Reef Builders -The Reef Aquarium Blog » General

Morning Deals

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:13 +0000

Marine Depot: 250 watt 20K Metal Halide Bulb – German Radium, Mogul Base and 400 watt $71.99 (was $89.99)
150 Watt 20K Metal Halide Bulb – Radium, Double Ended $71.99 ($89.99)

Premium Aquatics: 250 Watt PFO Metal Halide Lights $159.95. 400 watt $249.95

Foster Smith: Up to 25% off on their Heater Sale.

Finsdepot: Precision Marine Kalkreactor KR620 only $245.90 with free shipping.

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Morning Deals

Morning Deals

Steven Pro switches to ICE-CAP, says aidos to Red Sea

Ryan Gripp — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:53:25 +0000

Well this is certainly getting interesting. Steven Pro who was a rep for Red Sea has switched jobs. Effective January 1st he has starting working at Ice-Cap. What job title? We haven’t confirmed it for certain but rumors point to some VP job. Gosh, with all the VP jobs they have signing up we think we need to get in line.

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Steven Pro switches to ICE-CAP, says aidos to Red Sea

Steven Pro switches to ICE-CAP, says aidos to Red Sea

Eco Pump Holder delivers common sense usefulness

Jake Adams — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:10:52 +0000

Once in a while a product so unassuming can come along that you don’t realize how useful it is until you need it. A perfect example of this is Ecosystem Aquarium’s “PUMP HOLDER”. This pump holding accessory is designed for use with MaxiJet pumps which have been modified to use a propeller like a Vortech pump so that it can be firmly attached at a 90 degree angle. The Pump Holder allows for lateral rotation so the pump doesnt have to be square with the aquarium glass but the entire assembly works at a fixed height so there is no vertical adjustment. One of the interesting unintended benefits of using this pump holder is a marked reduction in noise since the device incorporates at least three points of contact with thick silicone for reducing vibrations. We even succeeded in quiting down a particularly loud pump to bearable levels. A secure holdfast and noise reducer in one can be yours for the low price of about $15.

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Eco Pump Holder delivers common sense usefulness

Eco Pump Holder delivers common sense usefulness

Advanced Aquarist’s Magazine now in print at Amazon

Ryan Gripp — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:06:50 +0000

For those of you that like to hold things in your hands including among other things reef magazines you’ll be happy to know that the Advanced Aquarist’s magazine is now being published in print form from the kind folks over at reefs.org. “The available editions are 100% color paperbacks measuring 8″ x 10″ in size and come in two separate volumes: the 2007 Edition and the 2008 Edition, Book 1. The 2007 Edition is a compilation of the best articles from 2007 and the 2008 Edition, Book 1 is a complete compilation of the articles from the first six months of 2008.” You can grab a copy for $38.95 for the 2007 edition and the 2008 book 1 edition will set you back $31.95. You can hop on over to Amazon to purchase your own copy.

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Advanced Aquarist’s Magazine now in print at Amazon

Advanced Aquarist’s Magazine now in print at Amazon

Juvenile Clarion Angelfish on “sale” for $2,999

Ryan Gripp — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:56:06 +0000

If you have the inkling to purchase a ultra rare fish then you might want to head on over to Live Aquaria. They have aquired a very rare fish, the Juvenile Clarion Angelfish. They claim they have had it in quarantine since Febuary 2008, and were assuming it was much smaller then. Currently the size is 3-3/4″ long which would mean this guy needs plenty of space to swim around, they grow big. Clarion Angelfish aren’t reef safe, so if you have a fish ony display tank, with live rock, this would be a great addition to it. Just don’t do anything stupid and lose this fish.

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Juvenile Clarion Angelfish on “sale” for $2,999

Juvenile Clarion Angelfish on “sale” for $2,999

Maintenance Completed

Ryan Gripp — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:40:12 +0000

We had several users complaining about ability to access the site after our server maintenance was done. We have fixed all this, and you shouldn’t have any issues. If you do, always feel free to leave a comment below.

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Maintenance Completed

Maintenance Completed

Saltwater aquariums: Critical water parameters for reef tanks

Ryan Gripp — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:40:16 +0000

by Holle Abee

Think of all the divers who go to such lengths to visit saltwater reefs for a view of the amazing sea life that inhabits the area. Now imagine that you can have a little corner of that magic in your own home. With a saltwater reef tank, you can have the mezmerizing tranquility and the brilliant natural beauty of a tropical sea, all vividly displayed in an aquarium.

A reef tank isn’t just a regular saltwater aquarium. The key word is “reef.” The main focus of the tank is the soft or hard corals. Colorful fish, sea stars, eels, anemones, urchins, shrimp, and sea horses can certainly be added, but everything should revolve around the coral itself.

To keep a healthy reef tank, certain guidelines must be followed to ensure the longevity of your corals. The other inhabitants of your tank will not be as sensitive as the reef, so again, its requirements should be considered first.

