New SPS frags

Originally, I was only going to buy a $10 frag of "Scripp's Acro". But after seeing all the beautiful colonies growing in this user's Zeovit-type tank, I couldn't help but inquire about what else was up for sale. I got two more. Then, another piece came from trading in some equipment.

This frag came from a large mother colony.

This one is a Yellow Bird's Nest, Seriatopora sp.

Finally, here is the Scripp's Green-tip Staghorn, Acropora sp.

I traded an ATO switch that I didn't need for a frag of this Miami Orchid Staghorn, Acropora sp. The close-up picture show tissue damage from being handled. I'll have to give all the corals some time to recover in the refugium before I find a place for them in the main reef tank.

Carpet Surfing

This week I noticed a certain "note" missing from the reef tank. The Timor Wrasse, which normally swims about in the open, was not up and doing its early morning rock inspection routine. So, when I decided to search behind the tank stand, I found the dried remains of the fish. This is what reef hobbyists refer to as "carpet surfing".

Who could appreciate a close-up picture of a Timor Wrasse's formidable jaws? There seems to be a pair of "tusks" involved as well. Don't let the teeth fool you; this fish was an extremely friendly member of my tank the entire year it spent in my tank.

I liked having the top of the acrylic tank uncovered for the benefits of gas exchange and better light penetration. But, to avoid anymore random losses, it's time I put them back on.

Zoanthid Surprise

I was checking up on some neglected corals in my main tank when I noticed this surprising zoanthid. It's now got a nice red ring pattern around the mouth! It was difficult to take a decent picture because of the angle of the shot. Once I get this colony situated higher up on the rock work, I'll be sure to get some high quality images.

RIP: Acro Crab

Leave it up to a Red-legged Hermit crab to discover the struggling Acro crab in the isolation chamber I created. Or, the Acro crab was probably already dead and the Hermit was only performing its cleaning duties.

I'm currently on the third dose of Interceptor treatment on the reef tank. There are no signs of Red Bugs, though. To be safe, one must stick the recommended 3 week regimen as prescribed by experienced users. I have noticed a rise in cyanobacteria which has been noted by others going through this treatment.

I can't wait until this is over and done. Though, my next problem is with a Powder Brown Tang that I purchased yesterday. It's already showing signs of stress and may need to go through a copper treatment for Cryptocaryon irritans. Now, I'm worried of cross-contaminating the quarantine tank with my main tank's water.

Yellow Scroll Coral in HDR

I've been fooling around with HDR photography. Discussion about HDR in SDReef's Photography forum got me curious. HDR requires at least 3 pictures taken with normal, under and over exposure settings. On the Canon Rebel XTi, this can be accomplished with the Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) function. I've set my camera at ISO 100, manual focus and Av mode for this test. Tripod and remote control are also used.

The demo software that I tried out is PhotoMatix Pro 3. It certainly applies a new level of dynamic color to the picture. The sample pics below are normal, under, over exposure and the combined HDR image.

Porites Nudibranchs II

I pulled out another 10 adult Nudibranchs. They come out from under the rock to feast on the Porites coral. Using a pipet, I loosen them and transfer them to a container of RO water.

Porites Nudibranchs

I thought I saw a familiar shape on my new Porites coral. Since it was so small, I didn't want to believe my eyes. I just wanted it to be a piece of debris or maybe a small bit of scallop DIY food. Then, a day later and early in the morning, I saw a very large (relatively speaking) Nudibranch. So, I immediately isolated the coral/zoanthid combo rock to the refugium. There, I used a pipet to loosen and remove about 8 adult Nudibranchs. After the battle, there were cerata everywhere. I'll have to keep the coral under watch for several weeks until I remove all the Nudis and their offspring. Another idea is to use a Waterpik to help hose them off.

Red Bug Eradication

It seems the treatment progressed as planned. The Red Bugs have disappeared and the other crustaceans are in good condition. I've turned on the protein skimmer and the carbon filter canister at the 15 hour mark. I'm a little behind schedule with the 10 gallon water change, though.

All corals area seem fine including the Pulsing Xenia and Purple Haze Montipora. I can observe copepods still kicking with life and egg sacs in the refugium.

Next week: treatment II.

BEFORE (click for larger image)

AFTER (click for larger image)

Now, I may have to wait several weeks before I can see any improvement in this coral's polyp extension and color.

Interceptor Treatment I

Tonight, my whole reef system (main tank, refugium, sump, skimmer) was treated with Interceptor. I got information from Melevsreef, DFWMAS and a few fellows at SDReefs.

Outline for the treatment of my 110 gallon tank system:

1. Remove ornamental crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, hermit crabs).
2. Crush tablet & stir in 1/3 powder in 1 cup tank water.
3. Stop skimmer's Venturi (air).
4. Disconnect filter media cannisters (carbon, Seagel, Purigen)
5. Add solution to filter sock in the sump.
6. Treat for 15 hours.
7. Perform 10 gallon water change.
8. Reconnect filter media cannisters.
9. Treat two more times at week intervals.
10. Return crabs back to main tank after several water changes (use one hermit at a time as a test).

This treatment is used to eradicate "Red Bugs" (Tegastes acroporanus) an obligate parasite of "smoothed skinned" Acropora. Even though the corals still grow, the infestation causes a lot of irritation for the corals and may keep them from displaying full colors. Also, this treatment may increase the survival rate of future Acropora specimens that I add to the tank.

Click on the image below and see if you can count all the little orange dots.

The treatment has the ability to kill not only Red Bugs, but other small crustaceans (copepods, isopods, shrimps, crabs) as well. That's why I rescued this Acropora crab (to the tune of All for you). It inhabits the branches of an Acropora. It took me several minutes to squirt the the tiny crab free from the coral with a pipet. I transferred it to the quarantine tank along with all the hermit crabs I could rescue. I was unable to retrieve the Emerald crab, Skunk shrimp, Coral-banded shrimp and pistol shrimp from the main tank, but other hobbyists indicate that they may survive the treatments.

About 10 minutes after dumping the solution of Interceptor in the filter sock of the sump, I noticed that the Pulsing Xenia retracted their polyps. The colonies in the refugium did likewise, so that seems to be an indicator that the chemical is circulating through the entire system. Who knows if they'll recover?

This "Purple Haze" Montipora had some fine white debris on it, so I snapped a pic. The macro photo revealed retracted polyps and white material associated with the coral. I'm not sure what to make of this.

I'm a little nervous about what I'll find tomorrow, but I feel confident after reading as much as I could about this regiment of treatment. And, there's got to be a morning after.