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Going Skimmerless – An Experiment

by | Mar 30, 2018 | Equipment

For the last 4 weeks I have been running my 187 gallon reef tank without a skimmer as sort of an experiment. A few months ago I lost a number of corals due to what I believe were very low levels of phosphate in the tank. I run an ARID algae reactor and it does a great job pulling out nutrients. With the ARID you do have to dose nitrates to keep the chaeto growing and lately I have been dosing phosphates to keep levels from going too low. Ultimately, you want nitrates and phosphates at a 100:1 ratio to maximize chaeto growth. With the ARID you can either use a skimmer or go skimmerless and let the ARID be the sole form of filtration. Ultimately, I decided to pull

Guide For Basic ARID Algae Reactor Care

by | Jan 8, 2018 | Equipment, Video

In this video I am going to take you through my weekly routine on how I clean my Pax Bellum ARID algae reactor and harvest the chaeto. I am then going to turn it over to Tristan Wilson, the owner of Pax Bellum, so he can demonstrate the proper way to swap out a light tube. The new light tubes from Pax Bellum won’t craze and crack like the old ones. They will get scratched and lose toughness with age but shouldn’t crack or craze. Tristan expects a longer life cycle with the new versions but still recommends changing out the light tube after 10-12 months due to scratches. ARID Algae Reactor Care – Step by Step Guide [embedded content] <![CDATA[#wrapper .fusion-button.button-1{text-shadow:none

How to Live Stream a Webcam to YouTube

by | Oct 15, 2017 | Photography, Tanks, Video

Are you thinking about setting up a live webcam for your aquarium or something else you would like to broadcast or monitor in real time?  If so, read on! For years I have employed webcams to monitor my reef tanks while I was away from home.  They provide me with peace of mind when I am on vacation or a business trip and they allow me to show off the tank to someone who has never seen it in person. Two Types of Live Streaming: Private & Public There are two basic types of setups: one for private viewing and another for public consumption on a streaming platform such as YouTube.  Today I employ both types.  For private viewing I use a Nest Cam to monitor my

Aquarium Automation: The Theiling Rollermat and Other Web-Filtering Technologies

by | Mar 19, 2017 | Equipment

The Theiling Rollermat The problem For the longest time, I have been trying to lengthen the maintenance interval for the filter socks on my 450-gallon system, which currently clog every two days. I tried eliminating filter socks completely for a period of time, but the sump got extremely messy and turned into a nitrate bank. The next option was to try 200-micron-mesh socks, which did help extend the replacement period, but they did not polish the water as well and eventually still clogged over a period of time. The solution Following my mantra to automate my system as much as possible, I looked into the Theiling Rollermat. It works by collecting overflow water that is gravity fed into the chamber and forcing it through the fleece to exit the sump, which is located in the center of the rolling web cage. After reviewing the specifications and checking the experiences of others who adopted it a year earlier, I believed this was the next step. The Theiling Rollermat initially comes with a shorter roll than the normal replacement 6” wide x 147’ long filter fleece roll