| From: "Smokey Sturtevant" To: leroy@garf.org Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 02:13:04 -0700 Subject: Corals X-User-Info: 172.183.87.182 Greetings Leroy and Sally
Jo, Take Care, |
| Dear AZA Research Partners, Thank you again for your continued efforts in the Symbiodinium study. We have processed and analyzed your first group of shipped samples. Following is a brief progress report for the current AZA Symbiodinium study. This report contains a brief review of the methods used in this study; an explanation of the data found your previously forwarded Excel spreadsheets, and a list of suggested readings. Once the samples arrive at the NY Aquarium, the live samples you send are labeled, accessioned, and placed in culture for future Symbiodinium studies. The Symbiodinium from the preserved samples you shipped are extracted from the coral host with an airbrush (to blast the coral tissue off the skeleton) and a centrifuge (to help separate the cells from- for example- the denser bits of loose skeleton). Then, we work the samples through a series of- primarily- chemical steps (e.g. organic extractions, alcohol washes, enzyme reactions, etc.) which result in- mostly- isolated Symbiodinium DNA. Next, the Symbiodinium DNA is taken through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) which make millions of copies of one particular gene, the large subunit (28s-like) rDNA gene (common in all known Symbiodinium types). Next, a procedure called restriction fragment length polymorphism (RPLF) analysis is performed. The PCR products are digested into smaller pieces with restriction enzymes (TaqI and HhaI).They are then carried through agarose gel electrophoresis, which separates the various pieces of DNA, by their sizes. The resulting RFLP pattern of DNA bands, tagged with a chemical stain in the gel, is photographed under UV light. The gene from each Symbiodinium type (A, B, C, D, etc.) is digested in a different way by the restriction enzymes and therefore produces a characteristic pattern or 'DNA footprint' on the gel (observed in the aforementioned photograph). |
| From: "YI, SU I [AG/2001]" To: "'leroy@garf.org'" Subject: Customer service Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 13:17:48 -0500 I just wanted to write and thank all of you for your great customer service. I recently had a shipment that didn't get to me for two days due to DHL having mechanical problems at one of their stops. When I receved my shipment, all of the bags were very warm and by the next day I had lost almost half of what I ordered. I called in the morning and Leonel was kind enough to resend everything that I had lost. In fact on one of the plugs, there was a zoanthid that I had wanted that was in several of your pictures. Just getting that single polyp made my day. This has been my 3rd order not including the last reshipment and I have been very happy with everything I have received. I have more variety in my 2 small 5 gallons than my local pet store has in his 2 125 gallon reef tanks. Thanks again and I'll be sending some pictures soon! Su, Ankeny, IA |
| Delivered-To: algae-garf-leroy@garf.org X-Lotus-FromDomain: CORPORATE To: leroy@garf.org Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 12:54:07 -0500 Subject: Reef Janitors Hi, I just wanted to send a note
and tell you how glad I am that I purchased some reef Terry Otis Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 22:23:04 -0600 From: "Peter Laskaris" Subject: Re: algae bloom >Hello >I recently started a 90 gal reef tank >I used about 2inches of aragonite sand, 10lbs garf grunge, 45lbs of cured live rock, 75 > mixed snails, 60 mixed hermit crabs, 2 powerheads, and a sump which acts as a 3rd > powerhead >the tank has been set up for about 2 weeks and I haven't seen a sign of an algae bloom >I find this amazing since I havent used a protein skimmer in my past experience I had > noticed that my corals do better in a system without a skimmer >do you think I will have or have a chance of an algae bloom? thanks >Peter Laskaris Hello, You did right the first time and any algae that started was eaten by the organisms in the grunge and the Janitors. You are in for smooth sailing. We often do not use skimmers for about six to eight months, and then we use a small SeaClone from Aquarium Systems. Thank you so much. LeRoy Headlee Director of Research Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation http://www.garf.org 800-600-6163 ------------------------- Delivered-To: leroy@garf.org I experienced a severe algae problem in my 45 gallon
mixed reef in late 1998. I battled the My boyfriend heard about GARF from a bulletin board
and suggested I take a look. After removing the blue-legged hermits, I had your
crew shipped to my office and took an I am working part time in my LFS and am the
"go-to" person for our customers with hair Once again, many thanks for the great service and for getting my tank turned around. Shannon Baxter |