WATER
To begin, most experts recommend using reverse osmosis water – water that is forced through a membrane to remove at least 90% of impurities like nitrates, chlorine, chloramine, mercury, and copper. A reverse osmosis water filter will achieve the appropriate water required for your tank. Unfortunately, the process removes some beneficial minerals along with the harmful ones, but these can be added back with a good saltwater mix.

HARD CORALS
Hard corals produce stony exoskeletons that make up your reef. They come in a rainbow spectrum of colors and shapes. A few popular species include Acropora purple, blue, or green; pink Birdsnest; orange Montipora; yellow Porites; and the fascinating branched Staghorn. When purchasing your corals, packs with an assortment of species are available.

SOFT CORALS
While soft corals lack the hard external skeletons of the hard corals, some may have “bony” internal parts. Popular soft corals are Mushroom, Xenia, Zoanthid, and Leather corals. The soft corals exhibit a wide range of bright colors and add movement to your tank, swaying gracefully in the underwater currents.

LIVE ROCK and LIVE SAND
Live rock is not actually “alive,” but it was once. It adds calcium and beneficial organisms to ensure prpoer water management. Available in branch rock and shelf rock, it provides the perfect place on which to set your corals. Purchase cured live rock, which has already been cleaned and conditioned and can be used right away. Live sand is basically the same as live rock – just in small particles.

WATER TEMPERATURE
There is much argument about proper temperature for reef tanks. This is partly due to the range of species kept in most aquariums. While many aquarists keep their reef tanks between 80-85 degrees, new evidence shows that 79 degrees inhibits metabolic activity and thereby decreases oxygen requirements and harmful waste products. You will need a chiller to maintain a constant desirable water temperature.

NITRATES (NO3)
Nitrates, the waste by-products of bacteria that develop in the nitrogen cycling process, make a biological filtration system function. Too much is harmful to reef inhabitants and is the major cause of algae blooms. Healthy levels are between 0.25 and 5ppm, with less being better. Nitrates can be controlled with mangrove plants and nitrate reduction filtration. Tri-based pelletized carbon and RN! bacteria, manufactured by Hiatt, are used in combination to effectively reduce harmful nitrates.

NITRITES (HNO2)
Nitrates are generated by from the metabolic wastes of invertebrates, fish, and bacteria and are highly toxic to your tank. The level should be as close to zero as possible. Hiatt’s RN! and tri-pelleted activated charcoal will eliminate the harmful compound. Knowledgeable aquarists recommend using a charcoal-filled flow tube with your filtration system, making sure water and air flow freely through the tube.

pH (power of hydrogen)
Keeping a stable, proper pH level is critical in maintaining tank survival. The pH indicates the alkalinity or acidity of the water, with 7 being neutral. Above 7 is alkaline; below 7 is acidic. Saltwater tanks, because of nitric acids, carbon dioxide, and organic acids produced by natural wastes, tend to be acidic. The proper level, however, should be maintained at slightly alkaline, with 8.2-8.4 being optimum. Adding baking soda or a commercial pH buffer will return your water to the right level. Removing part of the water and replacing it and using a calcium reactor will help, too.

CALCIUM (Ca)
Another important mineral for your tank is calcium, at a level of 400-500ppm, which can be achieved by adding calcium supplements.

ALKALINITY
Sometimes confused with pH, alkalinity is actually carbonate hardness. The level in your tank is measured by the presence of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which should be 150-200ppm. This is an essential compound for corals to produce their hard exterior and can be managed by adding commercial supplements.

MAGNESIUM (Mg)
Another important mineral for tank health, proper magnesium levels of 1200mg/L can be reached with epsom salts. For a 55-gallon tank, 90.8 grams should be added gradually over the course of 7-8 days.

PHOSPHATES (PO4)
Phosphate is one of the top trace elements in natural seawater, and of course, your ultimate goal is to re-create the normal environment of your reef and its inhabitants. A proper level is 0.05ppm. Use a reliable test kit to check your water. Phosphates are often found in foods, activated charcoal, and buffers, so your problem will be lowering levels, not increasing them. Use a limewater or kalkwasser solution to lower harmful levels, or try a commercial product like Coralife’s phosphate remover or Kent Marine’s phosphate sponge.

SALINITY
This refers to how much salt is in the water. Natural seawater ranges from 1.024-1.025, so you want to maintain this level in your tank. Use a hydrometer to measure your water’s salinity. The swing-arm models are easier to use, but remember: this is an important investment for the survival of your tank. You want a quality hydrometer that will give consistent correct readings, so don’t purchase an inferior one because it might be cheaper. If your salinity is too high, just remove some of your tank water and replace it with fresh. If the salinity is too low, add DISSOLVED aquarium salt.

IODINE (I)
Yet another inportant compound naturally occurring in ocean water is iodine, at 60 parts per billion. Your tank level can be increased by adding lugol’s solutions or by adding inexpensive potassium iodide (KI).

