Snorkel Bob’s Attack on the Aquarium Hobby
By: Brandon Klaus
Very recently, Robert Wintner (aka Snorkel Bob) unleashed his furry on the aquarium industry, or as he refers to it, the “Dark Hobby”. In a long-winded editorial piece published on the SeaShepherd.org website, Wintner slams the aquarium hobby, claiming it is not sustainable and has a devastating impact on wild reefs. He even makes the bold comparison that the aquarium industry is much like the Japanese whaling vessels that have the worlds “RESEARCH” on their sides. The idea behind the comparison was that people in hobby use terms like “conservation” and “research” to justify the collecting of wild fish and corals. Snorkel Bob rambles on for quite a while, injecting several unreferenced statistics, his strong opinion, and the occasional white lie. For those who have no long-standing connection with the aquarium hobby, they might actually believe most of what is said. This is quite dangerous and the reader must understand who Robert Wintner is before they form their own opinion.
Wintner is in the tourism industry. He owns Snorkel Bob’s, a company that sells entry-level diving equipment, performs diving excursions, and basically caters to tourists. With this in mind, one might begin to question his motives. Does he really care for the reefs or Hawaii, or is he worried his revenue might decrease because there are divers in the water collecting fish and corals? Where does businessman end and “conservationist” begin? Additionally, the very industry he apparently thrives in is probably more responsible for reef devastation than the aquarium hobby.
Continue reading below for a few of our opinions…
Tip of the Day – 9/2/2010
By: Brandon Klaus
Leveling your aquarium is often a step that is overlooked, especially when building your own stand. Many people try to do it themselves and don’t always have the proper tools to do the job right. An aquarium that does not sit level on a stand is prone to cracking or leaking over the long term. The glass or acrylic can’t bear the weight any longer and something eventually fails, whether it be a pane of glass or a joint where two sides meet.
Ecoxotic Panorama LED Aquarium Retrofit
By: Brandon Klaus
Ecoxotic Panorama LED Aquarium Retrofit
Our friends at Ecoxotic have finally made their Panorama LED Aquarium Retrofit light available to hobbyists. This modular retrofit is basically a supersized Panorama Module and features 36 powerful LEDs, consuming only 42 watts of energy. It also sports a polished aluminum reflector, external LED driver with on/off switch, and a heatsink that keeps the light from requiring a fan, rendering this light dead silent. The light emitted from the fixture is a crisp white, with a hint of blue. Twenty-four of the LEDs are 10,000K white, with 453nm blue making up the other twelve.
Ecoxotic Panorama LED Aquarium Retrofit
Installation with the Panorama LED retrofit is a breeze. Ecoxotic makes using all of their products easy and convenient. The retrofit comes with all of the necessary hanging hardware, allowing for a straightforward and clean install. The fixture will run you about $350, but is expected to save you quite a bit if it’s replacing a metal halide setup.
A few more images can be seen below…
Some News on the PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish
By: Brandon Klaus
Here’s a brief update on the PNG Lightning Maroon Clownfish from breeder Matt Perdersen. The eye-popping lightning maroon clown has been tentatively paired with a large female. I say tentative because clownfish are notoriously aggressive, especially the females. So, at any point, the lightning clown’s tankmate might take out her aggressions on him. The above video was taken shortly after the lightning clown was introduced to the tank. It can be seen cozying up next to the larger female, both hiding underneath the live rock. Hopefully these fish will tolerate each other long enough to develop into a breeding pair, or at the very least a bonded pair.
To Those Considering Getting Out of the Hobby
By: Brandon Klaus
Very recently, a friend contacted me and told me he was getting out of the hobby. He had a stunning 90-gallon SPS tank that was packed full of ORA corals and other rarities. He and I both started our most recent aquariums around the same time, each of us experimenting with the ZEOvit dosing system and cramming our tanks full of equipment and various Acroporids. Out of the blue, my friend contacts me and tells me that he is getting out of the hobby for a few years. It’s sad to see such a beautiful tank get torn down, and it got me thinking of all my aquarium buddy’s who have had to break down aquariums.
