Smithsonian identification

[TrueTricia]

So I love looking at their tank. I am always disappointed by the lack of identifying information.

 

So can anyone tell me what kind of fish this is and what the yellow cup coral is?

 

And then this one's just cute!

[AlanM]

I believe that's a yellow turbinaria.  I have a frag of it that lives, but doesn't grow. 8)  Very pretty, I wish it would grow to look like that one.

[zygote2k]

Fish is Vlamingi tang

[Keraxis]

I think the purple coral is Magenta stylophora.  I just bought a frag of this at Dr. Macs.  

 

[DaveS]

Ask Phil at Reef eScape! They are the ones who service the tank. You can maybe also offer your suggestions.

[TrueTricia]

Thanks guys! It's always hilarious watching people point to the giant colonies of frog spawn and go "anemone!" Or think that the clam is eating Nemo. I literally went on Sunday and just stared at it for an hour.

[yauger]

didn't that cup coral come from Chipflowerseller?

[AlanM]

She said smithsonian, but did she mean national aquarium? I believe the cup coral at national aquarium came from chip. Is there a tank at the smithsonian?

[TrueTricia]

It's the Smithsonian.  It's at the Natural History Museum in the Ocean Hall.  They have the following species that I recognized/remember:

Yellow tangs

Tamini tang

Vlamingi tang

zebra dartfish

pajama cardinals

clowns

2 different species of anthias

blue chromis

bengaii cardinal

some kind of wrasse

 

I know I'm forgetting some fish .... Beautiful corals too.  They've got some huge frogspawns in there. 

[YHSublime]

As Dave mentioned, Phil at reef escape maintains it, he should be able to answer all your questions!

[howaboutme]

Anyone that's been in the hobby for a while and has lived in this area want to comment on the big tank crash (2008/2009??) that happened?

 

Not my photos:

 

 

 

If this plaque doesn't scare you away from SPS, what will!!!

 

From what I have read:

 

-Eutrophication from bound P and no where else to go

-Use of ATS as filtration but (see next point)

-There were tons of algae growth overrunning the corals despite a lot of tangs

 

Note that the ATS was invented by the head scientist at the MNH in the 70s, I believe. I've also read that the technique of using ATS has been modified since then.

 

 

[davelin315]

I believe the tank crash was what led them to hire Phil eventually. My understanding is it was due to insufficient husbandry.

[Grav]

Wow, a pile of interesting questions and correct information in the responses here. 

 

As far as updating the reader boards, this is difficult and expensive.  Since we took over, I've been suggesting they change the sign with a picture of an anemone with a clownfish as this leads people to conclude that was is actually a clam, is an long tentacle anemone. I will not say how much I was told it would cost... but it was a lot. 

 

In mid to late 2009 there was a number of issues with the aquarium.  We were not there when it happened and can not tell you for certain what the cause(s) may have been.  I believe there were some poor decisions made and some routine maintenance was skipped.   

 

Reef eScape took over management of the aquarium in early 2010.  Initially we were hand picked by and worked together as a subcontract to the FL firm that installed the tank Reef Aquarium Design (RAD).  Later, by mutual agreement of RAD, Smithsonian, the Vet that oversees the care and the Animal Care and Use Committee Reef eScape took over primary management of the tank.  Reef eScape's Fairfax location is where all quarantine work including 90+ day QT cycles for all vertebrates headed to the the NMNH Sant Ocean Hall aquarium occurs. 

 

To my knowledge, there was never an algae turf scrubber (ATS) on this tank.  There are 2 refugia holding calurpa, cheato and other algaes as well as a mangrove zone. 

 

I'm not the only one that works on that tank.  We have a whole team.  Who else wants to be on the team??? 

Edited September 19, 2014 by Grav

[TrueTricia]

Wow, a pile of interesting questions and correct information in the responses here.

 

As far as updating the reader boards, this is difficult and expensive. Since we took over, I've been suggesting they change the sign with a picture of an anemone with a clownfish as this leads people to conclude that was is actually a clam, is an long tentacle anemone. I will not say how much I was told it would cost... but it was a lot.

 

In mid to late 2009 there was a number of issues with the aquarium. We were not there when it happened and can not tell you for certain what the cause(s) may have been. I believe there were some poor decisions made and some routine maintenance was skipped.

 

Reef eScape took over management of the aquarium in early 2010. Initially we were hand picked by and worked together as a subcontract to the FL firm that installed the tank Reef Aquarium Design (RAD). Later, by mutual agreement of RAD, Smithsonian, the Vet that oversees the care and the Animal Care and Use Committee Reef eScape took over primary management of the tank. Reef eScape's Fairfax location is where all quarantine work including 90+ day QT cycles for all vertebrates headed to the the NMNH Sant Ocean Hall aquarium occurs.

 

To my knowledge, there was never an algae turf scrubber (ATS) on this tank. There are 2 refugia holding calurpa, cheato and other algaes as well as a mangrove zone.

 

I'm not the only one that works on that tank. We have a whole team. Who else wants to be on the team???

Yep. I figured the cost of changing the signs was too much to bother with. It is interesting to think what other signs are incorrect.

 

The tank looks amazing. It's so beautiful now. I really do love going there and just staring at everything. The clowns and the clam are hilarious!

 

So is that a yellow turbinaria (sp)? If you ever accidentally break a piece. .... It's beautiful.

[davelin315]

I can tell you that graphics typically cost upwards of $1500 for the cheap ones which is why static graphics in Aquariums are becoming obsolete in favor of digital displays.

[AlanM]

I can tell you that graphics typically cost upwards of $1500 for the cheap ones which is why static graphics in Aquariums are becoming obsolete in favor of digital displays.

 

Do like fish stores and just write on the tank with a sharpie. 8)

[TrueTricia]

Do like fish stores and just write on the tank with a sharpie. 8)

 

Yes, but then the kids visiting will start writing on the tank with a sharpie, and that's just guaranteed to end badly!

[Keraxis]

Wall mounted 42 inch tv with a scrolling feed.  Can talk about what ever you want and you can change it as often as needed.  Tv costs about $400.  Then a DVD player can be had for $30.

Edited September 19, 2014 by Keraxis

[AlanM]

Wall mounted 42 inch tv with a scrolling feed.  Can talk about what ever you want and you can change it as often as needed.  Tv costs about $400.  Then a DVD player can be had for $30.

 

I agree with this.  We did exactly this with out big, expensive science displays that were mounted at each experiment.  They were previously on all of these big metal vertical flip boards like a huge book with a stand bolted to the floor.  We got rid of those and got a TV with a flash drive stuck in the back and PNGs of powerpoint slides on it running as a slide show.  We can screw the TV right in to the wall, and it looks great,  About 400 bucks like he said.

[YHSublime]

I agree with this. We did exactly this with out big, expensive science displays that were mounted at each experiment. They were previously on all of these big metal vertical flip boards like a huge book with a stand bolted to the floor. We got rid of those and got a TV with a flash drive stuck in the back and PNGs of powerpoint slides on it running as a slide show. We can screw the TV right in to the wall, and it looks great, About 400 bucks like he said.

But then you have to worry about the visually impaired. And it would probably get loud with all those displays talking. I'm sure there is some bureaucracy involved. The easiest ideas are the hardest to implement, I face this stumbling block at work ALL the time.