Reef Builders | The Reef Aquarium Blog

March 2010 Advanced Aquarist now Online

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:25:09 +0000

The March Edition of Advanced Aquarist is now online. In this edition you read about a very interesting article by Dana Riddle, Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols. Quite a few of us get Red Bugs and we are always open to another way to treat these pests. James W. Fatherree takes an in-depth look at Hippopus Clams which are rarely for sale but he gives great points on keeping these unique creatures alive and thriving in your home reef aquarium.

Aquarium Fish: Physical Crypsis: Mimicry and Camouflage

Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine (FAMA) is dead

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:51:17 +0000

For those of you who receive the Freshwater and Marine Aquarium (FAMA) Magazine you won’t any longer. According to our very reliable sources FAMA will cease to exist. The June 2010 issue will be the final issue of Freshwater and Marine Aquarium (FAMA) as a stand-alone magazine. Apparently BowTie, Inc is combining FAMA into Aquarium Fish International (AFI). Before this change BowTie, Inc. had 4 different magazines for the aquarium market. A part from the dwindling sales of print media publications this was a no-brainer and probably should have happened sooner. After the change they will have 3 aquarium print magazine publications. We wouldn’t be surprised if that gets trimmed down again if readers continue to stop reading print magazines. This is yet another print magazine that has bit the dust. And hopefully the last.

Morning Deals

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:38:05 +0000

Marine Depot: Hamilton Cayman Sun Reflector DE HQI 14K System $242
Premium Aquatics: Blue Wave 1 – 175watt Remote Ballast – Pulse $65
TB Aquatics: Ecotech EcoSmart Vortechs Preorder
Coralmorphologic: Ultra Neon Green Ricordea $18
Ocean Gallery II: Peppermint Shrimp $7.99
Aquarium Specialty: Aqua Driver Self Cleaning Heads 25% off
Cherry Corals: Electric Blue Cespitularia $80
Bulk Reef Supply:20% off Cal, Mag, and Alk Jugs
AquaCave: Sicce Voyager 2 High Flow Water Pump, Powerhead $51.95
Vivid Aquariums: Hot Tamale Chalice $229

No Related

Rare Gold Rim Achiles tang hybrid Acanthurus achilles x A. nigricans

Ryan Gripp — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:23:35 +0000

Although hybrid fish are increasingly becoming more apparent in the industry we find it hard to pass on posting such beautiful creatures up. This Hybrid Achilles tang (Acanthurus achilles x A. nigricans) has popped up on Aquatouch. The markings on this Achilles Tang are just beautiful with aqua almost to an aqua blue seen on his fins and mouth areas. The gradient from yellow to bright orange highlighted on his caudal fin is like “orange” icing on the cake. Likely, you have already recognized this as the Gold Rim Achilles Tang and if you would like to be the owner of this beautiful marvel he can be yours for a mere $440. Quite a good price with these unique color markings and patterns.

No Related

Elos teases new LED lighting system

Ryan Gripp — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:04:57 +0000

Oh Elos. How you tease us so. While everyone knows that most European companies wait to release any new products at the largest pet tradeshow in the world, Interzoo. That doesn’t stop Elos from teasing a new production lighting system on one of their home page spreads. You can bet your bottom dollar that these new lights will use LEDs exclusively as fitting a Metal Halide into that shinny thin material is next to impossible. This new guy sure looks sweet and we can all expect a price that matches its looks.

ZEOvit releases new “powerful” filter media with fancy colored bag

Ryan Gripp — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:40:15 +0000

ZEOvit, the popular nutrient control system introduced a new formula for their staple main stay zeovit filter media. In case you aren’t familiar with the ZEOvit system this helps control nutrients while you manually add specific types back into the water column. Some persons call it the ultra low nutrient system which is technically incorrect. What’s new about the new ZEOvit bag besides the fancy new packaging? Korallen-Zucht is saying that the media is now “more powerful” then ever with a “new composition”. We’re not sure if the bags have increased in size/price but you’re welcome to call your favorite ZEOvit retailer and inquire about the new packaging.

via [Korallen-Zucht]

The Reefstock 2010 Aquascaping Design: Lessons learned and a Victory for the Road Less Travelled

Scott Fellman — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:00:41 +0000

Reeftock 2010 is now a pleasant memory. The aquascaping “ Throwdown” between myself and my new BFF, Freshwater “Iron Aquascaper” John Ciotti, was a smashing success, bringing aquascaping to the forefront of the marine hobby world, if only for a day. Some valuable lessons were learned, and some new ground was broken along the way in the world of marine aquascaping. Our mission was to demonstrate the many ways that we can express ourselves with our aquascaping.

