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DESIGNING A CUSTOM PLYWOOD BROODSTOCK REEF AQUARIUM
AQUARIUM CONTEST RULES
ZOANTHID COLLECTION JULY1998

ISSUE # 19 page 3 JULY 1998

Welcome to page three - you can find out how to build that room divider 300 gallon reef you always wanted in the first article. Join our aquarium contest and be the first to send in an entry and you WILL win. We will share some of our research on the large family of Zoanthids in the second article. These are just some of the Zoanthids we have in our genetic bank and we are always looking for more.
Enjoy this page and we will start on the next issue.

DESIGNING A CUSTOM PLYWOOD BROODSTOCK REEF AQUARIUM
And the great aquarium contest

This month we will explain how you can design a 200 to 300 gallon reef aquarium. The tank we were asked to write about is for one of our great Texas customers. He wants to build a large 8 foot long reef as a room divider. The aquarium will be viewed from both rooms. The aquarium will 8 feet long 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. This will be a good live rock tank because it will have a large bottom area to stack the reef on.

This aquarium is going to be finished in 1/4 inch thick oak plywood that is finished with satin varnish. The inside cuts for the front and back glass will be finished in oak laminate so they will be water proof. Any spills on the glass will be easy to wipe up.

The laminate will be put on first and the oak plywood will be routered to make it easy for us to make a custom shape for the front glass.

This aquarium will be made of 3/4 inch exterior plywood. Two special things will be done because this is a very large aquarium. We will use a double bottom and we will use two removable braces on the top of the reef. These braces will be made from 3/4 plywood. They will be painted on all sides and then they will attached with wood screws. The most important thing we will do on this reef is the use of 3/8 inch tempered glass. We want this reef to be child safe.

You can use these plans to make any size aquarium you want as long as you make the frame strong enough. We use a powder glue that is mixed with water when you are ready to use it. Any waterproof wood glue will work fine. The important thing to remember is that the wood screws are used to hold the frame together until the glue dries. The glue is very important so you do not want to use too little. Wipe off all the glue that sqeezes out as soon as you can.

The first person who sends me a set of pictures and a detailed cost for a large aquarium will win a $100.00 prize. All other entries will be entered in our Aquarium contest and each semester we will give the most detailed entry a $100.00 prize.

AQUARIUM CONTEST RULES
1. Build an aquarium and take detailed photos of the project
2. Keep a log of the costs.
3. Send in the pictures and the log .
4. If you enter you WILL win a prize:)
5. The first entry WILL WIN a $100.00 GARF gift certificate good for any products we sell.
6. Any photos used will be credited to the builder.
7. have fun - and create a masterpiece.

FAQ
Q. Where do I get the type of paint you use?
A. You can get the two part paint at a swimming pool company - get the epoxy paint that comes as one gallon of paint and one gallon of hardener.

Q. Can I use this tank for a fish only aquarium?
Can I use this tank for a fresh water aquarium?
A.Yes, This type of aquarium has been used for years as both a marine fish tank and as a fresh water aquarium. The first 52 of them we built in 1972 were used for over a decade in a tropical fish store. None of the aquariums leaked during that time. Later the aquariums were used to breed tropical fish. I am certain many of them are still in use.
Q. Can I make the aquarium taller than 18 inches with 1/4 inch plate glass?
A. NO ! Do not try to do this. It may work for a while, But it may break from the pressure.
Q. Is this type of aquarium going to last for years if I USE THE RIGHT TYPE OF GLASS?
A.YES. We have one in our lab that was used outdoors for 16 years to hold feeder fish. We have not had any glass break if the water was 18 inches deep or less.

Q. What type of glass can I use if the aquarium is going to be 24 inches deep?
A. We use 3/8 inch tempered for any aquarium this deep. We use 1/2 tempered plate if we are going to make the aquarium deeper.

Q. Can I save money making my own aquariums?

A. Often making larger size aquariums can save you money. If you have the tools already and you are good at shopping for bargains you can make almost any aquarium over 100 gallons and save money. If you need a custom size, if you are going to build the aquarium into a wall, or if you enjoy making it yourself then this is a great project.

