by Admin | Aug 23, 2013 | Conservation, Fish, Industry, Sustainability
[embedded content] Launching a revamped website recently, the SAIA (Sustainable Aquatics Industry Association) were keen to share this interesting video with us. The insightful piece gives us an interesting look at how trained collectors North of Bali use non-destructive methods to harvest ornamental marines. It’s certainly not perfect but obviously a million times better than using Cyanide…. always ask where your local fish store gets it’s livestock from, and make sure it comes from a reputable source. by AquaNerd | Jun 18, 2013 | Equipment, Industry, Tanks
Aquarium hobbyists have long known the benefits of activated carbon and granular ferric oxide (GFO) as major parts of the filtration system, and for the most part, the two have been used conjunction with with each other. While one took up dissolved organic material, the other absorbed photphate and silcates, both polishing and cleaning the water in the process. The immense benefit of both of these filter media products of course prompted aquarists to use multiple reactors, oftentimes with multiple pumps. Thankfully, the aquarium industry responded to the demand with dual stage reactors from the likes of Bulk Reef Supply, and now the other water filtration specialists at SpectraPure have their own version as well. While the SpectraPure Dual Chamber Media Reactor may appear remarkably similar to the BRS model, it differs in one very distinctive way. Where the BRS model has two chambers plumbed inline, the SpectraPure version has them plumbed up separately. Instead of flowing from one chamber to the next, the water line feeding the reactor splits off to independently feed both chambers simultaneously. While keeping the two separate in this manner may or may not be important isn’t even the point. What’s important here are the valves that can be used to regulate the flow rates through each chamber. GFO requires low flow speeds, as it is not desirable to tumble this media. If the grains do tumble, they could break apart and find their way back into the aquarium. Carbon, on the other hand, can have high or low flow rates, it really doesn’t matter much. Lower flow rates improve contact time, while higher rates move more water through the media. Getting back on track, another benefit to this layout is the fact that you could take one of the canisters offline, with the other still filtering water. This is ideal if say the GFO is exhausted before the carbon, or if there is some other issue. The retail price for the SpectraPure Dual Chamber Media reactor is set at $74.99, though it is currently on sale for $69.99. This is about $10 more than the BRS version, but given the fact that you can independently control the flow of each chamber, it’s well worth the extra green. by AquaNerd | Jun 12, 2013 | Equipment, Industry
Buckeye Field Supply has just announced the availability of a 3-probe inline TDS meter for reverse osmsis equipment, called the HM Digital TRM-1. While the industry has been full of TDS meters from various manufacturers, this is the only inline TDS meter to feature three different probes. Like it’s dual probe and single probe siblings, this new TRM-1 will sport the widely used John Guest fittings, is factory calibrated with a 342 ppm NaCl solution, and can be recalibrated with a mini screwdriver. Buckeye is currently fielding pre-orders at a special introductory price of $49.99 for the three probe meter, which are expected to be in stock by mid-July. Water purity is of the utmost importance for reef keeping aquarists these days, and the best way to deliver that water is to use reverse osmosis filtration. But even the best RO filters need regular maintenance and cartridge replacements, and the only way to determine when those are due is to use TDS meters, which ultimately measure how effectively the filters are removing contaminants from the incoming tap water. For the really serious aquarium keepers, the standard two probe inline TDS meters became the industry standard, as they can be plumbed into the filter tubing to measure incoming and outgoing water purity. While this has been adequate for many years, it isn’t exactly ideal, and users needing to measure the effectiveness of specific filters have often utilized multiple dual probe meters. In most cases, however, four probes is a bit excessive, making it hard to justify the extra costs for two meters. We have a feeling that the three probe meter will be welcomed into the hobby with open arms, and we are already fans of the concept based of our own experiences. by AquaNerd | Jun 11, 2013 | Fish, Industry
