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Author Archives: AquaNerd
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BRS Fast Fit Frag Table is Ideal of Frag Swaps and Shows, Just Add the Lights
At one point or another in virtually every reef keeper’s tenure in the hobby, the idea of a frag tank has come to mind. With local hobbyists buying up frags regularly, the idea of making a few dollars on your aquarium seems so promising, especially given how expensive everything tends to be. While frag systems are often too expensive for people to put together, the guys at Bulk Reef Supply have one fairly affordable and virtually plug and play setup that should make at home coral aquaculture far easier. Their Fast Fit Fragtable is a sump-less frag system that comes with just about everything you need to get started, sans the lights, pumps, and water of course. The Fast Fit Fragtable is a really handy system for hobbyists looking for something they can setup or take down quickly, as well as relocate for local events or just to remodel. The entire setup sits on caster wheels, obviously aiding in the system’s mobility, and an overhead bar is great for moutning the light fixture of your choice. Black eggcrate, which tends to be more resilient to algae growth than white eggcrate, keeps the frags up off the bottom of the frag tank. The retail pricre for the Fast Fit Fragtable is $499, and it apparently qualifies for free shipping, though we may be incorrect in that assumption. Kit details: 2 Ft. x 4 Ft. Inside Dimension White Botanicare Tray 2 Ft. x 4 Ft. Fast Fit White Tray Stand 4 Ft. Fast Fit White Uprights 4 Ft. Fast Fit White Light Hanging Bar 4 – Fast Fit Caster Wheels 2 – 2 Ft. x 2 Ft. Black Egg Crate MORE: BRS Fast Fit Frag Table is Ideal of Frag Swaps and Shows, Just Add the Lights… More:
Posted in Events, Uncategorized
Tagged Aquarium, aquarium equipment, bulk reef supply, events, fast fit fragtable
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SpectraPure Introduces Their Own Dual Chamber Media Reactor
Aquarium hobbyists have long known the benefits of activated carbon and granular ferric oxide (GFO) as major parts of the filtration system, and for the most part, the two have been used conjunction with with each other. While one took up dissolved organic material, the other absorbed photphate and silcates, both polishing and cleaning the water in the process. The immense benefit of both of these filter media products of course prompted aquarists to use multiple reactors, oftentimes with multiple pumps. Thankfully, the aquarium industry responded to the demand with dual stage reactors from the likes of Bulk Reef Supply, and now the other water filtration specialists at SpectraPure have their own version as well. While the SpectraPure Dual Chamber Media Reactor may appear remarkably similar to the BRS model, it differs in one very distinctive way. Where the BRS model has two chambers plumbed inline, the SpectraPure version has them plumbed up separately. Instead of flowing from one chamber to the next, the water line feeding the reactor splits off to independently feed both chambers simultaneously. While keeping the two separate in this manner may or may not be important isn’t even the point. What’s important here are the valves that can be used to regulate the flow rates through each chamber. GFO requires low flow speeds, as it is not desirable to tumble this media. If the grains do tumble, they could break apart and find their way back into the aquarium. Carbon, on the other hand, can have high or low flow rates, it really doesn’t matter much. Lower flow rates improve contact time, while higher rates move more water through the media. Getting back on track, another benefit to this layout is the fact that you could take one of the canisters offline, with the other still filtering water. This is ideal if say the GFO is exhausted before the carbon, or if there is some other issue. The retail price for the SpectraPure Dual Chamber Media reactor is set at $74.99, though it is currently on sale for $69.99. This is about $10 more than the BRS version, but given the fact that you can independently control the flow of each chamber, it’s well worth the extra green. MORE: SpectraPure Introduces Their Own Dual Chamber Media Reactor… More:
Posted in Industry, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium equipment, immense benefit, industry, media reactor, spectrapure
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Ocean Corals Shows Off Giant “King” Turbo Snail
