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This in a nutshell is why I don’t like crabs for aquariums

Ryan Gripp — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:21:36 +0000

This video posted up by an “internet buddy” of Nat Tarbox goes to show why I hate crabs for aquariums. In the video you’ll see Mr. Crab walk around, become curious of the camera and as Nat points out, around the 1:50 start to turn mean. This in a nutshell is why I hate crabs. They are mean. They look cute and nice, but they are evil and will eat your fish and pick and then kill your corals for fun. I’m not sure who decided that we all need crabs in our aquariums. I’m sure it was someone selling us on the fact that they help with “scavenging” the leftover food and what not. But I am one that refuses to have any crabs walking around on my aquarium sandbed. The only crabs I like, are ones severed with butter from the New England area. Do you have crabs in your aquarium?

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Post from: Reef Builders

This in a nutshell is why I don’t like crabs for aquariums

This in a nutshell is why I don’t like crabs for aquariums

Fluval G3 and G6 canister filters get priced for US Market and you won’t believe how much

Ryan Gripp — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:25:14 +0000

We know. You’ve been waiting to get your hands on the new Fluval G canister filter that has been leaked out via the Internets for the past several months. You’ve no doubt heard of the overpriced plastic parts inside the unit and want to buy the unit because it features a LCD screen smaller then your mobile phone. However you didn’t know what the G3 and G6 Fluval canister filters cost. That’s where we come in. The first retailer that has the unit up for sale is Pet solutions. It’s obvious that Fluval is proud of their new unit because of their retail price they have slapped on G series filters. You might want to sit down first before you go any further.

One of the first online retailers to get the unit in stock to ship is Pet Solutions a company located out in Ohio. They are advertising the price of $439.99 for the G3 filter and $499 for the G6 filter. Wait what? $500 for a canister filter with a fancy LCD screen? Seriously? Both of those prices include a $50 Gift certificate to Pet Solutions which has me thinking its saying “we’re sorry you bought this filter, have $50 on us”.

Fluval picked a wrong time to launch a overpriced $500 canister filter to the market. Even with their supposed “advanced technology” in the filter they are pricing themselves out of the market. Fluval made it known that they spent over “3 million on R&D” and you know they have to get that back somehow right?

Press Release

MANSFIELD, MA (For Immediate Release) – Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. is marketing its new Fluval G Filtration System around the theme, The Future of Filtration. In that case, the “future” looks very bright indeed for aquarium hobbyists and the Fluval dealers who serve them. The introduction of the Fluval G not only sets a new standard for aquarium filters, it essentially redefines the entire category by offering a unique combination of aesthetics, monitoring capabilities and performance features.

Aquarium enthusiasts will be able to tell that the Fluval G is no ordinary filtration system just by looking at it. The new filter is so stunningly attractive, it almost demands to be shown as part of the aquarium, rather than being hidden away behind cabinetry. Evoking a contemporary high-tech image, the Fluval G features a stylish cubic design, a gloss back finish, chrome and aluminum detailing and a backlit monitoring display.

The easy-to-read backlit display is part of the Fluval G’s revolutionary Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor System. Actually to call the Fluval G a “Filtration System” isn’t completely accurate. Thanks to its advanced microprocessor-based Hydrotech™ Monitor, the Fluval G can more aptly be described as a “Filtration and Information System.”

Featuring 63 distinct screens, the Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor puts a world of information at the hobbyist’s fingertips, including water temperature, water flow, conductivity, salinity and other aquarium parameters. The monitoring system automatically alerts hobbyists by flashing if any of the set parameters deviate from the optimal range of readings. For example, the screen will flash if water temperature is too high or too low.

The Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor also shows historical charts (typically 48 days) for different parameters, so the aquarium hobbyist can identify and address recurring issues. Another very attractive feature is the Maintenance Scheduler. Customizable to meet the needs of individual users, the scheduler serves as a reminder to perform important tasks, such as changing filter media. All of the readings, historical data and reminders generated by the monitoring system are presented in an intuitive, user-friendly form.

