Reefs UK Display Aquarium
At The Scarborough Sea Life Center
I contacted the Sea Life Center initially in September 99 to enquire on their livestock shipment methods and procedures, with the hope of using a similar method to ship Reef UK corals. In return I offered to supply them with captive propagated corals if they would like to consider establishing a tank.
Installation
From this point things moved very quickly, Paul Bullimore the Curator of Displays at the center was very keen to establish a reef aquarium, a few problems stood in the way however. The equipment to start the aquarium. Very quickly an agreement was made. The SLC would provide the filter, lighting and heating equipment, and members of Reefs UK donated a Seaclone skimmer and the tank itself.
Paul (an expert in cold water marines) and I discussed the water parameters and general care requirements of tropical marines, and once we were sure we could meet these the work on the tank began in ernest. Over the next couple of days all the necessary equipment was assembled and the sea life center staff started work preparing the tank.
Within the following two weeks the tank was installed into a wall within the center at the start of the Kingdom of the Seahorses exhibit. The reef wall was constructed using ocean rock and a few pieces of tufa. An RO unit would have been desirable but the SLC budget would not run to one, although one may be purchased in the future. It was decided to use a combination of nitrate and de-ioinising resin. Filled with de-ionised water and lit with a combination of white and blue tubes the unstocked tank looked fantastic. The external filter took just over a week to mature, plans were then made for the first shipment of corals. As soon as the filter was mature, some Caulerpa was added and I took down a few Mushroom Corals, so at least the tank had something in it for the public to look at.
Livestock
Over a period of six weeks we had shipments of livestock from Essex, London, Manchester and from myself here in Scarborough. All went well and the tank was stocked with several Medusa Corals (Cladiella sp), Star Polyps (Clavularia sp), Mushroom Corals (Actinidiscus sp and Ricordea sp), a Finger Coral and a lovely Blue Bush Coral. We did however have one disaster, loosing a large Medusa and a lovely Toadstool Coral, we believe this was due to the shipment getting very cold. Actions have been taken to ensure that this will not happen again with future shipments. In the shipment from Manchester came the tanks first fish. A Bangaii Cardinal Fish. Nicknamed "Bob", he settled down very well, and now nearly four months later he has grown to well over twice the size he was on arrival.
In December a pair of captive raised Common Clowns were added to the tank, they came directly from TMC and have settled down very well. Three months later, the clowns have settled very well and now appear to be forming a pair, with lots of shimmering, flicking and teasing each other. We really hope that they will spawn eventually, adding another special quality to the Reefs UK tank.
In January a pair of captive bred Fire Shrimps, again from TMC were added to the tank this splash of colour really draws the publics attention to the tank. They have grown well since they have been in the tank, and as with the clowns we are hoping that they will spawn. At this moment in time I do not know how feasible it would be for the SLC to attempt to raise any fry produced. This is something Paul and myself will look into if and when it happens.
Progress
The tank has now been stocked for just over four months now, all has gone very well really. The only problem of any kind has been hair algae, this turned into a big problem for a brief period. A combination of restrictive feeding, phosphate removers and increased water changes has begun to have an impact on the algae, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that by Easter when the center begins to get a large number of visitors again that the problem will be totally eradicated. Free leaflets are available to members of the public. These leaflets contain information about Reefs UK, the requirements of a marine tank, who to contact for advice, and encourage budding and established hobbyists to attempt captive propagation and captive breeding. Our intention is to continue to stock the tank over the coming months with more propagated corals donated by members of Reefs UK. If you would like to donate any captive raised livestock please contact Reefs UK, all shipping will be arranged and taken care of by Reefs UK and the SLC. In the last week two more coral cuttings have been added to the tank. The more diversity we can provide the better. Reefs UK needs to educate the public and the decision makers that the marine aquarium trade is not responsible for the destruction of the worlds coral reefs, and that the hobby is promoting the captive production of livestock.