Anyone who has been around the hobby long enough knows that marine snails, specifically turbo snails, can get pretty big. Mexican turbo snails are typically the largest we see, with certain individuals growing to be just a tad smaller than a baseball. But a recent import of ultra large Trochus snails (Trochus niloticus) by UK based Ocean Corals has us rethinking just how big and beefy marine snails can get. They recently shared images of what they’re calling King Turbo Snails on their Facebook page, which show these mega Trochus snails to be near 4-5″ in diameter and several inches tall. These snails are almost too large to fit in your hand! The going rate for these ginormous snails is £30 each, or just a shade under $50 at current exchange rates. A total of four were imported, but two have been sold as of yesterday. As far as information about this species goes, Gerald Heslinga of Indo-Pacific Sea Farms has a viewable paper on them HERE. MORE: Ocean Corals Shows Off Giant “King” Turbo Snail… More:
Posted in Corals, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium invertebrates, aquarium livestock, corals, king turbo snail, trochus snail
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The Unique Corals Supernova Scolymia is Absolutely Out of This World
To say that we have an obsession with those big, beautiful Scolymia australis corals is a bit of an understatement. We just can’t get enough of them, whether its watching videos of them inhaling various food items or just gazing at vivid pictures. In our constant perusal of Scoly web content, we always randomly find one or two that put all of the others to shame, but this latest beauty from Unique Corals has really raised the bar for this coral species altogether. Appropriately dubbed the Supernova Scolymia, this amazing piece has out of this world coloration. In fact, it is the best coloration of any Scoly that we’ve laid eyes on, even surpassing the beauty of those legendary ‘Master Scolys’. The 2.5″ WYSIWYG specimen is currently listed at $498, but we don’t expect it to stay on the Unique Corals site much longer, assuming it is still there when this article publishes. MORE: The Unique Corals Supernova Scolymia is Absolutely Out of This World… More:
Posted in Corals, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium livestock, coloration, corals, scolymia, unique corals
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Kessil Teases New Top Secret Panel Light Fixture
When it comes to aquarium illumination, the guys at Kessil seem to have the Midas touch. Since starting their foray into the aquarium realm back in 1Q 2011, at least in the eye of the public, each of their entries onto the market have been extremely well received. Their first product, the A150 and its variations, debuted with a huge splash, and that’s probably an understatement. Since then, the A350 and A360 have racking up even more fans to the brand, impressing us greatly along the way. To date, each of the Kessil products designed for aquarium use have come in the form of LED pendants, and it would appear that the lighting specialists are toying with the idea of branching out, at least where form factors are concerned. They recently teased all of us aquarium nerds with a couple of digital renderings of a potential Kessil LED panel light fixture over on their Facebook page. And from the looks of it, they’re on the right track. Pendant style lighting is sleek and stylish, but not everyone is a fan, choosing to stick with long fixtures instead. Each style has its pros and cons, and if you polled forum users, we know you would get a thousand different opinions. Regardless, there is a real market out there for light fixtures, so it’s no surprise that companies like Kessil are thinking about adding them to their offering. So, what sort of gear is Kessil looking at? Well, their latest digitally conceptualized fixture, which is just being called a “secret” Kessil panel light, is around two feet long and draws approximately 100w. The renderings show off a sleek, low profile light that can obviously be suspended over an aquarium. The hanging brackets that are attached to the fixture look remarkably like on-tank mounting legs, but again this is all a digital drawing board at this point. A handful of buttons grace the front of the fixture, a large top mounted fan provides activine cooling, and there might be some sort of antenna located on the right hand side of the light, though it’s hard to tell. We’re sure that the fixture, if it ever comes to fruition, will play nice with the Neptune Systems Aquacontroller, and going off Kessil’s track record, we know we won’t be disappointed. We honestly like the look of this fixture, and it’s a huge step up from the first concepts that were being rolled out (see below).… More:
Posted in Opinion, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium equipment, aquarium lighting, Kessil, led lighting, Opinion
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Buckeye Field Supply Announces New 3-Probe Inline TDS Meter
