Facility
The facility being used to develop clonal lines is Reef Savers, Inc., a large coral farm in Stafford,
Texas. Several systems were set aside and designated exclusively for the project, with numerous
systems available for expansion, if required. The systems are composed of 250-gallon acrylic
tank modules, with a total system volume of approximately 5000 gallons. Each module tank
shares the same system water volume, although each tank is capable of being isolated by shut
off-valves from every other tank in the module. Each tank is illuminated by various
combinations of metal halide lamps, ranging from 250 – 400 watts utilizing different spectrums
from 6500K to 20,000K, depending on the depth and irradiance levels that
are being emulated. Additionally, very high output actinic fluorescent lamps are used to simulate
dawn and dusk and allow for a more gradual and natural increase and decrease in photosynthetic
rates of coral colonies.
The tanks are designed to maximize gas exchange and ensure saturated or supersaturated levels
of oxygen. Water flow is provided by a number of methods. Primary flow is accomplished large
diameter outflows of commercial grade centrifugal pumps. By themselves, they provide
unidirectional flow along the length of the tank that is between 5-20 cm/second depending on the
distance from the pump outflow. This alone provides water flow equivalent to areas of maximal
coral diversity. In addition, large outflow “propeller” powerheads (Tunze Stream pumps) provide
turbulence against the laminar flow with total flow per powerhead of approximately 7,000 –
10,000 gallons/hour. Finally, surge tanks are used on one system designed to emulate to highenergy
environment, allowing an environment conducive to rapid growth of shallow water
species.
Water quality is maintained on each system by the use of large protein skimmers using Mazzei
venturis and each powered by a designated high-pressure commercial pump. A four inch deep
sand bed is used in each tank of fine-grained oolitic aragonite sand to provide habitat for
decomposing meiofauna and microbial flora that is a primary source of nutrient processing.
Additionally, live rock is used in the sump of each stack to increase habitat and biodiversity for
meiofauna and the production of zooplankton. Pacific systems utilize Pacific live rock and
Caribbean systems utilize Atlantic aquacultured live rock. Water for the systems is artificial,
utilizing Crystal Seas BioAssay formula (Marine Enterprises, Inc.). Source water is purified
through a commercial mixed bed deionization and reverse osmosis system, and mixed seawater
additionally filtered though a 2 micron cartridge filter to further remove impurities.
Calcium and carbonate is replenished by several means; through the addition of reagent grade
calcium chloride and sodium carbonate, and by calcium reactors. The reactors operate by
bubbling carbon dioxide through a specially designed chamber containing various natural marine
sources of calcium carbonate that we have mixed to maximize various minor and trace element
constituents. No other elements are added as supplements to the systems. Water quality is
measured regularly, and average values are shown in Table 1.
