2014-06-01 Species Spotlight- Desjardini Tang

Tangs, or surgeon fish, are among the most popular for community reef tanks. Not only most of them do not grow of an exceedingly large size, they are beautiful, mostly hardly, and also utilitarian since they are algae grazers in nature and does not harm invertebrates or corals.

If one asks for my opinion on the most beautiful tang in the world, there is no doubt my answer will be Desjardini Tang (Zebrasoma Desjardini), also known as the Redsea Sailfin tang.

They can sometimes be confused with their closely related cousin, the Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma Veriferum). However, upon close examination, you can see they are distinctively different, especially as they age. Here are a couple links to general information and a sample photo for comparison:

Desjardini: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product

Sailfin: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product

Like all other tangs in the Zebrasoma family, this fish is very hardy, active, and display lots of personality. However, you should also follow the general rule for tangs- do not keep multiple of them unless they are introduced at the same time, and also that there is adequate room for multiple- which comes the catch for this fish- they get BIG.

Among the commonly available surgeon fish for sale in the North American aquaria, this fish definitely ranks among the top 5 in adult size (among the larger tangs in the trade: Vlamingi, Naso, Sohal, Clown, and Orange Shoulder Tangs) The Desjardini Tang can reach up to a foot and a half in length. And when this fish fully extends its dorsal and anal fins, it is the tallest Tang in the trade (see illustration below)

For the sake of its size, please do not consider housing this fish unless your tank is at least 120Gallon (with lighter bio load), and no smaller than 180 gallon if you plan a fish-packed tank.

Besides full-reef quality water parameters, you must also provide ample vegetable matter for this herbivore to dine on (warning, you might hear many reef hobbyists suggest clipping terrestrial vegetable such as lettuce for tangs to eat, this might actually harm them as land vegetables are far less nutritious in the amount of mineral and amino acid their marine counterparts contain). 

Also you do not need to spend big money purchasing marine algae to clip on like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product

Just visit a local Asian grocery store and puchase the Nori (seaweed) sheets used for sushi wraps. It's the exact same stuff but 10 times cheeper.

Feeding time

Feeding time at my tank!
First I want to describe my fish food: fresh headless shrimp + Swordfish + red seaweed all blended together, then add in Selcon, rotifer, phytoplankton, mysis shrimp, spiraling enriched brine shrimp, plankton, all mixed then frozen in ice cubes.

When I feed, this food is so rich in protein I must turn the skimmer off for at least 12 hours before turning it back on! Ever since I began this diet all the coral's growth rate has tripled and fish became so wide they have a hard time squeeze through the rock cracks!

2014-05-09 Species spotlight- Macro algae

Macro-algae, it's actually kind of a cool word!
So we hear a LOT about macro algae, just what's the big deal?
Well, algae, to be specific, phytoplankton is the most abundant living creature in the world. It basically is responsible for sustaining the entire marine eco-system, in term, sustain the entire world's life. Phytoplankton is mono cellular and thus are known as micro algae.
in contrast, algae that forms sustainable size are known as macro algae; or commonly known as seaweed

Seaweed comes in more species than anyone realize as it is grown in ALL coastal areas around the world in all climates. Because it is fast growing, richly nutritious, and easily accessible, it is also a major food source for creatures both aquatic and terrestrial- including human.
Also because it is fast growing, it has the ability to absorb excessive nutrient and waste from the surrounding water, acting as a filter or water purification machine for the coastal area. And because of its complex texture and formation, it can be a safe haven for many creatures to take refuge.

Some of the most commonly known macro algae in the marine aquarium trade are chaetomorpha, caulerpa sp, and gracilaria sp. I have experience of housing one or more species of them (including all of the above) at one point or another. While chaetomorpha is fast growing and easy to arrange since it does not root, it isn't very visually pleasing. Caulerpa and gracilaria are relatively cute but they can root in both rock and sand, and become quite a pest once they begin to grow like wildfire in the refugium. So I began to look for inexpensive, easy to maintain, fast growing, yet visually pleasing substitute: I found the red cryptonemia.
When housed in a tight space, this plan will continue to grow at a fast rate but form a tight clump. As soon as you provide more room, it will then loosen up and being to expand. It does not root so they are very easy to deal with when you need to remove excessive growth or to separate them for propagation. And lastly, they have this bright red color that's just unique from most other commonly available species.