Paracentropyge multifasciata x venustus Hybrid Angelfish We have a special place in our hearts for hybrid fish of all varieties, but this amazing hybrid angelfish featured on the LSS Laboratory blog really just makes us smile. The 6cm long angelfish looks amazing with its vibrant coloration and insane patterns, as it takes the best features from both of its parents and blends them together in a such a way that it elevates the look altogether. For the hybrid offspring to be significantly more beautiful than either of the parents isn’t exactly common. This Philippine beauty is cross between a multibar angelfish (Paracentropyge multifasciata ) and the Venustus pygmy angelfish (Paracentropyge venustus), and if you think that it’s a one of a kind angel, you’d only partially be right. To date, at least three individuals have surfaced in the aquarium trade, all of which have gone to the Asian market. According to a post on Glassbox Design, this hybrid was first seen more than 20 years ago, and in none other than Japan. At the time, nobody knew what it was, and because there wasn’t near as much hype around fish back then, it sold for an insanely cheap price. The industry saw its second specimen about 5 years ago, again through the Japanese aquarium industry, and it looked just as gorgeous as the one we feature today. This current specimen is also headed to the Japanese aquarium marketplace, to no surprise, and we hope it will join the tank of some serious collector who really tanks his hobby seriously. This is a seriously beautiful and rare fish, and although we’d never see it in person, barring some major miracle of course, we sure would love to see more photos and a video if the fish gods were so kind enough. by AquaNerd | May 20, 2013 | Equipment, Industry
When it comes to stylishly functional lighting, there are few that hold a candle to Giesemann. They’ve introduced some of the best looking light fixtures that the aquarium industry has seen, and in recent years they’ve only added to their allure with products like the Teszla and Futura LED. In keeping with the same styling cues that made those too fixtures so darn beautiful to look at, Giesemann has revamped their Matrixx T5HO fixture, giving it a very similar look. Appropriately dubbed the Matrixx-II, this T5HO fixtures has a body made of heavy duty extruded and formed aluminum alloy that comes either coated in an anti-corrosion anodized silver finish or painted in a high gloss white. But the corrosion protection doesn’t stop just there. Each item that makes up the outer body of the light fixture (e.g. all joints, faces, internal faces, etc.) receive the same treatment and are either anodized or painted prior to the production of the fixture. While still on the topic of the fixture’s externals, a rather snazzy looking glass panel adorns the top of the Matrixx-II and, as we sort of mentioned, the bodywork is borrowed directly from Giesemann’s flagship LED fixtures, the Futura LED. Getting into the internals, the Matrixx-II doesn’t employ all of the same run-of-the-mill products found in other, far more boring T5HO fixtures. Where most other manufacturers might battle with quality versus price in an attempt to keep their products within a certain price range, Giesemann didn’t skimp on anything. According to the German aquarium equipment producer, each Matrixx-II is assembled using only the finest quality internals from ballasts, to lamp holders and wiring. The reflector, long thought to be the most important aspect of any T5HO system, is made from highly polished aluminum that is 99.8% reflective. Additionally, it was designed in such a way to maximize the light transfer back into the aquarium. Of course, protecting all of these internals and keeping the reflector clean is an acrylic splash guard. Temperature control was also an important aspect that Giesemann included in the Matrixx-II. This stylish T5HO fixtures uses both passive and active cooling, with the passive coming in the form of the aluminum chassis and glass panel facilitating heat transfer, with circulation fans forcing air through the system. Both of these types of cooling techniques make sure the lights are run at their optimum temperature to prolong their lifespan. The last major feature of the Matrixx-II is it’s flexibility with illuminating your aquarium. Lamps are grouped onto several power cords, allowing for added control over with the use of timers and aquarium controllers. Also, a dimmable version of the Matrixx-II is available. In terms of sizes and bulb configurations, the Matrixx-II will come as two, three, four, and five foot models, with layouts ranging from four bulbs up to eight. The goal of the Matrixx-II, as with most Giesemann products, is quality and reliability over being affordable. While this approach prices the fixture out of the hands of most aquarists, it’s hard to argue with the quality and style this fixture brings to the table.
