New Deodronephthya sp. study group?
- Thread starter charles matthews
- Start date
charles matthews
New member
I would recommend using the "vodka method" rather than glucose as it's better understood. Start low and work up to 5-10 ml/250 gallons/day dosed in the morning, taking about a month to get to this dose- cloudiness means you are going too fast. Monitor nitrates.
Charles
Charles
luvstns726
New member
Reporting on my experience with the Aquachef feeder, it tends to clump with the golden pearls. I've just ordered a belt-driven feeder for aquaculture, sold by Aquatic Eco-systems, after multiple discussions with manufacturers about the problem of delivering a 50 micron powder essentially continuously over 24 hours in a high humidity environment.
Charles
Charles
vegaskid11
vegasreefers.com
Here is a few pics of my Dendro.
vegaskid11
vegasreefers.com
2
vegaskid11
vegasreefers.com
3
vegaskid11
vegasreefers.com
4
charles matthews
New member
dendronephthya
dendronephthya
The sugar additions lead to a cyano bloom that was quite hard to control. As I have seen time and again, the dendros crump suddenly associated with cyano blooms (and this seems to be an indirect effect- the bloom is in a linked lighted tank).
Widdig's paper suggests that dendros do not use bacteria to any significant degree- there was little incorporation of labeled metabolites from their culture water. Also, according to Tyree and Bob Stark and Harker, there seems to be high levels of bacteria in aquariums anyway.
Since I switched off the sugar and upped the skimming and added ozone, carbon, and water changes, the dendros have revived dramatically. I have one individual over 12 months now. All are showing good tissue growth onn Golden Pearls alone. With stereoscopic microscope observation, I can see them vigorously consuming Golden Pearls. They take 5-50 micron size at all times, and this size seems to stimulate feeding best; when fully expanded, and the pinnules on the tentacles come out, they will take the 100-200 micron size well. This is in accordance with Sorokin's published account of "voraacious" uptake of newly hatched brine shrimp, and also his demponstration that they incorporate c14 from these labeled shrimp.
This agrees with Mary's observation of taking new hatched brine shrimp.
I am currently feeding with a belt feeder, dropping a thin line on the belt continuously into the 29 gallon tank. It has a supplemental Deltec skimmer on this tank, with 30 grams ozone injected into the skimmer, carbon in the skimmer, and this overflows into the system rather slowly. the current is 6 inches/second.
Using very clean water and frequent to continuous feedings of golden pearls alone, I am seeing excellent feeding and expansion, clear growth in tissue and polyp counts. The oinly thing is the color of the dendros, which is a little pale compared to wild. Golden Pearls have Naturose in them; that's a hematococus that contains astaxanthan. I am doubting whether the color is anything other than a concentration of what is otherwise useless or a toxin for them, as these seem healthy otherwise. I am experimenting with using Duniella salina "Betameal" sold by Brine Shrimp Direct and other sources of pigments.
I'm excited with how things are going. Some long lived successes, even reviving after bad husbandry accidents. Looks like going with overkill skimming, keep the bacteria down (ozone and or perhaps UV sterilizer) which spares them the need to eject all those filtered bacteria they don't use; sediment-free water with laminar 6 inch'second current; probably cooler temps.
Charles
dendronephthya
The sugar additions lead to a cyano bloom that was quite hard to control. As I have seen time and again, the dendros crump suddenly associated with cyano blooms (and this seems to be an indirect effect- the bloom is in a linked lighted tank).
Widdig's paper suggests that dendros do not use bacteria to any significant degree- there was little incorporation of labeled metabolites from their culture water. Also, according to Tyree and Bob Stark and Harker, there seems to be high levels of bacteria in aquariums anyway.
Since I switched off the sugar and upped the skimming and added ozone, carbon, and water changes, the dendros have revived dramatically. I have one individual over 12 months now. All are showing good tissue growth onn Golden Pearls alone. With stereoscopic microscope observation, I can see them vigorously consuming Golden Pearls. They take 5-50 micron size at all times, and this size seems to stimulate feeding best; when fully expanded, and the pinnules on the tentacles come out, they will take the 100-200 micron size well. This is in accordance with Sorokin's published account of "voraacious" uptake of newly hatched brine shrimp, and also his demponstration that they incorporate c14 from these labeled shrimp.
