € (approximately $140 USD).

  

   

  Comline® Filter 3162

  • Both of Tunze's two new Comline internal filters are rated for aquariums 60 – 400 litres (15 – 105 US gal).
  • 2.5 – 4.5W, 230V/50Hz (115V/ 60Hz)
  • Dimensions: 110 x 90 x 255mm (4.3 x 3.5 x 10 in.)
  • Max. immersion depth: Approx. 230mm (9.1 in.)
  • Comline filters may be outfitted with optional 75W heaters and Tunze Osmolator ATOs.

  Like the DOC Skimmer, the Comline filters draw water from the surface through its media chamber.  Users may load the chamber with a variety of media such as Tunze's Macro Wadding, Micro Wadding, filter fleece, NanoChem, activated carbon, Quickphos, Silphos, or Zeolite.  And like the Comline DOC Skimmer, the filters are also held in place using magnet holders.

  The 3162 uses a variable speed Comline pump to move water through the filter.  The pump can output between 250lph (66gph) to 850lph (225gph), thus allowing users to adjust their filter to both their tank size and media requirements.

  Price of the Comline® Filter 3162 is listed at 55.52 € (approximately $70 USD).

  

   

  Comline® Streamfilter 3163

  The 3163 is similar to its sibling, so most of the description for the 3162 (above) also applies to the 3163.  The main difference is the 3163 uses a Tunze nanostream for its pump (presumably the nanostream 6015 rated for 1,800 lph/475 gph).  Thus, the 3163 will provide more circulation than the 3162 but with less control for flow-through rate.

  Price of the Comline® Streamfilter 3163 is listed at 59.66 € (approximately $75 USD).

  

   

  Comline® Reefpack 250

  The Reefpack is a Tunze packaged system comprising of Tunze marine salt, the DOC Skimmer 9004, and the Comline 3162 filter.  This package is designed as a total filtration system with an energy consumption of only 8.5W for all components.

  The Comline® Reefpack is listed at 142.45 € (approximately $180 USD).  Along with an Osmolator nano, heater, and Tunze nanostream, and lights, aquarists can assemble a highly capable (and dummy-proof) reef tank for around $500 USD (sans tank, furniture, and livestock).

  

  
  
  
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  Tunze Osmolator® nano

  Posted: May 16th, 2012, 4:30pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  The new Osmolator nano (model 3152) uses a single float switch for its water level sensor; In comparison, the standard Osmolator (model 3155) uses an IR sensor with a float switch backup.

  The Osmolator nano ships ready-for-use with a 11V power supply, low voltage metering pump, 3m (118.11 inch) hose, magnet holder for up to 10mm (0.39 inch) glass thickness and a protective cover for the sensor.

  Price is listed at 74.60€ (US pricing TBD; estimated less than $100).

  
  
  
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  20th Annual All-Ohio Coral Frag Swap Presented by C-SEA

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 12:25am CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

   

   

   

   

   

  

  
  
  
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  Tunze Turbelle® Stream 6255 Wide Flow

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 8:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  Turbelle® stream 6255 WIDE FLOW

  • For tanks > 4.000 l (1,050 USgal.)
  • Flow performance: 5,000 to approx. 18,000 l/h (1,300 to 4,800 USgal./h)
  • Energy consumption: max. 58 W
  • Power supply unit:100-240V/50-60Hz
  • Length of cable: 5 m (196.8 in.).
  • Dimensions: ø90 mm (3.5 in.), output: ø75 mm (3 in.)
  • Magnet Holder with Silence Clamp with
  • Pane thickness up to 27 mm (1.06 in.).
  • 480.67 € (USD TBD)

  
  
  
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  Is Pee Killing Lake Fish?

  Posted: May 15th, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  Urine is rich in nitrogen (notably ammonia) and phosphorus, making it a natural fertilizer for plants and algae.  German fishermen are blaming swimmer's urine for causing algal blooms resulting in the death of 500 fish discovered in the past two weeks.

  Lake authorities have closed recreational swimming due to high algae levels.  The Hamburger Angling Association calculates swimmers add half a liter of urine per swimmer per day.  The Urban Development and Environment Authority challenges the claims of the Hamburger Angling Association and is trying to reopen the lake for swimming.  But we have to ask: Would anyone still want to swim in the lake after all this unsavory news?

  http://www.advancedaquarist.com/

  Hamburg University scientists say a specific species of cyanobacteria found in Lake Eichbaum may be particularly dangerous to fish because they produce a neurotoxin called anatoxin-a, also said to convert relatively harmless ammonium (NH4⁺) to asphyxiating ammonia (NH3).  The lake's unusually high pH of 8.7 would also make ammonia much more toxic.

