FREE

rium Systems Manufacturer of Instant OceanK A- Volume 3

! Winter 1986

The Batfish

This article was Inspired by one particular Long Fin Batfish, which was my pet for marty years before it came to an unfortunate end. 1 use the word "pet" advisably, because It isone of the few species of marine fish which can be regarded as a pet. Because It shows no apparent fear, it will readily swim at the front of any tank. and can easily be trained to hand feed. In fact, that last phrase rather disguises the truth, which is that the common Baiflsh is so constantly greedy that, at the first sign of an imminent meal, It Isalmost prepared to leap out of the aquarium just to get at the food a few seconds earlter.

There are three species erf Batflsh. The most common Is the Roundfin Batflsh (&tax ort>tcuiarts). In the wild they are widespread In die Pacific region. When they are imported, they are usually from 2-5 inches long, taller than they are long, and usually light brown In color. At this age, they resemble a ftoating mbngro% leaf. Young Batfish are quite delicate and susceptible to bullying from more robust fish but how thischanges as they develop. Bat- fish grow in captivity faster than other species. In no time at all, the small 2 inch specimen can become a massive 20 Inches long, develbping a dark silver/brown color and almost circular in shape. At this age, they are one of the plainest, if not ugliest, of marine

How different i s the next species, the Long Fin Batfish (&fax . These can only be found around Indonesia and the Philip- But, they are not rare, and are regularly imported. They are Ity seenat around 3-5 inches long; but at this length, they

Red Fin Bat/Esh Ptatw phnotw,) Photo; Aaron Mormon

female, then darting back to the nest ly from additional live foods, such as site. Eventually, after several dry runs, newly hatched brine shrimp. the female follows and one to two hun- My initial experiments were carried dred eggs are laid on the underside of out some three years ago, using Instant the shell or plant pol. Four days later, Ocean* Salt, at a temperature of 27 OC., at about 27OC. (80°F. and within one specific gravity of 1.022. In a 20 gallon hour of darkness, the young hatch. static larval tank, I reared 60 fish in one

This presents feeding problems. Be- hatch. ing too small to take rotifers as a first I have also had success In breeding the

es of damsel fish, as food, green water culture must be fed Electric Blue Damsel fish (Abudefduf orful addltton to the for the first week, gradually introducing caeiyteus). These damsels seem more

, isalsoagoodfishto rotifers as the larvae grow. At about 2 1 secretive than the above, and I have In a relatively small days, the fish begin to take on their never witnessed them spawning. The lar- Ions, they wiit spawn, adult colors and can be transferred to vae, however, are very similar and can

an undergravel filtered tank. Powdered be reared the same way. They do, how- rly in the morning. flake food can then be used as a staple ever, take much longer to obtain their The mate can be seen chasing the diet, although the fish wilt benefit great- juvenile coloration, 40 to 50 days. A

Adult Tree Fish in a natural habttat. Thepink Up coioratton leads to a popular fisherman's name 4 "Upsttck Bass". Photo: Philip R. Turner

Tree Fish By Phfllp R Turner

The tree fish Is a common west coast rockflsh wmellmea known as the "Lipstick Bass", because of their pro- nounced pink to reddish Hp color. As rockfish, they are solitary Individuals, found to depths of 150 feet lurking In crevices and rock formations where they may quickly hide from danger.

The Juveniles make a colorful addi- lion to aquariums. The yellow and black patterns on the juveniles are more pro- nounced and the fins are tipped with white which fades away with age. The Juveniles swim freely in an aquarium, which provides a much more dsfac- tory sight than the bottom-dwelling scutpiiu and gobies that are more c o m a monly found find obtained. The young ftah seem to prefer colder waters and depths of 50 to 60 feet in the local area (Los Angdes), but they adapt to 70 degrees F. temperatures quite readily. The juveniles tend to be territorial, so some reasonable degree of room should bà available if more than one are to be kept in a tank.;

We are pleased to armcum that due to the tremendous support of aquarium dealen and hobbyists, SeaScop6 hç achieved a circulation of over 100,000 copies, a landmark among marine aquarium publications.

The growth of Seascope has Indeed exceeded our expectations forcing ua to increase our production so that future r e q u a for extra copks can be filled. (Jnfbrtunately, we did not anticipate this In time and an a result we have ex- hausted supplies of 4 Issues and are ex- tremely low on two others. Thus we are unable to fill t h à § back issue ruqueato.

Individuals wishing to be assured of receiving every issue of SeaScope am encouraged to send in the 8 1 .OO per year subscription fee. Shops needing larger quantities for their customers should contact Seascope, c/o Aquarium Systems, dnc. so extra copies can be reserved. Thanks win for your support.

Control of :,;;; .-

Marine parasites In the late 19403, useof copper was

pioneered by Max Gelfand at Marine- land of Florida fortreatment of the two most common and hazardous marine parasites, Amyioodinium oceilatum (Oodinlurn or Marine Velvet) and Cryp- tocaryon irrttans (White Spot or Marine lch). Robert Dwnpster's classic 1955 paper popularized copper as a viable treatment, and over the years a number of alternate therapies have been tried along wl t h modifications to the form of copper used. This article reviews various methods wlth respect to effectiveness and limitations.

for treatment of Cryptmaryon- and Amytoodinlum.

Quinine Sulfate or Quinine Hydrochloride (HCI) is often ad- ministered at 250 mllligrama per 10 gallons of aquarium water. For Amyloodinlum, parasites will encap- sulate and fell off in 2-3 hours; however, they are not dead so a follow-up treat* men! wlth copper Is necessary to pre- vent reinfection. Care must be taken because Quinine may Injure live corals, anemones, and macroalgae, and multl- pie treatments without removal of Initial dose can produce toxic conditions. Use of activated carbon after treatment will remove the yellowish residual compounds. Use of a freshwater dip (thrç

minutes) can be beneficial. Cryp tocaryon trophants (parasit ic stage) are beneath the slime, and are not affected, but the majority of oodinlum cysts will encapsulate and fall off in three minutes. They do not rupture, however, and some will Invariably remain trapped on the fish In the slime or between gill layers. Thus dips will provide valuable but only temporary relief. Follow up copper therapy is necessary.

When administering freshwater dips, be sure to: 1) de-chbrfnate, 2) aerate, 3) adjust pH (pinch of baking soda), 4) ad- just temperature, and 5) watch for acute stress.

Formalin Is often recommended, either as 8 bath or added directly to the aquarium, along with copper. Sold corn* +

merclally as 37% formaldehyde, It Is primarily usefu I for Cmocaryon'. As a bath, use 1 rnl per gallon or one tea- spood5 gallons seawater with aeration for one hour.

Copper Therapies Among the copper medications, there

are four main types: Ionic coppers, cop-

per/formaIdehyde mixes, chelated cop" pers, and amtne complexed coppws. Some features are common to all of these. All forms of copper are eventually deposited on the filter, whether ad- ministered as one large, complexed dose or many small aAfidons.

In marine aquariums with carbonate flltors. copper twida to be adsorbed by the carbonate f l lter. Inert flhrants, such as silica sand, to a lessor extent, also remove copper, but this to due to the high carbonate level In seawater. A bare or foam-filtered tank maintains the most stable copper level and is the best situa- tlon for effectively treating fish.

Copper is a toxic metal that. for. tunately, is more poisonous to parasites than to fishes. Its toxictty, as well as ef- fective concentration, are influenced by the chemicals used to modify the cop per solutions. Those mixtures that are stable In solution require the highest copper concentrations for treatments.

Eventually, whether chelated or un- chelated, copper is deposited on the filter, although strongly chelated or complex4 coppers stay in solution much longer than Ionic or free copper.

With any form of copper the qua* tlons of what to do with Invertebrates must be faced. Either the fishes must be treated In a quarantine tank or the In- vertebrates must be removed to (mother aquarium. The second choice provides only a temporary solution, however, because Invertebrates such as antin- ones and some mollusks will not tolerate high levels of copper on tbw gravel, even when the level in the water

Kg-

I ihà been reduced to "safe" concentra. Honsl

140 gallons while the

r citrate, and mix- and citric acid. mild chelator

to be absorbed by the carbonate filter material. Thus, depending on the amount of fitter material, doily additions are necessary to maintain a therapeutic level of copper In an aquarium.