Buckeye Field Supply has just announced the availability of a 3-probe inline TDS meter for reverse osmsis equipment, called the HM Digital TRM-1. While the industry has been full of TDS meters from various manufacturers, this is the only inline TDS meter to feature three different probes. Like it’s dual probe and single probe siblings, this new TRM-1 will sport the widely used John Guest fittings, is factory calibrated with a 342 ppm NaCl solution, and can be recalibrated with a mini screwdriver. Buckeye is currently fielding pre-orders at a special introductory price of $49.99 for the three probe meter, which are expected to be in stock by mid-July. Water purity is of the utmost importance for reef keeping aquarists these days, and the best way to deliver that water is to use reverse osmosis filtration. But even the best RO filters need regular maintenance and cartridge replacements, and the only way to determine when those are due is to use TDS meters, which ultimately measure how effectively the filters are removing contaminants from the incoming tap water. For the really serious aquarium keepers, the standard two probe inline TDS meters became the industry standard, as they can be plumbed into the filter tubing to measure incoming and outgoing water purity. While this has been adequate for many years, it isn’t exactly ideal, and users needing to measure the effectiveness of specific filters have often utilized multiple dual probe meters. In most cases, however, four probes is a bit excessive, making it hard to justify the extra costs for two meters. We have a feeling that the three probe meter will be welcomed into the hobby with open arms, and we are already fans of the concept based of our own experiences. MORE: Buckeye Field Supply Announces New 3-Probe Inline TDS Meter… More:
Posted in Equipment, Industry, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium equipment, buckey field supply, Equipment, HM digital, industry, RO/DI, tds
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Amazing Paracentropyge multifasciatus x venustus Hybrid Angelfish Shows Up in Japan
Paracentropyge multifasciata x venustus Hybrid Angelfish We have a special place in our hearts for hybrid fish of all varieties, but this amazing hybrid angelfish featured on the LSS Laboratory blog really just makes us smile. The 6cm long angelfish looks amazing with its vibrant coloration and insane patterns, as it takes the best features from both of its parents and blends them together in a such a way that it elevates the look altogether. For the hybrid offspring to be significantly more beautiful than either of the parents isn’t exactly common. This Philippine beauty is cross between a MORE: Amazing Paracentropyge multifasciatus x venustus Hybrid Angelfish Shows Up in Japan… More:
Ecoxotic Unveils New Cannon 100W LED Floodlight
Ecoxotic has gone back to the drawing boards and have released a new, and drastically different, version of their popular Cannon LED pendants. This new light, called the Cannon 100W Flood LED, is similar to the other Cannon products in that it uses a very powerful, high density multi-chip LED that can penetrate even the deepest of aquariums. Unlike the other Cannons, however, this version is a floodlight that really spreads out the photons, and with a great deal of uniformity to boot. The Cannon floodlight will be offered in two different models, one in 10,000K white and one in 456nm blue, both of which will have a wide diameter multi-chip LED, 60 degree optics, an integrated electronic LED driver, and a mounting bracket that allows for 180 degrees of rotation. With the 60 degree optics and the wide diameter emitter, light from the Cannon 100W Flood LED can penetrate depths up to 18 feet, but even in shallower setups, the spread is just amazing. While we haven’t seen these lights in person, as they were just debuted at Aquarama in Singapore a little more than a week ago, all of the photos we have seen really show how uniform the spread is. Getting back to the technical details, the Cannon floodlight utilizes an aluminum body that serves as one big heatsink that aids in keeping the electronics running at optimal temperatures. For obvious reasons, that heatsink is designed to resist the salty environment. Dimmable LED drivers and other optics are available on request, but details regarding the price of these items, and the entire fixture in fact, has been kept behind the scenes. MORE: Ecoxotic Unveils New Cannon 100W LED Floodlight… More:
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged aluminum body, high density, optics, salty environment, uniformity
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Aquarium Specialty Secures Distributorship of CeramEco VidaRock
Our pals at Aquarium Specialty, an online retailer of aquarium equipment and livestock, recently announced on their blog that they have secured a distributor agreement with CeramEco for their VidaRock. Long on the hunt for an affordable, well-made ceramic rock product, Aquarium Specialty was tired of the high prices associated with importing ceramic products from Europe. So, they took a greater interest in the American made CeramEco brand, eventually reaching an agreement to inventory and distribute their products to retail and wholesale customers. And from the looks of it, the Vida line of rock will really bolster what Aquarium Specialty has to offer, especially for aquarists looking for a more eco-friendly solution to their marine setups. MORE: Aquarium Specialty Secures Distributorship of CeramEco VidaRock… More:
