The whispering began when EcoTech lowered pricing on their flagship pump, the MP40w ES. Was this to better compete with the Maxspect Gyre? Was there something else on the horizon? No reason to speculate now as our questions have been answered. EcoTech redesigned the MP40 pump, claiming up to 40% more water movement with 90% less noise. At this time there’s only one prototype unit being played with that I’m aware of. Lucky for us the user was kind enough to upload a full unboxing and demo video (pump starts running at 9 minute mark). No word yet on cost or production release of this new pump. Follow the break for YouTube video.

… More:

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  A group of scientists from the University of Southampton, Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT) and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technologyhave developed a new submarine that could help define new levels of underwater exploration. The submarine would be the fastest underwater vehicle ever developed. The super fast sub will be able to accelerate  from 0 to 60 miles per hour in one second.  The submarine’s propulsion system is inspired by the biology of the Octopus.  The vehicle will be built like a deformable octopus-like robot with a 3D printed skeleton with no moving parts and no energy storage device other than a thin elastic outer hull. The sub’s unique design allow’s it to inflate and deflate through water moving from the base much like an octopus’ siphon. Unlike conventional submarines powered by large engines and propellers, this sub has very few moving moving parts. By using this method of propulsion, the vehicle will be able to manoeuvre around obstacles like coral reefs with ease. MORE… More:

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[embedded content] We’ve been pretty busy recently with a whole stack of product reviews but it was nice to grab a few minutes to process some of the HFR footage we’ve managed to capture in the odd spare minute. Filmed at 50fps, this particular clip is slowed down to 25fps and can be viewed at 1080p also. Resting in its favourite perch in a colony of Blue Montipora, our resident Flame Hawkfish is the perfect model for this kind of footage!

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This may be the coolest named new species yet. A paper published last week in the Zoological Taxonomy Journal has identified a new species of Loricariidae (catfish) from the Gurupi River in Brazil. This is a very diverse area within the amazon, home to many different and unusual species. This new species has been named ‘Peckoltia Greedoi’. Jonathan W. Armbruster, David C. Werneke, and Milton Ta discovered the species and state the following regarding the new species chosen name, “Named for Greedo of Rodia, a bounty hunter killed by Han Solo in Chalmun’s Spaceport Cantina in the movie “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (Lucasfilm, Twentieth Century Fox, 1977) with whom this species shares a remarkable resemblance.” MORE… More:

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In many ways the future of the marine aquarium hobby lies within every hobbyist. Whenever an environmental challenge is faced, often artists and musicians pose the question, “What will we tell our children.” Where I live in Maryland, natural gas collection via a method called hydraulic fracturing is up for debate, as our mountain region lies over rich gas shale. As it appears that fracturing is more imminent by the day, Facebook is littered with posts asking what our children will say, if their mountaintop home is destroyed by greedy gas companies. It’s a logical question, and as I watch my nearly three year old daughter stare into my aquariums, fascinated by the diversity of life, I wonder what I will tell her if by the time she’s my age, coral reefs and oceanic ecosystems are in total collapse. While coral reef aquarists aren’t the primary force driving oceanic decline, we are intricately connected to it, whether we opt to face that reality or not. While reef aquarists may not be able to reverse trends of oceanic destruction, we can change our hobby for the better. Without individual hobbyists and consumers, the reef aquarium industry is doomed to fail. Without a demand for live fish and corals, there would be no need for collection. So what can we do, what sea change of thought is necessary to elicit change from our industry and across the wide ravine of marine aquarists? Treat marine fish as conscious, feeling oriented animals: I’ve posted several articles based on scientific papers, which explored the scientific evidence that suggests marine fish are in fact highly feeling based animals. Not only does research suggest they feel (pain included), but also that they are sentient conscious animals. It has long been thought that since fish lack a brain similar to more developed animals, that they didn’t feel a wide range of emotions. If anyone knows better, it’s aquarists who’ve kept marine fish. Now science backs that up, and a new generation of researchers is delving into the largely unexplored world of fish behavior, hoping to revolutionize the world of aquariums, aquaculture and commercial fishing. Step by step, scientists are proving that fish are capable of a wide range of emotions and they are making the case that many of the protections offered to dogs, cats and farm animals; need to be extended to fish as well. Though, why wait until its law.… More:

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Rumour and speculation have been rife over the last couple of weeks but now the embargo has finally been lifted, we can stop ‘keeping it quiet’ as it were, and bring you official details on the latest product development from our sponsor Ecotech Marine! We’ve studied the offical 16 page release at length so here are the key points. Building on the already award-winning VorTech pump line, the new MP10wQD, MP40wQD and MP60wQD offer claimed improvements in noise reduction, efficiency, flow and durability. Specifically, this next evolution of the VorTech range offers up to 90% noise reduction and up to 40% more output* while the line retains connectivity and offers a new gyre flow mode.