Both John and I were given identical 48”x18”x18 rimless glass aquariums, a choice of fantastic quarried rock from Marco Rock, and 4 hours to create aquascapes that could enthrall the panel of aquatic celebrity judges, and the chance to inspire the 300 plus attendees. John deservedly won the contest, but the larger victory was for the hobby, which had its first exposure to a new way of thinking about marine aquascaping. Both of us expressed our passions in our rockwork, showing that the road less travelled can certainly be a pleasant one.

Coming from different backgrounds, but sharing many thoughts on design, John and I embarked on completely different aquascaping journeys, much to the delight of those in attendance. We created totally different compositions, demonstrating on a small scale that there are countless alternatives to the “rock wall” so dominant in the marine aquascaping arena.

John, a master of the freshwater “Iwagumi” style of rock arrangement, embarked on a design that, while somewhat common in the freshwater game, was, in my opinion, positively groundbreaking in the marine arena. His design consisted of two opposing vertical elements of slab rock, with an open area in between. On either side, the sand was terraced and buttressed with a variety of smaller rocks, creating a dramatic, yet somehow comfortable setting. Much care was demonstrated in providing a central area of open sand and an unusually tranquil feeling. The beautiful influence of Japanese rockwork technique was everywhere- and was stunning. The terracing of the sand was something few, if any hobbyists in attendance have ever seen-nor attempted before.

Lesson One: We need to open our minds to the many possibilities that exist to create dramatic aquascapes, as inspiration can come from many different places.

My aquascape took a more “conventional marine approach” (is there really such a thing?), relying on strong fundamental rockwork and utilization of some simple- but highly under utilized design elements. The “Golden Ratio” of 5/3 was utilized, putting the focal point of the composition about 18.5” from the left side of the tank. The left side and center of my aquascape consisted of two strongly vertical elements, with one breaking the surface of the tank, and the other sloping downwards into a small field of broken rubble. The sand was sloped gently from back to front , following the contours of the ‘scape. The right side of the scape had a strong, yet natural configuration of rock with a slightly lower vertical element, instead following the slope of the overall rock work from left to right.

Lesson Two: By embracing just a few common principles of design, we can effectively translate our vision to a tangible work.

All was going well. Both John and I were in our “zones”- you know the feeling: That oddly relaxing, yet somehow quite stimulating place that you take yourself when deeply engrossed in your endeavor. Even though we were smack dab in a bustling room of 300-plus people, it was easy to concentrate on the work at hand. It was gratifying for John and I to take an occasional stroll over to each others’ tank and share a thought or two. Under the illumination of state-of-the–art plasma arc lighting, we happily worked away the hours.

What was more gratifying was that we had lots- and I mean lots- of people watching us work throughout the competition, asking questions, sharing thoughts, and just plain staring…deep in thought. When we did glance up from our work, we could see the “wheels of thought” spinning in peoples’ heads- the look that said, “What if I try THAT idea in my tank?” Could it get any better?

Lesson Three: We all have aquascaping talent within ourselves- we simply need to act on our aquascaping visions and express ourselves with our work.

From a competitive standpoint, failure to embrace Lesson Three was where I took the fateful turn that would ultimately cost me a contest win, according to the judges…

Despite what I felt was a strong, and very unique vertical structure on the left side of my tank, projecting to the water’s surface and beyond, I somehow felt that it needed something more…something perhaps more familiar. What did I do? I decided to link my two left-side elements by creating…an ARCH…. capping it with a smaller rock. One rock changed the entire composition, taking my aquascape from dramatically different to somehow contrived.

