WISRD Research & Engineering Journal

○ Focal point of lens ○ Camera rotations/orientation ○ Camera position

● Fragments:

○ Placement of fragments ○ Fragment rotation/movement ○ 3D fragment growth ○ Reference points ○ Other organisms in the tank: snails and algae ○ Removing the rack for cleaning and putting it back to its original position as well as the corals in theirs ● Light: ○ Changing the light color throughout the day and what time/wavelength looks/works the best/worst for image analysis. ● Coding: ○ Collecting metadata ○ Automating imaging at fixed times ○ Performing data transfer and automation of said data ○ Performing image analysis and automation of said process 2. Substrate for Growing Corals We began testing methods to record coral growth by attaching coral pieces, called fragments, to ceramic plugs and using various ready-to-go methods to support the plugs. 2.1 Ceramic Plugs A common practice in the commercial reefing industry is to adhere coral fragments using cyanoacrylate onto small, individual, T-shaped, ceramic plugs as shown in Figure 2. This allows for ease of commercial coral propagation, purchasing, and for controlled placement within the tank while minimizing disturbance to the coral.

Figure 2 . Recently cut coral fragment glued to the surface of a ceramic plug.

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