The level of ionic copper Is Important It should be maintained at between 0.15 arid 0,ZOppm for 14 days. Use of an ac- curate test kit, such as SeaTesT* for Copper, Is necessary to Insure a there- peutic dose without reaching toxic levete.

Several aquarium products combine: foimalin with copper. These rnixtu&"'! may be somewhat more effective than traditional copper, especially for Cryp- tocaryon. Their limitation is, that In order to maintain therapeutic Ionic cop per levels for two weeks, multiple treatments generally are necessary, and the resulting formalin levels may Impair the biological filter, and produce elevated ammonia levels.

The strongly chelated or camplexed forms of copper, such as Copper Power* or CopperSaW, are designed for use in one large dose, generally between 1.75 and 3,- total copper. Although some of these wil l register on test kits, the levels will be far beyond the limit of sensitive, low-range tests. Most of these products give a recommend* schedule for additions but omit 31 gested treatment levels. Thus, they are not compatible for use with test kits. The high levels are possible because the copper is so tightly bound that It Is detoxified. However, they may till be unsafe for many Invertebrates, and are difficult to remove from the water after treatment. Neither of the above men- tioned products can be effectively removed with activated carbon.

The Final category, amimmplexed coppers, have characteristics that fall between those of Ionic (free) copper and the strongly chelated types. These ap- parently can be more toxk to parasites than the chelatea, but proper treatment levels for the various products have not been well established mid documented.

In conclusion, we still must recom- mend Ionic copper as the treatment of choice for control of Arnyloodlnium and Cryptocaiyon infestations. Use of mi in- Rial freshwater dip for Arnyloodlnium or formlin bath for Cryptaaryon often 1m- proves survival since copper is general- ly effective only against the free afwlm- ming stage, thus preventing reinfection. Improvement in fishes condition wil l usually take 4-5 days.

SfCurc" Copper treatment is a rell- able source of ionic copper that can be especially effective when used in conjunc- tlon with the SMT~ÈT Copper Kit.&

Book Review:--

By popular demand, those highly ac- claimed and fabulously illustrated books are available again.

The two volumes describe all known species of these extremely popular families. Including rare marine hybrids. The text provides an abundance of in- formation, Including current valid species, names and aynonyma, local- Itles, habitats, dietary needs, and data on aquarium care.

Over 200 of the more than 500 color illuntraths are underwater photos of fish in their natural habitat. Generally, juvenile, as well as adults, are shown plus many of the regional color variations. In Volume I, Roger C. Steene surveys

the 86 species found In the Indo-Pacific region of Australia and Mew Guinea. This volume Is a revised edition, and In- cludes many new photographs. Volume 11, by Dr. Gerald R. Allen, completes the list with species from the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific regions.

For easy reference, a ten page table summarizes the habitats, aquarium care, and methods of feeding for an specks for which data Is available.

This beautiful, authoritive set Is a valuable reference for any one in- terested in marine fishes. It will be an asset to marine aqua- and divers, as well as Ichthyologists, all over the world.

Available through your local pet dealer, the suggested retail prices for Volume I and Volume II are $30.00 and 536.00 respectively. These new editions are published by Aquarium Systems, Inc., manufacturer of Instant Ocean* So Sa1t.A

Mantis Shrimp (Pseudosqu~btactowl)

The colorful character Fit die ftnuteb PsewSosqufitebiadowi,amwaVs alw mpi TTib specimen -,a fisherman wb0 mu& ikon a lure at -llm bland, '-

W@&&,&mtw,oboerwl in 30 feet of water, but am often found much deeper itving ID holes dug Into sandy bottoms. Their length is generally reported to 8 Inches or slightly more. so a reasonably large aquarium la desired. Their local water temperature rarely ex- ceeda W°F In the depths where these creatures live, but this one adapted quite well to a 20 gallon tank at 70°F It ate small craba and pieces of turkey, meat, and fish.

These shrimp have a powerful set ot daws that spring outwards, llkt anopen- ing pocketknife, to stun their prey. It is not a good Idea to handle them, as they can deliver a painful Mow.

The shrimp clean themselves with b d l t k e sets of bristles on the feet (chellpfids) and are fascinating to watch. They can reach across their bodies and around behind the head and caripace i a person would scrub his back. The red, yellow, and blue markings of various body parts make for an extremely col- orful addition to the aquarium that would be welcome even without the tn- terestlng bthavior. A

Rowtdfin Bsiflsh @lax-> Photo: Aaron Norman

are usually 2-3 times as tall as long. Their dorsal and caudal fins are long and flowing. These also can grow very large, up to 24 Inches long, but the full-grown Hah Is still magnificent, and does not lose Its charm. Younger fish have definite vertical bands, alternating be- tween light and dark brown, but these merge Into a constant color as the fish matures.

This beautiful fish Is quite an anama- ly. On the one hand, it la a natural bul- ly; but on the other, it has little natural defense against attacks. Once they are established In an aquarium, they like to position themselves at the front, presumably because that is the most uncluttered area In the aquarium. They patrol this front area, swimming from one end of the tank to the other, chas- ing off any other fish who dares to be In their path. They never actually come to grips wlth the Interloper, just using their bulk, to frighten others out of the way. Yet, because of their size, and long area of finnage, they are easy pickings for bullying nippers, such as Damsels or Puffers, so their tank mates have to be chosen wlth care. Ideal tank mates In. elude most species of Angels, Surgeon- fishes, Uonfbhes, etc., and most smaller bottom swimming fish who pose no ter- ritorial threat, such as Gobies and Blennles.

Especially when they are small, many aquarists make the mistake of thinking Batflsh to be ideal Inmates In an In- vertebrate system. The error of this is soon revealed. Mot only do Batflsh eat all the food thai'die owner provides, they will attempt to eat virtually any non-fish inhabitant that moves. Their appetite includes crustaceans, tube worms, corals, cucumbers, and, unbelievably, even anemones, whose sting they brush off as a mere ir- relevance. The aquarlst must choose carefully which animals to mix with a Batfish.

The third species is the Red Fin Bat- fish (Platax pinnatus). This fish Is evç more exotic to look at than the Plalax tiera. It is similar tn shape, uniformly dark brown, but all along its leading edges it has a vivid red fringe, from the tip of the dorsal to the base of the caudal. They are to be found In the same regions as the PSatax Hera, but are far less numerous, resulting In a paucity of Imports and very high price. Perhaps this is to the good, because the Red Fin Batflsh does not make a very good aquarium Inhabitant. The majority of them just will not eat In captivity. It is very upsetting to own one of these magnificent creatures, and to see It slowly weaken and die Just because of some seemingly psychological block against feeding. One final point about maintaining

Batftsh In captivity Is the ease with which they seem to contract White Spot (C";ptocaryon PHtans). Even if they did not eat Invertebrates, Batfish could not easily be kept with them, since they may need repeated doses of copper In order to keep at bay this recurring problem. The White Spot attacks do not serious- ly affect the fish as long as he Is treated, and the spots show up on the brown skin so that diagnosis should not be unduly delayed. To sum up, a potential Ratflsh owner

requires a large aquarium, preferably two feet deep, with a heavy cover glass, a careful mixture of companions, a large freezer, a good supply of cappi (SeaCure*), and loads of patience. In return, the rewards can be very fulfilling, with an unbelievable ongoing "dialogue" between human and fish.4

-. ims ctei^^^Ppreient

short, informative articles of Interest to marine aquartsts, Topics may include water chemistry, nutrition, maricutture, system destgn, ecology, behavior, and fish health. Article contributions are welcomed. They should deal with peni- nent marine aquarium topics and are subject to editorial reviews that In our opinion are necessary. Payment will be made at existing rates and wit) cover aH author's right* to the material nib' mined.

