Turbinaria is a genus encompassing both brown algae and stony corals, each with distinct characteristics. Brown algae (like Turbinaria ornata) are marine organisms with an upright, tough thallus resembling a pinecone. They are often found in tropical waters, attached to rocks or coral heads, and can be invasive in some areas. Stony corals (like Turbinaria peltata) form colonies with corallites, which are the skeletal structures where polyps reside. They can be disc-shaped, vase-shaped, or plate-like, and are commonly found in reef environments.
Brown Algae (Turbinaria):
Appearance: Erect, radially branched, with blades or "laterals" that can be turbinate or peltate. The overall structure resembles a long pinecone.
Habitat: Primarily found in tropical marine environments, especially coral reefs.
Growth: Can be invasive in some areas, colonizing reefs and outcompeting other species.
Examples: Turbinaria ornata (Crowded or Crowned Sea Bells)
Stony Corals (Turbinaria):
Appearance: Colonial, with corallites (skeletal structures) arranged in various forms like discs, vases, or plates.
Habitat: Coral reefs in various depths and water conditions.
Growth: Can form large colonies, sometimes dominating reef ecosystems.
Examples: Turbinaria peltata (Disc Coral), Turbinaria mesenterina
Key Differences:
Structure:
Brown algae have a thallus (non-animal tissue) with blades, while stony corals have a skeletal structure with corallites.
Growth:
Brown algae can fragment and reproduce vegetatively, while stony corals reproduce sexually.
Invasiveness:
Some brown algae species are considered invasive, while stony corals are generally not considered invasive.
price per polyp
Duncanopsammia is a genus of stony coral consisting of a single species, Duncanopsammia axifuga, also known as whisker coral or duncan coral. These corals form colonies of individual polyps with round skeletal bases (corallites) that can be quite large. They are commonly found in the deeper waters of Western and Northern Australia, as well as the South China Sea.
Key characteristics of Duncanopsammia axifuga:
Appearance: The polyps are large and have brightly colored oral discs.
Habitat: They prefer solid objects in sandy areas.
Lighting: They thrive under low to moderate lighting.
Water Quality: They need high pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels, along with low phosphate and nitrate levels.
Feeding: They can rely on symbiotic zooxanthellae algae for photosynthesis and may also benefit from supplemental feeding of meaty marine foods like mysis and brine shrimp.
Temperament: Duncanopsammia corals are generally peaceful and can be housed with other non-aggressive corals and invertebrates, provided they have ample space to grow.
Growth: They are considered a large polyp stony (LPS) coral and can be a good choice for beginners, known for their relatively slow growth rate.
Coloration: They can come in various colors, including vibrant greens.
Tentacles: The polyps have tentacles that can retract and extend, resembling an anemone.
Commensal organisms: They can sometimes host commensal organisms like barnacles.
Defensive Mechanism: Duncan corals can release sweeper/feeder tentacles that can sting and damage other corals.
Flow: They do best with a moderate flow of water.
Price per 1 polyp
Euphyllia glabrescens, commonly known as Torch Coral, is a large-polyp stony coral characterized by its long, tubular polyps with knob-like tips and a range of colors, often bicolored with contrasting tentacle tips. These corals are colonial, with corallites (individual coral units) spaced apart and having thin, sharp-edged walls.
Key features of Euphyllia glabrescens:
Appearance:
Long, tubular polyps resembling a torch, with a variety of colors including brown, green, pink, and fluorescent shades.
Colony Structure:
Phaceloid (corallites arranged in a branching pattern), with corallites 20-30 mm in diameter and spaced 15-30 mm apart.
Tentacles:
Large, tubular tentacles with knob-like tips.
Color:
Can be found in various colors, often with contrasting colors on the tentacles and polyp tips.
Care:
Suitable for intermediate-level reef keepers, requiring stable water parameters, moderate to high lighting, and moderate water flow.
