ISSUE # 20 page 3 AUGUST 1998
WE CHOSE THIS COLONY FOR THE FINE COLOR AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RAPID GROWTH
This is a very good way to treat a small head of coral that you have just purchased. We have many reports from people who have brought home very healthy coral heads from the local pet shop only to have these corals start to die from the bottom up. We had this happen several times when we imported these corals. We would try to place the heads so they received good lighting and strong water flow, but often the shaded part of the head would turn white and die. Several times the entire coral would then slowly do the same. We noticed that if we took frags from this coral and attached them to rocks they would often start to grow. Coral heads grow to fit their environment and there is no way to match this set of ocean conditions in an aquarium. By starting frags in our reef aquariums we allow the new coral heads to grow to match these conditions. We have been bringing in some large heads of captive grown sps corals from the members of our unconnected genetic bank, and we have not had the same problems. | THIS CORAL HAS BEEN CUT TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED IT |
to match this set of ocean conditions in an aquarium. By starting frags in our reef aquariums we allow the new coral heads to grow to match these conditions |
The research we have been doing at Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation Inc. GARF during the last three years has produced several new methods of propagating and displaying small polyp stony corals. The one hundred twenty plus types of sps corals we are working with are almost all from captive grown stock. These corals come from all parts of the World and are all being data banked and numbers will be attached to each animal so we will be able to tell you what generation of coral comes from us as well as the species and origin.
We keep these corals in several types of systems with many types of lighting. There are many ways to do coral propagation, and the methods and products discussed in this article have worked the best for us. We will be very careful to not say that one way will work in every situation. These methods are listed so researchers can duplicate this research.
This article will explain the Super glue method we use to attach sps corals, new display methods for creating coral aquascapes, and several ways to produce sps corals for sale. We will explain how to increase the growth rate and sustain their incredible colors. Polyp extension is one way of telling how healthy the animal is and whether or not it is happy in its new environment. We will also explain how we grow these corals in an inexpensive system using VHO lighting. Water quality and flow will be discussed. The most recent research we are embarking on has to do with the feeding of these animals and the zooxanthellae that lives within them.
NOTE THE CORALS GLUED TO THE OVERFLOW BOX
The corals we are working with are listed below starting with the ones that we have found to be the most hardy. These corals need to be kept in an aged, well established system. We tell our students that their reef aquarium is ready for the first sps corals when the coralline algae spots on the power heads are the size of dimes. We have found that by the time the reef aquarium is growing coralline algae of this size most of the other invertebrates are doing well. We have them start this project by gluing several small fragments of Montipora and Pocillapora to the live rock in the center of the reef. We place these frags about one half way down in the aquarium.
THIS IS ONE OF THE SIX MONTH OLD CORAL TREES
WE MADE THIS TREE BY GLUING THREE DEAD BRANCHES TOGETHER
WE GLUED A DOZEN ONE HALF INCH FRAGS OF THE GREEN SLIMER TO THE BRANCHES.
THIS PICTURE SHOWS ONE OF THE NEW CORAL TREES
WE MADE FROM THE CORAL HEAD SHOWN IN THE FIRST PICTURE
PROJECT #1 - GLUING FRAGS TO CORAL BRANCHES
We often receive sps corals that look brown and once they are placed in our systems for a month the color changes to green, pinks and even purple. We use VHO's over most of our systems. We end up with at least 10 watts per gallon of light, doing this gradually so as not to shock any of the tank mates. We have worked with some wonderful people in this hobby who provide incredible propagated animals to our genetic bank. Some of our prized corals come from Steve Tyree, Mike Paletta, Dick Perin, , and many individuals who trade their propagated coral for a new one that they do not have yet. We have taught several of the larger coral farmers this method of attaching sps corals. They have reported that they can now propagate these corals with a savings of two thirds on labor. These farmers had been using epoxy to attach the corals before. |
Before using the super reef glue we did our homework and tested the different glues on the market and found out that the Army was using glue on humans when they were wounded during the War. Note when you glue your fingers together it doesn1t hurt it just sticks. Since then we have over used way over 1100 grams of glue in our systems. Sometime it is found to be on my cloths or on my hands. I even accidentally glued my dog to the floor (some glue had dripped on the floor and my dog is always under foot and she stepped on it and could not figure out why she could not move). Fragments of sps corals do extremely well when glued with thick super glue. Only the center skeleton is attached at first. These cuttings have been very strong even before the tissue grows down onto the base rock. In a very short period of time you will notice that the animal begins to grow right over the glue and unto the rock itself. We learned that when we use this method for attaching corals the cut heals right away, and this allows the animal to recover from the propagation immediately. Several fragments have fallen in the aquarium.
