Weekly Spotlight

For a fun change of pace, we present four riddles to you. See if you can discern what the author describes ambiguously... answers are provided if you are truly stumped.
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The Harlequin Shrimp –Hymenocera picta

With its oversized paddle claws and mottled coloration, the Harlequin Shrimp is one of the most out-of-this-world looking animals reef enthusiasts can put into their aquariums. As is the case with so many of the coolest looking reef animals, the special dietary requirements of the Harlequin Shrimp keep many people from owning them. The one and only thing an adult Harlequin Shrimp will eat are echinoderms, or for the non-nerd reefkeepers, seastars (starfish).

Common Name: Harlequin shrimp
Latin: Hymenocera picta, H. elegans
Origin: Hawaii, Red Sea, Indo-Pacific ...

In honor of this week’s uber American Holiday of Thanksgiving I thought it would be fun to talk about feeding your tank. Feeding & Foraging has been a big part of my career and studies for over a decade now. Analyzing the amount of food consumed by reef fishes was something I studied years ago thinking it was a passing assignment. Little did I know how many people would still be asking me about this topic years later.

How much should I feed my fish, and how often?
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Coral fluorescence has been observed and documented for several years now. However only in the last few years have we seen significant documentation and exploration. Coral fluorescence broke onto the scene in 2004 when Dr. Charles Mazel presented his stunning photographs and discoveries with the world at IMAC. Following that presentation the number of people experimenting with coral fluorescence boomed. And here just a few years later we have dozens of hobbyists around the world documenting ...

Introduction
Many hobbyists concern themselves with elements and compounds in their water that may impact the health of their livestock, and for good reason. The effects of copper are widely known and serve as the quintessential example for removing (or preventing the addition of) harmful substances from the aquarium. However one item that has drawn some attention over the years is the collective group of silicates.

Background
Silicates are a group of compounds ...

This hobby has been dominated by white lights with blue actinics for years. Recently I covered the topic of using green light to get more fluorescence out of your corals (http://reefbuilders.com/2010/04/06/g...orescence-red/). Now, we bring you the topic of using red light to increase reflective coloration. ...