Feeding:
While they can photosynthesize, they benefit from supplemental feeding with small meaty foods like zooplankton or coral-specific foods.
Aggression:
Can have sweeper tentacles that may harm neighboring corals, so they should be placed away from other corals.
Compatibility:
Clownfish often use torch corals as their home
Pavona corals are a genus of colonial, stony corals known for their various growth forms and common names like "Cactus Coral," "Potato Chip Coral," or "Lettuce Coral". They are part of the Agariciidae family and are distinguished by having clearly defined septocostae connecting corallites, resulting in a flower-like pattern on their surface. Pavona species exhibit a range of colors and growth forms, including columnar, club-shaped, or plate-like colonies.
Here's a more detailed look at Pavona corals:
Key Features:
Colonial:
They grow in colonies, forming various shapes like plates, branches, or columns.
Stony Corals:
They are a type of hard coral, meaning their skeletons are made of calcium carbonate.
Corallites:
They have shallow depressions called corallites, which are the individual polyp chambers within the colony.
Septocostae:
These are radial structures connecting the corallites, creating a distinct pattern on the coral's surface.
Zooxanthellae:
They contain symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis.
Growth Forms:
Pavona corals can exhibit different growth forms, including columnar (Pavona clavus), plate-like (Pavona cactus), and branched (Pavona frondifera).
Examples of Pavona Species:
Pavona cactus:
Often called "Cactus Coral" or "Potato Chip Coral," they form thin, plate-like colonies with a distinctive cactus or lettuce-like appearance.
Pavona clavus:
Known for its columnar or club-shaped colonies, sometimes forming extensive single-species stands.
Pavona duerdeni:
This species forms clusters of cream-colored lobes or discs, with a smooth appearance due to the small corallites on their surface.
Pavona frondifera:
This species has a more delicate, frond-like growth form, often found in lagoons and on upper reef slopes.
Care Considerations:
Lighting:
Pavona corals typically thrive in medium to strong lighting.
Water Movement:
They generally benefit from medium to strong water movement to help with feeding and prevent the accumulation of detritus.
Feeding:
While they are primarily photosynthetic, they may also feed on rotifers and other microfauna.
Aggression:
Some Pavona species, like encrusting forms, can be aggressive and may sting other corals.
Stylophora pistillata, commonly called smooth cauliflower coral or hood coral, is a species of stony coral in the Indo-Pacific region. It has a branching growth form, with blunt-ended branches that thicken and become more massive as the colony matures. Corallites (the individual polyps' stony cups) are conical or hooded and partially submerged in the coenosteum (the stony framework of the colony). These corallites have a prominent, solid columella (the central column) and may have six primary and sometimes six secondary septa (stony plates forming the corallite wall). The coenosteum is covered in fine spinules. Colonies can be cream, pink, bluish, or green.
Key features of Stylophora pistillata:
Growth Form: Branching, with branches becoming thick and submassive.
Corallites: Conical or hooded, with a prominent columella and septa.
Colony Size: Up to 50 cm in diameter.
Color: Cream, pink, bluish, or green.
Habitat: Shallow water reef environments exposed to strong wave action.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific region
Acropora corals are hard corals characterized by their branched or tabular morphology, fast growth rate, and high morphological plasticity. They are a vital functional group in coral reefs, creating complex habitats and covering hectares of reef surface.
Here's a more detailed look:
Key Characteristics:
Growth Pattern:
Acropora corals grow in colonies, with branches formed by axial and radial polyps.
Habitat:
They are typically found in shallow, clear, unpolluted water with ample light, temperature above 20°C, and constant salinity.
Morphology:
Their colonies can take on various forms, including arborescent (tree-like), table-like, corymbose (cushion-like), digitate (finger-like), hispidose, and encrusting.
Importance:
Acropora corals are crucial for building the structure of coral reefs and providing habitats for a variety of marine life.