SesScope Is published quarterly for free distribution through local aquarium dealers. Dealers not receiving copies of SeaScope for distribution to their customers should call Aquarium Systems, Inc. to be added to the mall- ing 11aL Tekphone 1-800-922-1 100 (In Ohio call 1-800-822-1300]. Aquarits In- terested in receiving copies directly should send their name and addKÑ along with t 1-00 for postage and ban- ding (four issues) to: SeaScope, Aquarium Systems, Inc., 8141 Tyier Blvd., Mentor, OH 440GO. Addiencorn- merits, questions and sugpt iom to: Thomas Frakes, Editor.

Volume 3

., ' - - T"<t * I - ' - Â ¥ - -"'.

-: .I-

erable Molting Period L ?* - r & '

auatocoMS (crabs, labsten, and Çhriw are hardy Fçedh thwn b no pfotilem. they are dl- fms, 6

metabolism, they do not require vast amounts of tfv- &

them well-suited to aquarium life. Once established in aquarium, crustaceans would be all but IndwtructtUe great weaknen - the wed to moll periodically in order

R&fm,&*-- *.

@Copyright 1986 Aquarium System*, lnc. Mentor. Ohio - Printed in U.S.A.

UCeOftS {conlfnued from page I )

For the next several hours the animal con- tinues to take In water, stretching the dimen- slons of Its uncaltified exoskeleton. A period of rapid tissue growth occurs at this time, and an increase In size of more than 20% can ac- company each molt. After ecdysis, calcifica- tion of die new exasktletan begins, gradually strengthening and hardening It as thechliln la infused with calcium salts taken from the watt1 and provided by the crustacean's body reserves. This hardening process can lasi from an hour to ten days or more. depending on what kind of crustacean i s Involved and how big It la.

During the actual withdrawal from ha old ex- oskeleton, the animal is not only completely helpless, but It is expending an enonnous amount of energy nt B lime when lta reaplratory surface i~ unable lo function, cutting off Its supply of oxygen. Should withdrawal be abnor- mally prolonged for any reason, death will result, Thià Is a rare occurrence, however, and the crustacean almost always successfully costs off its old exoskeleton.

Nevertheless. a soft-shelled decapod is still in great danger. It can no longer rely on an armor-plated exoskeleton for protection. and its soft, flexible covering of chitin cannot pro- vide its musculature wlth the solid anchorage and leverage necessary to execute normal movements. Energy reserves have been ex- hausted, and It Is still quite helpku, often literally unable to raise a claw to defend Itself. As a result, a newly-molted crustacean Is an easy meal for the first predator to come along.

Worst of all. other crustaceans and In- vertebrates can detect the molting fluid re- leasedduringecdysls, and arc in fact attracted to it. Often they will follow this invisible scent trail straight back to its source, with fatal results lor the soft-shelled crustacean waiting at the end of the line.

The vastmajority of lossesare unnecessary and can 'be easily prevented If the Following

simple precautions are observed: (1) select compatible tankmatea; (2) furnish the aquarium with suitable habitat malerld to pro- vide plenty d safe hiding places; and (3) learn to recognize the unmistakable algm that in- dicate when a crustacean Is about to molt so steps can be taken to protect It.

Selecting compatible tankmates simply means avoiding thOM flshea and Invertebrates that normally feed on crustaceans. In general this Includes filefish, triogerflsh, trunk fish, boxflsh, puffera, blowfiah, moray eels, large wrasses, octopus, lobsters, mantis shrimp, large box crabs, stone crabs, and vicious swim- ming crabs like the blue crab.

Even small, m a g g r e u i v e apecimefts that otherwise get along splendidly with their decapod neighbors may attack and kill a itewly- molted crustacean. Consequently, the oquariil who keeps crustaceans must take pains to see that hi8 tank Is heavily decorated with corals, shells, and rockwork to provide adequate shelter during molting. If they yà given an ade- quate choice of hiding places, small crusta- ceans are very adept at seeking out some Im- pregnable retreat In which to pass the dangerous molting period, and that Isoften all the protection they need.

Large crustaceans are not that lucky, since wherever they can go, potential predators can follow. Fortunately. when they are about to molt, the bigger crustaceans provide the aquarlst with three unmistakable signals in- dicating (hot molting is Imminent: (I) they refuse to feed; (2) they become inactive; and <3) they exhibit a marked change In ap e . Alerted by these signs, the hobbyla can then Isolate hls prized specimens for their own protection.

The most obvious of theae indicators is a lack of appetite. Ordinarily, a crustacean is always hungry. but when It çnlç a prernoh stage, lta gastric lining breaks down. making feeding impossible. Thus, when one of these greedy Ècovengcr refuses to eat, It Is a definite slgn It will soon molt.

Molting predation: cannibal Hermit Crab..

Cleaner Shrimp, Lysmata dcbetius.

A crustacean also becomes reclusive whc It Isgoing to molt. The observant aquarlst wl notice the animal's absence and seek out I1 hiding place so It con be tempted with a tas morsel to determine if It has stopped feedir and Is therefore about to molt.

Many crustacean* al*o undergo a markt change In appearance prior to molting. This due to the premolt ieparatbn of the nt epidermis from the old cutfde, breakdown 4

the pigmented layer of the old exoskeletoi and an increase In pigments In the blood. Wii experience. an aqustlst can learn to tell at glance when a crustacean Is In its prem stage.

Taken together, these three signals provie the hobbyist wlth unmistakable evidence hi a crustacean Is a h 1 to molt, allowing tt aquartot to isolate it as a precaution. Tt easiest way to do this is to confine the crust cean behind a sheet of glass placed dlag nally across an unobstructed comer of t I aquarium. Include an overturned clam shell I pieceof coral to to give the quarantinedcnut cean a sense of security.

The length of time a particular spccim must remain In solitary confinement depent on what type of crustacean It la. A large erf or lobster can lake ten day; or more to recow fully, whereas a relatively "thin-sklnna shrimp may be back to normal momenta afti shedding. A flood rule of thumb \9 to wait i til the crustacean has begun eating -1 before returning it to the mainatream of tt aquarium.

IF the neceuary steps to protect them à taken during the high-risk molting perto crustaceans can easily be kept for sever year*, and it is not unusual for them to live 01 Iheir normal life span In a well-matntajnt aquarium. &

Management Aids

suppiementary products that may o help maintain good water quali-

rators, foam frttctlonators (protein activated carbon, pol ymerlc ad-

sorbtnts, and ton exchange resins. Foam fractlonators, &bated carbon, and

polymeric adsorbents are primarily intended to limit concentrations ofdissolved organk compound*. Ultraviolet sterilizer* are used for disease prevention, and ozone generators are used for both p u r p ~ s .

Organic material Is introduced Into solution through the metabolk wftstes of aquarium In- habitants and. If unchecked, a significant build- up would result that Is detrimental to animals and plants. Additionally, many organk con- taminants are highly colored, and the presence of even small amounts may produce unslght- ly. yellowish looking water. Fortunately, there are a number of ways of removing the^ substances.

Foam Practlonators (Protein Skimmers)

Foam fractlonators remove organic unco by concentrating them as a local- wm or froth that is trapped In a cup and çd They are frequently, although less mz- ¥ly called protein skimmers, because of thesubstances that they remove were thought to be primarily proteinaceous. loin large organk molecules have two A ends. One end, called hydraphlllc, has Inity for water, while the other end,

hydrophobk, Is repelled by water. u k s of this type tend to congregate at irfacà of the water where they become ed with their hydrophobic end pointing d the air. m fnctfonaton utilize this phononwnon m e these "surface active" compounds mlutlon. In ita simplest form (Fig. I)> a fmctlonator maximize* surface area by uclng air as a stream of fine bubbles at rtbm of a column of water. Maximizing

& .

the area of the air-water tntefface provide more location* for the molecules to con- gregate. As the bubbles rise, a film of surfact active molecule* forms on ttwir surface and to floated upwwd. As the concentmtjon of surface active molecules increases substantial foam develops on thesurface and flows over the top of the column to be collected In a removable cup, thereby removing ¥om of the molftcules from aolutbn.

an affinity for hydrophobic motecub kn Çolu tion which arc adsorbed on the surface of the polymer. Like activated carton, polymeric ad- mrbenta eventually become fllkd and n w ~ t be rul-td*

For removing certain materials, such as ¥orn types o# chetotç copper medications, polymeric xdsorfaents may be superior to ¥c ttvatod cwfaon. ThI* to a particularly useful application.

