New Deodronephthya sp. study group?
- Thread starter charles matthews
- Start date
Me No Nemo
Premium Member
I also use the Reef Plankton you pictured above. I think it's a great addition.
Kolognekoral
New member
I picked up this gorgonian yesterday. This is a shot without the violet polyps extended, which it does in strong current. The knots are interesting. From a commensal or parasite? Anyone familiar with this quite beautiful animal? ID?
dtaylor123
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10133953#post10133953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kolognekoral
I have been using various Fauna Marin products for the last 6 months. All have merit, so far. The Ultra Mins plus Ultra Organics are dosed daily to my aquarium to feed the corals and lower animals. I use Ultra Seafan for my Crinoids and Gorgonians, along with the more typical Cyclopeze. Also, I use some fine dust foods from Timo, another European company possibly not yet in North America.
The polymer food, Ultra Pac, has fans in Germany, but some do not like it. I think it will generally depend on your animals and feeding habits. It is more of a food carrier than a food of itself. It is mixed with other Ultra products to create a 'Custom' slime for filter feeders. I, also, have used Ultra Clam for filter feeders and my animals are all still healthy and growing.
First, wow, what a great thread, I don't come to RC often. Chuck your tank is superb along with Amy's photography, kudos! Like some of us in this hobby, I too have aspired to keep non-photosynthetic corals. I was able to keep a flame scallop alive for close to three years and a dendro for 11 months, but my dendro was a failure as it never grew.
To the quotes above, I have been using Fauna Marins products for close to two years, I find them to be mostly effective. I tried the "fake coral mucus", the Ultra-Pac. It's like gelatin, the trick is to be able to load it up with food, it might work in Chucks feeding system. I like the idea, that in the ocean mucus carries food to other corals, so therefore ... you get the picture. Fauna Marin is a good company and they will help you if you ask. Their instructions are a little weak, maybe a translation issue?
I must say, I am surprised on the amount of phyto being fed. I didn't think that dendronephthya uptake phyto, I thought they were carnivores, I hope I am not showing my ignorance. Your syringe pump is awesome, the perfect delivery! I don't see it being to much of an issue if you are able to load a lot of syringes ahead of time.
My tank size is a 90 gallon (36"x24"x24"), I have two Tunze 6001's, currently a SPS, LPS tank, any thoughts on placing my 6001's on one side of the tank enleau of both on the back wall.
Also, where do you all get your NPS corals? I like most reefers discourage LFS's from getting them in as to 99% people they are un-keep-able. I understand if you choose not to say in this public forum.
Well, the work you people have done is incredible, I really thought one day I would be the one, conquering the NPS corals, glad you all beat me to the punch, kudos again. I hope to keep learning from reading this thread.
Dan
Kreeger1
KING LEAR
Kolognekoral,
I have the same gorgonian with the same barnacle bumps, acroporas get them too. I would say no harm is done from them. I've noticed that this gorg doesn't like the super intense flow that the dendros like, I have it in i'd say medium flow area of my tank, medium to low actually.
I've fragged it already too, the tissue healed over in a few days.
Erik
I have the same gorgonian with the same barnacle bumps, acroporas get them too. I would say no harm is done from them. I've noticed that this gorg doesn't like the super intense flow that the dendros like, I have it in i'd say medium flow area of my tank, medium to low actually.
I've fragged it already too, the tissue healed over in a few days.
Erik
Kolognekoral
New member
Erik, thanks for the tip. I made a small frag to try in another area of the tank with less flow and it is opening just as well. I'll take a shot of the opened polyps today.
Kolognekoral
New member
We should have a seperate forum/thread for NPCs. IDing and general info really doesn't belong on this thread, which is oriented toward Dendronepthya.
In any case, until we are so far, here is as hot of my new Gorgonian with the polpys open. Any tips and infor gratefully accepted!
In any case, until we are so far, here is as hot of my new Gorgonian with the polpys open. Any tips and infor gratefully accepted!
dtaylor123
New member
Stunning Gorg's, are they from the Pacific? Do their polyps open both during the day and night? I agree about a new forum.
