REEF AQUARIUM PICTURES OF THE WEEK

THREE PICTURES THAT SHOW CORALLINE GROWTH IN THE SEVEN WEEK OLD REEF AQUARIUM

We have found that the Blue light tends to push the early corlalline algae growth. It is fun to plant the archs with fast growing corals and then watch as they become covered with valuable colonies. This arch has started to fill in very well. Some of the corals are growing faster each time we cut a new clone. Corals adapt to closed systems better after they have been in our care for several years. Coralline algae seems to do the same thing. We are certain that many strains that we put in our Grungetm are able to grow in aquariums better now that they have been in Idaho for several generations.

START WITH LOW LIGHT AND ADD MORE LATER

These three reefs are grown to be brood stock aquariums. Sally Jo has been able to remove hundreds of cuttings from her first reef that is now three years old. Many of these corals have been in this system from the first month. As corals are grown in aquariums they DO GET STRONGER and more able to survive.

These are the Aragocretetm arches we used in this reef aquarium. They have already started to grow several colors of coralline algae. These arches are very porous and they allow water to pass through pores and interstices so that millions of filter bacteria thrive inside of them. We are getting ready to do some research using both captive grown live rock and ocean harvested, cured live rock to test the filter capacity of many types of reef structures. The ability to receive, hold, and absorb waste products will be documented so that others can duplicate this research.

This clam is doing very well in this two month old aquarium. One of the funnest things to do when you are starting a ZERO IMPACT BULLET PROOF REEF is planting the colors of cuttings you want to fill the reefscape with later. I remember dividing the bright green Zoanthid into ten pieces and gluing them all over the reef. Next to each one I put a piece of bright green Star Polyps. Now the greens are growing and soon I will have a very colorful reef.

This is what the reef looked like last month when we started gluing the corals in place. As you get experience with ZERO IMPACT BULLET PROOF REEFS you will start to see how the different corals grow and spread so you can plan for the future. I can tell you now that it feels very good to produce a wonderful reef aquarium and to be able to tell your friends that almost nothing in it came from the natural reef. SAVE A REEF - GROW YOUR OWN, Have fun!

SAVE A REEF - GROW YOUR OWN