There are many modifications of the simple design thai serve to Increase I t s efficiency. The main limltaiion of foam fractlonotlon te that te removes primarily surface active molecules, and not all the organk contaminants.

Activated Carbon Activated carbon functions both as a

mechanical and a chemical filter. Aa a mechanical filter, Its behavior is 8lmUar to aands and gravels of comparable size which function quite efficiently in removing par' tlculate matter. However, aa a chemical filter, it has properties that are of considerable Interest.

These unique properties are primarily a result of the extremely high surface area (nearly aquarterofon acre Inhthanoneteupoon- fill) of some carbon varteilw- Most of this area is due to numerous microscopk prec and channels that penetrate individual grains. Theoe cavities are capable of trapping many dissolved substances so that they are effec- tively -plucked out" of solution and held to the surface of the carbon. This process Is known w adsorption.

Activated carbon can adsorb appreciable qumtittea of organic substances, resulting in a level of dissolved organic material that la a fraction of what It would be otherwise. Thus. aquarium inhabitants ere exposed to leu stressful water condition*.

Activated c a h la also capable of adsorb- Ing many Inorganic tons. The effect Is negllgl- ble for major lorn (sodium, chloride, mag- neslum, etc.), but, for minor elements, es- pecially metals, theeffects may be algnlflcant.

Activated carbon nitration should be stopped while medkathg on aquarium but can be resumed Immediately If adverw rwetioft? am noticed. Medications, such as methytene blue. nwladiitegreen, sulfa drugs, antibiotics, and copper, are effectively removed by carbon flltra tlon. t; 7

' ~ctivatedca& cat water management aid for removal of dissolved o ~ a n i c substances. It Is readily available, ef- fective for a broad range of compounds,,#r>d R is safe. . 7

Many grades of activated carbon a& available. Avoid "economy" grades, such <

charcoal as they are of little value In a martnef aquarium. ~ s t l k o f the useful IIfeUmevary consldçcablv and this Is probably as much a function of the state of the aquarium à of ttw carbon Itself. Under moderate conditions, ac- tlvated carbon may function for many months. Decreasing effectlvenw Is uçuall easily no- ticed by the gradual yellowing of the aquarium water.

f Polymeric Adsorbents There are a number of synthetic material*

that are orepared in such a manner that they . have a highly porous structure similar to a& -. tlvated carbon, and also have high wrface ami. These polymeric, or plastic-like materfab have

On the other hand, the belief (hat polymeric a<lforfaçn can remove ammonte. nitrite, and putlcwtariy nitrate is totally unfounded. They appear to be Incapable of mmmhtg such t chemically. They will neither pro- led an unconditioned marine aquarium from the potential hazard* of ammonia or nitrite, nor wi l l thç reduce accumulations of nitrate.

Ion Exchange Resins In recent year*, many Fofmulatkmscontain-

big Ion exchange resins have been marketed with various claims as to purification ability. kupectkmofmany of thee win show act- carbon as a component. The actual resins may do little more than act aa pH buffers.

Ion exchange rwlns do not function effec- ttvely as (on Çxdunoer in salt water-because there are too many Ions bi solution that corn- petà for active çlte on the resin. Similarly, am. &a adsorbing days (zeolites or dlnop- tllollte) an only effective In fresh water. hi feet. m y Ion exchange reshs and cloys are act& ally regenerated by flushing with a salt solw ttoklhselective removal of ammonia, nitrite. and nitrate, is not ponlblt with current tochnoiooy* . . . . */ ; 3

a. >- .-., ,.-.../'. ,-^-'- To bà continued i n ~ 2 next quçrtcr . -

. - - . -

Seascope was created to present short, informative articles of Interest to marine aquaflsta. Topics may include water chemistry, nutrition, maricultnie, system design, ecology, behavior, and fish health. Article contributions are welcomed. They should deal wfth perti- mnt marine aquarium topics and are subject to editorial reviews that In our opinion are necessary. Payment will bà nude at existing rates and will cover all author's rights to the material sub- mitted.

SeoScope is published quarterly for free distribution through local aquarium dealers. Dealers not receiving copies of SeaScope for distribution to their customers should call Aquarium Systems, Inc. to be added to the mail- bng list. Telephone 1400422.1 100 (In Ohiocall1.800-822-1- Aquariala in- ter& in receiving copies directly should send their name and address, along with 4 1.00 for portage and ban- (Sing (four issues) to: SeaScope. Aquarium Systems, Inc., 8141 Tyter Blvd.. Mwtor. OH 44060. Address corn- menis, questions and suggestions to: Thomas Frakes. Editor.

Filter Materials (conhued from page 11 ph values ot Artinci seawater

After Exposure to Various r ilter Materials The tests were run in typical aquariums with undergravel filters and normal flsh loads that were followed for 90 days. In this study, Ole silica sand tank showed gradual drop to below pH 7.0, while the oyster ahell, crushed coral, and dolomite were 7.85,7.75 and 7.5 reapec- tlvely. Their conclusion was that none of these caibonate materials could maintain pH value of 0.043, but they had awm value by preven- ting pH ievets from dropping to acutely critical levels of 7.0 or leu as happened wlth the Inert material, silica sand.

1 Instant Ocean@ Salt 1 German Salt 1 Material 2 24 3 2 24 3

Initial Hours Hours Weeks Initial Hours Hours Weeks

8.44 8.13 8.12 7.94 8.30 8.07 8.07 7.98 8.42 8.14 8.13 8.00 8.31 8.08 8.11 8.00

Crushed Coral Bahama Coral Sand Dolomtt ic Limestone Philippine Coral Sand Puka Shell Sand Foam Fi l ter Quartz Gravel Control

More recently Gary Adarns and Stephen Spotte (1965) confirmed this. reporting an in- itial drop to 7.99 for a crushed coral material, wtth muchof thedropoccurring in the first few hours.

Additional tests were conducted on a vari- ety of materials. Mr. Burleson provided samples of Philippine coral and, "Puka" shell d, and a high grade quartz gravel. Samples of crustid coral, coral sand (Bahama Bottom,

at higher pH levels and, in fact, during a new tank run-in, the lower pH may be bçnçflci I flcal buffering. Aquariums with no calcareous

material can be maintained In the 8.0-6.2 renae by making regular exchanges wlth new &a water and/or additions of carbonate buffers (baking soda. etc.), but pH must be monitored and adjusted frequently, and dangerously low levels are possible on neglected systems. Ex- changes or additions of buffers art leu critical in tanks with calcareous filters (dolomite, cor- al. oyster shell) because extremely low pH levels will be avoided, but moderately lower pH levels will most probably be maintained, unlew "boosted" with additional buffers.

Whether levela of 7.8 are detrimental I* n -

entirely clear and may depend more on cause of the low value. Pristine, high qualfly> water that drops to 7.8 because of a filter ef- fact may be perfectly acceptable. Howwar, older water that has been subjected to a hea biological load causing the drop in pH along with a build up in organic wastes may well be stressful. 1 histant Ocean Hatcheries), dolomite (dotomllk

Itmilone). and foam filters were obtained locally.

Eight miniature aquariums were con. stmcted. each with a bottom plate and an airlift. They held 200 cubic centimeters of filter material and 1.600 m11111ltafs of synthetic sea water, equivalent to having a 2% Inch deep filter bed in a 16 inch deep tank. The test water was açrate several days to Insure a stable pH since Imbalances in dissolved carbon dioxide in make up water can came minor shifts. A research grade pH meter calibrated with cer- tifled standards was used to test water sampb.

In conclusion, aquarliti can bà çucceÃ

with any of the materials, but understand what to expect from the selected and plan their schedule

Lonptenn drops in pH are due to the metabolism of food to nitrate, w hlch produces acid. Algae growth, on the other hand, uses nitrate and strips carbon dioxide (carbonic acid), and thus raises pH. Only systems with low animal densities and highdensltkof algae or other denltriflem will maintain higher pH values without special care.