TEST KIT
You’ll need a reliable test kit to achieve and maintain a healthy tank. Many experienced aquarists recommeng Kordon’s Aqua Tru.

WATER CURRENTS
A natural reef feeds from tiny food particles carried by constant ocean currents. To mimic these in your aquarium, place several powerheads around the tank to create turbulence. The movement also helps your filtration system remove detritus and uneaten food, inhibiting their breakdown before they can negatively effect the quality of your water.

WATER CHANGE
To help prevent a multitude of problems, remove about 25% of your tank water and replace it with a fresh supply once a week. This might seem like a lot of trouble, but in the long run, it’s definitely worth the effort.

REEF CREATURES
Now for the fun part! Colorful fish and other creatures will add interest and activity to your tank. Just remember the mayor of your reef community is the reef itself, so be careful not to include inhabitants that will prove harmful to the delicate corals. Following are a few recommended reef critters:

Tomato Clownfish – A reef favorite. Buy only one or either a pair. Provide anemone for fish.

Blue Chromis – Best in groups of 3-7. Hardy. They add color and motion to your tank.

Snowflake Eel – Less aggressive than other eels. Eats mostly crabs. Feed with a stick.

Coral Beauty – Small purple and orange angelfish. Best to have just one.

Pacific Blue Tang – Bright blue and yellow, eats algae from coral.

Sea Urchin – Mathaei species most recommended.

Shrimp – Cleaner Shrimp most recommended species.

You’ll also need some live tank cleaners like snails, crabs, and sea stars. Assortment packs are widely available.

If you adhere to the proper guidelines and maintain correct levels within your tank, you’ll have a source of unparalleled beauty and wonder, offering many hours of fascination.

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Saltwater aquariums: Critical water parameters for reef tanks

Saltwater aquariums: Critical water parameters for reef tanks

Scheduled Downtime tonight

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:26:57 +0000

As a reminder to those of you that didn’t know, we will be having scheduled downtime tonight. This will start Tuesday February 26th, 2008 from 9:00PM CST to 2:00AM CST. During this time, Reef Builders will not be available. As such, the forums, gallery, marketplace will be closed until the entire site is back up and running smoothly. We do maintenance like this to insure 100% uptime to all of our members.

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Scheduled Downtime tonight

Scheduled Downtime tonight

Reef Aquarium Destroys House

Brian — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:14:04 +0000

It has been a sad week for my local reef club. A week ago, one of our members had a fire at his house. The fire did major damage to the house and killed the family cat. There is now a 10′ hole in the first floor above where the fire was and the backside of the house is severely burned. The cause has been pinpointed to his fish room.

The fire marshal is thinking that it may be because he had multiple power strips plugged into a single outlet, but the reason has yet to be determined. It may have been from some other area in the fish room, but the fire has been determined to have started in the fish room. Let this be a reminder to everyone that this can be a dangerous hobby. This fire happened to someone that has been keeping reef tanks for years and just built a new house 2 years ago with a built in-wall 180gal, primarily SPS reef tank. Behind his tank, he had a fish room that was built specifically for his fish tanks. He went through a ton of planning while designing his house to make sure that something like this would never happen. Unfortunately, it did.

Here are a few tips on what ALL fish tanks should have:

GFCI outlets on all plug ins
Only one powerstrip, maximum, per outlet
Use good powerstrips/timers that are designed to handle the load of your equipment
Install your outlets in areas that are not subject to moisture/spillage
Install drip loops on all power chords
Install equipment in a way that water will get into equipment that is not rated for submersion

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Reef Aquarium Destroys House

Reef Aquarium Destroys House

Rate your reef experience level, but try to do that honestly

Ryan Gripp — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:56:44 +0000

Well folks, your going to get the chance to rate your experience level. This isn’t just any experience level, we are taking reefs here, not the fish only varieties either. Your going to have three choices in front of you Beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert. There is of course a fifth option, which is none of the above OR know it all. Thankfully there isn’t anyone on Earth that knows everything there is to know about keeping your reef creatures happy, granted some can get awfully close. If you haven’t already signed up to RB, your going to need to in order to vote, don’t worry, we send you a minimum of 5 hard drives full of spam every day, we also have the weekly option if that suits you better.

Read

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Rate your reef experience level, but try to do that honestly

Rate your reef experience level, but try to do that honestly

Reef Builders -The Reef Aquarium Blog » General

Morning Deals

Related Posts

Steven Pro switches to ICE-CAP, says aidos to Red Sea

Related Posts

Eco Pump Holder delivers common sense usefulness

Other items you might enjoy:

Advanced Aquarist’s Magazine now in print at Amazon

Related Posts

Juvenile Clarion Angelfish on “sale” for $2,999

Related Posts

Maintenance Completed

Other items you might enjoy:

Saltwater aquariums: Critical water parameters for reef tanks

Other items you might enjoy:

Scheduled Downtime tonight

Other items you might enjoy:

Reef Aquarium Destroys House

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Rate your reef experience level, but try to do that honestly

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