Some of the coral seem pale, why is that? Occasionally I will get a comment from a customer that some of the frags that they received look “pale” or “light” or even “bleached”. There are several reasons that some frags may be “light” from your perspective. This article we will discuss those factors and what to do about it. The reason a fragment starts off looking “light” is because it was cut from a fast-growing colony. Many fast-growing Acropora colonies have whitish tips. The reason for that is because the growth outpaces the rate at which the zooxanthellae can colonize the coral. So, in certain colonies, not surprisingly, if the… Read More
Continue ReadingHow to Prevent Acropora-Eating Flatworms (AEFW), Montipora-Eating Nudibranchs (MEN), & Red Bugs from Getting in Your Reef Tank
How to properly quarantine your new corals Why is parasite prevention important? Quarantine, whether for fish or coral, is something you probably won’t pay much attention to until you experience a major problem. Like incurable diseases of the human body, prevention is by far the best approach to disease or pests. Although our goal is to replicate a slice of the reef in our own homes, we must be careful to only introduce what we intend and leave out the potential bad that sometimes accompanies our new pieces. Before you even purchase your coral, the first thing you should do is consider the source. Are you buying from a local… Read More
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Reef Aquarium Basics: Selecting A Tank
Selecting a tank is not a decision that should be made in isolation. At this point you probably already have an idea of where you would like to put the tank, such as on a dresser in your bedroom or office, or part of your living room or family room. In order to avoid costly or irreparable mistakes, I highly recommend that you should also have a good idea of the lighting and filtration for your future set-up. The goal of this article is to help you avoid some common mistakes, or mistakes that I have made, when accumulating the components of your system.
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