This agrees with Mary's observation of taking new hatched brine shrimp.
I am currently feeding with a belt feeder, dropping a thin line on the belt continuously into the 29 gallon tank. It has a supplemental Deltec skimmer on this tank, with 30 grams ozone injected into the skimmer, carbon in the skimmer, and this overflows into the system rather slowly. the current is 6 inches/second.
Using very clean water and frequent to continuous feedings of golden pearls alone, I am seeing excellent feeding and expansion, clear growth in tissue and polyp counts. The oinly thing is the color of the dendros, which is a little pale compared to wild. Golden Pearls have Naturose in them; that's a hematococus that contains astaxanthan. I am doubting whether the color is anything other than a concentration of what is otherwise useless or a toxin for them, as these seem healthy otherwise. I am experimenting with using Duniella salina "Betameal" sold by Brine Shrimp Direct and other sources of pigments.
I'm excited with how things are going. Some long lived successes, even reviving after bad husbandry accidents. Looks like going with overkill skimming, keep the bacteria down (ozone and or perhaps UV sterilizer) which spares them the need to eject all those filtered bacteria they don't use; sediment-free water with laminar 6 inch'second current; probably cooler temps.
Charles
charles matthews
New member
dendronephthya
dendronephthya
The sugar additions lead to a cyano bloom that was quite hard to control. As I have seen time and again, the dendros crump suddenly associated with cyano blooms (and this seems to be an indirect effect- the bloom is in a linked lighted tank).
Widdig's paper suggests that dendros do not use bacteria to any significant degree- there was little incorporation of labeled metabolites from their culture water. Also, according to Tyree and Bob Stark and Harker, there seems to be high levels of bacteria in aquariums anyway.
Since I switched off the sugar and upped the skimming and added ozone, carbon, and water changes, the dendros have revived dramatically. I have one individual over 12 months now. All are showing good tissue growth onn Golden Pearls alone. With stereoscopic microscope observation, I can see them vigorously consuming Golden Pearls. They take 5-50 micron size at all times, and this size seems to stimulate feeding best; when fully expanded, and the pinnules on the tentacles come out, they will take the 100-200 micron size well. This is in accordance with Sorokin's published account of "voraacious" uptake of newly hatched brine shrimp, and also his demponstration that they incorporate c14 from these labeled shrimp.
This agrees with Mary's observation of taking new hatched brine shrimp.
I am currently feeding with a belt feeder, dropping a thin line on the belt continuously into the 29 gallon tank. It has a supplemental Deltec skimmer on this tank, with 30 grams ozone injected into the skimmer, carbon in the skimmer, and this overflows into the system rather slowly. the current is 6 inches/second.
Using very clean water and frequent to continuous feedings of golden pearls alone, I am seeing excellent feeding and expansion, clear growth in tissue and polyp counts. The oinly thing is the color of the dendros, which is a little pale compared to wild. Golden Pearls have Naturose in them; that's a hematococus that contains astaxanthan. I am doubting whether the color is anything other than a concentration of what is otherwise useless or a toxin for them, as these seem healthy otherwise. I am experimenting with using Duniella salina "Betameal" sold by Brine Shrimp Direct and other sources of pigments.
I'm excited with how things are going. Some long lived successes, even reviving after bad husbandry accidents. Looks like going with overkill skimming, keep the bacteria down (ozone and or perhaps UV sterilizer) which spares them the need to eject all those filtered bacteria they don't use; sediment-free water with laminar 6 inch'second current; probably cooler temps.
Charles
dendronephthya
The sugar additions lead to a cyano bloom that was quite hard to control. As I have seen time and again, the dendros crump suddenly associated with cyano blooms (and this seems to be an indirect effect- the bloom is in a linked lighted tank).
