When we think of Azoox reefing, we imagine dimly lit tanks with balanced color and a living carpet of reef life which is only represented in small part by corals. Since corals are the real photo-symbiosis specialists on the reef, that leaves the entire animal kingdom to get their energy the old fashioned way, heterotrophically.
This video of diving at Anacapa Island may be in cold water, but it illustrates the sheer diversity and abundance of life which needs to feed from nutritious particles in the water. Besides the ever present fish, living carpets of brittle stars reach their arms to feed from the moving water, and tube anemones, gorgonians, nudibranch and sea squirts are excellently adapted to azooxanthellate existence.
