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13Jul

How to Test for Stray Electricity

  • analog electricity meter

Stray electricity in the aquarium is unsafe for you as well as your livestock. Usually the only time it is noticed is when a person reaches in the tank with a nick on their finger, quickly feeling a tingle or even a jolt. After that unpleasantness has passed, it's time to determine what is causing it.

There are worse scenarios, such as that acrid smell, sparks, or even fire. Let's assume that is not the case, because if it is you should be calling 911 rather than perusing my website.

12Sep

MARCNA 2023

  • MarcNA graphic

From the About page: 

What is MarcNA?

MarcNA is the first of its kind! Never before has there been a 24-hour educational event for the reef keeping hobby. All things saltwater will be considered, discussed and dissected. The Live Chat will allow attendees to pose questions to the guest speakers, and the moderators will make sure everyone has a good time.

22Mar

Wandering alkalinity

  • Alkalinity measured in SmartStir

I feel like I blog about calcium reactor stuff a lot.  I wonder if I would do the same with 2-part dosing? lol

Last Sunday, I did a 100g water change on the reef.  I pumped out all the water out of the skimmer zone, and the return zone, and then more water out of the reef aquarium itself.  I refilled it with new saltwater, and went about my normal life.  

30Dec

It's like a Fungia, but isn't one

  • Lobactis scutaria

I asked Jake Adams about this coral last year, because I had a feeling it was more than "just a weird fungia" with that very elongated mouth.  I've taken many pictures of it over the years.  

Fungia is not wrong as it used to called F. scutaria but now it's in its own genus - all by itself - Lobactis scutaria

It's a helluva lot more of a Fungia than all the Cyloseris in the world that people call Fungias

Mine has brown flesh, green stubby tentacles, and a purple mouth. 

06Dec

My 400g, explained

  • The SPS zone

Each year, I like to do a video on the anniversary date of the reef.  Last month, my reef turned 9 years old (Nov 10, 2022).  By that, I mean the livestock has been in this glass aquarium for that duration. I filmed it from many angles, to make a nice video (linked at the base of this article).  I’ll describe my system and the associated gear while you enjoy some eye candy.

04Sep

Hidden Cup Coral - Phyllangia americana

  • Phyllangia americana

If you have ever acquired liverock that came from Florida, odds are it had a few individual polyps that extended short tentacles.  Those are called Cup Corals, and don't live long in our aquariums due to a lack of a regular food source. Generally I would just advise that you enjoy them for as long as they last. Cup Corals are not sold to hobbyists, they are a free hitchhiker coral that come on rock sold in the aquarium trade.

04Sep

"Hidden" Hitchhikers

  • Hidden Sea Cucumber

In a previous blog, I mentioned that I bought some live rock from a Florida business. Over time, I've observed all sorts of life appear from the nooks and crannies of the rock.  Initially I spotted one feathery looking organism that wasn't in a good spot that I could photograph.  In the meantime, not only has it moved... I've spotted five of them. They are called Hidden Sea Cucumbers (Pseudothyone belli)