Each aquarium was filled with saltwater and aerated an additional 24 hows at which time pH was checked. The fittrants were added, and samples were checked at 2 hours, 24 hours, and3 wçeks Instant Ocean salt and a popular German salt were examined.

There i s much discussion about what (s the proper pH. Generally, readings of 9.0 to 6.2, the natural ocean levels, are considered op- timal. Higher levels are not recommended because i f ammonia ts present I t is more toxic

It is obvious from the table that the two cor- at materials caused significant drops in pH, reaching 8.0 or len in 3 weeks with no biological loads. These represent drops of 0.3 to 0.5 units. Non-cakarewm flltranis (quartz and foam) and the control dropped by only 0.06 or less. The other flitranis caused Interrnedlake changes.

The Ultimate 11 Solution". . .

It Is important to place this information In- to perspective, and to & so a number of fa<- tore must be considered. No single filter material wil l be bet for all applications. Aesthetics, desired initial pH, .long lerm pH, and planned water quality maintenance must be considered.

Contains every essential element and trace element.

I Fast dissolving formula. htheticnily, coral sands and Puka shells are

the most natural look lng because of the shell Ñi coml fragments. Crushed coral Is similar, but wlth a bright whltà appearance. Products like dolomite and crushed oyter shell are generally dull and grey.

Ultra-blended for superior uniformity.

Regarding Initial pH. decrease* reported here have been confirmed by many hobbyists and I World's most popular

brand. shop owners who consistently encounter pH levekof 7.8-8.0 in new aqwriumawhen using çom materials. These leveh do not appear to bà hazardous. Long4erm pH and other water quality factors are much more significant.

; . Long-term pH control Involves a number of f, uartebtes: buffering In the salt water, buffering 'by fiitmnts, algae growth. fish load, feeding blevl, partial water charge schedule, and nrti-

Manufacturer of Instant ~cean*

1Ã Manufacturer of Instant Ocean

* Volume 3 I Summer

1986

ongevity of Marine Ttopicals The Nancy Aquarium

Francaha dKqunrldogte 9 (1982). 4 March 1, with a tar (*) In the tables were still on diwtoy

ical tanks at the Nancy Aquarium are all automated. They work lo*edsysttmwiththçAdditiono newcynthetJcseawaterby

This Reoo):Modftah (~ygollptes d~ac~iftm M bettn a guest at the Money Aquarium for 15 years.

came to Nancy on October 21,1967. The longest-surviving fish are Dascyffus cameus (10/21/67); FbiclpkKrfSauSsstmus 14/66); Arusetta &, Zebivsoma deslmdinU, Abwtefdrfstdascfalus, and Oascyttus maghatus (6/20/69k Amphiprfon

15/69); and Naso annutems (10/24/69). The last three species were ies represented by 8 families are the subject of the following tables

The natural-looking aquariums are more at- pH, and there I8 no nead for the protection mtve lhanlhowwithiterile-look& bleach- agalnit extremely low pH that carbonate ed or artificial decor, and many recent artid- flltranto provide. 1çnk contain only a thin layer

lection of marine aquariums shes from every tropical ocean usual ~ l e s , rarely available

existing happily among more s filled with lush

frequently, numerous In- g hard and soft corals,

s, anemones, and

and plank are all flourtÈhlna Con- so -1 that aloae. such as Caub

In popular aquarium publications have -zed the ¥o-cdk European "d look". However,uponreadingthooeanicteo,onecould easily reach the conclusion that ¥ud dlsptay are poMlble only through utilization of ¥dmnc ed technology that relies primarily on sophisticated filtration systems.

A vldt to thw public aquariums quickly dlçpel that notion. Both rely on conventional systems and regular partial water changes to maintain water quality.

dad sand, prinmlly lo-thdr natural appeam-

The mechanical and biological filtration functions are supplemented by the action of Ultraviolet (W units and efficient foam fmc- tlonotors (protein iklmmef). Both oquarlurm rely heavily on regular par-

tial water -to maintain water qudlty. At Nancy exchanges ore acmnplifhed by a "drip" method. Small quantities of unmed, synthetic sea water are metered to each lank continuous-

often overgrowthe tutka and must Filters conalst of Ample external chambm ty through an acUuitobte wlw. and the owflow Some small reproduce filled wlth a single medium to remove par. (rom the tank is dlwarded. The incoming flows so pbtl fd that they a n k t l c u ~ m n t t e r a n d p m i d t a I w g e s u ~ ~ a n h l ~ o r ~ k o & used as food for Bullwfly-Bnd fw growth of nitrifying bacteria. The Aquarium variation* in the populations, but average 40% aponaw. whkh areoften dlf- In Nancy uuea foam filter block*, and In Stut- each month.

a k i n for extended period*, tgart silica gravel la utilized. grow, and almoç overwhelm #m -exchangesat Stuttgartareacconnplbh-

Many aquarfsts would be critical of tee use ed In a more conventional manner by rwwv- of such materials in salt water, but recent Ing 10% of theold water each week, and replac- dktoture* about aomà of the detrimental ef- ing it wlth fmhiy prepared water. fects of carbonate flitranti Indicate that Inwt The diredois of both aquariums were que~- media, 11 ke foam or silica, may be preferable about the poçribil~ of ~ ~ i ~ t ~ ~ mtem* for use In ,yell-balanod lyaterns, like those In eliminate the need for water the Aquariums. Proper balance between plant and animal densltlua helps to maintain liable continued on page 3

Aquarium Systems, Inc., Mentor, Ohio - Printed I~ 'o&A.

The two Gwdphiaaps mn- were brought together in a tank of 8 cubic meters on 3/9/82 The firat occupant, which is rat her large, showed Interen in the new arrival with a dominance display followed by some pursuit, butnoÑrIouabahUe*.Thetwospecimenswer then foundfrom timetotime displaying toeach other with flared fin& The two Apdemlchthtis mlhumi which Bham the same tank and reared together since their acquisition (about 30 mm) show similar bçhavio to that of the Euxfohfoops. After If Introduction, thesecond E. ~Uiomefapw wu the subject of R sharp attack from a h c a n r t o p s sernfctrculalus.

(Cappçrban butterfly)

0"yramid feMlterfly1 Cfwetadm Swwia

/wtotoer Ionahstria was onlv a1 Nancv for 2 9 months, but ft didnot appear to be any more demanding in its cam than F. nauissimus.

The maximum longevity of a representative of the aenus Oraelodon Is 14% years for a C. lyfftesi-C. semtlamatus suivtved nearly 13 years and died accidentally when polluted fresh water was accidentally poured into I f tank. The C. eshippiwn (14 years) was the dominant one of a pair captured as a pair In nature. The less dominant fish died 10/5/77.

these c~osel~retated species (apparently hybrids from Palau) generally accept ground

This Long-nosed butterfly (Forclptger flavtsshus) is more than 18 years old. mumela. They hove a more or ten prolonged juvenile stage whkh la particularly dangerom to small ipeclmen= Those of TTKUfrif (50 mm total length)did not survivemwethan56days. but a large Individual of the mrne m e 8 (100 mm total length) lived a llttk more than 6 months (9rtfl6-3112ff7). On 9/1#9+ a juvwllc C me@ (60 mm), received from Mocninu, was Introduced into a tank confining varfous kinds of Modreporarians (stony corals)^ among which were Goniopom so, (brain corals), Ptemgwa sinnasa (bubble coral), P. shwosa ov. cutoffen* (bubble ml\ and TmchypbySSa geof- fro& The fish Immediately began to browse on die hc/iyp/iyf f la, which was eaten In several days. This food was rwflwed and w a conaum- ed equally (after about three wuekç with the chopped mussels. The animal also brow ftd on a wall of small anemones and later attacked -me Pferpgym stnuosd cutotfaa whkh waa totally destroyed, whereas the#? tffrluosa types were not touched. J.P. Chevalier wrote on thls mibfect: 'Â¥I Is rather curious that the ChaeSodm, moregifted Inclassificationthanthewotoglats, Is better able to distingulih between P. sin- and P. ailtrifem than anyome since Mattha! (1928), md dassiflw them In thesame way.% latter ~ à § c l e differs from the first only In that the radial elements <wm more pronounced. Per- tonally, 1 alç place cuttilfas with sin- Perhap there are other physiological criteria more trustworthy." Bçtwe time*, raw mussel wu taken (at least one per day), although Its

attractiveness w m lewd by cooking, made up the bulk of the food.

