The Environmental Gradient

Research Phase 2

We began research phase 2 in June of 2000. Over the next couple of years we setup some smaller Environmental Gradient Aquarium systems. Our first test system was an 82 gallon corner aquarium that was setup the first week of June 2000. It is still in operation and doing fine. This system has a semi-cryptic zone in the back of a corner aquarium. The 83 gallon has been used to test external food input and the sponge toxicity issues with regards to reef fish. A purple tang, algae blenny and mandarinfish have been within this reef from the summer of 2000. All are doing fine. External food input has consisted of daily phytoplankton additions, daily flake food addition for the fish and the biweekly addition of an organic plant fertilizer. The EG system has responded well to the extra food input. Sponge growth has increased as a result of the food input.
The second research phase 2 system was setup in the first week of July 2000. This was the smallest EG aquarium we have ever established. A 27 gallon aquarium contained a semi-cryptic, semi-exposed and exposed zone. These smaller systems are more similar to the type of aquaria that many reef aquarist setup and maintain. Their smaller size will also allow us to test higher bioloads. There are a few design issues that will need to be refined and researched. We tested the use of a reef pinnacle that had water circulating around it through the exposed zone side and the semi-exposed zone side. The cryptic zone was extablished with a coral slab rock barrier. This three zone horizontal model worked very well and we are further researching this design in larger aquariums during the summer of 2002. This research has actually solved the aesthetics problem with the self-contained EG system. A self-contained system has no external sumps and allows aquarist to establish a very reliable captive system that has minimal operating costs. A self contained EG can now be setup that appears from the front side glass to be a normal exposed zone reef.
A third research phase 2 system was a very interesting special research aquarium. We setup a 30 gallon glass aquarium that only contained an airstone and some cured reef rock with sponges and seasquirts. There was no lights in this system. This of course meant that organic food input was required to maintain healthy growing organisms within the aquarium. This aquarium was specially setup to analyze the nutrient content of specific organic foods. You probably wont believe the organic food input we were originally testing. We added freshly produced protein skimmer foam. This 30 gallon was replaced with a 50 gallon cryptic sump that we are using to test other food sources. Protein skimmer foam was a viable food nutrient, but it can quickly foul the water. The new tank is researching the best way to maintain and grow cryptic organisms in standalone cryptic tanks. We have already made some amazing discoveries during this research which will be reported either on this web site later and/or within volume 2 of the CMAT book series.

During the summer of 2002 we are setting up 4-125 gallon three zone horizontal EG reefs. The zones will consist of the Exposed Zone, the Cryptic Zone and a new zone designated as the Filter Feeder Zone. The filter feeder zone actually represents the semi-exposed and semi-cryptic zone. The main issues addressed during this research will be: setting up a self-contained EG reef with a normal show exposed zone; testing different types of cryptic sediment beds to see if they can be utilized to solve the green water problem; a utilizing self contained EG systems to farm reef organisms.

Up until the release of volume 1 of the CMAT series (September 2000) we have not encouraged anyone to setup an EG system. This is simply due to the fact that the concept was experimental and required furthur research. We feel that the concept is now proven and is no longer incredibly risky. Intermediate to advanced reef aquarist that want to try something new should acquire CMAT volume 1. After reading that book you will probably want to setup an EG aquarium. We still feel that a 1 to 2 more years of research is required before the system can be recommended to beginning captive reef aquarist. When volume 2 of the CMAT series is released in a year or two, we will then be recommending the new concept be setup by any reef aquarist regardless of prior experience.

During Research Phase 2, there are plenty of opportunities for experimental reef aquarist to perform research. Some of the research might even make it into CMAT volume 2 and can definitly be networked throughout the captive reef community. If after acquiring CMAT volume 1 anyone needs some additional assistance on specific areas to research, they can contact DE at our email address or post inquiries on our new 'cool board' message forum here. We also encourage experimental aquarist to devise their own research and modifications to the basic EG concept. That will lead to many additional discoveries. Reef aquarist can also utilize our new message forum to network with other aquarist setting up EG systems. The current research aquarium setup for Research Phase 2 are listed below.

82 Gallon Corner Aquarium Established June 2000
Main research concerns - testing high organic loads, fish population, daily organic food input for fish, utilizing a corner tank for an EG system, vertical circular flow, utilizing coral slab rock exposed reef flat and utilizing coral slab rock cryptic barrier wall.

Still operational as of 5/15/02. Also testing biweekly additions of organic fertilizer.

125 Gallon Alternating Flow Aquarium Establishing June 2002
Main research concerns - testing what will become the standard recommended three zone horizontal EG system on a larger scale, testing an alternating flow that circles a reef pinnacle, farming animals within a medium sized EG system, expanding and improving the role of the filter feeder zone, deterimining if a better functioning filter feeder zone will affect the water greening problem.

27 Gallon Rectangle Aquarium Established July 2000
Main research concerns - testing high organic loads, sand sediment layer, exposed zone reef pinnacle design, horizontal circular flow, setting up a very small self-contained EG aquarium and utilizing coral slab rock semi-cryptic barrier wall.

This tank was shutdown after a July 4th 2001 heat problem that brought its water temperature up over 90 degress F. The unique three zone horizontal pinnacle design proved to be very functional and it will be incorporated into the standard self-contained EG zonal system. I am researching and tested this standard model on a larger scale during the summer of 2002.

30 Gallon Special Aquarium Established September 2000
Main research concerns - setting up an EG system that requires organic food input due to its lack of an exposed zone, quantifying the nutrient content of a specific organic food and testing the nutrient capacity of freshly produced protein skimmer foam.

This tank has been replaced by a 50 gallon aquarium. Protein skimmer foam was found to easily foul the water. I am now using phytoplankton and an organic fertilizer to feed the standalone cryptic zone.