Americanreef - Keeping Saltwater and Coral Reef Aquariums by Learning from Advanced Aquarists

Bob Snowden of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium talks about one of the facility’s newer exhibits, Troubled Waters, an 1,800 gallon display of what a healthy Caribbean reef system should look like. The purpose of the exhibit is to educate visitors on the serious problems facing these reef ecosystems today. Bob provides Russ Kikel of AmericanReef.com ideas on how home aquarists can assist conservation efforts. He also explains how he maintains the Troubled Waters tank, and provides tips that can be applied to the hobbyist’s home aquariums. As always, just send any questions to AmericanReef@me.com.

Todd Melman, of Reef Systems Coral Farms, gives viewers a brief overview of the pros and cons of having a coral farm from a business point of view. He also offers a special deal to American Reef viewers. As always, just send any questions to AmericanReef@me.com.

Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, six are endangered and one is threatened. Josie Romasco, founder of the Sea Turtle Second Chance conservation program at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, describes how an inland facility can help take the pressure off coastal facilities by raising imperiled hatchlings for release back into the wild. Join Russ Kikel of American Reef for a closer look at this issue. Special Note: Since the taping of this episode, The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium won the grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project discussed during the episode. The Pepsi Refresh grant will provide funding for an expansion of the facility, allowing the rehabilitation of sea turtles affected by the Gulf oil spill.

American Reef meets with Dr. Sanjay Joshi at Penn State University, and examines the awesome 500-gallon reef tank on display in the Student Union. Sanjay provides details relating to the design, set-up, and maintenance of this tank, offering the home aquarist both inspiration and invaluable reef-keeping advice.

American Reef meets with Dr. Sanjay Joshi at Penn State University, and examines the awesome 500-gallon reef tank on display in the Student Union. Sanjay provides details relating to the design, set-up, and maintenance of this tank, offering the home aquarist both inspiration and invaluable reef-keeping advice.

Bob Snowden of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium takes AmericanReef.com on a virtual tour of the facility. While walking through the various exhibits, Bob gives the home hobbyist advice on good and bad picks for the home tank. Watch the tour and see everything from the native fish of Pennsylvania to the tropical fish of the Amazon, and from specimens of the IndoPacific Reef to fish found only at the southern tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

AmericanReef.com returns to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium to meet with keeper, Rich Terrell, and to observe some freshwater Leopoldi and Pearl Rays from Brazil. Rich discusses ray nutrition and habits, demonstrates target feeding, and addresses concerns of the home hobbyist.

Eliminate nuisance starfish utilizing the natural appetites of the Harlequin Shrimp. Join Gary and Russ of AmericanReef.com as they shine the spotlight on these unique aquatic critters.

This month, Russ Kikel and Gary Lindner (of AmericanReef.com’s ReefTutor weekly video podcast) demonstrate a simple way to naturally control Aiptasia. Watch as we eliminate these nuisance critters from a piece of live rock in minutes.

SECORE (Sexual Coral Reproduction), the international group dedicated to reef restoration and conservation research, has had amazing success recently in both rearing captive Acropora palmata, and out-planting these endangered corals on dead colonies, from larvae fertilized in the field. Join a discussion of this subject between Gary Linder of American Reef, and SECORE member Bob Snowden of The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Part 2 of 2.

SECORE (Sexual Coral Reproduction), the international group dedicated to reef restoration and conservation research, has had amazing success recently in both rearing captive Acropora palmata, and out-planting these endangered corals on dead colonies, from larvae fertilized in the field. Join a discussion of this subject between Gary Linder of American Reef, and SECORE member Bob Snowden of The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Part I of 2.

In Part Two, American Reef concludes our discussion of coral reproduction and captive propagation. We also talk about the conservation activities of SECORE (SExual COral REproduction). This international organization hopes to tackle reef conservation issues by increasing our knowledge of coral reproduction and husbandry, through the cooperation of zoos, public aquariums, and marine scientists.

In the first of a multi-part series, AmericanReef.com goes behind the scenes at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium’s coral propagation facility. We see how zoos and other facilities can responsibly populate their reef exhibits without stressing wild coral populations. Today’s discussion focuses on sexual versus asexual reproduction. Send all comments to Americanreef@me.com

AmericanReef.com goes behind the scenes at the 100,000 gallon mixed-species shark tank at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Bob Snowden, keeper, discusses the habits of the various sharks in the exhibit and demonstrates how behavioral management, with its target-training and station-training, reduces stress on the animals and allows individualized feeding and care.

Gary Lindner and Russ Kikel at AmericanReef.com bring you a two-part video tour of Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s 1,500 gallon Indo-Pacific Reef tank. Part 1 presents the tank from the visitor’s viewpoint with identification of the various corals. Part 2 takes you behind-the-scenes with Pittsbugh Zoo’s, Bob Snowden. Bob discusses his husbandry techniques, covering areas such as feeding, coral propagation, water chemistry, and lighting.