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Mushrooms
The Actinodiscus Mushroom are also referred to as Mushroom Anemones and Disc Anemones. This variety of mushroom coral is metallic green, and under actinic lighting appear to fluoresce. They are a wonderful invertebrate for bottom placement in a reef aquarium. Over time, they will reproduce, forming a carpet covering the rockwork and sand.
They are hardy and easy to maintain. In general, they need a medium light level, and should be placed lower in the tank if the light intensity is high. These mushrooms require a low to moderate indirect water flow. Too much water movement will inhibit these mushrooms to fully expand. They are semi-aggressive and require adequate space between
themselves and other corals and sessile invertebrates. Each ships as several individual mushrooms attached to one rock.
The Green Fluorescent Mushroom receives most of its nutritional requirements through the photosynthesis of the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae which it hosts. It also feeds on other nutrients and particulate matter and benefits from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp fed to each polyp of the colony.
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Blood Red Fire Shrimp
The Blood Red Fire Shrimp, also known as Blood Shrimp, Fire Shrimp, or Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, is one of the most popular shrimp in the aquarium hobby. It has a blood-red body with white spots and long white antennae. Depending on which region of the Indo-Pacific from which it originates, it may have the white dots just on its carapace, or covering its entire body.
The Blood Red Fire Shrimp prefers a habitat providing it with a cave or overhang where the lighting is not too intense. While it will tolerate its mate, others of its own kind will be chased away or harassed. It is generally peaceful with most other organisms in the reef system unless they impinge on its territory. As a "cleaner shrimp," it will set up cleaning stations and remove dead tissue and parasites from fish that present themselves. It will also scavenge for meaty bits along the substrate bottom. Often, only its antennae will be visible. It will not tolerate copper or high levels of nitrates in the aquarium, but will require correct levels of iodine in the water to promote proper molting.
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Poylps
The Protopalythoa Button Polyp Corals, also referred to as Moon Polyps, Encrusting Anemones, or Sea Mats, are generally brown or tan in color, but may also be green and fluoresce under actinic lighting. They are a colonial animal with multiple individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock or coral rubble.
They are very easy to maintain in the reef aquarium. Their polyps have the ability to sting other animals and are semi-aggressive, therefore, they need to have space between their colony and any neighbors. They also grow rapidly and will crowd out their neighbors including any sessile life. They require a medium
light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.
The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provides the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. They benefit from weekly feedings of micro-plankton or brine shrimp which should be fed to each individual of the colony.
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Yellow Fiji Leather
The Yellow Fiji Leather Coral may be referred to as the Sarcophyton elegans Coral. It can be found in shades of yellow, and unlike other Sarcophyton corals, it does not grow an extended stalk. Instead, these corals grow close to the rockwork,
and will develop beautiful ruffles around the edges.
It is a relatively peaceful coral but adequate space should be provided between itself and others in the reef aquarium. The Yellow Fiji Leather Coral requires medium to high lighting combined with moderate to strong water movement.
For continued good health, it will also require the addition of strontium, iodine, and other trace elements to the water.
Culturing by the experienced hobbyist is often accomplished by cutting off a portion of the crown and attaching that piece to live rock or placing it in the sandy bottom of the reef aquarium.
The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provides the majority of its nutritional needs from the light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also benefit from additional food such as micro-plankton, baby brine shrimp, or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.
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Purple Ribbon Gorgonian
The Purple Ribbon Gorgonian is also referred to as Sea Whip, or Purple Sea Blade. It is a branching coral that is closely related to hard corals and predominately found in shallow waters. Its branches are flattened and blade-like, with polyps extending along the edges. Like other members of this family, it is photosynthetic. It is extremely difficult to identify its exact species unless it is examined under a microscope. Members of the Gorgonians, have rigid skeletal structures composed of a calcite and a hard protein called gorgonin.
The Purple Ribbon Gorgonian is peaceful, but it should be given adequate space away from neighboring corals or anemones. Underwater epoxy is commonly used to anchor its base to a piece of live rock in the reef aquarium. It is difficult to maintain, but makes a rewarding addition to the well-established reef system. It requires medium to high lighting combined with a much stronger water flow than other members of its family. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of iodine, calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.It relies on photosynthesis, but its diet should also include regular feedings of micro-plankton, live, baby brine shrimp, or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates, in order to survive in the reef aquarium.
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Torch CoralThe Euphyllia Torch Coral is a large polyp stony coral, often referred to as Trumpet Coral or Pom-Pom Coral. It has long and flowing polyps with single rounded tips which are visible throughout the day and night, hiding its branching skeletal base most of the time. It may be brown or green with yellow on the tips of its tentacles. The yellow will sometimes appear to glow under actinic lighting.
Provide plenty of room between the Euphyllia Torch Coral and other sessile animals, since at night, its sweeper tentacles can extend up to several inches from its base and sting other coral species. It is moderately difficult to maintain, but it is a popular coral that will thrive under proper conditions and excellent water quality parameters. Ideally, it needs to have moderate lighting combined with moderate water movement within the aquarium. Its aquatic home will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water for its continued good health. It will also benefit from additional food fed weekly in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp.
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