(Purple tur~i i f lÈh AWtSftw~aIvmfdc~ 11% W*

all to the usual

(ctwvron tang) to the adult path chevrons resolve Into fine lonoltudinal metallic blue-green), died after 10 y w n 2 month* (711t72-8/28/82). to sudden death, thenight,wasnotproceededby any and It Is possible that It was the trauma.

Darnstlflshes and Anemone flshes fbmacentdae

(Biae chromis) PaiaahtifWodon metes 1Ofyra. -

Scribbled angel (Chaetodontoplus dubouterfl, 12 years old.

Anbh angel (Afusetta asfw), 17 years old.

wiasses-Labrides I 12 yre.

'(African clown wrasse)

15 yra* I t yis.

Choemdon (LfenaideBa) fasciaius 14 yra*

ThaSassoma haidwichei

Triaaerfishes - Ballstidae 1

8. undulatus was offered to us by an amateur after about 1 year In an aquarium.

Puffers and porcuplneflshes Tetraodon!idae and Diodontldae

Chflomycterus orbicularts 15 y rs*

Amthmn stettatus 12 yrs. 11 vrs.

I

l o d t v was wlth hothmn

I acquired 7/18/68 and died 5/27/81 afttr becoming progressively weaker. As It was a specimen living In an aquarium almost two years before Its acquisition, at the date of Its

I death one can estimate the duration of its cap- tim life at fifteen yeam One Ami/iron died of an occlusion after 8 years at the aquarium.

I The C h ~ c t e r u s oittculwis still living Is

the male of a pair of which the female, acquired at the same time, spawned several times. Her last spawn, June 26,1980, at 5:00 pm, gum birth to a number of hy which survived a month on the nauplla of /Vtemta, before becoming vie- tlm of a rise In the nitrate level In the tank. The female died 10/13/80, In a weakened wn- &on with a distended abdomen from the last Jprnrn. Editor's Mote: The Aquarium at Nancy utilize*

' ItWIANT OCEAN SALT, excluçlvely I. A

changes, and both exprened similar sen- timent*. Such mttnu concern themselves with only a single &ponent of the water, auch as nitrate, and Ignore the possibilities of other changç that ~ n à § be occuiTlng. Water d1ange3 aretheonlywaytobecutalnthntdldetrtmen- tal components are being diluted, and 11 beneficial components are being replenished.

Lighting Is also an important factor, and again simple, conventional systems am employed effectively. In Stuttgart plastic W d - çd fluor#cent fixtures wi th "Dayttght" bulbs ore used. In Nancy. "Gro-Lux" fluorescent bulbs or tht equivalent are utilized exclusively, each tank bthg equipped with a bank of flw, &foot tubes, protected by an acrylic plate.

Light Intensity was higher at Nancy, and algal growth was correspondingly more extensive. At Stuttgart, aquarisu were experimenting wlth alternative, high intensity light lourn, and all agreed thai thevartobtes Involved In evaluating lighting made experimentation dlfficult.There appeared to be a correlation between light In- tensity and plant growth, but we are unable to comment on the spectral qualities of the various light m u m

In general, the moot Important observation that we made was the realization that the so- called '"European" style of aquarium is the result more of difference* In phlkxophy than in technology. Miniature reefs can be created and can flourish in system* that rely on slm- p k conventional flitration method& regular pafttel watu changes, and fluorescent lighting.

More Important than the technology, however, ia (he understand- ttut all of the Uv- Ing elements of such a system mult be in balance.Flihes,lnvenebrateçtdpton~mu bà chown with care to cofnollrnent wh other. FlahM, especially, must not dominate the aquarium à la frequently wen In America.

These public aquarium are museum* that think of their acqul*lt)onà a* addition* to their p f t n n ~ ~ n t collections. They po~eu =me of the oldest known captive marine ipeclincns. (See the ankle on Longevity of Fishe* In the Aouarium at Nancy, elsewhere In this lasue). H&e aqu&fku who are willing to adopt timllar phlloiophlea should be similarly ÈUCOMSftll

!f

Water Management Aids (Continued from Spring 1986 Issue)

Ozone Ozone Is a highly active molecule that reacts

readily with many organic compounds convert- Ing them to progressively smaller fragments. The end products ore relatively harmless - car- bon dioxide, water, and nllmte.

Ozone Is often used wlth foam fractionators to break large molecules Into smaller, charg- ed ones that are more readily strippwl, thus in- creasing the efficiency. For maximum safety, ozone treatment is frequently followed by ac- tivated carbon, which adsorbs many in- termediate reaction products, and also helps to neutralize any excess ozone, which is poten- tially harmful to fish.

Ozone is an excellent decolorizer it's action

to similar to that of bleach. Water treated wlth ozone should remain spnrkllng clear.

Ozone a h has ontl-palhogen -tea and is effective -it a wide ran* ofofganltrn*, Including the bacteria and protozoa that came ~ d w @ m d f l 8 h ~ , t k p f h w y e f . fectofo2on~J3on~tÑthÇtamnupÇ ed In the water, ç It has little effect on organha that have already infected the fish. Its u d u h la to piwent re-Infection, and thus ~ ~ t o ~ t k d k 8 8 t M t U m l ~

The main risk of ouuie u q e to that ex. c e ~ t v e amounts are dangeimu and capable of cawing MMM injury, and wen dmh to aquarium animal& Mwuhctuicf'a liutmctions forwodozone~torsshouldbebl - lowed closely because there is no convenient method of monitoring concentmtiom In the aq-a

Ultraviolet Sterilizers Ultraviolet (UV) sterillzllon unlu emit high energy light radiation that la deadly to many mlm-organiania. Thdr efhctivnes* to a func- tlon of numerous facton, nwk noUbly. power of the lamp, temperature of the lamp, çxpomu time of the water, turbidity (doudiiw) of the water, cleanllne~s of the lamp slççv çn size of the orgnnlms exposed to the light.

UV units ore m a t effective agolast tbe mallest organisms, such as bacteria, and teas effective against larger organtoma, such u pro- tozoa. Still larger organism*. such m ccpepods and other small crustacean*. art almost corn- pletely unaffected by the exposure likely to be encountered from aquarium units.

The term "Untrwlotet sterillier" Is a bit of a misnomer, became an aquarium wi l l never become truly sterile. W units may restrict growth of certain dl- causing organism?, but they do not eliminate them.

If fish ere strewed, there is always the possibility of disease, even when (IV units are In me.

Summary [to water management aid is a d ' T h e r e

IsnoproductoroMBblnatlonofproductsthat eliminates the need for attention to water qual- lty, which should be die ftrxt priority of every ¥quartet

Regular partial water changes are the most

I m p o r means of mahitAining water qml-

Ity. rea>çchaiwathatoccurinclose

excessive compounds, thus imbalances we avoided.

Waiter management aids serve a useful put- poaà in supplementing, or extending the benefits derived from the pnrtlal water change*. They may allow a slightly greater margin of u- mr than would otherwise be poÑibte or perhaps the Interval between water change* may be extended without seflou* come. quence*.

Reducing conoentratlon* of dtemtved organic subxtenoubymeofactivatedcaibon,otherad* sorbenu, or foam fractlo~tore is undeniably of benefit. Reduction of potentially path-ic organisms by use of ozone or Ultraviolet mdta- tton Is also of proven value. But ftfnçmbtr nothing will el lmlnate problem* completely.

