CORAL REEFS

Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps are like tiny sea anemones, to which they are closely related. Unlike sea anemones, coral polyps secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect their bodies. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.

Often called “rainforests of the sea”, coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for 25% of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller scales in other areas.

Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at US$ 375 billion. However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. They are under threat from climate change, ocean acidification, blast fishing, cyanide fishing for aquarium fish, overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use practices, including urban and agricultural runoff and water pollution, which can harm reefs by encouraging excess algal growth.

Jelly Fish

Jellyfish are the major non-polyp form of individuals of the phylum Cnidaria. They are typified as free-swimming marine animals consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles. The bell can pulsate for locomotion, while stinging tentacles can be used to capture prey.

Jellyfish are found in every ocean, from the surface to the deep sea. A few jellyfish inhabit freshwater. Large, often colorful, jellyfish are common in coastal zones worldwide. Jellyfish have roamed the seas for at least 500 million years, and possibly 700 million years or more, making them the oldest multi-organ animal.

SQUID

Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles. Squid are strong swimmers and certain species can "fly" for short distances out of the water.

Modification from ancestral forms

Squid have differentiated from their ancestral molluscs such that the body plan has been condensed antero-posteriorly and extended dorso-ventrally. What before may have been the foot of the ancestor is modified into a complex set of tentacles and highly developed sense organs, including advanced eyes similar to those of vertebrates.

The ancestral shell has been lost, with only an internal gladius, or pen, remaining. The pen is a feather-shaped internal structure that supports the squid's mantle and serves as a site for muscle attachment. It is made of a chitin-like material.

Kerang darah (Anadara granosa)

Kerang darah (Anadara granosa) adalah sejenis kerang yang biasa dimakan oleh warga Asia Timur dan Asia Tenggara. Anggota suku Arcidae ini disebut kerang darah karena ia menghasilkan hemoglobin dalam cairan merah yang dihasilkannya.

Kerang ini menghuni kawasan Indo-Pasifik dan tersebar dari pantai Afrika timur sampai ke Polinesia. Hewan ini gemar memendam dirinya ke dalam pasir atau lumpur dan tinggal di mintakat pasang surut. Dewasanya berukuran 5 sampai 6 cm panjang dan 4 sampai 5 cm lebar.

Budidaya kerang darah sudah dilakukan dan ia memiliki nilai ekonomi yang baik. Meskipun biasanya direbus atau dikukus, kerang ini dapat pula digoreng atau dijadikan satai dan makanan kering ringan. Ada pula yang memakannya mentah.

STARFISH

Starfish or sea stars are echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. The names "starfish" and "sea star" essentially refer to members of the class Asteroidea. However, common usage frequently finds these names also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as "brittle stars" or "basket stars". About 1,800 living species of starfish occur in all the world's oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern Ocean regions. Starfish occur across a broad depth range from the intertidal to abyssal depths of greater than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

Starfish are among the most familiar of marine animals found on the seabed. They typically have a central disc and five arms, though some species have many more arms than this. The aboral or upper surface may be smooth, granular or spiny, and is covered with overlapping plates. Many species are brightly coloured in various shades of red or orange, while others are blue, grey, brown, or drab. Starfish have tube feet operated by a hydraulic system and a mouth at the centre of the oral or lower surface. They are opportunistic feeders and are mostly predators on benthic invertebrates. Several species having specialized feeding behaviours, including suspension feeding and adaptations for feeding on specific prey. They have complex life cycles and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Most can regenerate damaged or lost arms.

HOW TO KEEP MARINE FISH, CORALS AND INVERTEBRATES

If you’re sick of different websites and books telling you conflicting or confusing saltwater aquarium information and don't know where to turn, you are not alone... Let me ask you a question, are you interested in discovering a collection of my personal tried and true techniques to successfully, cheaply and easily keeping marine fish, corals and invertebrates thriving in a breathtaking, harmonious ecosystem without the confusion, mistakes, expense and heartbreak? If so then sit back and simply listen to what I have to say!

Sea Anemone

Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia.  Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger prey and also lack a medusa stage. As cnidarians, sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra.

Statins: Medication for Lowering Cholesterol

Medication for lowering cholesterol is the largest selling prescription medication in the market, therefore a huge business for pharmaceutical companies. One of the most effective medications for lowering cholesterol are statins. Statins have been known for some serious side effects which are fortunately rare, that said, some specific statins have shown to have some pretty high occurrence of serious side effects, including instances of death. There is a group of scientists and doctors that believe that cholesterol-lowering medications do more harm than good, there is actually a movement against using these medications, it’s called The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics. Obviously, those who have had or have seen serious side effects from statins happening are against the medication, on the other hand numbers show that since using the medication the occurrence of death from heart attacks has decreased.

Simvastatin Side Effects (Zocor®)

Simvastatin Side Effects & History of Statins

Simvastatin, like almost any other beneficial medicine, may cause side effects for some patients. Before we go into simvastatin side effects, let’s bring in a little history about statins.
When statins first came on the market, manufacturers included a notice about muscle cramps, aches, pain, and weakness. In the late 1980s, it was clear that statins may trigger rhabdontyolysis, an excessive breakdown of muscle tissue creating a flood of waste cells that tumble through the bloodstream and into the kidneys where they may clog small passages and — theoretically — cause kidney failure.