Captive Aquatics: An Aquarium and Ecology Blog

EcoRay 60 LED Light Review

Yet another LED light hits the market, this time called the EcoRay 60, presumably because it contains 60 diodes with 60 degree optics (more about that later).  Since LED lights are a dime a dozen these days, I'm no longer impressed by them.  So - does the EcoRay stand out?  Read on...

Species Rebound after Gulf Fishing Moratorium

The results of the moratorium on fishing in the gulf are starting to come in, and they look very promising.  All species sampled have experienced a population rebound, especially in species with a short life cycle. 

The Multibillion Dollar Tuna Black Market

I've reported the plight of the bluefin tuna a few times, but a new investigative report details the plight of this species that should already have been placed on the endangered species list - and probably would have, except tuna are worth too much money to bother regulating or protecting.

Money talks, and Japan's black market on tuna is worth $2 billion a year alone.  "The fisheries industry is one of the most criminalized in the world", says Daneil Poley of the University of British Columbia.  National fisheries administrations of various countries are a joke: for example, French fisherman undergoing trial all state that their own national fisheries ministry routinely violated their own laws. 

T5 Spectrums: Choosing the Right Bulb for You

Since I use T5 lighting over my farm system, I'm always comparing different bulb colorations to use in different combinations. The spectral graphs of some of these bulbs are a pain to find sometimes, so here they all are in one place!

 

How to Choose and Compare LEDs - They're Not Metal Halides!

 
Whenever a new lighting technology comes along, hobbyists tend to attempt to compare it to a previous and more familiar technology.  This time around, LEDs are getting compared to metal halide lighting a lot, but it just doesn't work.



We all know we don't exactly use the scientific method in our hobby.  Terms such as watts per gallon, intensity, and brightness get thrown around all of the time, even though they mean absolutely nothing useful to us or our coral.  So, what's to be done?

Jakarta Volcano Eruption Halts Flights from Indonesia

Yesterday, Mount Merapi in Jakarta, Indonesia erupted, killing at least 132 people and causing dozens of flights to be delayed, re-routed, or canceled.  As most of us hobbyists know, a large percentage of the marine livestock that enters this country hails from the reefs of Indonesia, and is shipped out of Jakarta for arrival on the east and west coast, meaning wholesalers will be a little short of livestock for a week or two. 

TMC Ozonizer Review

Ozonizers don't get nearly enough attention as they deserve, and rarely does a new ozonizer hit the market.  Commercial systems and public aquariums don't leave home without ozone, and neither should you.  I put TMC's foray into the ozonizer market through its paces over the last few months, so read on to see how it performed!

 

 

Gulf of Mexico Reef Ecology "Dodged a Bullet" - Mostly

Deepwater reef ecosystems a mere twenty miles from BP's oil leak appear to have "dodged a bullet" according to Steve Ross of the University of North Carolina.  Plankton, anemones, coral. and other invertebrates appear to be alive and well, except for those in the immediate vicinity of the leak. 

Holiday Vacation? 6 Ways to Prepare Your Aquarium

Getting away for awhile is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves. After enjoying our vacations, we hobbyists want to come home without any troubles from our tanks. They bother us enough when we're around!

You'll find many horror stories of people finding their tanks crashed after a short trip. Take that trip. Simple steps can help save your investment.

Phytoplankton - What Your LFS Isn't Telling You

Ah, the green stuff. The miracle cure, the lifeblood of a reeftank, the savior of fan worms and clams of all ages... Or maybe not so much.  Could it be that phytoplankton actually does more harm than good in a reef aquarium?

In the ocean there is a lot of phytoplankton and it's crucial to the ecosystem. In the ocean. In your tank, however, phytoplankton dies and fouls up your water quality. I mean let's think about it, you're pouring live green stuff into your tank where chances are that only a miniscule part of it will be used for food. In fact, it is arguable if any realistic part of it will be used for food by your tank's inhabitants.