Raising the bar in filtration performance, the Fluval G features a high capacity 3-stage filtration process that includes:

1. Mechanical Filtration Cartridge – Featuring a long lasting pleated pre-filter cartridge that traps significantly more debris than traditional foam filter models. This is a closed system in the Fluval G, so all water that flows through the filter must first pass through the pre-filter cartridge for pre-cleaning. The pre-filter cartridge is available in two formats: standard weave and 75μm for marine aquariums or water polishing in freshwater tanks. The effectiveness of the Fluval G’s pre-filtration process means that less solid waste is solubilized in the aquarium water for less waste accumulation and also makes the chemical and biological filtration components of the system more effective.

2. Chemical Filtration Cartridge – The Fluval G offers a combination of media options to make chemical filtration simpler and more efficient. Featuring high-capacity ionic exchange filtration media, the system will efficiently remove nitrates, phosphates and waste. For pure consumer flexibility, the chemical cartridges can be refilled with any type media the aquarium owner chooses.

3. Biological Filtration – The Fluval G Bio Baskets filled with the new Fluval G Nodes accommodate billions of nitrifying bacteria to purify aquarium water. The Fluval G’s biological filtration media comes in two sizes for maximum compaction and lasts six months before maintenance is required.

The Fluval G’s filtration system also features extended contact time to clean water more effectively. All media used in the filtration process can be changed promptly with little or no mess and no disruption to the aquarium. The pre-filter and chemical filter media are housed in separate cartridges, both of which are readily accessible from the top of the filter. This timesaving feature allows hobbyists to remove the media for replacement or cleaning without having to disassemble the filter itself and disturb the biological filtration.

Having filter cartridges readily accessible from the top of the filter is only one of the convenient features that make the Fluval G easy to maintain. The system’s proprietary Aqua Stop feature allows users to stop water flow through the filter, so its housing can be disconnected quickly and easily. Another feature, the Primer Button, starts water flow promptly without manual siphoning when the system is being set up or restarted.

Other features, such as the silicon gasket and locking levers, contribute to the Fluval G’s long-term reliability, durability and quiet performance. The telescopic intake tube that adjusts to different aquarium depths ensures the optimal flow of water into the filter, while the dual output nozzles or spray bars help ensure maximum dispersal of water when it flows out.
No possible enhancement feature has been overlooked in developing the Fluval G.

With its designer aesthetics, cutting-edge Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor System, superior filtration process and other performance features, the Fluval G Series represents not only the next step in the evolution of the Fluval brand. . .but the arrival of the future of filtration!

Post from: Reef Builders

Fluval G3 and G6 canister filters get priced for US Market and you won’t believe how much

Fluval G3 and G6 canister filters get priced for US Market and you won’t believe how much

Reef Builders Celebrates 2000 Posts

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:16:10 +0000

This post, this one you are reading right now is the 2000th post that has appeared on Reef Builders. This is very exciting to see Reef Builders grow as fast as it has, especially since it has been going for about 2 years. That’s incredible growth. Growth that has been contributed to a lot of reasons, the biggest of which is we have a great team of professional writers like Jake Adams, Scott Fellman, Brian Blank, Guin Burnard, Rich Ross, Taka Kamata, Christine Williams and most recently Dr. Paul Whitby. As a side note, we would like to thank you, our dear readers, because without you this wouldn’t be possible. This includes thousands of obsessive hobbyists, website owners, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers who refresh our home page daily trying to crash our servers and get the latest scoop on the saltwater industry. Besides our readers we have an excellent array of some of the top advertisers in the business and thank them for supporting us. What is next with Reef Builders? We will continue to expand and have a lot more planned for the months ahead, but we’re not going to divulge the details of exactly what we’re doing next. That would just spoil the fun, now wouldn’t it? Until next time…