Water management aids are nothing more than methods for Improving chances for sue- ces& They can never Insure success. A

DIM-reading temperature adjustment eliminates guesswork during Installation with a unique, easy-to- read. thermometer-style presetting scale.

Internal, double seal makes unit fully submersible and absolutely waterproof without the need for a bother- some rubber cap over the adjustment system.

Completely redesigned heating element support system reduces weight and improves efficiency.

Fast-actIng, magnetic switching is virtually unsur- passed for accuracy of temperature control.

50,75, and 100 watt - 10 Inch length. 150 and 200 watt - 12 inch length.

few s a l t w a t e r

b n a Coral Reef

Many of us would love to swim through I reef, dazed by the colors, while ex-

rd to travel around the world, to "Tahiti,

tural coral reefs.

Volume 3 Fa1 1

1986 u

ble "fankmates

((mates. This Is a very basic pojnt, but it is

pped with specialized teeth that can crunch through the most heavily-armored crustacean-

The best alternative Is to grow one's own coral reef. Many desirable reef species have evolved through eons and have adapted to life in certain specific water conditions. One cannot expect most of these species to survive If maintained in unnatural conditions. Yet, by consider- Ing the needs of the organisms, and us- Ing environmental simulation, an ex- perlenced marine aquarlst can reproduce a coral reef environment in a home aquarium. To design or simulate a nonflexible reef

environment in an aquarium, one must first choose which of two general categories will be reproduced, deep water or shallow water.

The deep water part of a coral reef may vary from 50 to 300 feet In depth. Many Asian species seem well suited to deep water conditions such as mild blue light, clean moving salt water, with lots of crush- ed coral, and with little water agitation. We

can duplicate these conditions in: an aquarium as small as 15 gallons. It should be Riled with several inches of clean crushed coral placed over a s u h d filter, to simulate the reef floor where lots of car- at and crushed'coral mineralize the water and protect against any extremepH drops. Two external power filters with filter

floss, and three airstones will provide water movement and aeration. Good Ultra- tion will help to avoid water stagnation and to remove organic materials. The aerators should produce a light foam on the water surface,

Sheets of nonflexfble blue plastic from a department store, when cut to size and placed over the top of the tank, will filter tank light and produce the blue found in the ocean depths. Deep water species are adapted to live in weak light and may develop the light related disease Photosyndrosis If exposed to even normal

continued on page 3

@I986 Aquarium Systems, Inc., Mentor. Ohio - Printed in USA.

Advice on Selection of Aquarium Heaters As winter approaches the problem of

maintaining proper temperature In tropical aquariums must be considered. In homes with air conditioning, the need to maintain suitable temperatures in aquariums may exist throughout the year. The question of what Is the most suitable size and type of heater Is often asked, but is frequently poorly answered.

For many years the only heaters available were the partial immersion type that were hung on the edge of the aquarium. Many were not sealed against moisture, such as spray from aerators, and frequently caused shocks even If they were unbroken. They inkerferred wlth most hoods, often requiring modifications, and required a constant, high water level. If evaporation allowed the water level to drop below the internal thermostat, the heater would sense only the room temperature and continue heating until the fishes were "cooked".

Some of these problems were avoided by the development of total Immersion heatera. Typically, the top of the glass tube of such a heater was covered with a water- proof plastic cap that seated the unit. This cap also covered the temperature adjust- ment stem, and many aquaria found that squeezing through the plastic cover to holdand turn the knob inside was difficult and annoying.

Both of these older styles have another limitation. In order to set the desired temperature, a series of trial and error ad- Justments are needed. The heater must be installed and watched until the desired temperature is reached, then adjusted un- til the indicator light just comes on or goes off. Because of the time It takes for a body of water to equilibrate, numerous adjustments over many hours are usual- I y necessary.

The new Marine ~ e s i ~ n ^ Vial- ~ h e r r n ' ~ aquarium heater from Aquarium Systems uses a newly design to solve ell of these pro rend ]ems.

Internal seals eliminate the need for an external second rubber cap and allow direct and easy turning of the adjustment stem. The unit has a thermometer-style thermostat that is precalfbmted so the aquarlst can pre-set the desired temperature quickly and easily. It has both Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales so conversion tables are not necessary and, of course, has an indicator light to tell when the unit is heating. Unlike older designs, maximum and minimum stops prevent accidental adjustment to dangerous levels below 65OF or above W°F - -

The ~isi-Themm automatic aquarium heater is an ideal choice for all situations that require both convenience and reliability.

Once the decision to purchase a par- ticular style of heater has been made, the aquarlst must decide what size of heater i s needed. Many tube lengths are available, but the important factor is the wattage of the heating element.

Here is a case where bigger Is not necessarily better. Certainly on a cost per watt basis, the larger units are less expen- sive. However, other factors are often overlooked. The normal life expectancy of a heater should be many years, but Is somewhat dependent on the number of heating cycles that the unit experiences. Frequent cycling decreases a heater's useful life. This situation is typical where a large heater is installed in a small aquarium. A properly sized heater will run longer each time it is on, cycle less fre- quently, and have a longer life expectancy.

Secondly, i f an oversized heater Is used and malfunctions while the heater is on, the water can heat to dangerous temperatures in a short time. A properly sized unit ma never reach a critical level, or at least ta i; much longer to do so.

As an example, consider a 75 gallon aquarium equipped wlth a 75 watt heater in a room where the ambient temperature is 72 OF. The heater Is set for 76OF. a dif- ference of 4*F, and maintains that temperature by heating 50% of the time. Then, by crude extrapolation, if the unit heated 100% of the time, the aquarium would be heated to about 8 O F abw room temperature, or 80°F The same aquarium with a 150 watt heater running constantly would theoretically heat to 16'F above room temperature, or 88*F, which is quite stressful, and a 200 watt could exceed 93 OF, and would probably result in the loss of the aquarium in- habitants as well.

Finally, presettable heaters, with calibrated thermostats are adjusted for normal aquarium conditions. Use of an over-sized heater can result in temperatures running l o to 2 O F higher than the set temperature. In this case an adjustment will be necessary to compen- sate for the differential.

Calculating exact wattage requirements Is generally not practical or necessary. There are several other factors that affect the heat budget of an aquarium, including airflow In the room, hood design, heat from lights and pu etc. However, the T accompanying grap for Approximate Heater Requirements can be used as a general guide. It is based on standard glass aquariums at three ranges of temperature differentials.

Consider a 50 gallon aquarium in a home that Is normally kept at 70° while

* , *r-' .

wft coral (Dendmnephthya ap) fm New Guinea.

The tank should have the back

In conclusion, by properly sizing the heater to the aquarium and normal con- ditions, the life of the healer can be great- ly extended and, at the same time. pro-

ht down to the wattage scale sug- vide a margin of safety for the inhabitants a 100 watt heater. Other situations - a double swings. A

ocean with unlimited water, encourages bacteria growth to which many In- vertebrate reef species, such as coral, have no resistance,

Feeding in these tanks for the in- vertebrates Is best done with liquid nutrients or very slight amounts or siev- ed baby brine shrimp or other microscopically small foods. The really adventurous can try feeding small amounts of blood from fresh liver.

Overfeeding encourages corals to ex- tend their tentacles and look alive, but one may quickly find that the scum developing around the tank attacks and kills many species. An Infection is usual. ly a whitish film on a coral, that spreads from day to day leaving dead material behind. The Infection Is best treated with Chloramphenical which can stop tnfec- tions In progress. Water changes will help prevent infectlon& Changing 25% of the water every 3-4 weeks is usually adequate.

Temperature in either the deep or shallow water environment should be kept In the 65.79 degree range, but should be iairly constant The deeper water corals will tend to prefer cooler waters.

The lank can contain dead coral to enhance its beauty, and to allow new growth a place In which to root What eventually grows on the dead coral or tank sides depends on what organisms and lar- vac are on the rocks and corals that you purchase.

Most corals, live rocks, sponges, and other Invertebrates that are purchased In

marine pet shops, originate in the Pacific Ocean. They are gathered by collectors and transported to wholesalers who ship them to your local supplier. In many In- stances one can obtain the specific coral desired. In other instances a particular specimen may include other animals or their larvae which spread themselves around the tank and grow on the dead coral.

