RIP Granddad the Lungfish
We regret to report that Granddad, the famous Aussie lungfish at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, has passed away. He was euthanized after he stopped eating and showed signs of organ failure from old age. Granddad had been at Shedd since 1933! RIP Granddad.Cerebra Custom Stand Build Part 1
The Vertex Cerebra controller is not the easiest aquarium controller to mount when trying to showcase it in a retail environment and we needed a way to call attention to the controller. At 1st it seemed logical to make a bracket for it and mount it to the side of the tank but that presented some challenges and we didn’t want to compromise the look of this amazing aquarium designed by My Reef Creations. In looking for a way to display our Cerebra controller next to main frag tank we stumbled upon a fabrication company in Ontario Canada that does amazing one-off custom designs so we reached out to them to see if they would be willing to take on the project. Thankfully they agreed andReef Threads Podcast #307
Amphiprion mccullochi
We’re back for another show. This week’s topics include water and smoke detectors, Nest thermostats, and our thoughts on the MACNA conference. Download the podcast here, or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes. Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.—Gary and ChristineSponsor: Rod’s Food
Rod’s Food website
This is the inspiration for my next aquascape
I'm determined to start a new freshwater aquarium in 2017, and I've decided it will be a discus hardscape. Over the past few months, I've scoured the internet for inspiration. This is it. Hopefully it'll inspire a few of you to start a new hardscape this year with me.Gardineria, A “Living Fossil” Of The Stony Corals
Stony corals are an ancient group, with a fossil record that stretches back hundreds of millions of years. Following the cataclysmic upheaval of the Permian Mass Extinction, which wiped out roughly 95% of marine life, the distinctive Tabulate and Rugose corals of the...Reef Kids: Octopus Dip
Why not add a little cephalopod-y fun to one of the biggest snacking days of the year? One of our favorite dips is so simple to make, and it’s sure to please most anyone – combine 16 oz sour cream, 1 packet of powdered ranch dressing mix, 1 cup shredded...Salty Confessions: Procrastination Never Pays in Reefkeeping!
Ignoring a protein skimmer in need of maintenance could make you pay later! Regular SWS readers know that CC and I always emphasize the importance of staying on top of routine maintenance chores so small problems don’t develop into big ones. Great advice for a hobby in which only bad things happen quickly, right? Unfortunately, my recent failure to follow my own “sage” advice nearly led to disaster. Allow me to set the stage: Over the holidays, my wife, Melissa, and I had to ready our house for a large family get-together. Because we’re generally messy and disorganized people who like to procrastinate, that meant major cleaning and decluttering in the last few days prior to the gathering. On the first day of our cleaning odyssey, I was vacuuming around my reef system (situated in the living room) and noticed that the protein skimmer was in need of a tear-down and cleaning. Specifically, the volume of water discharging from the skimmer was greater than usual and the water level in the reaction chamber was higher than normal—both tell-tale signs that the air-intake was getting clogged.
