florida joe
Well-Known Member
After reading a thread in which a hobbyist asked a question about what do corals eat and do I have to feed them. I think this information is vital
. The following information was culled from a paper I read on the subject written by an expert on corals ERIC H. BORNEMAN
Early in the life of a coral polyp, it may adapt or as some say be infected by a strain of single celled algae known as zooxanthellae. These algal cells are exceedingly small about 10,000 would fit on an area the size of a period in a printed sentence. Even a small colony of coral harbors millions of zooxanthellae.
These microscopic cells allow corals to thrive and build tremendous reef structures in nutrient starved tropical waters. Possessing chlorophyll, the zooxanthellae are able to synthesize oxygen and energy rich products using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water by means of photosytisis. The relationship is highly complex. Simply put, a basic symbiosis exists that allows the algae to exist in a stable environment with protection from predication in the open sea. The zooxanthellae also benefit from the dissolved nutrients that the polyps absorb especially nitrate and phosphate. The coral also provides ammonia from its own metabolic process to feed its algal partners.
In return the zooxanthellae nourish the polyp with the energy rich products of photosytises. This type of relationship is known as mutualism.
The presents or absence of zooxanthellae is the characteristic used to divide all corals into two groups. It is of utmost importance for the home aquarist to understand which group the corals they wish to keep fall into.
Corals are classified as being Zooxanthellae when they posses zooxanthellae in their tissues. They are also called Symbiotic corals. Azooxanthellae lack zooxanthellae and can live in darkened locations relying not on sunlight but on their ability to catch zooplankton. or to absorb nutrients from the water. Such corals are referred to as aposymbiotic.
In summery (and this is my own words) Zooxanthellae corals need not be “feed by the hobbyist” they get what they need from the proper illumination and trace elements supplied by the salt water we provide.
Azooxanthellae corals need supplementation feeding mostly zooplankton and need much less if any illumination. An important difference for the hobbyist starting their first reef system.Some hobbyists maybe able expand on the thread. I think this information is a corner stone in the maintaining of a reef tank. And the more info we get the better prepared. I can incorporate any additional information into the thread, with all due recognition.
NYCBOB adds
Many new reefers tend to overfeed or feed their corals or zoas thinking its good for them, but ended up compromising their water quality.
Spanko adds this info obtained from Hatcher, 1988
"The quality and fates of coral primary production imply that zooxanthellae provide "junk food" to their hosts, and beg the question of nutrient limitation of coral growth rates under conditions of adequate light…On present evidence it seems clear that all corals need to supplement their diet (with food) from outside the symbiosis (heterotopy) in order to meet these requirements."
please continue on to part TWO
. The following information was culled from a paper I read on the subject written by an expert on corals ERIC H. BORNEMAN
Early in the life of a coral polyp, it may adapt or as some say be infected by a strain of single celled algae known as zooxanthellae. These algal cells are exceedingly small about 10,000 would fit on an area the size of a period in a printed sentence. Even a small colony of coral harbors millions of zooxanthellae.
These microscopic cells allow corals to thrive and build tremendous reef structures in nutrient starved tropical waters. Possessing chlorophyll, the zooxanthellae are able to synthesize oxygen and energy rich products using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water by means of photosytisis. The relationship is highly complex. Simply put, a basic symbiosis exists that allows the algae to exist in a stable environment with protection from predication in the open sea. The zooxanthellae also benefit from the dissolved nutrients that the polyps absorb especially nitrate and phosphate. The coral also provides ammonia from its own metabolic process to feed its algal partners.
In return the zooxanthellae nourish the polyp with the energy rich products of photosytises. This type of relationship is known as mutualism.
The presents or absence of zooxanthellae is the characteristic used to divide all corals into two groups. It is of utmost importance for the home aquarist to understand which group the corals they wish to keep fall into.
Corals are classified as being Zooxanthellae when they posses zooxanthellae in their tissues. They are also called Symbiotic corals. Azooxanthellae lack zooxanthellae and can live in darkened locations relying not on sunlight but on their ability to catch zooplankton. or to absorb nutrients from the water. Such corals are referred to as aposymbiotic.
In summery (and this is my own words) Zooxanthellae corals need not be “feed by the hobbyist” they get what they need from the proper illumination and trace elements supplied by the salt water we provide.
Azooxanthellae corals need supplementation feeding mostly zooplankton and need much less if any illumination. An important difference for the hobbyist starting their first reef system.Some hobbyists maybe able expand on the thread. I think this information is a corner stone in the maintaining of a reef tank. And the more info we get the better prepared. I can incorporate any additional information into the thread, with all due recognition.
NYCBOB adds
Many new reefers tend to overfeed or feed their corals or zoas thinking its good for them, but ended up compromising their water quality.
Spanko adds this info obtained from Hatcher, 1988
"The quality and fates of coral primary production imply that zooxanthellae provide "junk food" to their hosts, and beg the question of nutrient limitation of coral growth rates under conditions of adequate light…On present evidence it seems clear that all corals need to supplement their diet (with food) from outside the symbiosis (heterotopy) in order to meet these requirements."
please continue on to part TWO