The new growth usually begins within 60-90 days, and typically appears on the bottom of objects away from the light Many of these growths can only be seen w e m i n e d with a field stage microscope. The first species to become visible to the eye will probably be either a primitive sponge or a inkish coral known as Stylasterenia f here will be many unidentifiable and odd things that grow and then vanish while others grow and spread. Over a period of years this new growth will colonize and adapt to your tank to form a living reef.

Except for minor maintenance and feeding, your reef is designed to be left alone lo grow. Growth isn't fast or sudden but, none the less, the specimens you buy will provide many hours of enjoyment, and there Is always the excitement of try- ing to identify what a particular growth will become.

The mystery, beauty, and fascination of a reef can be in your home and with s minimum of effort you can own a piece of Tahiti to vlsit anytime you like.&

Editor's Note: This article was written in 1980, well before the himduction of sophisticated "miniature red" systems, It was based on successes the author achteu- ed in maintaining the Urn described en- Dimnments. It dwnaiicaffy (ffusfnates that exciting results can be obtained with even simple systems,

Colonial coral (Tuhstiva 1enullameUosa)

LuckHy, most aquarium ftohea pose no danger to decapod crustaceans. The foliowing ls-Ã paitlatibt of the families of fish that aeneftilly do well with ctusta- ceawe Mooriak'tdols <Zandfctoe), butter- fly and anplftshts (ChaetodonUdae), anemoneftehex and &maelfishes (Amu- coJdftidae). surgeonflshes or tangs {Aeon-

iJawflshes( \ at- nd bes ( A p o x o b i e s n

-&cia& seahorses and tpeflshea (Sbwiatfltlacb mal l WraÈesl~abrictae) sad ribbon eels. If your community tank Includes small fishes, tt is best to consider only the smaller crustaceans as

L

tankmatea Some fishes cannot be categorized so

easily. For example, many sea bass or ), such as the Golden

&-:wT-kb s~~~~ are wiy aggrÑlv feeders that wiU attack anything t ey can swallow, while others like the Spotted Panther grouper (OireÈmitepte aiteuelts) are relatively docfie and do fine with crustaceans. And the brightly-colored sea perches (An+ lhffnae) and basslçt (Bwmnfdae) - smallest of all groupers - make excellent tankmates for the smaller crustaceans. This Includes the Royal Gmmma ( G m - ma lorelo), the Blackcap basslet (Mdacwa), and related species.

Uonfishes are much the same. The smaller species (Ptemts mdtata. Den- dmchirus zebm, etc.) make good neighbors for crustaceans, whereas mature Individuals of the larger species (Plerois d l a n s and P. Iwulala) can sometimes be a problem. They are among the few fishes that occasionally prey on cleaner shrimp

As for crustaceans themselves, the aquaria must beware of two groups of crabs - swimming crabs and box crabs. Swimming crabs, such as thq Blue cmh are extremely aggressive predators. They con be recognized by their last pair of legs, which are flattened intopaddlesfoT Swtm- rnlng. and they must be avoided at all

i costs. Secondly, large box crabs, k sometimes called "shame-faced" crabs,

should be avoided. They specialize in f feeding on mollusks and hermit crabs,

and are accordingly equipped with a pair of mftssfve, powerful claws (hat they use to rip apart the shells of their victims.

s

4

I

stone crabs (Menfop s p ) fall into the same category, and should likewise be shunned. A notable exception is the col- orful Calico crab (Hepatus ephellltcus) whkh oo-exists peacefully with most other crustaceans. Of course, large lobsters of all kinds are

unsuitable for the community tank. Whether they are clawed lobsters (Homarus, Hephmps), spiny lobsters (hnutlrus, Pallnwus, andJa&susl. or slip per lobsters, these brutes will devour any specimens they can overpower. The slug- gish slipper lobsters (ScyHaridae) are the least destructive of the three types. But even these baby bulldozers can catch a fish or a shrimp while it is sleeping on the bottom.

Although marine snails, scallops, an die like a n generally good ne tahborafc &cap& there is one class o mollush that Is the deadly enemy of cnistacean: This Is the class Cqh&poda, of whk the octopus is the worst offender. The sc called devilfish Is an incredibly lnklligen aggresh caml~~re, and cmstaceansai the food it prefers above all else. Cteari the two cannot be kept together in til same aquarium unless the crustacean are Intended as food for the octopus. Th same holds true for squid and cuttleflsl

Betides providing them with cornpat ble tankmates, there is one other bosl rule to follow when keeping crustacear - the smaller the better. The larger crustacean Is, the more aggressive an

Selection of Crustacean lankmates

- Urnfishes (L-.+) Swimming Crabs Box cnbs Stone Crabs Mantis Shrimps CImwd Lobsters Spiny Lobsters Slipper Lobster* Octopus Squid & Cuuleflih

Large mantis shrimp (Squffla, Lystos- quSSa. Oriontodacty!us. etc.) present a for- midable threat to their tanhmates, in- eluding other crustaceans. The last pair of mouthparts of these shrimp has developed into razor-sha~ raptorial ap- penda es used for hunting their pray. ~esembling switch-blade knives with saw toothed blades, they can slash a finger or slice a small ftoh in two. Striking with lightning speed, mnUs shrimp are sur- prisingly erce predators that have earned the name "thumb-splitters" from commercial shrimpera. Needless to say, these destructive diggers could destroy a peaceful community.-

With the exception of mantis shrimp, virtually all of the other commonly available shrimp can safely be kept with other decapod* fishes. and invertebrates. This Includes the Banded Coral shrimp (Stenopus h b p W s } . Scarlet Cleaner shrimp fttismata gmbhamh, Blood shrimp or Peppennlnt shrimp (Lysmata wr- dernonnO, Petereon's Cleaner shrimp (PertcSSmenes peterson4 Purple-Spotted Anemone shrimp {Pertcttmenes yucata- nfcusk Harlequin shdm {Hymenocerous pfcta) Camel shrimp (&ftcftodnlw sp), and many others. Hymenocerous pkta feeds strictly on starfish, and must, therefore, be restricted to invertebrate tanks that do not contain these echtnoderma, except for feeding purposes.

As for other Invertebrates, decapods will get along well with most of the commonly-kept species. Anemones, bivalve and univalve mollusks. feather dusters and tubeworms, sea urchins and starfishes of all kinds are suitable tankmates for crustaceans.

I Corn pati ble butterfly Fishes Arigelflshes Antmonetbhes QuMeiflth~ Surgeon Fishern Jçwflmtw Cordlmtfish~ Gables Sea horses Pipefishes w f a w s (Snail)

destructive it is likely to be. An overgrow crab or lobster can do an unbelievabl amount of damage Inadvertently, just b excavating grovel, overturning coca uprooting sub-sand fitter late% and & forth. So try to select m a f ler specimen for your community tank.

Above all, remember that selectin compatible tankmates for crustaceans i largely a matter of common sew. A long as you keep them with suitable con panions and protect them when they rnol crustaceans are very hardy, and It Is nc unusual for them to live out their natun life spans In a well-maintained aquarhm

am welcomed. They should deal with pertinent marine aquntum looks çn we iubm to editorial reviews tbt k* our opinion are neceaswy. Payment w f t be made at existing raiMandwillcoweranMtfaof'arightstothe material submitted.

SçftStOp is p u b W quarterly for fne dlstrlbuttoAthroughtoolaquariumditen. Deikra not feo~ivhig copies of Seasoope for distribution to their customers should oil Aquarium Syaterns Ide. to be addM to tkÃ

IteL luqhle l-80frÈ22-iro0(4nQhf call1-800.822- 130(9. AquariSU toftteoed te recçlvin copies directly fhoytd Serol &dl irmemdaddreo. abngwith41JÈforpaaÈ and handling (bur luues) to: SeÈS<ope 4 w r h SyBtenwJnc, 8141 Wer Bfcd, Mw- tor, OH 44060. Addrew comments, questions and sugaçÈllo tec Thomu FnAw, Editor.