Dan
Dan
Kolognekoral
New member
Dan, as I am certain Eric and I have the same species, I can safely say they stay open at all hours. Mine, which is only a few days in the aquarium, remains open 20 from 24 hours at least. Apparently it takes short pauses whereby all or almost all polyps close for 30 mins or so. Possibly a type of water exchange mechanism to clear the system and absorb dissolved nutrients. It is from the Pacific, but exactly where I do not know. I'll talk to the friend that imported it.
I've always been fascinated by Gorgonians and currently have this and another that are thriving. My other is brown-red with white polyps and very finely netted, much like an Atlantic gorgonian. It requires very high current, I have found, as I almost lost it when I went away for a few days and the small extra circulation pump got clogged with a few snails! I lost about half of the animal, but it is quickly recovering. I have it about 30cm/12" away from the output and it has its extremely fine polyps open most of the time, again, taking small rests inbetween.
I've always been fascinated by Gorgonians and currently have this and another that are thriving. My other is brown-red with white polyps and very finely netted, much like an Atlantic gorgonian. It requires very high current, I have found, as I almost lost it when I went away for a few days and the small extra circulation pump got clogged with a few snails! I lost about half of the animal, but it is quickly recovering. I have it about 30cm/12" away from the output and it has its extremely fine polyps open most of the time, again, taking small rests inbetween.
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
I finally got the syringe pump I ordered. Just set it up.
Here is what the setup looks like:
The end of the tubing is zip-tied to one of my Tunzes:
The Tunze is directed directly at my dendro. So, the phyto and rotifers should be hitting it directly before going to the rest of the tank:
I'm wondering whether someone would be able to DIY a syringe pump. After inspecting it closely, the design seems pretty simple. It basically consists of a high-torque variable speed motor, worm gear driver, and rather simple mounting hardware. If you knew you were only going to set it at one specific rate, you probably could get away with using a single speed motor. You'd save a lot of money if you could. I searched heavily for a cheap-o one, but no avail. There is the $275 one at syringepump.com, which is apparently a really good price for a new one (most of what I've seen was $500 and well beyond). The one I got was $200 and used - still in great condition.
Here is what the setup looks like:
The end of the tubing is zip-tied to one of my Tunzes:
The Tunze is directed directly at my dendro. So, the phyto and rotifers should be hitting it directly before going to the rest of the tank:
I'm wondering whether someone would be able to DIY a syringe pump. After inspecting it closely, the design seems pretty simple. It basically consists of a high-torque variable speed motor, worm gear driver, and rather simple mounting hardware. If you knew you were only going to set it at one specific rate, you probably could get away with using a single speed motor. You'd save a lot of money if you could. I searched heavily for a cheap-o one, but no avail. There is the $275 one at syringepump.com, which is apparently a really good price for a new one (most of what I've seen was $500 and well beyond). The one I got was $200 and used - still in great condition.
Kreeger1
KING LEAR
Awesome Justin,
does that keep the food cold too? On a side note Dan got in the tropic marin foods. I added some to the tank and within 5 minutes all nonphoto stuff opened up, gorgs, dendros, and scerlos. So Im pretty excited about that. Im guessing from the amount it says to feed it should last 2-3 months for my tank but im probably just going to use it every other day or so or as a extra daily feeding, it won't replace what i'm using now
Later
ERik
does that keep the food cold too? On a side note Dan got in the tropic marin foods. I added some to the tank and within 5 minutes all nonphoto stuff opened up, gorgs, dendros, and scerlos. So Im pretty excited about that. Im guessing from the amount it says to feed it should last 2-3 months for my tank but im probably just going to use it every other day or so or as a extra daily feeding, it won't replace what i'm using now
Later
ERik
dtaylor123
New member
aninjaatemyshoe, cool pump! I think that one could be made a lot cheaper, designed specificly for this purpose. If I were to obtain one, I would plumb it into my return line from the sump, in my case, my sump is in my basement and I use a Hammerhead pump, but dialed way back, my thoughts would be to, drill a hole in the PVC return line and use that as the entry point. Since the goal is, to really feed the whole tank on a constant basis, what better way to have it being distributed than through the return lines. If refridgeration is needed, simply buy one of those small electric coolers and plce the syringe pump in the cooler with a hole drilled for the tubing exit. A cooler like this: http://www.target.com/Coleman-Therm...5-6764938?ie=UTF8&rh=k:cooler electric&page=1 . I did a quick search, I am sure there are a lot of them out there. What do you guys think?