Q. How do I fuigure out how many gallons a tank will hold?

A. Multiply the Lenght by the width by the depth in inches and divide by 231. Save a reef - Grow your own

SOME OF THE GARF ZOANTHID COLLECTION JULY1998

ORDER Zoanthiniaria [Zoantharia] [Zoanthidea]

(Encrusting anemones)

Family Epizanthidae

Parazoanthus (Yellow polyps)
Epizoanthis ( Brown to red brown colonial polyp disks - medium tentacles )

Family Zoanthidae

Zoanthus ( small colonial polyps - Green, Red, Brown, Blue, Purple, yellow and a range of other colors. Central disk may be contrasting color. Polyps connected at base)
Palythoa ( brown and connected at base so the colony grows as one large animal. Each polyp is not seperated at the base.
Protopalythoa( larger than Zoantus with longer brown tentacles. May be bright green in center)

1. ZOANTHID ANEMONES

This month we will show some of the collection we have here in the Genetic Bank.
We have been working on a feeding scale for the types of Zoanthids and other colonnial anemonies we are propagating.
We now have a scale that rates the species from 1 to 5 depending on how well they are able to catch and ingest food. We are certain that when we are finished this scale will be able to be used to determine how much each type of colonnial anemonie needs to be fed for the best growth rate.

The scale rates the most active feeders as #5 and the species that do not feed much as #1

A good # 5 is the group of long tentalcle Protopalythoa. And a #2 is the small body Zoanthids that are connected at the base by a strong creeping foot.

FEEDING SCALE FOR THE TYPES OF ZOANTHIDS

Most Active Feeders
Active Feeders
Medium Feeders
Inactive Feeders
Nonfeeders

#5 - Long tentacle polyps close around any food the touches them
#4 - Food causes some polyps to retract , polyp often catches particle
#3 - Polyps slow to react to food , most food does not remain on polyp
#2 - Polyps do not close around food in many cases but some food is taken
#1 - No feeding noticed , may absorb nutrients

Active Feeders #4

SEA MAT PRODUCTION TANKS

1. The best tanks for production of these rocks are shallow tanks with good water quality and high water flow.
We use 55 gallon tanks with three Maxi-Jet 1000 power heads. A Visi-jet skimmer is used in each tank.

This colony was grown with VHO lighting. Intense light and strong current are two of most important things needed to produce fast grownig Zoanthid colonies. The best colors we have been able to produce in these cuttings are seen in the tanks with several Triton and Blue Moon 40 watt lights.

Many of the larger Zoanthids can eat baby brine shrimp and other foods. These feedings will increase the growth rate of these animals.

Red Protopalythoa sp. Most Active Feeders #5 - growing with Zoanthid - Active Feeders #4

These anemones do best when they are fed several times each week. The food that has produced the best growth is made up of blended fish and shrimp meat that has been mixed in SeaChem Reef Plus This red mixture has vitamins and iodide. We use four tablespoons of Reef Complete to one tabespoon food.

Active Feeders #4

SIMPLE ZOANTHID PRODUCTION SYSTEM

1) 55 gallon show aquarium 48" long
2) 1-Visi-jet protein skimmer
3) 2-Maxi-jet power heads (1000)
4) 1- heater
5) 2-4 ft 40 watt "Triton" bulbs with end caps
6) 1-4 ft 40 watt "Blue moon" bulbs with end caps
7) ballast for 3 40 watt bulbs
8) 1-"Triton" enhancer light cover

We produce many of the finest colors using systems just like this one. We add 10 pounds of Grunge^TM on top of 40 pounds of CaribSea Seaflor and we grow Combo Rocks in the bottom of the reef. Zoanthids are one of the best things to grow on a Combo Rock

Medium Feeders #3
Combination tank grown live rock is a piece of reef safe rock that has two or more invertebrates growing on it. The best combination tank grown live rocks have a heavy growth of coraline algae.
Color is the most inportant single thing that sells reef rocks. The animals that you put on the rocks should be able to live close together. It is best if at least one of these cuttings has bright colors.

SOME GOOD SPECIES TO PUT TOGETHER ON ONE ROCK LEATHER CORALS - GREEN STARS

ZOANTHIDS - PALYTHOA

ZOANTHIDS - ZOANTHIDS

MUSHROOMS - MUSHROOMS

FINGER CORAL - LEATHER CORAL

GREEN STARS - BROWN STARS

MARKETING IDEA
The only rule we have on size is related to what we have learned about maketing tank grown live rocks. Easy to grow species will be bought most often by people who are just starting a reef aquarium. These people tend to want to fill the new tank with rock so they will pick out cuttings on larger rocks. After a reef aquarium is full of live rock and it is ready to stock with small polyp stony corals people will often choose cuttings on smaller rocks.
Shape and texture are the two most important things to look for when you purchase base rock. Remember if you start with a lump of rock you will end up with a lump of rock covered with coraline. If you start with a fine looking base rock you will end up with a fine looking live rock.

