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Fish Store Thieves Caught on Video Boosting Corals

by AquaNerd on January 28, 2013

Here’s one of those moments in the aquarium hobby that just disgust us. A small group consisting of three men, one women, and a child walked into a mom and pop fish store and stole corals out of one of the aquariums when they thought nobody was looking. Located in Tonawanda, New York, Annette Kozak and her husband have owned and operated their store, Saltwater Paradise, for 20 years. This past Friday, they decided to take a day off and left one of their employees in charge. The coral thieves entered, turned one of the store’s cameras away from the aquariums, distracted the employee, and stole approximately $300 in coral. Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged city of tonawanda, glimmer of hope, saltwater paradise, security camera, tonawanda new york, tonawanda police department | Leave a comment

Studying the Dispersal of Deep Sea Fauna using Sunken Logs

by Matthew Stansbery on January 28, 2013

In an environment very remote and seemingly desolate, life thrives in conditions much different than those of our aquarium. Hydrothermal vents and “cold seeps” spot the sea floor and around these vents lives a community of animals capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and water saturated with chemicals like methane and hydrogen. A team of scientists from Germany are using sunken wooden logs to help understand the dispersal of life throughout the sea floor and between these “hotspots.” To theorize how these vents become so diversely populated the team sank large wooden logs 1700 meters down on the Eastern Mediterranian sea floor for an entire year. The team then returned and observed a diverse number of snail, crab, and other microorganism. These fauna are diverse sates lead researcher Christina Bienhold: “We were surprised how many animals had populated the wood already after one year. The main colonizers were wood-boring bivalves of the genus Xylophaga, also named “shipworms” after their shallow-water counterparts. The wood-boring Xylophaga essentially constitute the vanguard and prepare the habitat for other followers,” Bienhold said. “But they also need assistance from bacteria, namely to make use of the cellulose from the wood, which is difficult to digest.” A cargo hold of deep sea creatures, these communities can form on things like whale carcasses and other organic items ending up on the sea floor. These “hotspots” will continue to feed the diversity of our oceans and will continue to foster the dispersal of fauna from place to place. Read more here!

Posted in Conservation, Industry, Invertebrates, Science | Leave a comment

Neptune Aquatics AKA Triple X Corals

by Matthew Stansbery on January 26, 2013

I woke up this morning to another teaser on Facebook. My local fish store (Neptune Aquatics of Milpitas, CA) couldn’t help but give us some preview shots of their new coral flats that will be used in the operation a new vendor venture call Triple X Corals: Four coral “vats” measuring 8 feet long by 4 feet wide will be double stacked in a very compact and efficient propagation endeavor. Looking to take a step back from the trials and tribulations of importing coral, the owner of Neptune Aquatics would like to focus more on sustainability while creating a side business that lives up to the high standards of todays reef keeping. With a brood stock he has been stockpiling for years Triple X Corals is sure to hit the ground running and provide hobbyists with some of the most exclusive corals California has to offer. In a trip I took last week to Neptune Aquatics the owner was kind enough to give me a tour of the new aquaculture facility and gave me some insights into the design and mission statement of Triple X Corals: Lit exclusively by LED lighting sources each tank will hold around 475 gallons of water and house species of SPS, LPS and Softie style corals. As stated earlier the four tanks will be double stacked in a room no larger than a studio bedroom in an attempt to mitigate heat exchange and eliminate the amount of floor space large coral vats can occupy. To my knowledge the facility will not be open to the public in any capacity but the retail outlet we as Bay Area reefers have become so thankfully accustomed to, will remain open indefinitely. With a conscientious attitude towards corals and a business model structured around hobbyists, Triple X Corals will surely bring some competition to the market.

Posted in Conservation, Corals, Equipment, Industry, Tanks | Leave a comment

Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #110: I’m A Visual Person…Can You Sketch It Up?

by mrsaltwatertank on January 25, 2013

When approaching a new tank build, most people focus purely on tank size. What reef junkie, reef enthusiast or tank dabbler doesn’t want a bigger tank? Bigger is better right?

There’s a balance to be struck between tank size and room aesthetics and here’s a way to see what size is best.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged aesthetics, dabbler, junkie, new tank, reef, tank size | Leave a comment

AI to bring the world of wireless to the Sol

by Richard Aspinall on January 25, 2013

AI’s new Controller will provide full control of the ‘wireless ready’ Vega units, but in a welcome move for Sol owners, who might be feeling left out, AI are soon to release a wireless adapter for the Sol and Nano units. Continue reading →