To those considering getting out of the hobby, keep your chin up. I’m sure you will be back in the hobby in no time. Whatever is demanding so much of your attention that you can’t work on your aquarium may, at some point, no longer be a problem. Or the aquarium itch might become so strong that you force yourself to make time for a tank. Children will grow up, careers may calm down, and the aquarium hobby will be right here waiting when you decided to return.
Continue reading below for my own struggles, as well as the best way to get out of the hobby temporarily.
Tip of the Day – 9/1/2010
By: Brandon Klaus
Impeller blades on powerheads can wear down over time, decreasing the flow of the pump. For most pumps, this issue isn’t much of a problem. But for return pumps, or pumps that frequently get sand and other material tapped in them, this can be a serious issue. Additionally, some impellers can wear out more quickly than others. It is best to break down all of your pumps once a month to clean and inspect them. Replace worn parts as needed to get the most out of your equipment.
Write for Us
By: Brandon Klaus
Do you have a passion for the saltwater aquarium hobby and love to write? The AquaNerd Blog is in search of more writers. We are seeking reef aquarium enthusiasts who are active in their aquarium communities and want to regularly share their experiences and ideas with the world. If you are an aspiring writer, this couldn’t be a better gig, as there are no deadlines and no pressure. Once you become a member of our team, you can write freely about whatever interests you (aquarium related of course) and whenever you want. We will never pressure you to write an article or dictate what you must discuss. We may offer up a suggestion from time to time, but this is purely for collaborative purposes and to help get ideas flowing.
Even if you don’t want to write regularly, you can still contribute. If you have a great unpublished article you have written or an idea that you want to share with fellow aquarium keepers, you can submit it to us via email. We will post it as a guest submission, making sure to attach your name to the article so you get credit. If writing is absolutely out of the question, you can also submit photos for us to use in some of our articles. There is a countless number of ways you can contribute to the AquaNerd community
If you are interested in joining our team or contributing in any way, please email me at admin@aquanerd.com.
Have Your Aquarium Products Featured on the AquaNerd Blog
By: Brandon Klaus
Do you have a new and exciting product that you want to share with the aquarium community? Or do you have a product that’s been around for a while but just needs more exposure? Well, let us feature it for you here, on the AquaNerd Blog. Send us your aquarium equipment, let us test it out, and we will write an honest review of what we think. After our review has been performed, we will give the donated item away to one of our lucky readers, which will be randomly selected in one of our many contests.
The AquaNerd Blog receives thousands of visitors each month, and our traffic continues to grow. We are continually expanding and finding ways to expand our fan base, and we want to take your equipment along for the ride. Your product and company logo will be exposed to your target audience, both on the actual review and subsequent contest announcements. If you are interested in having us review your products, please email us at admin@aquanerd.com.
If you would like detailed traffic information, please send us an email to the address listed above.
The New ORA Acropora Solitaryensis
By: Brandon Klaus
ORA Acropora Solitaryensis
Just in time for MACNA, ORA has announced that they will be releasing a brand new coral…the ORA Acropora solitaryensis. This coral has apparently taken several years to develop before ORA was ready to take it public. A. solitaryensis is a notoriously slow grower, but it more than makes up for that with its beauty. A personal favorite, this coral grows in table form, often creating several layers. It’s certainly a move away from the typical branching Acros.
The coral above may not appear very striking to some, but keep in mind that the picture was taken under natural sunlight. Under appropriate lighting, this coral will develop a greenish tan base, with purple tipped branches and green polyps.
Here’s the official news release from ORA:
This month ORA is proud to introduce the ORA Solitaryensis. The base color is a greenish tan and branch tips are light purple with striking green polyps. Branches grow horizontally and fuse together forming a solid plate in the center of the colony with new growth remaining separated. As the colony ages, it grows into multiple layers of horizontal plates. This Acropora is extremely slow growing and after many years of working with it we are happy to be releasing this splendid coral to the public. Frags are approximately 1” and well encrusted on plastic plug.
Tip of the Day – 8/31/2010
By: Brandon Klaus
You don’t have to have a $1000 camera to take good pictures. Even some cell phone cameras can take quality pictures. All you need to do is have patience and play with the various settings on your camera. Point-and-shoot cameras, especially newer models, have a lot of features that can lead to great pictures. They will cost you a couple of hundred dollars, but it beats having to float a loan on a fancy DSLR.
