Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

Rare Stringray Caught on Film

The rare smalleye stingray was recently caught on film by the BBC (video below).  Seldom seen, this giant stingray can attain 7 feet across!

Amazingly enough for an animal this size, their camouflage allows them to blend in perfectly with the seafloor - I was lucky enough to catch one on video purely by accident when filming the seafloor in Belize.  I didn't realize I had swam 6 inches from a giant stingray until I watched the video! 

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New Captive Aquatics Postcard Ad/Design

Our new promotional postcard!  These babies will be heading to high-end establishments across Houston.  Click for a larger version:

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Hydor Releasing New Koralia Pumps!

My Hydor rep let me know a little while back about the new Koralia models they're working on, and today I got permission to share the ETA of release: first quarter of next year! 

Although prop pumps like the Koralia are inferior to closed loops and other plumbed circulation methods, they do a great job when compared to power heads.  Koralia pumps disperse water in a wide flow, use very little power, and have easy-to-position magnetic mounts, as most of you probably know. 

The new models of the Koralia 1, 2, 3, and 4 are supposed to use even less electricity, but other changes remain to be seen.  My rep is going to send me review units, so we'll let you know all about the changes in the coming months.

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A New Salt Mix from Tropic Marin!

Tropic Marin, makers of one of the best sea salt mixes available (and used by virtually all wholesale facilities, and myself!) has introduced a new sea salt mix, which I'm excited about.  Called Bio-Actif (they're German, give 'em a break), it's not yet available, but should be soon.  From the news release:

The new synthetic sea salt combines maximum purity in terms of its components with the protective and growth-promoting action of bioactive substances naturally found in the sea. They form effective protection for the mucous membranes of the fish whose improved health is clearly reflected in their increased levels of mating and reproduction.

Hmm...not a lot of actual information there, or in the rest of the brochure.  I wonder what they've changed? Regardless, I'll do my best to post a review as soon as it ships.  In the meantime, what salt mix do you use?

Update 11-19: Tropic Marin has informed me that the salt contains " long chain marine polymers that will NOT show up on a test kit" and that they are the "key to their new salt".  I'm beginning testing soon, as I've received a bucket of their new bio-actif!

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Move Complete, Reviews Soon!

Well, we're finished moving, and I can walk outside of the house and wade around in Lake Conroe (a little north of Houston, TX).  A nice place, and plenty of freshwater life to catch and feed to our giant Mbu puffer!

Anyway, before I moved (of course) I received boxes of products to review, so in the coming week I should be posting plenty of reviews covering everything from fish food to ways to cure cloudy aquarium water to  more protein skimmers, so check back soon!

Moving!

I'm in the process of moving, so there won't be any updates for a few days, as I have to manually approve all posts to the front page.  However, when I get back I'll have a review of the new Remora Nano skimmer, a guide to sealing aquarium stands, and a video of a large reef that Captive Aquatics installed in a local hospital!

Advanced Aquarist Meets Amazon.com!

Advanced Aquarist, literally the best aquarium magazine available (and available for free!) is now being printed in high-quality book format which you can get at Amazon.com.  This means you can get the best and most accurate aquatics information in a beautiful book format with high quality printing, binding, and images!  (Yes, we're big fans of AA here at Captive Aquatics, can you tell?)  This also means our own Mike Maddox is now appearing in a book, as he wrote a feature article for Advanced Aquarist a few months back.  Check out the details of the new book here, or check out the nifty animation on the left for the Captive Aquatics blog recommended reading list!

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83 Coral Species to be Protected?

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the NOAA to file 83 coral species under the Endangered Species Act, in an effort to combat losses, mosty caused by ocean acidification due to high CO2 levels in the atmosphere.  In addition, biologists think that the list should extend to an additional 267 species.  

New Captive Aquatics™ Ad!

Our new ad circulating around Houston! Click for full size...

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Mike Maddox now a Local Columnist!

When a local magazine (Texas Cats & Dogs™) decided to expand into the realm of  more exotic pets (birds, reptiles, amphibians, and ornamental aquatics) they chose international aquatics author Mike Maddox to write their monthly aquarium column.  Mike is currently Tropical Fish Hobbyist's lead contributing author, and is a regular contributor to the Conscientious Aquarist and several other publications.  The magazine is distributed free of charge to Houston residents, so sign up for free today!