Dan
Dan
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
The way I'm dosing now will not keep the food in the syringe cold. But, the amount I'm using will only be out over a 24 hour period. Reed's site mentions dosing over such a period. So, I believe it should be ok for me to leave it at room temp for that long.
Erik, do you mean the Fauna Marin food? What specific stuff did you buy? I've been wondering about the Fauna Marin stuff, seems to be the choice for many of the European non-photo keepers.
Erik, do you mean the Fauna Marin food? What specific stuff did you buy? I've been wondering about the Fauna Marin stuff, seems to be the choice for many of the European non-photo keepers.
lalc
New member
$30.00 SYRINGE PUMP
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/97046diy_pump_2.JPG
DIY a syringe pump. After inspecting it closely, the design seems pretty simple. It basically consists of a high-torque variable speed motor, worm gear driver, and rather simple mounting hardware
I had a link will try to locate it --some German guy posted it years ago---but you are right on the money---they are very simple to make----HINT # 1 take apart a a 24hr wall timer and you will see that with a little modification you can attach a syringe to the timer--like a cam--add a check valve to a T-fitting and you will have a self dosing pump as the timer will be sucking for 12 hrs then pumping for 12hrs amount can be calibrated by diameter of syringe and offset of the cam.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/97046diy_pump_2.JPG
DIY a syringe pump. After inspecting it closely, the design seems pretty simple. It basically consists of a high-torque variable speed motor, worm gear driver, and rather simple mounting hardware
I had a link will try to locate it --some German guy posted it years ago---but you are right on the money---they are very simple to make----HINT # 1 take apart a a 24hr wall timer and you will see that with a little modification you can attach a syringe to the timer--like a cam--add a check valve to a T-fitting and you will have a self dosing pump as the timer will be sucking for 12 hrs then pumping for 12hrs amount can be calibrated by diameter of syringe and offset of the cam.
dtaylor123
New member
FYI, Dark Lord Coral, has free shipping on Fauna Marin products, not sure how long the promo is. Also, UltraPac their coral mucus food, which isn't food but a polymer gelatin like substance, if you buy it, you will have to really play around with it. The idea is to bind it with use-able foods and allow it to be the carrier to the corals. You will just have to figure out how to get it to bind. I have Claude's email address if any one is interested. I really like their products. The UltraClam, has a lot of phyto in it.
Where did you find the Tropic Marin foods? Have you used it yet?
lalc, to me using a syringe pump, allows food to always be pushed instead of pulled. Pulling food has the inherent issue of getting clogged up. Just my take on it.
Where did you find the Tropic Marin foods? Have you used it yet?
lalc, to me using a syringe pump, allows food to always be pushed instead of pulled. Pulling food has the inherent issue of getting clogged up. Just my take on it.
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
GreshamH, here is the link for the instructions:
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/microalgae/directions.asp
It mentions using gel ice in "warm environments" when dosing over a 24 hour period. IMO this is probably more of an issue with using an open container like they describe. I'm pretty much inferring that it is ok. I'm going to try to contact Reed's and see what they have to say. I figure that if the product can last for four months in the fridge, it should be able to handle 24 hours at room temp, especially in a more or less sealed environment.
http://www.reed-mariculture.com/microalgae/directions.asp
It mentions using gel ice in "warm environments" when dosing over a 24 hour period. IMO this is probably more of an issue with using an open container like they describe. I'm pretty much inferring that it is ok. I'm going to try to contact Reed's and see what they have to say. I figure that if the product can last for four months in the fridge, it should be able to handle 24 hours at room temp, especially in a more or less sealed environment.
You rang
Refrigeration is recommended for the lifetime of the product. While it most likely won't be much of a problem if it stays under ~70f, if it goes above that it could lead to problems. Every system we employee dosing pumps on have the IA product in cold storage and only allow a short run of the line to be non refrigerated.