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One of the reasons we did not like the epoxy is that it took a very long time for coralline algae to grow on it. It also takes a long time for the epoxy to set, and what we can do in a short period time takes hours with the epoxy method. The sps coral covers the super glue in a few weeks in our systems. We are now buying many of our new frags unmounted so we can glue them in our systems. This way of purchasing sps corals can often save money because the grower does not have any time in the grow - out. If you purchase frags this way be certain that each type is bagged in a separate bag. We only put corals together that came from the same colony. We often receive three to five frags in one bag and they all do fine. We float the bag until the water is the same temperature as the reef aquarium. These corals can be mounted the same way as the freshly harvested ones from your aquarium. Small pieces of small polyp stony corals can be glued to branches by breaking off small pieces from the colony. These frags are glued one inch apart. The bases grow together and the coral forms a natural looking head very soon. |
The most interesting thing is that none of the polyps around the base die. When we use epoxy some tissue always dies. I love to watch the polyps grow down onto the base rock. They form a circle of polyps around the fragment, and then new branches start up from this base. Some of the bases are now over four inches wide. We have removed the original cuttings, and the bases are growing several new branches. Some of the colonies have been cut four times and they now have over sixty branches. It seems the more attention you pay to these sps corals the better results you will see. We tend to propagate them often and spread the risk to different systems in the Foundation to make sure that one animal will survive. We honestly have loss more animals due to freight than any other reason.
TOOL LIST
MATERIAL LIST
Make sure to have a towel in place to wipe your hands and to clean up spills. |
THIS METHOD WORKS VERY WELL ON CORALS THAT PRODUCE SMALL FRAGS SUCH AS THIS HYDNOPHORA Prepare the fragments by breaking a small branch from the parent colony. This can be done by using a small pair of pliers. We use side cutting pliers to snap the frags from the colony. The coral will break rather than cut. Grip the branch firmly and twist it gently. These frags are placed in a plastic pan of reef water. If at all possible it is best to make your cutting outside of the reef tank so that the toxic slime released when propagating is not left in your system. I always treat with the Sea Chem Reef Plus after propagating both the sps corals and the soft corals. |
Place the fresh cut frag on the paper towel for 10 seconds. Apply the thick super glue to the prepared site on the base rock. One drop is usually sufficient. Pick up the cutting and press the newly cut fragment to the prepared site. Making sure that you pay attention to which side you glue down to the branch. The freshly cut frag should be attached right where you made your cut. It is harder to tell which side you should glue when receiving coral frags from a dealer but usually the side that is widest is the side to place the glue and adhere to the branch.
If we have a problem with any algae we place a handful of our Reef Janitors in these grow out systems. Our newest finding is the remarkable bubble algae eating Emerald crab that eats several kinds of algae that the other Janitors won't touch.
- NEW - WE NOW PUT A SMALL DROP OF GLUE ON OUR FINGER AND THEN WE TOUCH IT TO THE SITE UNDERWATER WHERE THE CORAL WILL BE ATTACHED We have been gluing many frags to coral branches underwater. When a new colony comes into the lab we break off several of the lower branches. We apply a small ammount of glue to the branch first so the frag sticks in seconds. We then apply glue type super glue to the broken part of the coral. A ball of glue the one half the size of a used pencil eraser will hold most frags in place. We pick a spot in one of the show tanks, and quickly push the frag against the small ammont of glue we have just applied. A slight twist to spread the glue on the surface of the live rock helps. Count to 6 and release the frag. Not only does it hold the new cutting in place it gives you the freedom to move it when you need to. Just pop the animal off by the glue and reglue it to the next location.
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We have noticed that the sps coral will grow right over a snail shell if the shell stays in one place too long. You can notice this in this picture. This coral has been in Sally Jo's system almost two years now and has found new homes all around the US.
We are a research facility in Boise Idaho and our mission is to - To provide the citizens of Idaho and the World a showcase collection of aquatic plants, fish, reef animals and products. To stimulate interest in, appreciation for and an understanding of these collections. To be implemented through plant records, public displays, collections, applied research, publications, internship programs and sales of quality products.
Having dedicated our Foundation to this mission we are a Non-profit organization that provides all of our research material to everyone. We post this monthly newsletter on our site www.garf.org. We have published articles in SeaScope, FAMA and Marine Fish Monthly. We host seminars at our location at least three times a year, with the pioneers of the reef hobby sharing all of their knowledge. We also have an annual reef tour when our members open up their homes and share their reef results with the general public. We have our next seminar scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 1998 please call 1-800-600-6163 for details. |
We add supplements to all of our systems and all of our makeup water. As well as we feed our systems rotifers and green water. Strong light, good water movement and room for them to grow is a must for these special animals.
