The ATI Powercone is an interesting protein skimmer which has been a long time coming. First announced way way back in July 2010, this year saw the first deliveries of this feature rich protein skimmer hitting the United States. Although…
Favorite new hogfish: South Africa’s rarely seen Bodianus trilineatus
The fourline hogfish, Bodianus trilineatus, is one of the totally under represented species of wrasses that although pictured in books, is virtually unknown. But the thing about “book fish” is, once you see a nice one in person the experience sticks…
MagnaFuge LED magnetic refugium light by Innovative Marine
The MagnaFuge LED light is Innovative Marine’s newest addition to the AquaGadget line which is aiming to accessorize the world’s All-in-One reef tanks with every bell and whistle in the book. Although not the first magnetic refugium LED light, the…
Stunning Xanthic Regal Angefish collected and filmed
As angelfish go, the good ole regal angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus, doesn’t come in too many variations; you get the grey chested Pacific Form and the yellow chested Indian Ocean and Red Sea form. Occasionally we come across a slightly scribbled…
Innovative Marine Hydrofill ATO system couldn’t be any more user-friendly
Innovative Marine is beginning the rollout of their new Hydrofill auto top off system and every detail indicates that this is one product that will truly live up to the company’s namesake. A four-point sensor system in the Hydrofill ATO…
Echinophyllia tarae, a new species of chalice coral discovered off the beaten path
Seems like we are treated to new species of reef fish on a regular basis but new descriptions of stony and soft corals are much fewer and far between. The latest of these coral discoveries is Echinophyllia tarae, a new species…
Building South Africa’s first Gyre Tank Aquarium
South Africa’s marine aquarium community, Marine Aquarium SA, recently held its annual Aquarium Expo where I was honored to be the international Guest Speaker. While in Johannesburg, and kicking it with the crew at Nemo’s Janitor, it came up that…
Confirmed: The purple Milka Stylo was originally collected in the Red Sea
The Purple Milka Stylo aka purple polyp Stylophora is a very unusual coral. Of all the strains of birdnest (Seriatopora) cat’s paw (Stylophora) and Pocillopora that we’ve ever seen imported for the trade, many have come in tons of wild colors and…
HydroHandle makes drilling glass aquariums a breeze
There are a dozen and one ways to apply water to drilling glass tanks and aquariums but none compare to the Hydrohandle. When drilling glass aquariums (and marble and stone) it is necessary to apply water to the drilling blade…
Cobalt Aquatics OxyPro is a new air pump design for modern aquarium needs
The OxyPro air pump from Cobalt Aquatics is the first really new design for an air pump that the aquarium hobby has seen in a really long time. Although fundamentally the OxyPro uses the same sort of diaphragm pumping mechanism…