Scott Fellman’s submission to the aquascaping competition

John Ciotti submission to the aquascaping competition

One rock, as I was told by each and every judge in the evening post party that followed- made the difference between winning and losing the contest. I never- and I mean-NEVER-have been a fan of arches- they rarely work, and evoke an absolutely artificial feel 9 times out of 10. And as a believer in “natural style” aquascaping, such structures are something I avoid like the plague. Yet, I somehow felt it necessary to stray off my path and try something that I knew would not work. Why? I believe it was something quite simple. Fear. Fear to try something just a bit unconventional. I had a strong belief in what I was doing, yet reversed course. Interestingly, I received many, many compliments about how cool the arch was…and that, as pointed out by a couple of the judges later- should have been my first tip-off that I was playing to the masses- and not being true to my vision. I was not fulfilling my responsibility to the hobby. Ever one to attempt to pull something from the jaws of defeat, I believe that another valuable lesson was learned:

Lesson Number Four: Follow your instinct. If you believe in your design and your vision, take the road less traveled and don’t stray from it.

In the end, what will be taken from this contest is not who won or who lost…John and I both felt that not only did we BOTH win- but the hobby won as well…Because we expressed some ideas that others may not have expressed before. Perhaps just a few people will go home, look at their tank and say, “I want to try that thing that the guy did at the Reefstock aquascaping contest”. And THAT is the real victory.

Mission accomplished.

Till next time,

Keep Wet

Scott Fellman

facebook.com/scott.fellman

Ecoxotic shows off new Photon Cannon LED light

Ryan Gripp — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:49:37 +0000

Ecoxotic is here with a new toy. Meet the Photon Light canon made from a 50 watt multi-chip with one LED die. Initially, the photon light cannon will come out in a Pendant but not to worry for you fixture fans. You’ll get one of those too after the pendant is released. There will be a 7000k avaiable for freshwater and a 12-14k color (not determined yet) for saltwater. The light canon doesn’t use any fan, its that cool. Litterally. Inside the unit is a reflector with a glass lens and is designed for deep tanks mainly giving dark areas of your tank much needed light. The light is being tested in the Denver Aquarium and should have a MSRP around $600 or less depending on how things turn out. It is said to have higher PAR values then a 250 watt Metal Halide. Expect to see this unit in late spring.

DIY LED fixture made out of Birdseye wood

Ryan Gripp — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:47:47 +0000

Another LED product that is different because it is a do-it-yourself by a coral vendor here. The fixture is actually made out of birdseye maple wood with LEDs that can be purchased from a favorite online retailer. The fit and finish on this unit is extremely well for a “first timer” as the maker said. It obviously favors the blue color but you could easily make this with more “white” color if you did want to.

Nano Customs new Pico LED light fixture

Ryan Gripp — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:55:09 +0000

Nano Customs is here at Reef stock with something new that we haven’t seen before. A complete Pico LED unit that has the fit and finish of an advanced LED unit such as Elos or other top premium brands. We managed to take pictures of their prototype unit that is being finalized with 12 LEDs. At launch you’ll be able to choose from either 12k or a 20k color temperature. Interestingly, Nano Customs went the extra mile and included a built in fan that pushes air flow from the top and out the sides, thus eliminating any salt creep worries that you might have. The unit takes up less than 15 watts and here is the kicker: It’s being priced at around $300 or less.

Update: Nano Customs is coming out with two models. Both featuring 12 LEDs. One fixture will include 1 watt LEDs and the other will be upgraded to 3 watt LEDs which are perfect for light demanding corals like SPS for example.

Reef Builders | The Reef Aquarium Blog

March 2010 Advanced Aquarist now Online

Aquarium Fish: Physical Crypsis: Mimicry and Camouflage

Related Posts:

Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine (FAMA) is dead

Related Posts:

Morning Deals

Related Posts:

Rare Gold Rim Achiles tang hybrid Acanthurus achilles x A. nigricans

Related Posts:

Elos teases new LED lighting system

Related Posts:

ZEOvit releases new “powerful” filter media with fancy colored bag

Related Posts:

The Reefstock 2010 Aquascaping Design: Lessons learned and a Victory for the Road Less Travelled

Related Posts:

Ecoxotic shows off new Photon Cannon LED light

Related Posts:

DIY LED fixture made out of Birdseye wood

Related Posts:

Nano Customs new Pico LED light fixture

Related Posts: