by AquaNerd | Dec 10, 2013 | Science
Bubble Magus is really stepping up their game as the end of the year draws closer. In addition to the DC powered Wave Pumps, which we spoke about yesterday, they also have a set of brand new DC controllable skimmer pumps and return pumps for those hobbyists in need of a bit more control. Info and images on the return pumps have yet to surface, they promise them shortly, so for now we’ll just focus on the new DC skimmers. Announced by Sea Side Aquatics, the skimmer pumps will come in two models. The largest of which, the S50, draws 45W while cranking out a peak air intake of 1500 liters per hour. The junior model, called the S20, draws only about 20watts and has an air intake of 900 LPH. by AquaNerd | Nov 6, 2013 | Science, Tanks
A couple of years ago, Royal Exclusiv released a beautiful line of double cone protein skimmers that provided a whole new type of cone shape to their Bubble King brand. Instead of the straight cone or a cylinder topped with a hideous conical transition into the neck, the double cone introduced a wine glass shape whose gentle curves not only looked great, but also provided for better movement of the bubbles through the skimmer. At the time of their introduction, the Bubble King Double Cone skimmers were aimed at the larger tank crowd, with the smallest model being rated for 500 liters (approximately 131 gallons). To address tanks under the 100 gallon mark, Royal Exclusiv has just introduced their Double Cone 150, which is rated for tanks up to 350 liters (around 92 gallons). The Bubble King Double Cone 150 sports a Mini Red Dragon 600 needlewheel pump that draws 625 lph air and 800 lph water. Those numbers are adjustable, as the volute on the pump’s intake can be rotated in or out to dial in the desired performance. The body has a footprint of roughly 7.7″ x 9.6″ (without the pump) and an overall height of 19.7″ by AquaNerd | Oct 28, 2013 | Equipment, Industry
Reef Octopus is reinventing a classic. The aquarium equipment manufacturer is introducing a fresh new look to one of their longest standing products, the NWB-110 protein skimmer. This time they are reverting back to the traditional cylindrical shape and are offering it in the always popular space saving format. Interestingly, they are ditching the cone style that’s been popular for many years, but are loading up the features to keep pace with the rest of the current trends. The tiny skimmer has a footprint of just 6.1″ x 7.87″ with a tank rating of approximately 100-gallons. It features a brand new Aquatrance pinwheel skimmer pump sandwiched in between a bubble plate and removable base plate. Part of the new design is a vented wedge valve output that lets the water escape the skimmer below the water line of the sump, reducing bubbles and splashing. For those seeking a little more firepower, Reef Octopus also has a larger NWB-150SSS model. Specs: Tank Rating: 100 gallon on light load, 80 gallon on medium load, and 60 gallon on heavy load Body Size: 5″ Footprint: 6.1″ x 7.87″ Neck Size: ″ Total Height: 19″ Output Size: 1.25” Note: Recommended Sump Water Depth: 7-8″ Pump Information: Aquatrance 1000s Pinwheel Pump Wattage: 9w Air Draw: 420 lph / 15 SCFH* Water Draw: 350 lph / 92 GPH* *Air and water results will vary depending on aquarium setup Warranty – 2 year warranty on pump/1 year on rotor and 1 year on skimmer body by AquaNerd | Oct 27, 2013 | Equipment, Industry
We’ve all experienced power outages and blips in service, so we can all related to just how much of a problem they create for our aquariums. Lights power off, protein skimmers stop functioning, and water pumps go into a clicking frenzy once power has been restored. Protein skimmers can be particularly troublesome after a power outage, as they have a tendency to overflow and dump all of their contents back into the aquarium. Fortunately for these situations, Reef Octopus has a very helpful new product. When the power goes out, return pumps obviously quit pushing water into the display tank, often flooding the sump with a significant amount of water. If the protein skimmer were to fire up right away, it would operate in a water depth that falls way outside the manufacturer’s suggested depth, which will likely cause the skimmer to behave erratically and overflow. by AquaNerd | Oct 11, 2013 | Equipment
One of the many goodies we got from Vertex a few weeks ago was a Vectra and Vectra Lid to go with our Omega 150 protein skimmer. This device is one of the many accessories designed to make the day-to-day life of the average hobbyists a bit easier, as it is designed to keep the neck of the skimmer clean so that it can operate at maximum efficiency for as long as possible. It does this by rotating a silicone blade on the inside of the neck and collection cup, knocking significant amounts of crud that has built up in the skimmer. So how do we like the Vectra from Vertex Aquaristik? Well, if our unboxing is any indication of how things will go during our long term tests, then we expect it to be a solid performer. The Vectra is well built, with extra care given to protect all of the sensitive electronic components to keep them high and dry.