Widdig's paper suggests that dendros do not use bacteria to any significant degree- there was little incorporation of labeled metabolites from their culture water. Also, according to Tyree and Bob Stark and Harker, there seems to be high levels of bacteria in aquariums anyway.
Since I switched off the sugar and upped the skimming and added ozone, carbon, and water changes, the dendros have revived dramatically. I have one individual over 12 months now. All are showing good tissue growth onn Golden Pearls alone. With stereoscopic microscope observation, I can see them vigorously consuming Golden Pearls. They take 5-50 micron size at all times, and this size seems to stimulate feeding best; when fully expanded, and the pinnules on the tentacles come out, they will take the 100-200 micron size well. This is in accordance with Sorokin's published account of "voraacious" uptake of newly hatched brine shrimp, and also his demponstration that they incorporate c14 from these labeled shrimp.
This agrees with Mary's observation of taking new hatched brine shrimp.
I am currently feeding with a belt feeder, dropping a thin line on the belt continuously into the 29 gallon tank. It has a supplemental Deltec skimmer on this tank, with 30 grams ozone injected into the skimmer, carbon in the skimmer, and this overflows into the system rather slowly. the current is 6 inches/second.
Using very clean water and frequent to continuous feedings of golden pearls alone, I am seeing excellent feeding and expansion, clear growth in tissue and polyp counts. The oinly thing is the color of the dendros, which is a little pale compared to wild. Golden Pearls have Naturose in them; that's a hematococus that contains astaxanthan. I am doubting whether the color is anything other than a concentration of what is otherwise useless or a toxin for them, as these seem healthy otherwise. I am experimenting with using Duniella salina "Betameal" sold by Brine Shrimp Direct and other sources of pigments.
I'm excited with how things are going. Some long lived successes, even reviving after bad husbandry accidents. Looks like going with overkill skimming, keep the bacteria down (ozone and or perhaps UV sterilizer) which spares them the need to eject all those filtered bacteria they don't use; sediment-free water with laminar 6 inch'second current; probably cooler temps.
Charles
"Umm fish?"
Premium Member
Charles--
If I may ask, what size Deltec are you using? Thanks!
If I may ask, what size Deltec are you using? Thanks!
sammy33
Member
Charles,
It would be great at this point if you could summarize your aquarium setup, equipment and also some summary statements on your husbandry techniques. I have a general understanding of what you and Mary are doing but I think it would be nice to start compiling this info and form a foundation for keeping dendros. Maybe start with an outline of the basic topics:
Aquarium
Filtration
Flow
Lighting
Feeding
Tankmates
Water Chemsitry
Propagation
We can then take each topic and expand on the techniques. This would create a basic set of guidelines for keeping this coral. My hope would be to encourage not only success (survival) with this difficult species but growth and propagation.
I would be happy to volunteer space on my website to host a "Dendro Guide". Any thoughts?
It would be great at this point if you could summarize your aquarium setup, equipment and also some summary statements on your husbandry techniques. I have a general understanding of what you and Mary are doing but I think it would be nice to start compiling this info and form a foundation for keeping dendros. Maybe start with an outline of the basic topics:
Aquarium
Filtration
Flow
Lighting
Feeding
Tankmates
Water Chemsitry
Propagation
We can then take each topic and expand on the techniques. This would create a basic set of guidelines for keeping this coral. My hope would be to encourage not only success (survival) with this difficult species but growth and propagation.
I would be happy to volunteer space on my website to host a "Dendro Guide". Any thoughts?
Jens Kallmeyer
New member
Hi Charles
As you are familiar with and have access to scientific literature, check for papers of Christian Wild, formerly at Max Planck Institute for marine microbiology, now at LMU Munich. There are some papers in Marine Ecology Progress Series and one in Nature.
I don't have the references but a search in Web of Science or so should bring them up, they are all from this decade.
