new "canvas"

[Gary Majchrzak]

with a heavy bioload (many fish and a gigantea anemone) I've always fed this aquarium heavily. More than feedings I would attribute recent growth rates to "cleaning it up" (PO4 reductions) and regular partial water changes.
Another thing worth mentioning: some of these corals would be larger right now except the Angelfish nips them occasionally. Junior loves the growth tips on Acropora. A nip in the bud cause an Acro tip to develop multiple tips. This activity (along with the high water flow in my aquarium) results in "bushier", thicker coral growth. This type of growth isn't as noticeable as linear growth.
Thanks for the kind words, Scott.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Yeah, Gary, nice comeback. I think a lot of reefers out there can learn from your patience. Many people might have just taken it down. But like a natural reef, it's rebounding thru stability (and a few frags).

I was reading on the SPS forum, that some people will take slower growing frags and nip the tips to encourage new growth. They reported great success with this method.

Was Junior doing some reading while you were out?????

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the whole fish/coral relationship isn't well observed in most home aquariums for many reasons. I'm sure that fishes have a huge impact on coral growth on a wild reef. Old timers here might remember some posts I made regarding my Orange Shoulder Tang clearing out what I referred to as a 'nesting site' amongst Acropora branches. (There might be a thread on this Archived somewhere in the Advanced Topic Forum.)
I haven't seen posts in the SPS forum regarding this tip nip thing but I'll be looking for them. I'm sure those guys are selling their nipped buds as frags. My Angelfish is ingesting them

This brings up some other questions:
*do fishes use ingested stony corals like chickens use pea gravel?
*what happens to the skeletons when the fish passes them? (ouch!)

 

[Capt_Cully]

It becomes new sand

 

[Conesus_Kid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14664514#post14664514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak


This brings up some other questions:
*do fishes use ingested stony corals like chickens use pea gravel?
*what happens to the skeletons when the fish passes them? (ouch!)

Well this got me thinking and Googling!

There are only a few species of fish that have gizzards like chickens, and none of them are marine ornamental species. A quick Google search turned up the following from wikipedia (not the best source, I know!):

"The mullet (Mugilidae) found in estuarine waters worldwide, and the gizzard or mud shad, found in freshwater lakes and streams from New York to Mexico, have gizzards. The gillaroo (Salmo stomachius), a richly colored species of trout found in lough Melvin in County Fermangh, has a gizzard which is used to aid the digestion of water snails, the main component of its diet.

If you've ever seen the 'Blue Planet' video series, there's some awesome shots of humphead parrotfish actually biting off chunks of live rock to eat the algae. And you may have guessed it, they poop out sand, and lots of it!

Here's a pic of the rock eaters:

I'm not sure, but it looks to me as if they've got coralline algae growing on their faces that they rub against the rocks all day. Either way, it's certainly a face that only a mother (and fish nuts) could love! :lol:


Edit: Darn- Ninja'ed by Cully!

 

[RyanEG]

I actually think that Parrot fish are some of the coolest fish in the sea.

 

[doryarlin955]

Gary was that you at MO today? I thought I saw you but wasn't paying much attention

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

that was me. I stop into LFS's every now and then

regarding fish gizzards:
I wasn't aware of any fish having a gizzard, so thanks for that info Scott. I've seen video of Parrotfish making sand out of coral skeleton. Amazing stuff. Not much meat on Acropora so I'm still wondering why my Angelfish likes to nip those terminal polyps.

 

[doryarlin955]

Could it be that it needs to "trim" its "teeth", like beavers?

 

[KurtsReef]

Love the 'blue planet' series, I saw a commercial for a new set of them showing up on the HD channels.

The episode that includes the Parrot fish is well worth the watch, didn't they eat live coral not just dead skeletons?

Gary, I had one fish that kept nipping corals and then my yellow clown gobies. The clown gobies cleared off spots from a few corals and laid eggs, they have picked out a final nest and simply continually lay eggs in the same spot now. That is really the most damage I have noticed to a coral from any fish that I have kept...not counting the dead corals buried by the diamond goby.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14671946#post14671946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doryarlin955
Could it be that it needs to "trim" its "teeth", like beavers?

it's a possibility I can't rule out. I just can't see how a stony coral would be on the menu of an Angelfish- I have so many other more delectable treats that would be much easier on the stomach in my aquarium.
I had spawning clown gobies in my SPS before, Kurt. Those guys eat polyps and don't actually eat coral skeleton.
I think Parrotfish eat whatever they want to eat!

Here's an Angelfish smorgasboard- the underside of a chalice type coral.

 

[nwrogers]

Re: gotta add 'em

Re: gotta add 'em

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14110903#post14110903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak

:eek1: Wow Junior is huge! It's funny that fish is so big he makes your tank look small or at least normal size and we all know its not. That is a very beautiful fish and your aquarium is looking sweet! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks, Nate

thanks, Nate

I need an up-to-date FTS. Things have improved since that last pic.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

picture updates April 15, 2009

picture updates April 15, 2009

recovered stunted cap

 

[jnarowe]

That rocks Gary.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Great shots, Gary!

I think the growth pattern on that green acro (5th shot) is so cool.

I likey! :thumbsup:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks

thanks

playing with camera today

 

[melev]

Somethings different. What's missing from the substrate in the last shot?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14830692#post14830692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Somethings different. What's missing from the substrate in the last shot?

perhaps you're referring to the big Caulastrea (fragged on page 27 of this thread), Marc.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Memorial Day weekend '09

Memorial Day weekend '09

I thought the Kleins was in one of these shots......

I guess not!