SPSHolic's Blog

It is quite popular to go to reef shows and browse the livestock that is on display specifically with corals. Most people use several bags or might even use Rubbermaid type containers to put their livestock in as they race home ready to put it in their quarantine tank. But the Coral Frag caddy takes a different approach and allows you to put more then one frag in a “coral bucket”. The best part of all this is there are multiple trays in the bucket which allow you to put a bunch of corals including different sized ones as all the holes are not the same diameter. And yes the trays all fit on top of each other inside the bucket.  The Coral Frag Caddy w/ 4 acrylic frag trays retails for only $42.18.

spsholic New Product Coral Frag Caddy

spsholic New Product Alage Tweezer

A new type of coral frag holder has been introduced in Europe. The new coral frag holder is made out of a mixture of crushed coral rubble and then positioned together to form a frag. Like most frag holders this is also harmless to your aquarium as it is made out of 98% coral rubble and 2% epoxy resin. It will not release phosphate and silicate while giving a very natural appearance to your reef aquarium versus traditional frag holders. These are about as natural as we have seen yet. You can pick up a pack of 12 of these in Europe for around 8 euro or $11.

spsholic New Product frag plug

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/02/10/hobb ··· -easy%2F

The Hobby branded multi box has as the product name suggest multiple uses. However one of the biggest complaints we hear is how to thaw frozen food for your tank mates. Most of us use some sort of dish in reverse osmosis water and wait for it to thaw and then pour it into the tank.  That might work well, but as many of us know, food is usually high in phosphates (fish need them to survive you know), so by dumping the thawed “juice” into the tank you are increasing your chances of having a phosphate spike. The Hobby multi box is what we like to call a professional thawing system. It has a fine mesh screen which allows you use whatever water source to thaw the food and then using the strainer system, keep the food in the box and all that left over juice out. These can be picked up for about $11.

Hobby라는 곳에서 만든 냉동 먹이를 녹이기 위한 기구입니다. 11달러나 하는군요. 영어를 간단히 번역해보자면 일반적으로 접시같은 곳에다가 RO물을 넣고 냉동먹이를 녹여서 물을 가능한 따라버리고 그다음 어항에 넣는데 그러다 보면 녹은 물이 그대로 유입되어 인산염등이 올라갈 확율이 높기 때문에 이런 기구를 사용하면 좋다. 뭐 그런겁니다. 여러분들은 어떻게 냉동먹이를 녹이십니까?
저는 아주 저렴하게 이런 것을 씁니다.

spsholic New Product multibox

어떤 책일까 궁금해서 구입을 해보았습니다. :)

생각보다 작은 크기입니다만 정말 멋진 사진이지요? 이쁜 색의 아크로는 아니지만 이런 색도 이렇게 크다면 정말 장관일 것 같다는 생각이 듭니다.

저자에게 부탁해서 제 이름으로 사인을 부탁했습니다. 이렇게 사인을 요청해본 것은 처음입니다만 책주문을 저자에게 직접 하는 것이기 때문에 이메일로 요청을 했는데 친절하게도 이렇게 싸인을 해주었습니다. 이것만으로도 기념이 되겠지요? ^^

spsholic New Product Andre Seale, Tropical Marine Garden

히도사에서 코랄리아의 Evolution version의 펌프를 내놓았습니다.
사이즈를 줄이고 효율을 높이고 소음을 줄이는데 노력을 했다고 합니다.
이번에 출시되는 3가지 모델중에서 6와트짜리 제품은 이전 12와트짜리 펌프보다 더 많은 gph를 가지고 있는것이 인상적입니다.


자석과 suction cup을 같이 쓰는 것인가요? 이를 통해 소음을 줄일 수 있다고 얘기하고 있습니다.

샤프트가 없는 임펠러를 제공하는군요 이를통해 마찰과 소음을 줄일 수 있을 것 같습니다.


또한 3가지 모델 모두가 Controller에 연결될 수 있다고 하네요.

spsholic New Product

http://glassbox-design.com/2008/tropic- ··· t-mix%2F
http://blog.aquanerd.com/2009/11/tropic ··· alt.html

Rapid success in coral growth, even for beginners.

Advanced reef aquarists can grow even very challenging and delicate species which have always been regarded as impossible to keep.

Corals which once seemed incompatible because of their different demands in terms of care can be cared for together, with all species enjoying good growth and ideal conditions. Small polyp and large polyp stony corals can be kept together with leather corals, for example, without their combined care being detrimental to either group.

The low-nutrient environment also allows sponges and complex higher-order algae to grow without running wild, adding their own natural and authentic touch to the indoor reef.