I know that Christian was analyzing coral mucus for various compounds, don't know if enzymes were among them. I know this so well, because we shared an office at MPI and he used to store his samples in the same room....rotting corals in badly sealed plastic bags. I will never ever forgive him for that
Apparently all my dendros that were send to Germany got killed....Fcku
jens
Just some things I noticed scuba diving in Phuket, Thiland.
I don't know if they are relavent or if you even want to read them, but I'll be setting up a very careful tank to keep dendros and a few other things.
There were quite a few biotopes that we dove at, ranging from shallow water almost lagoon protected areas to vertical cliffs in high flow areas.
In the lagoonal areas there were almost no dendros, almost all hard corals. That area was dominated by smooth slow lamiar flows, and had in a few places very large growths of SPS (most likely staghorns, 20-40'x20'-40').
We saw dendros almost exclusivly on hard rock surfaces in areas with little sand. They were out in the open, exposed to full surface light and moderate to high pulsing flows (maybe flow rates of 1-2/sec as the diver was affected)
In fact in the overhead enviroments (caves) there were very few dendros, primarly it was encrusting tubestreas (orange and black) whip corals, and non-photosynthetic gorgonians (even saw the famed Blue Berry Gorg in the wild!) There were dendros just on the edge of the caves though, where there was light.
My favorite dendro was about 3' across and maybe 4' tall it was on the out facing edge at the very top, at maybe 18-22m depth.
One one other side note, pretty much where ever there were Dendros there were Crinoids.
I can say that although we saw hard corals at almost every depth down to about 75 ft, there were very very few dendros above 15-20ft.
Though we weren't down very long at a time, no more than maybe an hour and half at the longest, I never saw one single dendro in retreat, they were al lfull and open, even on the night dives.
[pic]http://www.flickr.com/photos/nabphotos/194293800/in/set-72157594206052351/[/pic]
I do have some pics, but it was with a cheap 35mm disposable, and it did very poorly at depth. Out of 70 some odd pics, only maybe 30 came out at all.
I am sure I haven't remebered stuff, and I hadn't even thought of posting this until now. Feel free to ask questions, but I can't promise to remeber the answer.
I don't know if they are relavent or if you even want to read them, but I'll be setting up a very careful tank to keep dendros and a few other things.
There were quite a few biotopes that we dove at, ranging from shallow water almost lagoon protected areas to vertical cliffs in high flow areas.
In the lagoonal areas there were almost no dendros, almost all hard corals. That area was dominated by smooth slow lamiar flows, and had in a few places very large growths of SPS (most likely staghorns, 20-40'x20'-40').
We saw dendros almost exclusivly on hard rock surfaces in areas with little sand. They were out in the open, exposed to full surface light and moderate to high pulsing flows (maybe flow rates of 1-2/sec as the diver was affected)
In fact in the overhead enviroments (caves) there were very few dendros, primarly it was encrusting tubestreas (orange and black) whip corals, and non-photosynthetic gorgonians (even saw the famed Blue Berry Gorg in the wild!) There were dendros just on the edge of the caves though, where there was light.
My favorite dendro was about 3' across and maybe 4' tall it was on the out facing edge at the very top, at maybe 18-22m depth.
One one other side note, pretty much where ever there were Dendros there were Crinoids.
I can say that although we saw hard corals at almost every depth down to about 75 ft, there were very very few dendros above 15-20ft.
Though we weren't down very long at a time, no more than maybe an hour and half at the longest, I never saw one single dendro in retreat, they were al lfull and open, even on the night dives.
[pic]http://www.flickr.com/photos/nabphotos/194293800/in/set-72157594206052351/[/pic]
I do have some pics, but it was with a cheap 35mm disposable, and it did very poorly at depth. Out of 70 some odd pics, only maybe 30 came out at all.
I am sure I haven't remebered stuff, and I hadn't even thought of posting this until now. Feel free to ask questions, but I can't promise to remeber the answer.
