Snorkel Bob’s Attack on the Aquarium Hobby
Very recently, Robert Wintner (aka Snorkel Bob) unleashed his furry on the aquarium industry, or as he refers to it, the “Dark Hobby”. In a long-winded editorial piece published on the SeaShepherd.org website, Wintner slams the aquarium hobby, claiming it is not sustainable and has a devastating impact on wild reefs. He even makes the [...]
The New ORA Acropora Solitaryensis
Just in time for MACNA, ORA has announced that they will be releasing a brand new coral…the ORA Acropora solitaryensis. This coral has apparently taken several years to develop before ORA was ready to take it public. A. solitaryensis is a notoriously slow grower, but it more than makes up for that with its beauty. [...]
Picture of the Week – 8/30 – 9/5
This week’s Picture of the Week is a two part entry… Photograph taken with a Canon XSi with the stock EF-S 18-55mm lens Photograph taken with Canon XSi with 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens. This week’s entry is of a Radioactive Dragon Eye Zoanthid frag that I picked up from a local fish store. The first [...]
Unique Blue Hippo Tang at LFS
Unlike last weekend’s trip to the LFS, this recent trip proved to be a bit more successful. I ventured into All About Fish, a local store that is absolutely immaculate and has some of the healthiest livestock in the area. I made the usual rounds, looking into every single tank in the shop. I was [...]
Feeding Your Harlequin Filefish
A friend from a local aquarium club has recently had quite a bit of success with a pair of Harlequin Filefish, and he wanted to share his adventure. The bonded pair was purchased from LiveAquaria, one of our favorite online livestock retailers. The usually finicky eaters were then coaxed into taking prepared foods. This was [...]
Coral Bleaching Video
Here’s a great video describing coral bleaching. Of course it’s a simplified description of a bleaching event, but it’s very informative. Zooxanthellae, a symbiotic algae, take up residence in a coral for protection and a place in which they can soak up sunlight for photosynthesis. In return, the coral receives vital nutrients which are needed [...]
Picture of the Week – 8/23 – 8/29
Here’s a macro shot of an Amphiprion ocellaris clownfish. This shot was particularly hard to take, as I wasn’t using a tripod and I had a 100mm macro lens on the camera. Luckily, the fish was being very still, though it still took me several shots just to get a decent one. The Ocellaris clownfish, [...]
Frustrating Picture Taking at the LFS
Today was one of those days. I was at the pet store trying to take some pictures and nothing seemed to be going right. The store was packed full of people, I left my tripod at home, and I couldn’t get any clear shots. The light levels in the tanks were very low, causing my [...]
Not Even Lionfish are Safe from Predators
Despite their venomous spines and flamboyant warning coloration, lionfish are not completely safe from predators. They don’t have very many predators in the wild, but there are a few fish that have figured out how to eat them. Juvenile lionfish are, like most juvenile fish, very susceptible to predation. But not even an adult lionfish [...]
Ridding Your Tank of Nuisance Corals
As a beginner reef keeper, the thought about corals growing to nuisance levels may never cross your mind. As you hone your skills as an aquarist and your reef matures, some of the corals that you bought as a “newbie” might become a nuisance. Most new aquarium hobbyists would kill for fast growing corals, but [...]