Posted in Equipment, Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium equipment, aquarium specialty, cerameco, ceramic rock, Equipment, vidarock
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AVAST Marine Works Scales Down Their Top-Down Porthole for Smartphones
Our society is becoming increasingly dependent on smartphones, and aquarium hobbyists are so entrenched in the devices that aquarium equipment companies are building specifically with smartphones in mind. Various aquarium controllers, for example, have become fully accessible via web capable phones, and now our mobile photography is getting a boost with the release of the new AVAST Marine Works Smartphone Top-Down Porthole. This little brother to the other AVAST built Portholes for digital SLR cameras will fit just about any smartphone, using an adjustable strap to secure the phone in place. After attaching your phone, just put the Porthole in the water and start snapping away. The tall sides will keep water off of your camera and you won’t even have to turn the pumps off. The AVAST Smartphone Porthole is simple in its design. The white plate blocks out any glare from the aquarium’s lights, and the black knob allows hobbyists to hold the device with one hand while still being able to fidget with the phone with the other. The felt lined strap make sure your phone doesn’t fall into the aquarium, allowing the hobbyist to adjust phone camera settings, focus on specific objects, and snap the photo with ease. The acrylic Smartphone Porthole runs $59.99 and is currently available to purchase from the AVAST Marine Works website. This Porthole, like all top-down boxes, allows hobbyists to take the best pictures of their aquatic livestock possible. Corals look better when viewed from above because of the way zooxanthellae reflect light, but things like glare and surface ripples usually ruin good shots. While most top-down boxes are geared toward larger cameras, we’re very happy to see mobile photography getting some much needed love. MORE: AVAST Marine Works Scales Down Their Top-Down Porthole for Smartphones… More:
Posted in Corals, Equipment, Photography, Uncategorized
Tagged camera settings, hobbyist, porthole, ripples, smartphones
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MACNA Full Conference Passes All Sold Out
If you’ve been stalling on buying your full conference passes to the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, then you may have just missed your window of opportunity, and for good. Announced just last night on the MACNA 2013 Facebook page, the full passes have officially sold out. That’s right, almost three full months prior to the show, its all access passes have all been scooped up. But if you still want to get into the show, don’t worry too much, as the single and 3-day passes are still available for now. You won’t have access to the guest speakers or the Friday night reception dinner and Saturday banquet, but it beats staying at home and hearing all about it from all of your aquarium nerd friends who went. Another thing to consider, besides the passes to the conference, is the fact that the hotel rooms are going quick. They are almost all sold out, and probably will be within the next week or two. Of course, other hotels in the surrounding area will gladly accept MACNA attendees, but who wants to have to travel to the venue when you could just hop an elevator to the conference? MORE: MACNA Full Conference Passes All Sold Out… More:
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium events, MACNA, macna 2013, macna tickets, window of opportunity
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CoralVue Takes Over Distributorship of Elos Products
CoralVue, a distributor for popular aquarium products like Reef Octopus and Maxspect, is adding another brand to the ranks with the recent announcement that they will become the new North American distributor for Elos Aquarium products. Despite just gaining sole distributorship of the fine Italian products, they aren’t strangers to Elos by any meass. In fact, CoralVue started carrying the Elos line almost two years ago, but still had to compete with Elos USA and Proline Aquatics. Obviously that has all changed, and the announcement was just revealing enough for us to know that something went wrong behind the scenes. While we do not know the specifics, it was made very clear that Elos USA would no longer be involved and all open orders with them would become null and void. In the official email announcement that was sent out on Friday, CoralVue stated that MORE: CoralVue Takes Over Distributorship of Elos Products… More:
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged aquarium products, elos, north american distributor, sole distributorship, specifics
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