by AquaNerd | Mar 25, 2017 | Industry, Opinion, Science
Photo Credit: Reef Raft USA – Neptune Bounce Why are lineage corals so expensive? This is a question that I get asked once a week at New England Aquarium Services.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of lineage corals available in the aquarium trade and just one example of such a coral is the Jason Fox Beach Bum Montipora. This coral can range anywhere in price from $200-$600 for a ½ to 1 inch frag. The explanation for this question is very simple; lineage corals are corals that come from a seller’s private collection and they are unusually beautiful. Photo Credit: Jason Fox Signature Corals Additionally, corals like the Beach Bum usually command a higher price that holds up over time due to the fact that are by AquaNerd | Sep 30, 2016 | Corals, Opinion, Reef, Travel
Those of you who have visited us before will remember vividly your adventures in this region while those who haven’t been here yet will begin to dream about it.  Raja Ampat, or ‘the Four Kings,’ is an archipelago made up of 1,500 islands in Indonesia’s West Papua province, It is situated in the center of the Coral Triangle and has some of the richest marine biodiversity on earth. Since Raja Ampat has become part of a protected marine park, a variety of animals including sharks, manta rays, dugongs and tortoises, are once again able to rule the ocean kingdom here. Of all these animals, the most curious is the Dugong.  It is the last survivor of the Dugongidae family to inhabit the coral reefs of Indonesia. by ReefBum | Aug 12, 2016 | DIY, Equipment, Opinion, Reef, Science
It has been nearly a year since I reviewed my Royal Exclusiv Dreambox and I wanted to provide an updated review to pass along some new insights and observations.  I had been using my Dreambox for about a month and a half when I did the first review so at that point my system was brand new. As a reminder, the sump is 74 US gallons and measures 59″L x 23-1/2″W x 13-3/4″T. Along with the sump I purchased a Bubble King Double Cone 250 skimmer, which included a RD3 Speedy pump, two Red Dragon 3 Speedy return pumps and two Royal Exclusiv Media Reactors, one with a 2L capacity and the other with a 5L capacity. My overall impression of the sump has not changed. You get what you 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 AquaNerd | Feb 9, 2016 | Corals, Fish, Invertebrates, Opinion, Photography, Reef, Science
[embedded content] Atoll is a new app available for reef aquarium and diving enthusiasts to download on the iPhone. Atoll is an interactive mobile app which includes a comprehensive database of coral. Â Atoll provides vibrant photos and detailed information allowing users to more easily identify coral which they encounter on a dive or purchase as an addition to their aquarium. Â This can be critical information especially when dealing with corals which exhibit aggressive behavior and could potentially wreak havoc in your aquarium if placed in close proximity to other species. Â Atoll also provides useful information to hobbyists relating to appropriate water temperatures and pH levels for your own aquarium. Atoll also allows users to submit photos of unknown coral for the community to identify. This is