Ryan Gripp
Reef Builders® Founder
We obsessively cover the saltwater industry™

Post from: Reef Builders

Reef Builders Celebrates 2000 Posts

Reef Builders Celebrates 2000 Posts

Coral Cryobank being developed to preserve the diversity of threatened coral species

Brian Blank — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:37:53 +0000

The Coral Cryobank is the first global effort to help preserve coral species from the world’s struggling reefs that is being spearheaded by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The Coral Cryobank aims to protect the future of coral species diversity by placing corals in a deep freeze in liquid nitrogen. The Coral Cryobank is a natural evolution to a recent breakthrough in regenerating frozen tissue where scientists are now able to take a 1-2mm biopsy from a coral, freeze the sample and then thawing it and regenerating the biopsy into a polyp. The ZSL and proposed similar coral cryobanks from other institutions such as the Smithsonian Institute, are hoping to do this with every coral species. The recent climbing CO2 levels are causing researches to estimate the destruction of most of the world’s coral reefs by 2040. We hope that as a planet we can reduce the impact of acidification on the reefs so this becomes a never-used backup plan. Although the researchers behind the Coral Cryobank call this a “Plan B” to saving corals in the reefs where they occur, we reefers know that this is actually a “Plan C” since we’ve been doing our part to propagate corals throughout the world for almost two decades now. Besides, we highly doubt that the ZSL and the Coral Cryobank would be inclusive enough to take biopsies of Purple Deaths, Purple Nurple and Gorilla Nipples.

Post from: Reef Builders

Coral Cryobank being developed to preserve the diversity of threatened coral species

Coral Cryobank being developed to preserve the diversity of threatened coral species

Indonesia to set quotas on coral trade

Brian Blank — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:25:11 +0000

This week Indonesia announced plans to begin setting quotas on coral trade in an effort to preserve its coral reefs. The country has seen the negative impact of destructive fishing, tourism, climate change and coral trading on its precious reefs and they are looking to do something to preserve its diverse marine ecosystem. According to a 2003 study by Johns Hopkins University, Indonesia, with nearly 53,000 square miles of coral reefs, is home to one third of the world’s coral and a quarter of its fish species and recent data shows that 70 percent of the country’s reefs are in fair to poor conditions. Once the Indonesian government has the quotas in place, traders will be advised to sell only transplanted corals (about 50 species in Bali and West Nusa Tenggara can be transplanted). Read more about this after the break.

Although CITES in already working to protect corals reefs from trade that could threaten their survival, adding another layer at the collection end helps to tighten the loop on responsible practices in the industry. Neighboring countries in the coral triangle, like Papau New Guinea, have witnessed the negative impact on Indonesia’s reefs and are putting in practices to educate and promote safe harvesting practices like PNG’s SEASMART program.

Having education and regulations in use in collection areas could hopefully keep illicit corals, such as the Rhizotrochus typus, from ever entering the trade. Granted there will always be unscrupulous people seeking out, illegally collecting and shipping these corals but hopefully government controls and fines will keep this in check.

Of course this could also potentially have an impact on the price of corals we see imported from Indonesia. The increased fees and restrictions could make collection a bit more difficult with local collectors and exporters passing the costs on down the chain of custody. This could be minimal in comparison to the super-high prices of limited edition or other pricey collector corals we seem to impose on ourselves in the hobby.

In the end, we are glad to see initiative from the points of origin above and beyond CITES for the marine life we see in the hobby. Knowing a level of accountability is in place at the local level not only fuels the hobby with new and exciting livestock and corals but will help preserve and repair some of the human impact on the world’s reefs.

Post from: Reef Builders

Indonesia to set quotas on coral trade

Indonesia to set quotas on coral trade

Two Little Fishes ad stirs debate among reef addicts

Ryan Gripp — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:33:38 +0000

There has been an advertising ad that has been making the rounds in the print world. The ad asks you “Do You Have Trouble Getting it Up” was printed in CORAL and has been generating a little debate on whether or not Two Little Fishes should run this ad. Obviously the ad has a sexual overtone, but to be fair there is a lot of that in this industry.