Steve Atkins
New member
I have been following thread off and on for a while since I managed to acquire a non photosynthetic soft coral. At first I thought it was not going very well in my tank as it seemed to be falling apart. This turned out to be nothing to do with the tank itself but rather that my Regal liked it as a snack. Rather belatedly (after the couple of larger bits had drifted under the reef) I rescued the remnant and have been keeping it in a plastic bin which is plumbed to the main system and which I use to raise baby Bangai cardinals, or at least try to.
Since recovering from its wounds it has been doing quite well and appears to have grown a little, fed on a mixture of Reef Roids and Cyclopeze but also possibly dining on the brine shrimp I feed the Cardinals.
This is it:
It does not look to be dendronepthia but does anyone have any idea what it actually might be? It does seem rather similar to the Scleronephthya shown above however its original colony was slightlt more solid looking. The picture was taken late in the evening from above using a macro and the onboard flash. To the naked eye the coral looks quite a bit more pink then in the picture and when under reef tank lighting the pink stands out even more. To give an idea of scale, it is about 12mm diameter when expanded as in the picture.
Steve
Since recovering from its wounds it has been doing quite well and appears to have grown a little, fed on a mixture of Reef Roids and Cyclopeze but also possibly dining on the brine shrimp I feed the Cardinals.
This is it:
It does not look to be dendronepthia but does anyone have any idea what it actually might be? It does seem rather similar to the Scleronephthya shown above however its original colony was slightlt more solid looking. The picture was taken late in the evening from above using a macro and the onboard flash. To the naked eye the coral looks quite a bit more pink then in the picture and when under reef tank lighting the pink stands out even more. To give an idea of scale, it is about 12mm diameter when expanded as in the picture.
Steve
Last edited:
charles matthews
New member
Ummm, fish: I'm using a Deltec 1060S on the sump, and an additional mce600 on one of the 120's. Particulates are a problem, and the skimmers are cleaned every night. I'm working on the particulate problem.
Jens- always a pleasure to hear from you, I hope to meet you one day. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dendros. I'll look up those papers.
Tactstat: is that 1-2 FEET/second? I presume so-. Also, what do you think the temp was there?
Steve; I have some individuals of this species; I think it's OK to call it a Scleronephthya although I don't have a better ID for it. It's one of the hardier ones. I have not been able to document them feeding on Cyclopeez- they're too big- but they do take Golden Pearls up to 250 microns very well. Try to keep visible particles in the water around them for at least 1 hour a few times daily (TOUGH, I know).
Sammy: I will respond to your request at length soon. I am working with Tran Song, a Duke biochemist and photographer, to set up a Web site for Dendros, which will contain videos of them feeding and lots of pictures, and I'd like all of you to participate with the site. I just need a place to store all the information.
My setup is very complicated, and this is a problem. It was designed for experimentation, and now I think I am ready to simplify and document all of this so that others can do it. Some observations:
1) Water must be SPS quality pristine.
2) Laminar flow of 6 inches/second or a little more.
3) Visible clouds of food continuously for at least 1 hour twice daily, probably much more.
4) They take Golden Pearls: when starved, their polyps are small, and will need 5-50 microns. When healthy, they take 100-250 microns and possibly a little larger. Color may require adding powdered phytoplankton, not sure yet- I am using Betameal. I put a small spoonful in a cup, swirl it around, and dump it several times each night from 4PM until 12PM, and feed a few times in the AM as well.
5) Fragging is eary- cut branchlets of 5-15 polyps and put them in a gravel bowl, they will attach is a few days to a week. Even better, let them attach to nylon screws and them screw them into a black acrylic base (I will be using this technique in the new setup).
6) Try setting up a "nutrient gradient"- next to a reef tank, put up a small tank (I am using a 25 gallon high with a single Vortech pump, bare bottom) with an overflow that goes into the refugium, then into the system (or use a filter sock or sponge pad, or even a bead filter); use Chaeto to control bacteria/cyano in the refugium. Input to the Dendro tank with a pump on a timer that draws from the skimmer output. Avoid microbubbles, they stream mucus when this occurs.