GARF WILL BE PURCHASING MANY MORE AQUACULTURED CORALS FROM AS MANY GROWERS AS POSSIBLE. WE WILL MAKE THESE STRAINS OF CORALS AVAILABLE TO AS MANY NEW FARMERS AS WE CAN. GARF IS MORE CERTAIN THAN EVER THAT THIS HOBBY WILL GROW TO SUPPORT ANY REEF FARMER WHO PRODUCES A QUALITY PRODUCT. |
Yaacov Y Levi |
The new Aquarium will be constructed in the same manner as a Chambered Nautilus grows. Each section will make the building larger, but the shape of the structure will be the same after each addition.
We are doing the research needed to build the first public aqaurium in the world that will be dedicated to the study of geothermal water and how it can be protected. Many of the nutrients and minerals needed for a healthy ocean come from geothermal sources. Geothermal springs both in the mountains of Idaho and in the deepest parts of the ocean may hold the cure for many diseases. Bacteria from geothermal springs are now being used in new medicines and in modern laboratory methods. The rapid cloning of DNA would not be possible if it were not for some bacteria from Yellow Stone Park.Every year thousands of geothermal springs are dried up because of poor irrigation practices.
This public aquarium will be the only aquarium in the world where you will be able to see cross sections of the many types of thermal springs. These displays will allow study of the habitats and the animals that live in these unique and secret places. Many of the endangered species will be able to be reproduced so they donot become extinct before we even have a chance to name them.
We are proud to announce that we are starting a new project that will allow us to teach at six public aquariums during the next 12 months. We will host weekend seminars on coral propagation and reef rock building. These seminars will be open to the aquarium keepers who work at other public aqauriums in each region. Garf will supply the host aquariums with several dozen free captive raised corals so they can build a display using aquacultured animals. If you work at a public aquarium and you think that this project might fit into your education program please feel free to call us toll free at 1-800-600-6163. There will be no cost for this series of seminars. We have started to data bank corals that many public aquariums have an excess of and we will help them trade these corals with other aquariums who need them and may have too many of some other species.
GARF IS TEACHING PUBLIC AQUARIUMS AROUND THE WORLD TO PROPAGATE CORALS.
WE WILL SOON BE STARTING OUR NEW PROJECT TO BRING THE PUBLIC RESEARCH AQUARIUM TO THE CITIZENS OF IDAHO
WETLAND RESEARCH
REEF PROPAGATION RESEARCH
GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
More later - LeRoy
Use this site to solve your reef aquarium algae problems, and help support our research!!!
Learn how you can grow a wonderful reef aquarium like the one we visit in this JULY 1997 special feature
Learn to set up your own fantastic reef aquarium like
You can support our research and learn more about reef aquariums and wetlands
1997 WINTER - SPRING NEWSLETTER Our foundation is growing - Please visit our Newsletter
REEF AQUARIUM FARMING NEWS
CORALLINE ALGAE PROPAGATION
COMBINATION ROCK PROPAGATION
COMBINATION ROCK BASE ROCK SELECTION
COMBINATION ROCK SPECIES SELECTION
REEF JANITORS ALGAE CONTROL CENTRAL
Sally Jo's
You can learn how a reef aquarium grows into a mature sps coral reef
Sally Jo's 55 gallon reef is starting to mature into a small polyp stony coral aquarium
We will add more about this aquarium each month
55 GALLON INSTA REEF
Visit Rachel's 12 week old Bullet Proof Reef Aquarium
MORE PICTURES OF THIS REEF AQUARIUM
Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation,Inc. online tour
Super glue research page
Our researchers rate many brands of super glue
Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation Feed Back page
E-mail input so we can make these pages better
Reef Janitor Order Page - red leg hermits, snails, grunge.
THIS IS WHAT OUR HAPPY REEF JANITOR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT THEIR NEW JANITORS AND OUR SERVICE
Research page for Xenia and related soft coral propagation
Learn to propagate xenia. Please enter any data you have about these corals.
Pictures and details of soft coral propagation
Pictures and details of small polyp stony corals
Mushroom Anemone Propagation Page
Pictures and details of mushroom propagation
Zoanthid and palythoa Anemone Propagation Page
Pictures and details of Sea mat propagation
Image Page for Zoanthids and Palythoa
Learn to construct a 140 gallon plywood and epoxy reef tank
This is one of our most popular pages. Many people have made their own reef aquarium.
Learn to construct an aquarium stand