EcoTech Marine while may or may not be directly referring to anything sexual in nature has a “Size does matter” campaign, comparing their Vortech Pumps to other prop style pumps. While not referring to the “bigger is better” (here smaller is better) it could be taken as a sexual overtone. Should their be debate about the ad or is this ad “all in good times and fun?”

Post from: Reef Builders

Two Little Fishes ad stirs debate among reef addicts

Two Little Fishes ad stirs debate among reef addicts

Sybon Sea Salt says it mixes crystal clear

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:05:07 +0000

Sybon salt is a new “advanced engineered synthetic sea salt” on the market. Called Sybon Premium, it says it “contains perfect balance of all major, minor and 70 trace elements found in natural seawater, enriched with a wide spectrum of vitamins and bio essentials necessary for the health of marine animals. In addition, extra measures of selected elements assure their extended availability and optimize the long-term health and growth of fish, corals, and invertebrates.” Sybon is touting that this salt will mix, crystal clear so no more of that cloudy water (hello Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals) and is produced in a 80,000 square feet facility. A 50 gallon mix is going for $10.79 with Premium Aquatics.

Sybon Advanced Engineered Synthetic Sea Salt is scientifically researched and developed in a comprehensive formula to simulate the pristine seawater of natural coral reef environment and to address all concerns unique for modern marine aquariums. Sybon Premium grade salt mix contains a perfect balance of all major, minor and 70 trace elements found in natural seawater, enriched with a wide spectrum of vitamins and bio essentials necessary for the health of marine animals. In addition, extra measures of selected elements assure their extended availability and optimize the long-term health and growth of fish, corals, and invertebrates.

Manufactured with the finest pharmaceutical grade salts using our novel proprietary method which involves multi stages of purifying, mixing, and a saturation-recrystallization process, elements are evenly incorporated in every bit of salt composites. The mixture is further analyzed to assure consistency and superior quality. Thus, every batch of salt mix is as well balanced and homogeneous as it is meant to be, providing consistent and high quality seawater every time in which even the most delivate marine fish, invertebrates, or plants will thrive.

Sybon Advanced Engineered Synthetic Sea Salt dissolves sparklingly clear and almost instantly when mixed with purified fresh water, delivering low organic carbon, pollutant free seawater that meets the demanding and exacting needs of all levels of marine aquarists. No nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, harmful impurities or unwanted nutrients which fuel the growth of nuisance algae.

For the unique and ever changing aquarium environment, Sybon’s synthetic sea salt incorporates a special proprietary buffer system that quickly stabilizes aquarium water against fluctuation and maintains pH at around 8.2- the optimal level for marine animals, which also reduces the stress that most newly acquired fish and marine animals suffer on acclimation to the minimal. The special bugger system is also enhanced with a strengthened alkalinity capacity which remains effective for prolonged period of time.

In Sybon’s 80,000 square feet strictly controlled facility, approximately 300 metric tons of synthetic sea salt in various formulations are freshly produced and used monthly worldwide by research institutes and public aquariums. Sybon has been one of the most reliable and outstanding choice of aquarists and professionals, and is continuing to work hand in hand with academic researchers and professional aquarists to stay close to the most up-to-date technology.

Sybon brings you the finest synthetic sea salt in the market for the serious aquarists and research professionals. Sybon Advanced Engineered Synthetic Sea Sale has raised the standard of modern synthetic sea salt.

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Sybon Sea Salt says it mixes crystal clear

Sybon Sea Salt says it mixes crystal clear

Yellow Assessor Basslets (Assessor flavissimus) available again from ORA

Ryan Gripp — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:20:06 +0000

Yellow Assessors Basslets (Assessor flavissimus) have been bred in captivity by ORA before but they’ve recently gotten productive enough to start shipping these to stores. Up until very recently Yellow assessor Basslets were only availabel as wild caught when they were available in the aquarium trade. Most didn’t notice the display, but there were several in the ORA tank shown at MACNA. Ocean Gallery purchased the display and has a limited number of these fish for sale for about $50 each, quite affordable as compared to their $80 or more wil counterparts It’s very exciting that another saltwater fish has been bred in captivity which helps in the sustainability of our hobby.