CREATING CURRENTS FOR THE ACTIVE FEEDERS
You can increase the growth of the Palythoa group by changing the direction of the water flow each day so the food falls on each part of the animal sometime during the week.
The "Maxi-jet" power heads are used to create a flow across the front of the tank. Attach one of the powerheads in the upper front corner of the reef aquarium so you can move it. Moving it around creates different currents in the tank.

Most Active Feeders #5

I have found that by turning the power head slightly each time I observe the tank I can create flow patterns that keep the detritris from clogging the live rocks.

I have observed polyps feeding on the debris that is blown around. It does not require much movement from the power head to create a large change in current in the reef tank. This change in current will allow the food to settle in a different way each time you feed.

Medium Feeders #3

These anemones require bright light and strong current. We use plastic plug racks so we can place these cuttings at the top of the reef aquarium. We have had the best growth in tanks with at least 5 watts per gallon of VHO lighting. Most of our production tanks still have 3- 4 foot 40 watt bulbs - Two Tritons and one blue Moon. Every type of this group will grow very well under 3 - 40 watt bulbs. We grow most of our sps corals under the VHO lights.

Medium Feeders #3

2. PROTOPALYTYHOA - Most Active Feeders #5

This Green Protopalythoa is growing on a piece of Idaho Aragonite. The polyps on this type of Protopalythoa can be cut off above the base and the heads can be glued or sewed onto a base. The stalks will grow another head in a few weeks.

The colony will spread onto rocks that are placed next to this group of Protopalythoa. This is an easy way to get more brood stock. We now have 6 colors of this palythoa that keep there colors under many conditions.

Most Active Feeders #5

This is a picture of some of the clones from this group, Every color has stayed the same for 3 years. We thought that all of the colors we were collecting were the same and that they were just growing in different areas of the same reef. We could have collected many more colors if we had any idea there could be that many types. Someday we will return to that island for some new broodstock:)

Protopalythoa sp. - Most Active Feeders #5

3. PARAZOATHIDS - Yellow Polyps - Most Active Feeders #5

These polyps grow best if they are fed each day. You can feed these colonies by blending up the food and squirting it on the polyps.

THESE ARE THE BEST THINGS TO ADD TO YOUR TANK EACH WEEK

SeaChem Reef +
SeaChem Reef Complete
SeaChem Reef Calcium

THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT YOUR MAKE UP WATER
Only fresh water needs to be added to tank as water level goes down. The salt will stay in your tank.
Use 1 tablespoon of SeaChem Reef Advantage to each gallon of fresh water.
Repeat this two times when you add fresh water.

Use SeaChem Reef Builder the third time you add fresh water.
Start over and use the Reef Advantage two more times before you add the SeaChem Reef builder again.

WATER CHANGES
Change 5 gallons each month to replace minerals . The more water you change the better the reef will do.

BASE ROCK SELECTION
- NATURAL ROCKS FOR MAKING ZOANTHID ROCKS -

ARAGONITE

COLOR            - White to tan 
REEF SAFE        - Very
HARDNESS         - From very soft to medium hard
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows very fast
SHAPE            - Some pieces have great shapes depending on source

This calcium based rock is great for making tank raised combination rocks. Aragonite was formed in the ocean so it is a good choice for reef aquariums

Protopalythoa sp. Most Active Feeders #5

TUFA

COLOR            - Cream to tan and brown 
REEF SAFE        - Most tufa is reef safe
HARDNESS         - From very soft to very hard 
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows the fastest on some pieces we have tested
SHAPE            - Some pieces have good shapes depending on source

This light brown rock grows coraline algae very fast. Most tufa was formed by geothermal waters rich in minerals. This can be good or bad so use reef safe tufa.

Protopalythoa vestitus - Most Active Feeders #5

LAVA

COLOR            - Black to red and brown 
REEF SAFE        - Some lava is reef safe - only use tested types
HARDNESS         - From very hard to almost glass like
CORALINE GROWTH  - Grows well on some pieces we have tested  
SHAPE            - Some pieces have wonderful shapes

Reef safe Idaho Lava comes in many textures and colors. Lava can have many minerals in it so be sure the lava has been tested.

Please try to propagate your Zoanthids - they are very easy to clone and you will be happy with the way they sell. We now offer 2 to 3 species on every $20.00 reef plug and they grow very fast.

More later - LeRoy