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We’d like to pass along congratulations to our friend Thomas Brown for his recent appointment to Lead Video Content Director at online aquarium retailer, Salty Supply. Thomas has produced a wide variety of video content ranging from numerous web series (The Aquarium Report, The Ultimate Tank Build, etc.) and LFS/manufacturer spotlights to product reviews and event coverage. He has also worked with a variety of brands, such as LRS Foods, Aqua Medic, Orphek, AlgaGen, and Polyp Lab. Over the last few years, Thomas’ progress and creativity caught the eye of Salty Supply CEO, Richard Gilliland, who reached out to Thomas with an interest in making him part of their team.I am so excited to start this new venture with Salty Supply. Over the past two years I’ve worked really hard to bring value to the ThomasVisionReef subscribers. I am truly honored that Richard and the rest of the Salty Supply team have taken such an interest in my work not only as a YouTube Content Creator but as a brand builder. I think other hobbyist that are also content creators (videos, blogs, articles etc..) like myself should see this as a big step forward as companies are now seeing the value in what we do… To potentially have made a new career out of something I did for fun and to keep our wonderful hobby going is amazing to me. The goal I have for this position is to of course continue to create unique, educational and entertaining aquarium content while showcasing Salty Supplies massive product selection.

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Some yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) specimens devour nuisance algae, while others do not.The practice of adding herbivorous fish and/or invertebrate species to marine aquariums for the purpose of nuisance algae control is quite commonplace. Hence the popularity of those herbivore packages known in hobby parlance as “cleanup crews,” or CUCs. But almost as common is the experience of adding a herbivorous species or CUC to eradicate algae only to discover that it doesn’t quite live up to expectation. Why does this sometimes happen? Here are a few possibilities: The alga isn’t on the menuWe like to think that herbivores will feast on any and all algae put in front of them, but most are more discerning than that. For example, many herbivorous fish and inverts may do a great job of grazing diatoms and algal films but then completely ignore the forms of most concern to hobbyists, such as those tough, unsightly strands or clumps of hair-type algae. In fact, my experience with marine herbivores in general is that few will actually outright consume growths of hair algae

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Photo by Adrian Pingstone.

 Generations ago, aquarium fish keepers may have seen themselves as sharing little more than a “pastime”. But, with the rapid growth of marine aquarium keeping that began in the late 1980’s, we came to see ourselves as participating in an industry as well as a hobby. Today, we hobbyists are growing increasingly aware not only of our stake in the aquarium industry but in global marine fisheries. This, of course, has all come in the wake of sometimes heated public debate concerning the impact of ornamental fish harvests on coral reef habitat. As we–consumers of marine ornamental fishes–continue to examine how our habits mold this industry, we should probably remain especially cognizant of current fish collection practices. Some speculate that in the case of fisheries management, it may be more important to understand fishery fleet dynamics than it is to understand the resource itself. Addressing this concern, researchers from Washington State University,the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Liebniz Institute of Marine Science observed and surveyed a Hawaiian marine aquarium fishing fleet. Their investigation focused on harvest methods/catch efficiency, effort allocation and (perhaps surprisingly to some) job satisfaction. Further, they compared the relative importance of species with their abundance in the wild. They found that aquarium fish catch productivity is profoundly affected by decisions (number of divers, dive depths, methods, technologies, etc.) that collectors make. More interestingly, they ponder the ecological consequences of fishers disproportionately targeting “reef safe” fish species. Apparently, changes in an aquarium fishing fleet can affect not only the size of the catch, but the species or type of species targeted. The investigators claim that these data serve to explain why, for example, catch rates for Hawaiian yellow tangs may increase even as the species declines in number. Though it is a regional study, the investigators make clear that the findings have major implications for the global ornamental fish industry. And, that of course means marine aquarium fish hobbyists, too. To take a closer look at the study, please visit: https://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/4713/Stevenson_wsu_0251E_10646.pdf?sequence=1.… More:

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Photo: Tewy

 A scientific course for all levels of divers, what a good idea!  Rendezvous Dive Adventures staff from The Seattle Aquarium have teamed up to offer this training.   Shawn Larson (Curator of Research) and Jeff Christiansen (Dive Safety Officer) will be on site to teach you the survey and diving techniques. The main focus is rock fish surveys, but the principles and methods can be used for many other survey subjects. The course part of the survey techniques will be presented by Shawn. She has participated in many projects dealing with otters, six gill sharks, rock fish etc. and has extensive genetic knowledge and field study skills.  Jeff will do the diving techniques as he has a wealth of experience in both science diving and other dive related activities. Jeff was also heavily involved in the six gill shark tagging project. During this course, you will learn: 

• about the different rock fish species, both to identify them and their life history,
• how to set up transects,
• how to handle data and much more.