Factors Affecting Acropora:
Water Quality: Clear, unpolluted water is essential for growth and survival.
Lighting: They require ample light for their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) to photosynthesize.
Temperature: Optimal temperatures above 20°C are needed.
Salinity: Constant salinity levels are important.
The Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus, commonly known as the banded pipefish or ringed pipefish, is a distinctive species characterized by its elongated, straight body and alternating pale and reddish-brown to blackish bands. It typically reaches a length of 15-20 cm. The caudal fin is reddish with white dorsal and ventral margins, often featuring 1-3 white spots in the center. This fish is found in lagoons, tidal pools, and outer reefs, inhabiting caves and crevices.
Key characteristics:
Body Shape: Elongated and straight, resembling a ribbon.
Coloration: Alternating pale and reddish-brown to blackish bands.
Caudal Fin: Reddish with white dorsal and ventral margins, sometimes with white spots.
Size: Generally 15-20 cm in length.
Habitat: Lagoons, tidal pools, outer reef slopes, caves, and crevices.
Social Behavior: Solitary, in pairs, or in small aggregations.
Diet: Primarily small crustaceans like copepods, mysis, and artemia.
Reproduction: Ovoviviparous, with the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch.
Other notable features:
Fleshy streams: May have fleshy streams extending from the head, potentially for camouflage.
Territorial: Can be territorial and may not tolerate other fish with similar behavior.
Difficult to Acclimatize: Can be challenging to feed in captivity, preferring live foods.
Chrysiptera parasema, commonly known as the Yellowtail Blue Damsel or Goldtail Demoiselle, is a small, vibrant saltwater fish with a distinct blue body and bright yellow tail. It is a popular aquarium fish due to its hardiness and striking appearance.
Key Features:
Appearance: The body is a rich, velvety dark blue, with a bright yellow tail (caudal fin) and sometimes yellow on the back of the anal and dorsal fins.
Size: Reaches up to 2.8-3 inches (7.1-7.6 cm) in length.
Origin: Found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Behavior: Known for being semi-aggressive and territorial, especially in confined spaces.
Diet: Omnivorous, eating algae, invertebrates, and small crustaceans.
Reef Compatibility: Generally reef-safe.
Care: Requires a well-established reef aquarium with ample hiding places, stable water parameters, and a diet of high-quality foods.
Distinguishing Features:
The yellow tail is a key characteristic that distinguishes it from similar damselfish species, such as the Azure Demoiselle (Chrysiptera hemicyanea), which has more yellow coloration on its body.
It can also be distinguished from other similar species by the intensity of the blue coloration and the presence of yellow on the caudal peduncle.
In Summary:
The Yellowtail Blue Damsel is a beautiful, relatively hardy, and popular aquarium fish known for its striking colors and unique tail. It's important to note that it can be territorial and requires a suitable aquarium environment to thrive.
The Banggai cardinalfish is a small, disc-shaped marine fish known for its striking appearance and unique reproductive behavior. It is characterized by a tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated second dorsal and anal fins, and a deeply forked tail. Its body is silver with contrasting black vertical bars and white spots, and it is popular in the aquarium trade.
Physical Description:
Size: Typically grows up to 8 centimeters (3 inches) in length.
Shape: Disc-shaped body with a distinctive profile.
Fins: Tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated second dorsal and anal fins, and a deeply forked caudal fin.
Coloration: Silver body with three prominent black bars and numerous white spots, especially on the fins.
Other Notable Features:
Mouthbrooding: The male Banggai cardinalfish incubates the eggs in his mouth, a unique reproductive trait.
Habitat: Found in shallow, sheltered areas like coral reefs and seagrass beds in the Banggai Islands of Indonesia.
Diet: Primarily consumes copepods and other small crustaceans.
Temperament: Generally peaceful and can be kept with other peaceful fish in a reef aquarium, but males may exhibit some territorial behavior in smaller tanks.
Conservation Status: Endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss.