7) I am just starting to work with the vibratory feeders from aquaticeco-systems.com. I am hopeful this will allow minuscule feedings of powder almost continuously. Check them out!
Best to everyone and thanks
Charles Matthews
Jens- always a pleasure to hear from you, I hope to meet you one day. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dendros. I'll look up those papers.
Tactstat: is that 1-2 FEET/second? I presume so-. Also, what do you think the temp was there?
Steve; I have some individuals of this species; I think it's OK to call it a Scleronephthya although I don't have a better ID for it. It's one of the hardier ones. I have not been able to document them feeding on Cyclopeez- they're too big- but they do take Golden Pearls up to 250 microns very well. Try to keep visible particles in the water around them for at least 1 hour a few times daily (TOUGH, I know).
Sammy: I will respond to your request at length soon. I am working with Tran Song, a Duke biochemist and photographer, to set up a Web site for Dendros, which will contain videos of them feeding and lots of pictures, and I'd like all of you to participate with the site. I just need a place to store all the information.
My setup is very complicated, and this is a problem. It was designed for experimentation, and now I think I am ready to simplify and document all of this so that others can do it. Some observations:
1) Water must be SPS quality pristine.
2) Laminar flow of 6 inches/second or a little more.
3) Visible clouds of food continuously for at least 1 hour twice daily, probably much more.
4) They take Golden Pearls: when starved, their polyps are small, and will need 5-50 microns. When healthy, they take 100-250 microns and possibly a little larger. Color may require adding powdered phytoplankton, not sure yet- I am using Betameal. I put a small spoonful in a cup, swirl it around, and dump it several times each night from 4PM until 12PM, and feed a few times in the AM as well.
5) Fragging is eary- cut branchlets of 5-15 polyps and put them in a gravel bowl, they will attach is a few days to a week. Even better, let them attach to nylon screws and them screw them into a black acrylic base (I will be using this technique in the new setup).
6) Try setting up a "nutrient gradient"- next to a reef tank, put up a small tank (I am using a 25 gallon high with a single Vortech pump, bare bottom) with an overflow that goes into the refugium, then into the system (or use a filter sock or sponge pad, or even a bead filter); use Chaeto to control bacteria/cyano in the refugium. Input to the Dendro tank with a pump on a timer that draws from the skimmer output. Avoid microbubbles, they stream mucus when this occurs.
7) I am just starting to work with the vibratory feeders from aquaticeco-systems.com. I am hopeful this will allow minuscule feedings of powder almost continuously. Check them out!
Best to everyone and thanks
Charles Matthews
charles matthews
New member
Ummm, fish: I'm using a Deltec 1060S on the sump, and an additional mce600 on one of the 120's. Particulates are a problem, and the skimmers are cleaned every night. I'm working on the particulate problem.
Jens- always a pleasure to hear from you, I hope to meet you one day. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dendros. I'll look up those papers.
Tactstat: is that 1-2 FEET/second? I presume so-. Also, what do you think the temp was there?
Steve; I have some individuals of this species; I think it's OK to call it a Scleronephthya although I don't have a better ID for it. It's one of the hardier ones. I have not been able to document them feeding on Cyclopeez- they're too big- but they do take Golden Pearls up to 250 microns very well. Try to keep visible particles in the water around them for at least 1 hour a few times daily (TOUGH, I know).
Sammy: I will respond to your request at length soon. I am working with Tran Song, a Duke biochemist and photographer, to set up a Web site for Dendros, which will contain videos of them feeding and lots of pictures, and I'd like all of you to participate with the site. I just need a place to store all the information.
My setup is very complicated, and this is a problem. It was designed for experimentation, and now I think I am ready to simplify and document all of this so that others can do it. Some observations:
1) Water must be SPS quality pristine.
2) Laminar flow of 6 inches/second or a little more.
3) Visible clouds of food continuously for at least 1 hour twice daily, probably much more.
4) They take Golden Pearls: when starved, their polyps are small, and will need 5-50 microns. When healthy, they take 100-250 microns and possibly a little larger. Color may require adding powdered phytoplankton, not sure yet- I am using Betameal. I put a small spoonful in a cup, swirl it around, and dump it several times each night from 4PM until 12PM, and feed a few times in the AM as well.