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Noodling for Catfish is for Wimps…Let’s Try Tarpon

by AquaNerd on January 25, 2013

Let’s be honest, no matter how many times we’re told, sometimes we just have to get our hands on some nature. We’ve all caved in and tried to hand feed some aquatic animal, either at an amusement park or even in the wild, at some point in time. Despite us knowing all of the “don’t feed the…” rules and understanding that this doesn’t help the animal in any way, sometimes it’s just too tempting to pass up the opportunity to interact with a majestic creature. After all, it’s the memories we create in our lives that make living so worth while. Unfortunately for one hand feeder, such is not the case. According to a recent story on the GrindTV Blog, a Florida man was attempting to hand feed a rather large tarpon that was hanging out under the docks where he and a group of people where gathering. The tarpon grabbed the man by the arm, refused to let go, and a long struggle ensued. The man tried frantically to get the fish to let go, even dragging it onto the dock. Fortunately, the fish finally released its death grip on the man and flopped back into the water. The man, probably quite ashamed, quickly wanders off with his head down. Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged amusement park, aquatic animal, death grip, florida man, majestic creature, point in time, struggle | Leave a comment

Neptune Systems Aquacontroller Apex Now Available in 240v Version for Europe

by AquaNerd on January 24, 2013

At MACNA last year, part of the major announcements for Neptune Systems was the 240v version of their Apex controller line. At the time, this rollout wasn’t quite ready for distribution and it didn’t get much attention at the convention. We spotted this Euro version off in a corner at the Neptune Systems booth and we certainly inquired all about it, but it isn’t until now that the controller gurus have officially made it available. Announced earlier today via Facebook, Neptune Systems stated that over the next couple of weeks, the controllers will start arriving to a select group of retail and online stores. The 240v Apex will come with the UK-style plugs and outlets, and we’re sure that a European version won’t be too far behind. As part of the announcement, Neptune Systems has also solidified a distributorship agreement with Aqua Mondo, also based in the UK. Aqua Mondo brings over 40 years of aquarium hobby experience along with a dozen years of industry experience. This is obviously a very smart move for Neptune Systems, as their products have been well received here in the US and hobbyists across the pond have been clamboring for them. We haven’t received word on the pricing structure, but we’re sure it will translate nicely for our European counterparts. Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged aquarium hobby, counterparts, distributorship agreement, hobby experience, industry experience, neptune systems | Leave a comment

Reef Apparel from Coral Reef Designs

by Richard Aspinall on January 24, 2013

We all like to declare our interests and opinions using the species-wide and internationally understood medium that is the Tee shirt. I’m looking forward to doing so with this great range of Tees from Coral Reef Designs. Continue reading →

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Giant Slab of Great Barrier Reef Teeters on the Edge

by Matthew Stansbery on January 24, 2013

Australia’s Institute of Marine Science recently received data revealing a section of the Great Barrier Reef that is in danger of collapse. Perched on top of a continental shelf, the slab measuring at around one-cubic kilometer was discovered while researchers were mapping the sea floor. The remains of an ancient underwater landslide is theorized to be a potential tsunami creator in the event it slides off into the ocean. Geologist Robin Beaman: “Undersea landslides are a well understood geological process but we didn’t know there were any on the Barrier Reef.” “We found this one large block that stood out. It is sitting on top of a sub-marine canyon, cutting into the slopes and it is in the preliminary stage of collapse.” Robin and his team are uncertain when, or even if, this slab could slide off its shelf but assure us: “..it remains stable under current conditions.” Adding to problems Australia and the GBR are encountering these findings show how fragile our reef ecosystems truly are. Read more here!

Posted in Conservation, Corals, Industry, Science | Leave a comment

ATI Discontinues Powermodule T5HO Fixtures in the US

by AquaNerd on January 24, 2013

ATI Aquaristik has done something I never would have imagined seeing, they have officially stopped selling their Powermodule T5HO fixtures in the United States. Earlier this month, we were browsing the ReefGeek website (the former distributor for ATI) while looking for new information on the LED/T5 Hybrid Powermodule, which had recently been announced as being available to purchase. To our surprise, the site was almost completely devoid of the regular and dimmable Powermodules, but we just chalked it up to the site revamping their inventory and product pages to accomodate the new fixture. Unfortunately, something far more surprising was taking place. Read More

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged aquarium industry, discontinuation, distribution group, industry gossip, sole distributors | 2 Comments

CORAL March/April Preview

by Reef To Rainforest on January 24, 2013

CORAL celebrates the height of the winter aquarium-keeping season with cover-to-cover brilliant photography and inspiration for all reefkeepers. • With a publication date of March 5th, this forthcoming issue of CORAL will feature cover articles by Daniel Knop and Claude Shuhmacher on the glorious zoanthids, with expert advice on their selection, care, husbandry, and safe handling. • Dr. Roy Caldwell documents his astonishing encounters with the Wonderpus Octopus, Wonderpus photogenicus, as well as a report on the first captive spawning in his San Francisco laboratory. • Dr. Ronald Shimek and Erik Stenn offer illustrated guides to the natural history and importance of copepods for reefkeeping and marine breeding. • In a perfect break from the mid-winter doldrums, Nate Wilson takes the reader on a an eye-opening dive expedition to Fiji’s thriving coral reefs. • And much more: Ret Talbot on threats to aquarium livestock collection in the Hawaiian Islands, dealing with heavy metals in the marine aquarium, a portrait of a Giant Clam-dominated reef, and a profile of the rare and coveted Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish.