Reef Builders - The Source for Reef Keeping Information

You remember when a Colossal squid was found a little over a year ago? Scientists have finally got to examine it in four hours time, they will run several tests on it including: “studying the suckers and hooks on in its tentacles, measuring its sharp, birdlike beak, examining the contents of its stomach, collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, trying to determine its sex, its age.” The squids eyes are the size of large dinner plates if that gives you an idea of how massive this creature is, it is of course lager then a full sized school bus. Is Loch ness monster  sounding more and more believable?

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Ecotech Marine released the MP20, the MP40’s smaller brother. Designed for 70 gallons or less, the MP20 is clearly aimed at the Tunze Nanostreams, mainly the 6055 series. Quickly glancing over the specs reaches us to the Maximum Motor Tempature of 50-60 Celsius which translates into: 122F-140F degress. Yikes! That is hot! We are very interested to see how much this translates into warming your tank up, you might be able to throw out your heaters. The MP20 eats up 18 watts (which is very good) when its blowing your tank around with 2000GPH.  Folow the jump for the full press release.

Update: Tim, from Ecotech, stated that the thermal output cutoff is 140F, but the normal operation temperature is 80°-90°F, (something worth noting in your specs we might add). Thanks Tim!

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We had a ink-a-ling that the EcoCube from Drs. Foster and smith was a Current Solana and Eric over at glass box design confirmed it for us. I was thinking about that, since DFS is getting an OEM from Current should mean that DFS can sell at a much cheaper price, since Current doesn’t have to worry about brand dillusion.  Comparing these two models is easy, as they are the same, so we configured one at MarineDepot and found out that for the aquarium, stand and light they charge $799, which includes free shipping, not bad. We configured one on DFS and found their price to be $767.97 includes shipping charges of $17.99.

Drs Foster smith: $749.98 +$17.9= $767.97
Marine Depot $799.99+$0.00=$799.99

What does an OEM get you? A whooping savings of $31.03. We are not impressed with the Drs, with all their inventory thats the best discount they could get for their customers? True, Marine depot is giving away free shipping (nice!) which does offset the price, however being an OEM their should be at least $100 off the sticker. Anyone else think that the Drs should ask Current to drop their price, or order more container loads?

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Drs. Foster and Smith, the large mail order company out of Wisconsin has released the 25 gallon EcoCube aquarium, sure to please your eyes. We would wager to say this is an OEM from another aquarium manufactuer. Besides offering the usual built in filter, it does come with a protein skimmer (venturi), auto top off system (nice!) and you do get the rimless tank. However, don’t jump the gun to fast, lights aren’t included and that will set you back a cool $130 just for the compact fluorescent pendant. Metal halides are of course extra at $270. For the price of $480 you get the aquarium minus lights, opt for the metal halide option and it will set you back a stiff $750. They won us over by the rimless design, we are all huge fans over here. Red Sea are you watching? Your Red Sea max has some stiff competition.

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Upon asking Euro Reef about their rumored Hang-on-the-back protein skimmer, we talked about how we were very confident that they would release a unit in the 2008 year. We are still sticking to that, but it is nice to know that Euro Reef has confirmed it with this comment: “We were working on one a while back, but we have shelved it in favor of a few other more important projects. We will pick it up again soon, don’t worry.” Needless to say, we aren’t worried but we are waiting patiently for a low cost protein skimmer to come gracing the backs of our rimless star fire glass.

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Have you seen the crochet coral reef?  As a homage to the coral reef Margaret and Christine Wertheim - who grew up in Queensland - have instigated a project to crochet a woolen reef. Using the techniques of hyperbolic crochet discovered by mathematician Dr. Daina Taimina, the Institute has been evolving a wide taxonomy of reef-life forms - loopy “kelps”, fringed “anemones”, and curlicued “corals.” While the process that brings these models into being is algorithmic, endless permutations of the underlying formulae result in a constantly surprising panoply of shapes. The quality of yarn, style of stitch and tightness of the crochet all affect the finished model so that each is as individual as a living organism.

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Scientists are around the reefs of Palau to investigate the potential of a experimental technique called coral seeding. They will collect the spawn from mass mating events that are supposed to happen so around these regions to promote growth of new corals of reefs that are in need of rescue. Here around Palau the reefs are in good shape, however other reefs are not. They will use “tents” on the seabed floor, most of what they are using is very low tech. Here at RB we are hoping all goes well!

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Do fish actually use their ears? They must, because coral reef fish spend weeks scouting out a new neighborhood before they move in - just like human house buyers do. The fish use their acute sense of hearing to eavesdrop on locations before deciding where to live. The researches studied fish near the Great Barrier reef off Australia. Damsels, cardnials, emperors and blennies liked spots where “reef noise” was higher. What is reef noise? “Reef noise includes the sounds of invertebrates and fish feeding, and so provides other fish with direct information about the residents on the reef” says Dr Steve Simpson of the university. What did the fish do next? The fish narrowed it down based on their needs, the same way humans do. Dr Steve Simpson, of Edinburgh University’s school of biological sciences, said: “These findings show that hearing is crucial for the survival of fish.

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Three islands of Bikini Atoll were vapourised by the Bravo hydrogen bomb in 1954, which shook islands 200 kilometres away. Instead of finding a bare underwater moonscape, ecologists who have dived there have given it a clean bill of health.  “Apart from occasional forays of illegal shark, tuna and Napoleon Wrasse fishing, the reef is almost completely undisturbed to this day,” says Maria Beger of the University of Queensland in Australia. “There are very few local inhabitants and the divers who visit dive on shipwrecks, like the USS Saratoga, and not on the reef.”

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Here is your chance to receive a limited edition t-shirt from Reef Builders! Available in Large only and you can pick between 100% cotton or 100% poly blends. The cost of the t-shirt is $25.95 which helps support this website, or you can pick the premium membership with the t shirt option for $49.95. This is available to members only, so if you haven’t already registered you can do this here.

Buy t-shirt only. ($25.95)
Buy t-shirt with premium membership.  ($49.95)

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