5) Fragging is eary- cut branchlets of 5-15 polyps and put them in a gravel bowl, they will attach is a few days to a week. Even better, let them attach to nylon screws and them screw them into a black acrylic base (I will be using this technique in the new setup).
6) Try setting up a "nutrient gradient"- next to a reef tank, put up a small tank (I am using a 25 gallon high with a single Vortech pump, bare bottom) with an overflow that goes into the refugium, then into the system (or use a filter sock or sponge pad, or even a bead filter); use Chaeto to control bacteria/cyano in the refugium. Input to the Dendro tank with a pump on a timer that draws from the skimmer output. Avoid microbubbles, they stream mucus when this occurs.
7) I am just starting to work with the vibratory feeders from aquaticeco-systems.com. I am hopeful this will allow minuscule feedings of powder almost continuously. Check them out!
Best to everyone and thanks
Charles Matthews
Jens- always a pleasure to hear from you, I hope to meet you one day. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dendros. I'll look up those papers.
Tactstat: is that 1-2 FEET/second? I presume so-. Also, what do you think the temp was there?
Steve; I have some individuals of this species; I think it's OK to call it a Scleronephthya although I don't have a better ID for it. It's one of the hardier ones. I have not been able to document them feeding on Cyclopeez- they're too big- but they do take Golden Pearls up to 250 microns very well. Try to keep visible particles in the water around them for at least 1 hour a few times daily (TOUGH, I know).
Sammy: I will respond to your request at length soon. I am working with Tran Song, a Duke biochemist and photographer, to set up a Web site for Dendros, which will contain videos of them feeding and lots of pictures, and I'd like all of you to participate with the site. I just need a place to store all the information.
My setup is very complicated, and this is a problem. It was designed for experimentation, and now I think I am ready to simplify and document all of this so that others can do it. Some observations:
1) Water must be SPS quality pristine.
2) Laminar flow of 6 inches/second or a little more.
3) Visible clouds of food continuously for at least 1 hour twice daily, probably much more.
4) They take Golden Pearls: when starved, their polyps are small, and will need 5-50 microns. When healthy, they take 100-250 microns and possibly a little larger. Color may require adding powdered phytoplankton, not sure yet- I am using Betameal. I put a small spoonful in a cup, swirl it around, and dump it several times each night from 4PM until 12PM, and feed a few times in the AM as well.
5) Fragging is eary- cut branchlets of 5-15 polyps and put them in a gravel bowl, they will attach is a few days to a week. Even better, let them attach to nylon screws and them screw them into a black acrylic base (I will be using this technique in the new setup).
6) Try setting up a "nutrient gradient"- next to a reef tank, put up a small tank (I am using a 25 gallon high with a single Vortech pump, bare bottom) with an overflow that goes into the refugium, then into the system (or use a filter sock or sponge pad, or even a bead filter); use Chaeto to control bacteria/cyano in the refugium. Input to the Dendro tank with a pump on a timer that draws from the skimmer output. Avoid microbubbles, they stream mucus when this occurs.
7) I am just starting to work with the vibratory feeders from aquaticeco-systems.com. I am hopeful this will allow minuscule feedings of powder almost continuously. Check them out!
Best to everyone and thanks
Charles Matthews
Steve Atkins
New member
Can't be sure of the cyclopeze either. I usually make up a mix of these and Reef Roids to feed to the tank and also squirt it over the coral.
After I have my camera back from sensor cleaning I will try to take a few shots just after feeding and see what they have taken.
Steve
graveyardworm
Premium Member
Almost forgot this thread existed. 
. Saw a beautiful little Dendro at LFS today. Still resisting the temptation. They are becoming harder to find these days, good thing for them I guess.
. Saw a beautiful little Dendro at LFS today. Still resisting the temptation. They are becoming harder to find these days, good thing for them I guess.
