Skip to main content
Loading...
13Nov

Photo-documentary of a Bubble Tip Anemone splitting

  • clown-1200

When an anemone is about to split, it's usually pretty obvious. It will elongate, stretching across one or more rocks. It will pull both directions, basically ripping itself in half.  When a BTA splits, it's even more important to maintain water quality parameters so the halves can heal properly. Anemones will need a few days to heal, sealing themselves and rebuilding the mouth area that is used to swallow food once more.

11Nov

Macro growth looks good!

  • fuge-lumilit

A few months ago, I got a Lumilite to try out over my smaller sump's refugium. I wanted to see if it would do the job adequately for my customers that buy my sumps. I placed it over the zone, plugged it into the Apex so it would turn on and off daily.

I noticed the macro algae is growing well under this daylight spectrum LED fixture, and I really do like the low profile look of the light.

11Nov

Simple Sump Assembly

  • parts-cutsheet-hdr

If you want to try your hand at building your own sump, I'd recommend doing something small at first. Take your time and do a good job so the floors stay dry. If you opt to build something big, make sure you know what thickness of material you need to use before you start construction.  Here's a simple sump based on the Model A that I used under my 29g reef years ago.

05Nov

Acrylic work: Routing teeth

  • teeth_final-bspline

How would you like to route some teeth for a baffle of your sump? Here is one of the methods I've used.

You could create a "jig" that is re-useable, such as the thumbnail to the right.  It provides me with a series of grooves for the router bit's shaft to trace, but over time it melts the material of the jig and has to be replaced.  This is a good choice for a few uses, at most.

26Oct

Video Tour of the 400g Setup

Unnarrated filming of my 400g set up,  showcasing everything from the light rack to the refugium, helping you visualize where everything fits together.  I shot this with my iPhone 4 prior to a trip, allowing me to share the video with others during my travels.   

IFrame

26Oct

The temporary livestock vats

While construction of the new fishroom was underway, the livestock awaited their future home in Rubbermaid feeding troughs.  It was like living in a mad scientist's lab, and no I didn't enjoy it.  But what can you do when your reeflings need a new home?  You improvise.

IFrame

26Oct

Rose BTA spawns eggs!

In May 2010, the bubble tip anemones (BTAs) in my 280g reef spawned.  The smokey sperm clouded up the water making it hard to see. What amazed me was that the Rose BTA released a clutch of eggs on cue.  This particular anemone was in the 20g satellite tank tied into the 280g system.