still under construction
still under construction Above: This reef aquarium is serviced and maintained by Jeff Fyffe, our commercial systems service professional. This reef tank is an excellent example of the beauty a large colony of Pulsing Xenia (Xenia elongata) can bring to the marine aquarium. The opening and closing of the coral's polyps can add a distinct and very attractive movement to your aquarium.Above: Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caeruleus) spawning. These freshwater fish are from the rocky shores of Lake Malawi and are part of a group of cichlids called mbuna. Mbuna are some of the most colorful freshwater fish that can be easily maintained in the aquarium. They are aggressive to one another and therefore do best in heavily stocked tanks of at least 75 gallons. The large number of fish helps to spread the aggression so no single fish gets attacked exclusively, but instead everyone gets their share of knocks. Larger heavily decorated tanks also make it easier for the weaker fish to escape the dominate fish. These fish are maternal mouthbrooders, an interesting reproductive strategy. The female will lay her eggs and then turn around and pick them up in her mouth and the male will flash the "egg spots" on his anal fin. She will try to pick up these eggs as well and that is when the eggs in her mouth are fertilized. She will keep the eggs in her mouth until they hatch, and often for a few days after, allowing a safe place for the fry to hide. This aquarium is serviced and maintained by Scott Heidrich and is located in Newark, Ohio.Below: Another video of the same mbuna aquarium. |
