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LAST MONTHS ISSUE | HOME | ISSUE PAGE 1 | JULY ISSUE PAGE 2 A HISTORY LESSON BOISE GEOTHERMAL PUBLIC RESEARCH AQUARIUM UPDATE ![]() ![]() ISSUE # 20 page 3 AUGUST 1998 MAKING CORAL TREES TO INCREASE SMALL POLYP STONY CORAL (SPS) PRODUCTION
WE REMOVE AS MANY OF THE BRANCHES AS POSSIBLE WHEN THE CORAL FIRST ARRIVES
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.
WE ARE PRODUCING USING SUPER REEF GLUE.
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
THIS PICTURE SHOWS ONE OF THE NEW CORAL TREES
PROJECT #1 - GLUING FRAGS TO CORAL BRANCHES
We have noticed that once the animal has grown over the super reef glue and unto the rock you can pop off the original frag and place it on a new rock with the glue and have the old one that attached to the first rock continue to grow and develop into branches and soon be ready for fragging in the future.
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.
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.
We have been doing tests to determine the best size of frags to use to produce cuttings for sale. It seems that with many of the species of Acropora the smaller cuttings grow faster than larger ones. Smaller cuttings are often less than 1/4 inch long. The larger cuttings are over 1 inch long. Many of the small cuttings have grown much faster. 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.
THIS SHELL WITH TISSUE.
THESE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY SNAILS THAT EAT HAIR ALGAE. ALGAE CONTROL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH OF SPS CORALS
WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THESE CORALS GROW OVER SHELLS VERY FAST. THE NEW TISSUE IS OFTEN VERY BRIGHT COLORED EAT DIATOMS AND RED SLIME BEFORE THEY CAN OVERGROW THE YOUNG CORAL FRAGS
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.
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.
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
55 GALLON INSTA REEF
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 LAST MONTHS ISSUE | HOME | ISSUE PAGE 1 | JULY ISSUE PAGE 2 A HISTORY LESSON BOISE GEOTHERMAL PUBLIC RESEARCH AQUARIUM UPDATE
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