Since an original integrated system of biological nitrification and denitrification able to purify and maintain perfect water quality was set up, it has been possible to keep alive in aquaria various invertebrates and especially corals.
Nearly 40 genera of Madreporian corals and 7 genera of Alcyonarians are maintained under excellent condition using the so-called Jaubert Method (patented). The conditions under which they are maintained favor growth and reproduction and the water quality parameters are monitored to ensure that such conditions exist. Other speakers have given you ample suggestions on what these parameters should be. What we do is strive to maintain our conditions as close to natural salt water (NSW) as we can.
In 7 years experience coral survival has been excellent and growth rates can be called spectacular by any standard.
There is no doubt that the Jaubert method promotes these facts and demonstrates that the system we developed allows us to maintain corals alive on one hand and make them grow and multiply on the other.
Cuttings are taken from colonies on a regular basis, pasted into the substrate and spread over various tanks.
Some strains of Acropora, Atylophora or Montipora show an average daily increase in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 percent in humid weight.
In some public aquariums the daily growth rate of young colonies of Stylophora pistilla is 0.5 to 1.2 % of the skeletal dry weight.
The results obtained in the Aquarium of Monaco show that coral propagation in an intensive system are quite possible and achievable and we have done so for years now.
The potential utilization of these systems should be of interest to hobbyists and scientists alike.
We continue to research methods to improve our results of course.
Dr. Nadia Ounais
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