An inquisitive 6-line wrasse swims by, checking out
the camera activity. The small wrasses are some of
the best fishes for a reef tank. Intelligent and curious,
they learn to recognize their keepers and have unique
personalities. Their modest needs are easily met by
the average reef-keeper. A member of the wrasse
family is a definite "must-have". Many wrasses, such
as the yellow coris, will bury themselves in the sand
when sleeping or when frightened - causing concerns
for the keeper who cannot see them swimming about.
A yellow goby carefully watches the cameraman as
a purple gorgonian waves in the current behind him.
Small gobies are another interesting addition to any
reef tank. Like many other marine animals, they learn
to recognize the "one-who-feeds". Additionally, they
seem to enjoy watching the goings-on outside the tank,
whereas the wrasses are content to patrol the interior
of the tank. Both of these fish are jumpers, and care
should be taken to restrain these fish from leaping from
the tank if surprised by light or sudden movements.
Daytime shot of a bubble coral with it's polyps fully
engorged. Like most corals, their tissues contain a
symbiotic photosynthetic zoothenthella, and depend
upon proper lighting for nutrition. An inexpensive and
hardy reef-building coral suitable for most tanks - this
particular specimen doubled it's size in 3 months while
living in a 30 gallon mini-reef. As most hard corals kept
in captivity deposit calcium in order to construct their
skeletal structures, calcium hydroxide supplements
are a requirement for success in a closed reef system.
A healthy leather leaf coral surrounded by various
hallimedia sp. plants, and live rock encrusted with
purple coraline algae. All plant material and the tiny
waving hand polyp to the right grew from live rock that
had been presumed devoid of life, and was sold as
filler rock after languishing in the dealers stock for
months. But after a short time of exposure to healthy
conditions and adequate lighting, most of the growth
in this shot appeared. On a good day, you can almost
watch this stuff grow from the crevices in the rock.
Night shot of a bubble coral under ultraviolet lighting.
The long, sweeping tentacles are just beginning to
extend for it's nightly feeding ritual. Although most of
this particular species nutritional requirements are
met by the symbiotic photosynthetic zoothenthella,
supplemental feedings consisting of small pieces of
crab, shrimp, or fish are welcomed on a semimonthly
basis. Night feeding is recommended if you have
aggressive fish (damsels, etc.) or crabs in the same
tank, as they will tend to steal the food from the coral.
Another shot showing the profuse plant growth and
myriad of bright colors of the typical reef aquarium.
Under this rock lives a colorful pistol shrimp, not to be
confused with the dreaded mantis shrimp - although
they both exhibit the same tendency to generate loud
snapping sounds that are clearly heard outside the
tank when they are startled. Pistol shrimp sometimes
live in harmonious relationships with members of the
goby family, with each contributing to the upkeep of
their common domicile and safety of the other partner.
