by ReefBum | Apr 15, 2016 | Equipment, Fish, Reef, Science, Tanks
When I initially planned out my new reef tank setup my mind was essentially made up to purchase a custom glass display tank and an acrylic frag tank. My thought was to spend the extra $$ for a high quality display and be economical with the frag tank. All of that changed once I took delivery of my display from Coast To Coast Custom Aquariums. This aquarium, a 187 gallon low iron tank with euro bracing and an external overflow, was a piece of art as the quality and craftsmanship were top notch. It was the Porsche of fish tanks! Yes, it was time to rethink my frag tank setup. For my prior setup I went with an acrylic frag tank since it was much cheaper and lighter by AquaNerd | Apr 3, 2016 | Equipment, Reef, Science
Due to ever increasing demand for the Dreambox Filter System in North and South America and abroad, Royal Exclusiv will be relocating to an expanded production facility and reorganizing its production and distribution operations. Presently, all Dreambox Filter Systems are custom made individually and entered chronologically into the production schedule at its facility in Cologne, Germany. To meet the present and future demands for its products, Royal Exclusiv will be acquiring new production equipment and production/support staff to augment their existing manufacturing capabilities. “Such changes require major time and effort in planning, training and execution”, says Scott Leif, Director of Customer Support, Royal Exclusiv USA. To facilitate the downtime involved in moving their existing production equipment to the new facility, Royal Exclusiv has placed a by ReefBum | Mar 15, 2016 | Equipment, Opinion, Reef, Science, Tanks
Ok, today LED’s are all the rage so you may be wondering why I am doing a review of a metal halide fixture, especially one that has been around for a number of years. Well, here is the story…..and I am sticking to it. When I pondered what light fixture to use for my new 187 gallon tank I gave LEDs some serious consideration. I had been out of the hobby for a couple of years but I still followed all the latest news and trends, a sign of a true reef-aholic! Nonetheless, on the lighting front it was obvious manufacturers had shifted their efforts away from metal halides towards LEDs. This presented a dilemma since I have always used metal halides on my SPS dominant by Saltwater Smarts | Mar 5, 2016 | Aquaculture, Equipment, Fish, Invertebrates, Photography, Reef, Science, Tanks
There are a number of choices when it comes to the rock you use for aquascaping, my personal favorite is live rockToday’s marine aquarists have more options than ever before when it comes to the types of rock used to aquascape their tanks—from live rocks, whether aquacultured or wild-harvested, to all manner of dry rocks and even natural-looking man-made rocks. Each type has its advantages and drawbacks, and the choice that’s best for any given hobbyist depends on, among other factors, his or her aquascaping goals, budget, risk tolerance, and desired level of control over the system’s biodiversity. Call me old-school (or Lord Admiral Jeff of the Universe—whichever you prefer), but my aquascaping material of choice has always been live rock, whether comprising the rockwork entirely or at least a major portion of it. Here’s why:Fascinating biodiversity Live rocks come loaded with organisms that emerge or hatch out for many weeks and months—even years—after they’re added to a tank. Various “pods,” fan worms, sponges, tunicates, mollusks, worms, coral colonies, macroalgae, and coralline algae are just a sampling of what might appear. And this process/progression is truly amazing to observe. I’ve never tried it, but I think it would be fascinating to set up a live-rock-only (LRO?) tank, with no fish or intentionally introduced invertebrates, and just sit back and watch what pops out of the rocks over time by ReefBum | Mar 4, 2016 | Equipment, Reef, Science
Using a Booster Pump to Improve RODI Performance A RODI system is an important piece of equipment for maintaining a healthy reef tank. It purifies water and limits problematic algae growth by removing such things as silicates, phosphates and nitrates. RODI systems also remove chlorine and other harmful elements such as heavy metals. To run a RODI unit at an optimal level it is critical to have sufficient water pressure since low pressure can have a negative impact on the purity and output of the product water. If pressure is hovering in the 40 psi range or below, then strong consideration should be given to a booster pump. A booster pump will increase water pressure going into the unit and result in higher production rates. The pump will
