by danireef | Nov 26, 2015 | Equipment
We recently finished our in-depth testing of the Big World BQ-5000L, imported to Italy by Corallinea. We measured the hydraulic head, flow rate, power consumption, and noise, and as the BQ-5000L is an electronic pump with a digital external controller, we were also... by Saltwater Smarts | Nov 26, 2015 | Equipment, Opinion, Reef, Science, Tanks, Technology, Travel
While the title of this post puts me in mind of a song performed by Nick Rivers in the 1984 comedy film Top Secret, it’s a question many a novice has posed before setting up his or her first marine aquarium. How basic can it be? Or, put another way, what equipment is absolutely essential and what isn’t?This is a perfectly logical question because ours can be a highly equipment-intensive hobby, and the choices of gear and gadgets designed to make our lives easier can be downright mind-blowing. Add in all the online forum chatter about—and volatile disputes over—the latest-and-greatest hobby technology and methodology, and it’s no surprise that many beginners have a heck of a time distinguishing between the bare essentials and the “bells and whistles.” Complicating matters, of course, is the fact that opinions on what constitutes “essential equipment” can vary widely from one hobbyist to the next. I would humbly submit that the following items are all you really need for a bare-bones saltwater setup: (Note that you’ll also need various and sundry small-ticket items used for regular operation and maintenance, such as aquarium brushes, an algae magnet, etc. Plus, if you plan to keep a reef system, you’ll need to add some means of calcium/alkalinity supplementation to the list.) Some folks might say this list is grossly incomplete while others might contend you could get by without some of the items on it. by danireef | Nov 23, 2015 | Equipment
Rossmont has just announced a new product: Waver, a frequency modulator that adjusts an aquarium pump’s flow rate! In an earlier review, we lamented the fixed rate feature of the Rossmont Mover M5800, but today that gap has finally been filled in an elegant and... by Marcin Smok | Nov 23, 2015 | Equipment, Industry, Technology
Once every decade or so, a product comes out that redefines and revolutionizes the industry it belongs to. Just like a smartphone for mobile communications, an electric car that goes 0-60 in under 3 seconds for automotive technology, or a remote-controlled drone for... by Austin Lefevre | Nov 18, 2015 | Equipment, Industry, Opinion, Technology
Back in February I shared a picture and video of the first MP40w Quiet Drive prototype. EcoTech claimed up to 40% more flow, with 90% less noise. The latter intrigued me most. I run one MP40w ES on our office reef in “reef crest” mode at ~95%... by Austin Lefevre | Nov 12, 2015 | Equipment, Events, Industry, Science, Tanks
“I have to say that your new product has me more excited than any product release in the 12 years I’ve been in the industry.” This was the opening sentence of the first email I sent to the Ocean Swipe...
