Brett’s Reef

I just came back from my brothers wedding up in conneticut and while I was there I had the oppurtunity to check out the Mystic aquarium. For the next few blogs I will be posting video along with pictures of there awsome saltwater reef tanks and there various sea creatures. This video is of red jellyfish.

  The Algae Codium Fragile as pictured above and below is a species of algae that we sometimes come across in our marine reef tanks.  There are other names for this type of algae such as dead man’s hands or dead man’s fingers.  This is a slow growing algae in my reef tank and it only shows up when the water conditions are very good.  When I see this algae start to grow I can tell that my other algae’s such as Halimeda will soon sprout and grow as well.  Right now I am letting this algae grow even though it is considered a nuisance algae becouse there is a galaxy coral right on top of it.  Nether the galaxy coral or the codium fragile seem to be effected by one another.  I would assume that this would make a good algae to have in a refuge because of its slow growing nature and its “hairy” tentacles may appeal to pods.

  
  Before choosing a salt water tank or tanks there are many things to consider.  The variety of the building material, designs, sizes and price range are somewhat intimidating at first.  Most if not all reef aquarium owners would say to buy the biggest one you can afford and in some respect they are right.

  Owning a big salt water tank is a risky venture for the beginning reef aquarist.  The initial expense is huge and to maintain a large salt water tank takes patience and a well thought out plan.  Many beginning reefers should read and study the hobby before making such a purchase.  So then why do the more experienced reef keepers suggest that the beginners buy larger salt water tanks?  The answer is simple, because bad things will happen slower to a bigger reef tank thus allowing the reefkeeper to make proper adjustments before the tank crashes, such as water quality issues.

  One could go the smaller route and own a very nice nano-reef aquarium.  These smaller salt water tanks are extremely difficult to maintain. Water quality, temperature and nutrients could go out of hand very fast resulting in a tank crash and the loss of the aquarium.

  So know that you consider the size of your salt water tank, you need to take into consideration the material and design of the salt water tank.  As of right now you could go with a glass aquarium or an acrylic aquarium.  The decision is up to the reefkeeper, but lets take a look at some of the pros and cons of these two salt water tanks.

The Glass Aquarium:

1. Generally cheaper then the acrylic aquarium.

2. Glass Aquariums are more resistant to scratches then acrylic aquariums.

3. Glass is heavy, a pain to move if its really big and needs a well constructed stand to handle its weight.

The Acrylic Aquarium:

1.  Weighs less then glass, which then in turn helps with shipping if purchased online.

2.  Less resistant to breaks.

3.  Can be made into nearly any shape if you find the right aquarium maker.

  After you choose what material you want your salt water tank to be you need to figure out if you want to have a bowfront, a regular box or another shape you can think of.  Proper planning and research of your reef’s fish and corals will help you choose what size salt water tank and its design.

  If you are new to salt water tanks and reef aquariums then I suggest you read this article on How to Set up a Marine Reef Aquarium.

   One of the most easiest corals to grow and take care of in a saltwater reef aquarium is the green or brown star polyps or if you want to get scientific, Pachyclavularia (genus).  These corals are considered a beginners coral, they can be very forgiving when it comes to poor water quality.  The star polyps are also very tolerant of both low light and intense light as well and are very tolerant of a wide range of current.  These corals should be kept at normal saltwater reef tank parameters.

   These corals do not need any additional dosing other then your weekly water change but can be sensitive to to some phosphate removing sponges (the ones that use aluminum oxide).  In my experience as with other soft corals they seem to like a little bit of phosphate in the water however so does nuisance algae.  You also do not have to directly feed star polyps, they are photosynthetic creatures that do not require additional feeding provided that you have ample lighting.

   Green and Brown star polyps are often fast growing corals that are easy to propagate.  The easiest method for this is to let them grow on top of rubble rock and then break or cut the piece of coral that grew on top of the rubble.  I currently have five colonies spread throughout my reef tank just by using the above method. 

  Obtaining star polyps as you can imagine, is an easy task.  You can find these corals at any reef club, ebay, or on online forums.  The cheapest way is to simply go to a reef club and ask for a couple of frags, usually if you are starting out other reefers will give you a frag or two.  Buyer beware though, some online sites demand up to thirty dollars for a frag of star polyps that is only one to two inches big. 

Video’s of Brett’s reef are coming to Brett’s Reef! This video is of my percula clownfish doing what she does best, frolicking in her anemone. The other saltwater fish that you see in the video is a blue damsel. I have had the clownfish and anemone for just about 5 years now and the Brettsreef banner that you see on the top of the page is the same clownfish and anemone that is featured in the video. Enjoy!