AQUATECH

A publication of AquaTouch containing Tips & Techniques for being a successful Marine Aquarist...

AquaTips:

	Before using a balanced calcium/alkalinity supplement test the current levels of each in the tank. Bring each level into balance first then start the new calcium/alkalinity supplement.
	Freeze dried Krill will absorb up to six times its weight. This makes it great for soaking with a vitamin supplement like Selcon or Vita-Chem.
	pH probes should be calibrated every few months to ensure their accuracy. Refer to your meter’s manual for instructions and use proper calibration solutions.
	Aquarium clubs are a great source of information for our hobby. Fellow hobbyists are always willing to share their experiences. Check with your local retailer for information on clubs in your area.

Fish Spotlight:

Royal Gramma

This time we look at a colorful reef fish well suited for the small to large reef tank. Among the fairy basslet family of Grammatidae, this one is particularly common and available. The “Royal Gramma” is one of nine species that inhabit the tropical, Caribbean waters from Bermuda to the West Indies. It’s violet head and mid-body contrasts nicely with a golden yellow back half and tail. It will eat a variety of small, meaty foods as well as flakes. Don’t be surprised to see one peek out from under a ledge or cave. It is also common for them to appear to “hang” upside down. This is the way they are found in nature. They will get along well with other reef fish that have similar mild temperaments. Don’t expect them to grow too large, two to four inches in length at most.

Invert Spotlight:

Mushroom Corals

Disk anemones, False corals, Mushroom anemones and Mushrooms are just a few of the names corals of the order Corallimorpharia go by. Mushrooms are popular with hobbyists because of their durable nature. These corals do well under low light and low water flow conditions. An actinic and a fifty-fifty bulb is all that is required on tanks eighteen inches deep or less. Also, they do not need high water quality like most other corals. Butterfly and Angel fishes may nip at them though. Mushrooms reproduce readily in the aquarium so give them room to grow. There are over one hundred species to choose from with different colors and textures.

AquaTouch News:

News of the Month

With the end of summer near we are anticipating even busier times ahead. You will see some new faces in our store as we begin training some new employees. Please be patient as we work to provide better customer service for you. The Tsunami Wave Maker has just arrived. This product randomly controls pumps and powerheads creating variable flow in the tank for corals and fish. It also comes with a night sensor to simulate calmer, night-time currents. We now have a community picture board placed in the store. Bring in pictures of your tank or favorite saltwater animal and we will display them for other hobbyists to enjoy. Thank you for a great summer!

Question of the Month:

Q: I have a tank with live rock and every morning when my lights come on I see these little “critters” crawling all over the glass. What are they?

A: The animals you are seeing are small crustaceans most commonly associated with the order Amphipoda, Isopoda and class Copepoda. The copepods, as we will collectively call them here, are quite harmless. They inhabit ocean waters and can be either pelagic (free swimming) or benthic (bottom dwelling). Only a few of the thousands of species known are parasitic. These are tiny animals less than a quarter inch long that feed on organic detritus, microscopic organisms or anything small enough for them to digest. They are an important part of the food chain, being feed upon by higher animals. In our aquariums the copepods are a good indicator of how well our ecosystems are developing. They will bloom in the tank when the temperature is slightly warmer and a food source is available. The name copepod is derived from the Greek words for oar and foot. The name demonstrates the simplicity of the animal. It is commonly composed of a head, thorax, and abdomen. It utilizes pairs of appendages for sensing and movement. Copepods are sometimes confused with small, white dots that grow on live rock and glass but do not move around. These are hard tube worms of the family Serpulidae.