We thought that Digital Aquatics, the guy’s that bring you the ReefKeeper 2 and the new Reefkeeper Elite were to start taking pre-orders in March. They have only 11 days to make good on their offer. Time is a tickin’ guys.
If you haven’t looked at Bart’s 600 gallon display, then you should get a look at it. He is a RB member and the whole system of course is 1300 gallons, and if that doesn’t make you sick with envy he has over a 1 ton chiller keeping his whole system nice and cool. Your going to want to read the thread. Be sure to bring a drool plate in front of your computer, your going to need it.
H2Ocean Pro+ is a new pro formula aquarium salt - produced by a solar evaporative process which produces a totally natural base salt where all of the main and trace elements and are in complete balance as nature intended.
The pure natural salt is then specially enhanced for aquarium use by elevating specific elements that over time become depleted, such as calcium and magnesium which are used by corals and coralline algae for growth.
Free from Nitrate and Phosphate.
Available at your D-D retailer from January 2008
Spectrum Brands, Inc. the company that owns Marineland and brings you Instant Ocean by the container load released a new skimmer under their Instant Ocean Brand. Say hello to the “skimm” line. (really marketing guys over there, could you not think of a better name, protein skimmer would be better in our humble opinion.) The Instant Ocean Skimm range consists of 4 models: Skimm 400, 800, 1200, and 1600. No word on when the US release date is set, but this has hit the UK, we can only assume when this skimm line will hit the US shores. Interesting to note that these are manufactured in Italy, all skimmers use needlewheels to give you that extra boost in bubble production.
ATB apprently has a new external model coming, using a Laguna 2400 motorblock, allowing the pump to pull 3,000lph. Click the read link for more pics.
[Image credit: 3reef]
Looking at the Viper series metal halides produced by JBJ is a sight for sore eyes. Producing 150 watts over a small nano tank is nothing short of impressive. One thing does stand out if you happen to one of these little beasts: heat. Yes the problem that plagues most metal halide owners is heat, for one JBJ has apprently fixed by adding a very quiet 3-speed fan below the light itself. Which is the cheapest way to cool the intense “rays” of that metal halide. I personally am not a huge “fan” of adding fans for cooling…I dislike the evaporation that occurs soon after, but I will admit it is a simple and cost effective solution. So JBJ that means you can not charge to much for this 3 speed motor and plastic, got it?
Coral Vue is releasing it’s newest line of protein skimmer, the Octopus Pro series. Starting the last week in February, 2008, Coral Vue will be introducing it’s in-sump version of the skimmer, the Octopus Pro 250, with plans of introducing an external version in the future.
The skimmer is made of high grade cell cast acrylic. Uses a Laguna Needle wheel pump that is pulling as much air as a mesh wheel without the maintenance issues.
Specifications:
In Sump Model
Rough Performance tests on pump draw and air.
Skimmer Depth
10″ Water 30scfh 38w
9″ Water 40scfh 36w
8″ Water 45scfh 34w
6″ Water 50scfh 30w
External model (not currently being released )
[Image Credit: 3reef]
Hydor is rapidly increasing its product line with the expansion of its very own calcium reactors, protein skimmers and very own prop powered pump. Adding to the hydor line is their wavemaker 2, which is due out in about one month. The first model will power only 2 pumps, and a 4 pump model is expected out as well. Features are nice including: Wave or tide effects, Pump mode settings - Alternate flow or synchronous flow mode, Food button puts pumps on hold for 5 minutes, Manual or automatic night with sensor (sold separately), and a basic cooling fan. No word on price, but we wouldn’t doubt this be below $100. We are of course wondering what happened to the wavemaker 1, but we guess “2″ sounded better, or wavemaker 2 implies that it controls 2 pumps. Wavemaker 4 then?
Euro Reef has been playing around with among other things new rotors. Apparently trying to get the rotors to become silent among other things (no kidding?). “We have been working on a new rotor assembly design that can be used on the RESUN/ GEN-X pumps we have been using on our RS Series skimmers. The goal has been to develop a rotor assembly that will be balanced and VERY quiet as well as yield an excellent result in pump performance and It’s actually quieter than the EHEIM 1260/1262!!”
Since we are living in the 21st century what is the current rage? Instead of actually saving money and testing your water yourself. Reef Builders are actually (gasp) sending it out via mail order to a company and they in turn will send you a nice complete test result back. You of course are thinking this might be a great idea, however before you run and jump off the bridge into nitrate regent you might want to know the price, $34.99. To spread the word around about this service, Aquarium Water Testing (what an original name), decided to test “all the salt mixes” to determine their specific parameters. This of course was only done to generate buzz and viral marketing. Being an internaionally read blog that we are, we wouldn’t want to disappoint you by not publishing their findings. We are of course staying on track as a blog and giving you the read link.
Read [Warning PDF!]