Aquarium Equipment
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.
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.
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Radion, Orphek, Mvava, Ecoray and Ecoxotic
As LED lighting moves further into the mainstream, there a lot of new choices available to the aquarist. Hopefully this data will help the aquarist make an informed choice on what to expect from the individual LED fixtures and how best to utilize them to achieve the desired coverage and light intensity.
Product Review: Blue Moon Aquatics' P30 LED Pendant
What seemed impossible to many just a few years ago is now reality - this LED luminaire can complete with metal halides when used over coral reef aquaria of sizes commonly seen in homes. I've had another Blue Moon Aquatics LED system in operation for over a year and report no problems with it. If that is any indication, one should get long, reliable service from the P30 luminaire.
Product Review: Inexpensive Analytical Devices: Hanna Instruments' Checkers: Alkalinity and Phosphate
In many cases, results from colorimeters are superior to visually judging colored samples. Will an inexpensive device deliver results comparable to an expensive spectrophotometer? Dana tests the Hanna Checkers to find out.
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Ecoray, Reef Fanatic, and MaxSpect
LED lighting for reef tanks is on its way to becoming a reality, and various designs and configurations are making their way into the market.
Aquarium Equipment: The Internet Accessible Aquarium for the Budget Conscious Aquarist
Raul will give you the necessary information, presented at a layman's level, to get your reef aquarium up on the Internet. The Internet accessible aquarium will be discussed here from the standpoint of two particular pieces of equipment, the aquarium controller and the network webcam. Read on to see how it's done.
Feature Article: Experimental Comparison of Measured Flow Output of Aquarium Propeller Pumps
Hobbyists have seen significant advancements in the range of aquarium circulation pumps available over the past decade. While all manufacturers provide a flow rate for the pumps, it is not clear what methods have been used to arrive at the numbers. Further, different manufacturers may use different methods. We have presented a standard method that we hope can be adopted by the manufacturers thus enabling a more accurate and verifiable approach.
Product Review: Two Little Fishies' Media Reactor 150 and PhosBan Phosphate and Silica Adsorption Media
TLF's 150 Reactor and PhosBan media performed as advertised. Under the conditions of this testing, both phosphate and silica concentrations fell to levels below the detection limits of 'laboratory grade' instruments. The successful application of these products in aquaria around the world is a testament to their functions. If you're battling algae outbreaks and need a quick solution, give these products a try.
Aquarium Invertebrates: On Lighting for Tridacnid Clams
To summarize, it is impossible to give a single number recommendation when it comes to tridacnids' lighting requirements, even for a particular species. Each clam is genetically different, and some members of a given species will need more light than others.
Feature Article: Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming and/or GAC filtration) actually remove bacteria from the water column, and if so, how much? Ken, Allison, Sanjay, and Gary's in-depth article puts these questions to the test.
Equipment Review: Inexpensive Aquarium Thermometers - Bargains or Reef Killers? Plus Notes on Thermometer Calibration
It is not uncommon to see an aquarium housing hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars worth of exotic animals while using a very inexpensive thermometer to report this critical parameter. Is this practice a shrewd use of financial resources, or frugality inviting disaster?
Open Discussion: What's your thought on the state of water circulation?
How do you provide circulation for the critters under your care?
Feature Article: The Innovative Aquarium Products of InterZoo 2010
Jake highlights numerous products seen at InterZoo 2010.
Product Review: B-Ionic Seawater is Good to the Last Drop
As with trying and testing all new things, long term performance is what really counts so I was greatly looking forward to seeing if my initial impressions with the 4-part would be similar to my long term experience.
Feature Article: LED Lighting Tests: Aquaillumination, Blue Moon, Eco-Lamp KR-91, Ecoxotic Panorama
LED lighting for reef tanks is on its way to becoming a reality. Different LED fixtures address the lighting problem in several different ways, small number of high power LEDs with optics or with large numbers of low power LEDs with no optics.
Feature Article: An Affordable LED Luminaire for Reef Aquaria: Blue Moon Aquatic's 90-watt Fixture
Based on personal observations of corals' minimum and maximum light requirements using a Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) fluorometer, it appears that the Blue Moon Aquatic 90-watt LED unit is capable of meeting the maximum light requirements of the most demanding corals. Read more for the details.
Feature Aquarium: EcoReef One: A New Kind of Nano Reef
The description of this tanks sounds like a list of things not to do when setting up a reef tank: it has no live rock, no live sand, minimal filtration, no additives, the water is never tested, 100% water changes and yet this 5 gallon glass box is one of the most attractive, successful and least demanding reef tanks that I have ever set up.
Aquarist Courses: Marine Aquarist Courses Online (MACO) is proud to announce the first of 2010's offerings!
Classes include Marine Reef Fish Husbandry and Aquarium Photography!