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Yellow Assessor Basslets (Assessor flavissimus) available again from ORA

Yellow Assessor Basslets (Assessor flavissimus) available again from ORA

Aquarium Obsessed out of Business? Sfiligoi gets new US distribution

Ryan Gripp — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:48:06 +0000

Aquarium Obsessed was a distributor for a lot of well known products. They were until they went out of business, or at least it appears that way. Aquarium Obsessed website is still up, but emails aren’t being responded to and their phone number has been disconnected. The products they handled were the Aquatronica controllers and most notably the line of Sfiligoi lighting units. This leaves several questions, the first of which is who will carry the high end products Aquarium Obsessed handled? We do know that Sfiligoi will now be handled by Quality Marine out of California. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see more stores start carrying Sfiligoi from now on. Quality marine will be infinitely more timely in servicing Sfiligoi parts and products and we are waiting to hear back from them about how they plan to handle the line in the US. The verdict is still out on Aquatronica and we haven’t confirmed which company will be handling their line of products if it indeed is true that Aquarium Obsessed is out of business. Any local readers care to verify?

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Aquarium Obsessed out of Business? Sfiligoi gets new US distribution

Aquarium Obsessed out of Business? Sfiligoi gets new US distribution

Marine Depot takes gloves off, issues Best Price Guarantee

Ryan Gripp — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:13:03 +0000

Marine Depot (disclosure: they sponsor RB) which is the largest marine supplier in the United States has a program that few people have known about. It’s their Best Price Guarantee which is pretty neat actually. Here is how it works, if you find a price that is lower then Marine Depot’s price then Marine Depot will match the new price without any questions. What’s more is that coming soon, you’ll be able to adjust Marine Depot’s prices on the fly by entering the URL of a website. How neat is that? Full press release after the jump.

MarineDepot.com now offers Best Price Guarantee

Online aquarium supply retailer MarineDepot.com is now offering a Best Price Guarantee on all their in-stock merchandise. Now if you find a product MarineDepot.com sells for less at a competitor’s website, MarineDepot.com will match their price.

To have MD price match, all you have to do is include the applicable web address (URL) from the competitor’s website showing the lower advertised price in your “Order Comments” while checking out. MD will adjust the product price(s) accordingly while processing your order.

MD says they will soon add a Best Price Guarantee logo to their product pages to make price matching even easier. All you’ll have to do, they say, is to click the logo and a window will open where you can enter the competitor’s pricing and then add the item to your cart at the lower price.

To learn more about MarineDepot.com’s Best Price Guarantee, visit their website or call 1-800-566-FISH (3474)

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Marine Depot takes gloves off, issues Best Price Guarantee

Marine Depot takes gloves off, issues Best Price Guarantee

Reef Builders -The Reef Aquarium Blog » Reef News

This in a nutshell is why I don’t like crabs for aquariums

Other items you might enjoy:

Fluval G3 and G6 canister filters get priced for US Market and you won’t believe how much

Related Posts

Reef Builders Celebrates 2000 Posts

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Coral Cryobank being developed to preserve the diversity of threatened coral species

Related Posts

Indonesia to set quotas on coral trade

Related Posts

Two Little Fishes ad stirs debate among reef addicts

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Sybon Sea Salt says it mixes crystal clear

Other items you might enjoy:

Yellow Assessor Basslets (Assessor flavissimus) available again from ORA

Related Posts

Aquarium Obsessed out of Business? Sfiligoi gets new US distribution

Related Posts

Marine Depot takes gloves off, issues Best Price Guarantee

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