Latest Articles
Feature Aquarium: The Reef Aquarium of Tomi Wittfooth
This month's Feature Aquarium comes to us from Finland. Tomi's serendipitous discovery of reefkeeping has culminated in his latest 570 liter (150 US gallon) reef aquarium. While his tank is still relatively young, its vibrant beauty is undeniable.
Podcast: Mike Paletta's 300-Gallon Mixed Reef Tank Tour - Part II
Join us again this month for another great American Reef video podcast about Mike Paletta's 300-gallon mixed reef aquarium.
Featured Reefs: Red Sea Reefs
For me the Red Sea offers an escape from the workaday world, but also a source of inspiration. Indeed my current tank was partly inspired by a small bommie I came across. Above all though, I see diving and reef keeping as sympathetic towards each other, one informs and reinforces the passion for another.
Equipment Review: Getting the Most from Your T-5 Lights: A Look at Reflectors and More
It is imperative that you use reflectors with T-5 bulbs, and individual reflectors do a better job of sending light into a tank than a single reflector. Bulb temperature and even an aquarium's background has a measurable effect on lighting performance.
Product Review: RLSS R10-U Protein Skimmer
RLSS is a new line of protein skimmers by H2O systems featuring the speed-controllable Waveline DC pumps. Advanced Aquarist reviews the RLSS R10-U.
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of Fang Blennies of the genus Meiacanthus
As ornamental fish, fang blennies of the genus Meiacanthus have it all--sturdiness with elegant good looks, individual character with great adaptability, peacefulness with the ability to stand up to aggressors. There is a wide variety of hue and pattern within the genus. The distinctive coloration, accentuated by their sleek body shape, makes for an exceptionally attractive animal.
Product Review: Hanna 'Checkers': Calcium and Iron Colorimeters and Thoughts on Aquarium Industry Product Quality Control
Both instruments are recommended if the minimum and maximum detection limits meet your requirements and good laboratory practices are maintained. Good job Hanna!
Aquarium Invertebrates: Aiptasia, dinoflagellate algae and cyanobacteria - a three-way symbiosis?
Aiptasia are tropical sea anemones which are commonly found in marine aquaria. Usually introduced as hitchhikers on live rock, they rapidly colonize the aquarium due to their prolific growth. Although Aiptasia may settle on any available substrate, chemical signals may attract them to specific microhabitats. In this article I report on the settlement preference of Aiptasia for cyanobacterial mats, a finding which suggests a three-way symbiosis between sea anemones, dinoflagellate algae and bacteria.
Aquarium Fish: An Overview of the Maroon Clownfish and Clownfishes of the Percula Complex
It pretty much goes without saying that the common, orange, and maroon clownfish are well known and well represented in the marine aquarium hobby. Tank-bred specimens are now widely available in trade; most agree that these are far easier to keep than their wild counterparts. Especially in the case of the common and orange clownfish, a wide variety of color forms are yet being developed.
Feature Aquarium: The Reef Aquarium of Eren Yelkenci
For the first time, Advanced Aquarist features an aquarium from Turkey. Eren's 290 gallon reef system exhibits some of the most amazing coral growth rates we have ever seen. In just over a year, Eren's reef has grown from bare rock to majestic coral garden.
Aquarium Chemistry: Phosphate And Math: Yes You Need To Understand Both
Foods are by far the most important source of phosphate in most aquariums. In considering whether sources of phosphate other than foods are important, one must carefully look to the actual amounts involved to determine whether other sources are even worth trying to minimize.
Mike Paletta's 300 Gallon Mixed Reef Aquarium - Part I
In this video, presented by AmericanReef.com, we take a tank tour of Mike Paletta's 300 Gallon Mixed Reef Aquarium - In part one of this video series, Mike presents his 300 gallon mixed reef aquarium and shares details relating to how to set up a coral reef saltwater aquarium.
Feature Article: Improved husbandry of marine invertebrates using an innovative filtration technology - part two: results with two 12 cubic meter DyMiCo systems
In part one of this article I discussed the growing incentive to aquaculture marine invertebrates to increase the sustainability of the global aquarium trade, and presented the DyMiCo technology as a possible solution. In part two, I will outline some of the results that have been obtained with the DyMiCo technology recently. More specifically, I will discuss the successful husbandry of invertebrates that depend on a live plankton population for their survival.
Feature Article: Spectral Distributions of LEDs: AI-Sol, Radion, Orphek, EcoRay, Mvava
In addition to the characterization of light by its intensity and distribution, the spectral distribution is also of interest. Light sources emit light at varying amounts at different wavelengths. Spectral distribution characterizes the light output across different wavelengths of the light spectrum.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima
With their desirability in mind, if you can find a good specimen these clams can be relatively easy to care for in a well-run reef aquarium. However, they do have particular lighting requirements, and are by no means bulletproof when it comes to keeping them long-term. So, this article will cover their basic biology, how to identify them, and how to best care for them in aquaria.