Active control of the pH and carbonate hardness is conducive to the sustained growth of corals, calcareous red algae and other calcifying organisms.

Skimming action for the elimination of contaminants and suspended matter provides a permanent solution to cloudiness, allowing the reef aquarium to shine in full clarity in the most vibrant colours.

pH right after mixing:
Tropic Marin: 8.6
Cal. Probe: 8.64

One day after mixing with turbulent flow and preheated RO water (25 C):

pH
Tropic Marin: 8.4
Cal. Probe 8.45

KH
Tropic Marin: 8
Salifert: 7.4

Calcium
Tropic Marin: 430
Salifert: 420

Magnesium
Tropic Marin: 1300
Salifert: 1350

spsholic New Product Bio Actif, Tropic Marin

Coralife has new powerheads to compete with the likes of Hydor’s Koralia water pump. Coralife has 3 different models CP750, CP1300, and CP2900 with the last number showing how many gallons per hour (GPH) the pump push out. These pumps are attached to the aquarium by suction cups, which is poor considering magnet is now the norm in prop styled water movers. However, because they are targeted to compete with the Koralia’s these pumps should start out in the $30 range and top out at the upper $70 range. These have already started to ship to local retailers inside the United States. These pumps are identical to the NeWave water pump that is made in Italy for the European market (and they even follow the same numbering convention) but knowing Coralife these water pumps probably get their mold filled in China. A few more pictures by Aquanerd after the break.

via [AquaNerd]

CP750 (750gph) 4 watts
CP1300 (1300gph) 7 watts
CP2900 (2900gph) 14 watts

spsholic New Product Coralife Circulation Pump, NeWave

Andre Seale is the author of the book Tropical Marine Gardens which features no less than 15 years of award-winning photographs of a wide range of marine fauna and flora. An accomplished diver, photographer and marine biologist, Andre Seale and his wife Lucia have composed a beautiful coffee table book that is sure to offer up rare glimpses into many of the fascinating aspects of tropical marine gardens. As a marine aquarist, what is most exciting about this book is the ability to view a wide range of biotopes and microhabitats to use as inspiration for building an aquarium that has a unique focus. This kind of book would also be a great inspirational book in an aquarium showroom environment where clients might be able to point out some of the habitats they have seen while diving and what kind of aquarium they are looking to have installed. The $50 book includes over 200 images throughout 240 pages and it is available now in both English and Portuguese from ArteSub.

spsholic New Product Andre Seale, aquascaping

Natural Nitrate Reducer from Instant Ocean is one of the company’s latest products that claims to use “Suspended Biodegradable Polymers” which sounds very much to us like fluid Solid Vodka Dosing. Having another large company hitting the market with a product that appears to use a time released biologically degradable ingredient akin to the solid vodka dosing methods similar to products such as NP Reducing BioPellets is intriguing. Carbon and vodka dosing have been controversial methods in the hobby but do have documented results and may just be a matter of time before this becomes the next bottle craze in the hobby. The product is made in Germany and has a U.S. Patent that was issued back in 2007. The patent abstract states, “The invention relates to agents for the removal or reduction of inorganic nitrogen compounds, especially nitrate, from biological aquarium waters, containing a biologically degradable polymer, preferably polycaprolactone (PCL) and to the utilization of said agents.” With a heads up from a tipster who’s putting the product through its paces let us know the product appears to have small beads in the liquid suspension that described it looking like an egg mass when dosed in the tank that clears up in a couple of hours. From the patent description, it looks like the products beads settle in the tank mixing with the substrate and finding other nooks and crannies to set up shop then giving nitrate reducing bacteria a food source to proliferate over time. We have already seen other products using biologically available polymers such as the BioPellets and Tropic Marin’s Reef Actif and BioActif lines, it may only be a matter of time before more companies get on the bandwagon. Instant Ocean’s product retails for around $6.99 USD for a 250 ml bottle or $11.99 USD for a 500 ml bottle. Follow the read link for some blurbs from the the press release on this new nitrate reducing product.

Use regularly for long-term reduction and control of nitrate. Nitrate is the end product of the natural nitrogen cycle and may also be found in tap water. It is recommended to keep low nitrate levels for healthy aquarium conditions. Instant Ocean’s patented formula promotes the natural denitrification process of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas. This advanced bio-chemistry is found in nature and helps maintain healthy aquarium conditions.

• Simple to use; no complicated reactors or replacing resins
• Reduces unwanted nutrients
• Naturally increases buffering capacity
• Available in 250ml and 500ml sizes
• Use 10ml per 10 gallons

spsholic New Product Natural Nitrate Reducer