by AquaNerd | Jan 22, 2016 | Equipment, Reef, Science, Technology
Neptune DOS dosing pump Neptune Systems is lowering it’s price on the popular DOS dosing pump from $349.95 to $299.95, a $50.00 price decrease. If you’ve thought about purchasing a DOS dosing pump or adding a 2nd unit to your Neptune Apex controller platform then now might be the time to consider doing it. Neptune Systems spent a considerable amount of time and money developing the DOS system and strong sales on the DOS system have helped them recover the initial engineering and developmental costs so they have decided to make this product easier on your wallet or pocketbook. About the DOS: In a nutshell using the DŌS is as simple as telling the Apex Fusion DŌS wizard how much fluid (in ml) you want to by danireef | Jan 21, 2016 | Equipment
We have heard some interesting new details regarding the brand-new Rossmont Waver. Just a few weeks ago, we stated our opinion that Rossmont Waver was a revolution in the world of pumps, as it has the ability to manage the non-electronic Rossmont pumps, and does not... by Saltwater Smarts | Jan 20, 2016 | Corals, Equipment, Fish, Reef, Science
Consider using the widest aquarium your space and budget will allowI wouldn’t exactly say I have major regrets about choosing a standard 125-gallon tank for my current marine aquarium system, but if I had to do it all over again, I might go in a slightly different—rather, slightly wider—direction. For the benefit of any salties out there who are planning a new setup, I thought I’d share why I think going with a wider tank might have been a better choice. First I should specify that aquarium dimensions are typically given as length x width x height, with length representing the side-to-side measurement and width representing the front-to-back measurement. This always throws me because to my way of thinking, width should describe an object’s measurement from one side to the other. After all, when I look at my reflection in the mirror, I don’t think to myself, “Wow, my belly sure is getting long!” And there’s a reason ABC’s old sports anthology series wasn’t called The Long World of Sports.But I digress. This aquarium—which is 18½ inches wide (counting the trim)—has been operating for the better part of 10 years and functioned as a FOWLR system for most of that time. The tank serves as a room divider, separating the great room in my home into two distinct sitting areas, and is viewable from three sides. I only recently converted it to a reef tank after tearing down my 75-gallon system, which, as I’ve mentioned in prior posts, had become largely overrun with green star polyps and pulsing Xenia. by Marcin Smok | Jan 20, 2016 | Equipment, Industry, Tanks, Technology
Power outages. Aquarists’ worst nightmare, these unpredictable events are often responsible for catastrophic tank crashes and loss of inhabitants in our home aquariums. Power interruptions can wipe out years of carefully-nurtured reef tank ecosystems in a matter of... by Jeremy Gosnell | Jan 19, 2016 | Equipment, Industry, Science, Technology
I’ve been playing with the Fishbit monitor now for a while. What I’ve found is a straightforward, easy to use device that could certainly help beginner and intermediate reef keepers monitor their... by Saltwater Smarts | Jan 13, 2016 | Corals, Equipment, Reef, Science
Sunlight passing through a window generally provides very directional, odd angle lightingQuestionI’m setting up my first reef aquarium and want to keep my approach as natural as possible. The room where I plan to place the tank has a really big bay window in it, and succulents and other sun-loving houseplants really thrive there. Is there any reason I can’t take advantage of all that natural sunlight for my corals instead of using crazy expensive artificial lights?” – Submitted by CZ Answer Though you would save a bundle if such a plan were feasible, I would discourage relying on window lighting to illuminate your reef system for several reasons. First, the amount of sunlight passing through the window is going to change throughout the year as the sun’s position shifts and the days get longer or shorter with the seasons. That won’t bode well for tropical corals, which demand 10 to 12 hours of direct sunlight per day. Second, the sunlight passing through the window will reach the tank at an odd angle and from only one direction. So even if you could get enough sunlight of sufficient intensity to pass through the window and onto your tank on a consistent, year-round basis, your light-hungry inverts would always be shaded on one side. Third, placing an aquarium too close to a window—especially one that lets in a lot of direct sunlight at certain times of year—can make it difficult to maintain a stable, appropriate water temperature, which is stressful to the inhabitants
