Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

Too Many (aquarium) Products, Not Enough Time!

 Lately we've been inundated with products that manufacturers have sent us for review, and I simply haven't had the time to put many of them to the test yet!  We here at CA have been busy, but I'm taking a moment to put up pictures of various products that we have in our hands and will be reviewing over the next month - so stay tuned by signing up to our mailing list!

Tropic Marin's new bio-actif sea salt mix mix hands-on - coming soon!

AquaC's new Remora Nano Protein Skimmer, already in testing: expect a review of this skimmer, along with JBJ's 28g LED nano, and Current USA's next generation nano in December!

Reef Central Continues to...

...Fail, as Reefbuilders put it?  That's right: as if RC wasn't already a laughingstock amongst professionals and serious aquarists, the RC mods are at it again, this time removing thousands of posts created over half a decade by the Seachem staff.  Seeing as Seachem stopped paying RC's exorbitant ad rates (nearly $1000 per month + $1 per click!) RC has decided to remove years of knowledge from their forum section (likely the majority of the only real knowledge RC had to offer). 

Being a money-mongering forum is one thing (although they try to hide it, RC is a cash cow bringing in ~$10,000 per month - but don't mention this on their forum, it's a ban-able offense) but eradicating years of knowledge about some of the world's best aquarium products and water chemistry information that the Seachem staff kindly provided (about products that virtually every reefer uses) without archiving it, is inexcusable.

Do yourself a favor: don't visit Reef Central, and check out a legit source of aquatics information that universities and the like use: WetWebMedia.com.  You aren't missing out on anything at RC, I promise.

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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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Photo of the Week

Small World: a 'sexy shrimp' (Thor amboinensis) residing in the protection of an S. haddoni carpet anemone in my lagoon biotope aquarium.  Look for my upcoming article on shrimps in TFH Magazine!

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Matt Wittenrich on Collection & Aquaculture

I worked with marine biologist and notable fish breeder Matt Wittenrich at Microcosm Aquarium Explorer, and today I'd like to post an interview I did with him a few weeks back about the current wild collection practices.  I think it will be an informative interview for hobbyists who don't often get a lot of 'behind-the-scenes' news:

Review: New Instant Ocean Fish Foods

I've been behind on the reviews due to moving but I'm trying to catch up (at least a bit) tonight!  Aquarium Systems sent over a big box of their new Instant Ocean foods a week or so ago, and I've finally gotten a chance to try them, take some pics, and now share my thoughts. 

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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Cloudy Aquarium Water, and How to Fix It

Many hobbyist at some point will encounter aquarium water that is cloudy, hazy and just plain annoying.  You can't see your fish or enjoy your aquarium, when the water is cloudy!  Here are the three reasons why you  may have cloudy aquarium water:   

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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