Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

2012-05-30T03:15:34-05:00

Marine Aquarium Fish Trade Study Reveals Fewer Fish, More Species Imported than Previously Estimated (via PR Newswire) First study of its kind finds aquarium tropical fish imports to the U.S. often misreported BRISTOL, R.I., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the popularity of marine aquariums rises, so does the demand for wildlife inhabiting them. Most aquarium fish are harvested from their natural habitats…

Mangroves Are Precious!

2012-05-16T18:09:41-05:00

Near-shore mangrove habitats are being destroyed all over the world to the detriment of all, especially local fishermen

SOPA Is Back. Stop it.

2012-04-11T10:43:56-05:00

A new bill with all of the internet-breaking features of SOPA plus the complete removal of privacy from the internet. If you took steps to ensure privacy on the internet...you'd be breaking the law if CISPA passes. Spread the word and stop CISPA now! How bad is it? It's bad: "Under Rep. Mike Rogers’ Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (CISPA),and Sen. John McCain’s SECURE IT Act, there are almost no restrictions on what information can be spied upon and how it can be used. That means a company like Google, Facebook, Twitter, or AT&T could intercept your emails and text messages, send copies to one another and to the government, and modify those communications or prevent them from reaching their destination if it fits into their plan to stop “cybersecurity” threats." It's simple to send a letter to your representative using this site: Electronic Frontier Foundation

Teszla LED Light Preview - Geisemann's (Excellent) Compromise

2012-03-26T08:59:16-06:00

Geisemann Aquaristic is known internationally for their uncompromising and high quality products as per european consumer standards, dominating the 'best of the best' niche in lighting fixtures for decades. However, this dedication has met an impasse in reef aquarium LED lighting: american consumers don't want premium quality at a premium price, and american aquarists make up over 90% of the aquarium LED market currently. What's Geisemann's answer? Whilst other companies see no problem in providing american aquarists what they desire (terrible products at a low price point), Geisemann was quite obviously not happy with that option and provided an alternative that has recently been unveiled as the Teszla LED light. Obviously named honoring the great Nikola Tesla, the light is Geisemann's first serious foray into reef aquarium LED lighting; and one they were forced to compromise on. The Teszla LED light is available with an optional mounting arm ($49) To achieve the $499 pricetag required by the US market, Geisemann was forced to cut R&D costs, and thus the Teszla uses stock Cree emitters. Don't leave yet: if that were the end of the story I wouldn't be writing this, as 'just another cree led light' is hardly a reason...

Interested in Lighting? Check out the latest Marine Habitat issue!

2012-03-25T05:27:45-06:00

I've penned a feature on lighting for the March-April issue of Marine Habitat Magazine. I've featured Marine Habitat before because I'm a big fan of the mag's dual purpose, covering both the hobby and ocean/reef ecology. If you're wanting to know more about lighting, photosynthesis, and what lighting methods are "best", pick up the issue - or better yet, subscribe!

New LEDs Turn Heat Into Light

2012-03-09T03:45:39-06:00

While I'm usually quietly behind the scenes consulting for the next generation of aquarium LED lights, I had to share this breakthrough by Dr. Santhanam and his team that was recently published in Physical Review Letters: LEDs that actually cool their surroundings, turning heat energy into visible light energy! And just as incredibly, have an efficiency of over 200%. Pause for a moment to let that sink in. No heatsinks, no chillers, no heat degredation of the emitters or associated electronics, but a light source that actually cools its surroundings and emits more light energy than it consumes in electricity. Lighting's holy grail? While the cooling effect isn't "significant", at least as of yet, the sheer fact that heat isn't produced is astonishing, not to mention usefu and incredibly efficient. Instead of energy being wasted as heat, it's converted to light, further increasing the luminous efficacy. Hooked? Read more here!

Research & Relocation...

2012-02-24T21:18:21-06:00

Things have been hectic due to my relocation (to the coast and a large reef - can you guess which one?). Ever since the research I performed in the Belize Barrier Reef I've wanted to live on a reef again, so I've taken an opportunity that arose. As my activities shift away from the hobby and more towards actual hands on ecological participation, photography, and writing on an reef location, the blog will shift as well. Pics, video, and ecology info about actual reefs rather than glass boxes coming soon!

X-Aqua Reef Aquarium LED Light Teaser Pics

2011-12-30T01:20:32-06:00

Here are some pics of X-Aqua's newest/upcoming reef aquarium LED lights, both behind the scenes and a finished product. Full review when I have the time, but they're looking good! Enjoy!

Goodbye Internet?

2011-12-21T01:51:42-06:00

Click here to prevent internet censorship

The Government Could Block Your Favorite Websites

2011-11-16T19:05:19-06:00

Such as twitter, facebook, YouTube, and many other sites if the "Internet Blacklist Bill" (so politically correctly called the "Stop Online Piracy" Act) passes, websites like this, or any other site The Man doesn't like could be yanked. The bill's purpose is supposedly to stop sites like The Pirate Bay which have been a thorn in the RIAA's side for years. The solution? Pass a law saying any site with objectionable content or hosting objectionable content could be blocked. For those not aware, the US not only controls the internet (virtually all top level DNS servers are administrated in the USA) but is one of the few countries that doesn't actively block "objectionable" sites, such as sites hosting opinions that aren't the governments. That could change with the passing of this bill - from The Guardian: "In a blogpost, Google said: "We strongly support the goal of the bill – cracking down on offshore websites that profit from pirated and counterfeited goods – but we're concerned the way it's currently written would threaten innovation, jobs, and free expression." Art Bordsky, spokesman for Public Knowledge, a Washington-based public policy group, said Sopa was "the proverbial bull in the proverbial china shop"...