by AquaNerd | Jul 28, 2025 | Industry, Science
Believe it or not, but marine aquariums have been around longer than disco and moon landings. To help illustrate that fact, Tunze was getting all nostalgic at Interzoo this year, showing off their very first skimmer which dates back all the way to 1963. Hard to believe, right? And although the skimmer does look a bit foreign to us, there are still several recognizable key elements that are still present in modern designs. Even more interesting is the fact that this was the very first venturi style protein skimmer ever produced, obviously laying the groundwork for an entire sub-industry that developed as aquarists saw a need for clean water. The unusual design consists of a top mounted pump (located in the black box on the top left of the picture) that feeds water into a specialized venturi adapter, which draws in air to mix with the water. The bubbled filled water is then dumped into the cylindrical body of the skimmer and the bubbles rise into the neck of the skimmer, depositing previously dissolved organic material into a collection cup. We initially thought the white pipe at the bottom of the skimmer was an early version of the riser tube drain, but upon closer inspection it actually looks to be the line feeding water into the pump device, which would mean the clean water is passively expelled through the bottom of the cylinder. This is definitely an old design that has been refined numerous times over the years, but judging by that foam production, Norbert Tunze knew exactly what he was doing. Special thanks to Shawn Wilson for the awesome images by Heidi dM | Jul 21, 2025 | Science
The Tennessee Aquarium has had a breakthrough…two sets of baby four-eyed turtles have successfully hatched. The name is a bit misleading, they don’t actually have 4 eyes, they have spots on the back of their heads that look like extra eyes. … by Joe Rowlett | Jun 16, 2025 | Fish, Photography, Science
The shrimpgobies of the genus Stonogobiops are a common sight in any aquarium store, with species oftentimes selling for not much more than the cost of a cheap damselfish. Because of this, it might come as a surprise to learn that the half-dozen species that comprise... by Joe Rowlett | May 26, 2025 | Invertebrates, Science
With all due respect to Neoliomera, perhaps the most coveted carcinological treasure to be found on coral reefs are the Clown Crabs of the genus Platypodiella. Like a red and yellow Rorschach test, these diminutive invertebrates epitomize the visual splendour we... by Joe Rowlett | May 12, 2025 | Fish, Science
The pint-sized basses of the genus Serranus just got a new species added to their ranks with the description of a stunning new fish from the poorly known tropical reefs of Western Africa. But this fish is no stranger to aquarists, as specimens have been trickling into... by Joe Rowlett | Apr 28, 2025 | Fish, Science
The latest addition to the enormous fairy wrasse genus Cirrhilabrus is an understated fish found in a tiny corner of the Indo-Pacific. Hailing from the reefs of Northern Australia, a region predisposed to seasonal deluges, the Monsoon Fairy Wrasse is aptly...