  Lake authorities have already installed 148 tonnes of the anti-phosphate agent Bentophos (Phoslock) at a cost of €516,000 (~$667,000 USD) but with little success reducing algae levels.

  TL;DR:  Don't pee in your aquarium.

  [via TheLocal]

  
  
  
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  Clarion Angels are back

  Posted: May 14th, 2012, 5:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  Cortez Marine has already exported a majority of specimens to Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, et al.), so Asian markets should expect to see Clarion Angels shortly.

  
  
  
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  Exclusive video: Fish Tank Kings visits ORA

  Posted: May 14th, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  Fish Tank Kings aired their first episode* this weekend on Nat Geo Wild TV.  The episode was completely dedicated to the Marlins Stadium aquarium build.  Future episodes will feature much more diverse and educational content with multiple builds per episode, a collecting expedition to Curacao (the second episode), and tours of professional facilities.  In other words, the first episode is not indicative of the rest of the season.

  Case in point: Nat Geo has cut for Advanced Aquarist a special clip of their June 9 FTK episode, "Fish Upon A Star" where LCA visits ORA Farms, the largest marine ornamental aquaculture facility in North America.  The number of coral frags and cuttings at ORA will astound you.

  Watch as Dustin breaks Francis and Max's hearts when they try to buy a mother colony of the ORA Red Planet Acropora.

  *For those who missed the first episode of FTK, Nat Geo Wild will re-air it this Tuesday at 9pm.

  
  
  
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  Destination Reefs: Philippines (Apo Island, Mindoro)

  Posted: May 13th, 2012, 3:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  Despite the similarity in their names, Apo Island and Apo Reefs (Mindoro) are two different locations but in fairly close proximity.  Apo Island is a tiny volcanic island just south of Cebu (seen in last week's Destination Reefs installment).  What it lacks in land mass it makes up for in coral reef.  Steve De Neef shares two absolutely stunning videos of Apo Island.

  Apo Reef at Mindoro lies north of Cebu and is also jaw-droppingly beautiful, as evidenced by our third video by Tony Exall.

  The Destination Reefs video series showcases the diversity of coral reefs around the world.  Through these videos, Advanced Aquarist hopes we can all gain a greater appreciation of reef life beyond our glass boxes.

  
  
  
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  Beautiful misbarred maroon clown

  Posted: May 13th, 2012, 1:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  iBluewater has built a reputation finding unique clownfish, and their latest maroon clown is a winner.  This particular specimen was collected in Papua New Guinea (said in close vicinity to where the famous PNG Lighting Maroon Clown was collected).  PNG is clearly fertile grounds for aberrant clownfish.

  

  

  
  
  
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  650 stoney corals and 60 clams seized in UK

  Posted: May 11th, 2012, 11:45pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  The shipment was confiscated because it did not have the correct documentation.  It is unclear whether this is a clerical error or willful smuggling.  A 23 year old man was arrested by released on bail and awaits trial.

  

  

  [via DailyMail]

  
  
  
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  650 stony corals and 60 clams seized in UK

  Posted: May 11th, 2012, 11:45pm CDT by Leonard Ho

  Click through to see the images.

  
  

  The shipment was confiscated because it did not have the correct documentation.  It is unclear whether this is a clerical error or willful smuggling.  A 23 year old man was arrested and released on bail pending trial.

  

  

  [via DailyMail]

  
  
  
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  Fish Tank Kings premieres this Saturday

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 6:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  For those without access to Nat Geo Wild TV, you're in luck.  Nat Geo will upload full episodes of Fish Tank Kings after they air.

  The premiere episode will follow Living Color Aquariums as they build the Marlins Stadium backstop aquarium.  Subsequent episodes will feature multiple builds and tours per show, including visits to Curacao, Florida Aquarium, Tennessee Aquarium, and ORA Farms.

  
  
  
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  India plans to build 7 new public aquariums

  Posted: May 10th, 2012, 2:00pm CDT by Leonard Ho

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  The first aquarium is currently under construction at Greater Noida and is slated for completion by the end of 2012.  The new aquarium is named The Blue Planet; If the name rings a bell, it's because several aquariums including the upcoming Danish masterpiece also goes by the same name.  The Blue Planet at Greater Noida will be India's first state-of-the-art public aquarium.

  Andover does not plan to stop there and is exploring multiple sites to build at least six more public aquariums over the next five years.