  This is great preparation for those wanting to become a fully-fledged scientific diver or for those who want to participate in local survey projects.… More:

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Good morning friends, I have a pair of Honeycomb Cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonia for you all today that I photographed just moments before sunset. Every day here on the Caribbean reef around dusk many species of fish set out to find a mate and spawn before sunset, it’s by far the best time to be out with a camera. These unique looking box shaped Cowfish usually spend the day by them selves but around dusk will set out to find a mate. Once found the Male (in front) usually starts the courtship ritual by bumping into the female, swimming fast circles around her and showing off his beautiful electric colors which they can change in the blink of an eye! These fish are fairly uncommon to see and I have never found a baby one, it’s on our top 10 hardest fish to find list

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The walleye or walleyed pike (Sander vitreus) is a perciform fish species that can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers across Canada and the northern United States. Thought they are better known for their taste than their color (for those you who haven’t tried them, they are delicious), they are not an entirely unattractive species. While walleye tend to be a shiny golden yellow in hue, both “yellow” and “blue” color morphs are known. Most of the color observed in fishes is produced by specialized, pigment-containing cells called chromatophores. Blue coloration in fishes, especially that produced by pigments, is fairly rare (blues seen in fishes tend to be produced by reflection rather than absorption). However, a very unusual blue pigment, sandercyanin (roughly meaning “blue walleye protein”), has been identified as at least one source of the walleye’s bluish form. This novel bili-binding compound is not contained in chromatorphores, but rather in its slime coat on the dorsal region of the fish’s body. Sandercyanin is supplied by secretory cells in the animal’s skin. A group of researchers based in the University of Wisconsin have found that sandercyanin is present (in similar concentrations) in both blue and yellow morph walleyes. As it turns out, it is actually a lack of yellow pigment that is responsible for the cerulean appearance of blue morph specimens. Season does appear to be a factor in the production of sandercyanin. Investigators now speculate that the pigment may play a part in countershading and/or photoprotection, though specific functions remain a mystery. For more information about the study, please visit: http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfas-2014-0139#.VNy-j033-iy.… More:

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This CoralFish12g video features a one of a kind Zoanthid tree created by Tyler Bell. My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/coralfish12g Information: "Tyler Bell, Milwaukee WI. It is constructe

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One of these things is not like the other! If you’re familiar with Orphek’s pendant lighting, you’ll possibly recognize three of these shiny LED aquarium lights. From right to left, you see the NR12 and PR72, both of which have been in the game for quite some time, followed by the Atlantik Pendant, which made its debut this past August at MACNA 2014 in Denver. But what’s that handsome beast on the far left?! A new light!  A nice little birdy over at Orphek slipped me these super-top-secret images from their development team, and after a little prying I have to say this is going to be a very exciting release with applications that extend well beyond the home aquarium. I also have to say that I’m terrible at keeping secrets. While they wouldn’t dish on what the new member of the lineup will be called, here’s a few hushed whispers from my reliable source about the unseen (until now, that is) unit. 

• It will be 240-300 watts
• Available with or without wifi control
• Available with multiple lens options
• The non-wifi version will most likely be dimmable and APEX ready
• The unit will be good for deeper systems such as tanks over 48″, public aquariums and coral farms/wholesalers.
• The unit is currently in the final testing phases including PAR maps. It has already undergone spectral testing and rigorous application testing.
• The wifi version will use the same free application as the rest of the Atlantik series of lights.
• It will have the ability to grow corals in excess of 3 meters deep.

  With this new light in the final testing phases, I get a feeling we’ll be seeing its debut in the very near future. Orphek already illuminates some pretty incredible reef aquariums throughout the world, and it sounds like with this release they’ll be reaching reaching new depths in the aquarium realm. … More:

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Being that it’s the eve of the oh-so-wonderful holiday filled with gushy romance and flowers and chocolate that is Valentine’s Day, and this eve falling on the most unluckiest of days (according to western superstition) that is Friday the 13th, why not relish in the sublime crossing of dates and go over some of the rather unfortunate, bizarre, violent and kinktastic mating habits of the deep? Feeling bummed about not having someone to spend this sappy Saturday with? Read through a few of these and I guarantee you’ll feel a little bit better about your love life (or lack there of) because after all, never will you be a hermaphroditic seaslug forced to fence with your penis to see whom gets to stab and inseminate whom.    1. The Male Anglerfish Ahh, the poor, sad soul that is the male anglerfish. This little guy unfortunately spends his entire life in search of the girl of his dreams. What happens when he sniffs her out? He bites on and never lets go. Releasing and enzyme he begins to digest his own lips, fusing to her body at a vascular level, reducing himself to nothing more than a sperm factory for his lady, kinda like marriage. How’s your lonely Valentine’s day sounding now? Read more here.   2. Rapey Cuttlefish If you’re a female cuttlefish, expect to be subjected to constant harassment from your male counterpart. These cephalopods are known to have quite the insatiable sexdrive, aggressively subjecting the females to the passing of sperm packets whether she wants to or not. This violent copulation takes its toll on the female and they can succumb to a most terrible fate – something I’ve witnessed, unfortunately, first hand. Hey, single ladies, your hot date with Netflix and glass of vino would never take advantage of you like that! 3. Filthy, Filthy Lobsters I’m going to file this one under “stuff I didn’t really need to know”. First of all, and this is pretty cool, female lobsters get naked before mating. Only partaking in sexy times after molting, the female then shacks up with the male while her shell hardens, about ten days to two weeks, then packs up her crustaceous belongings and leaves. Don’t feel too bad for the guy, there’s always another female waiting for her turn with the dominant male. How’s this fall into “need not know” territory?… More:

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Looking down the length of Joe Garza’s 120 gallon reefThe blue thumb behind this beautiful reef, Joe Garza, is a U.S. Navy veteran who spent years traveling the oceans, exploring the globe, and admiring the beauty of the aquatic world. He kept aquariums filled with all sorts of colorful fish for 17 years before deciding it was time for another challenge, which just so happened to be reefkeeping. Perusing forums, books, and videos left him completely confused, so he turned to his good friend Cliff Roberts for some guidance to get started. As goes the story of many an aquarist, he’s had ups and downs, but now successfully maintains this 120 gallon reef, as well as a 240 gallon reef. And though life is often hectic, he still makes sure to sit back and enjoy the reefs with his wife and 3 children. The Reef and Supporting EquipmentThis 120 gallon custom, rimless Reef Savvy aquarium has been up and running since June of 2014.

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Mo’orea, a volcanic island in French Polynesia, will soon be captured in a computer model that will allow its users to track climate change and the effect of human habits on the island. The Mo’orea Island Digital Ecosystem Avator (Mo’orea IDEA) will take into account corals, animals, plants and human population on the island. The project cost is estimated at $5 million dollars and expected to take about 5 to 10 years to complete the work. The goal of the project is allow a computer based prediction of necessary economic decision making, which is determined through the data entered. This sort of technological advance may just be the needed answer that can help to save our ocean’s ecosystems from the devastating impacts of human harm. MORE… More:

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Panther grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)Every time I need to make a point about marine fish that are sold as small, cute juveniles but grow into real behemoths, the panther grouper (Cromileptes altivelis according to Fishbase/Chromileptes altivelis according to ITIS) is one of several species that come to mind immediately. But despite its indisputable tankbusting tendencies, C. altivelis is very hardy, interesting, and well worth its sea salt if you have the space to spare. Physical traitsLet’s get right to the panther grouper’s tankbusting size—which isn’t exaggerated, by the way. This Indo-Pacific species can grow to exceed 27 inches in total length. Even specimens that fall well short of that maximum are still fish to be reckoned with. White to light brown in base coloration with black polka dots all over its body and fins, C.

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Nitrates can be the bane of existence for many reef aquarists. They aren’t nearly as toxic as nitrite or ammonia and unless they exist in very high amounts (excess of 50-100 ppm) they don’t have a tremendous effect on fish. The problem is that nitrate is a growth fuel for algae, including zooanthellae within coral tissue. I often tell aquarists to think of zooanthellae like a case of ring worm in human beings. When kept in check, this particular ring worm provides you with energy and nourishment. Under proper conditions, your body simply ignores its presence, enjoying all the extra energy. If some environmental or biological condition causes it to grow too much, your immune system kicks in, fighting off the ring worm and robbing you of all that excess sustenance. This is how zooanthellae exists within coral tissue. Under proper conditions it provides nourishment, allowing the natural colors of a coral to shine through. When nitrate is present, the zooanthellae takes off and the coral’s biological processes perceive it as a threat. The coral expels the zooanthellae and usually perishes shortly after from starvation. If we seek to keep corals of any species with dramatic coloration, it’s best to have no nitrate within the water, or barely measurable amounts. There are a lot of ways to remove nitrate, and nitrate filtration is something within the hobby that has become very popular these days. Everything from refugiums to bio-pellets is aimed at removing nitrate. Often, I hear reef keepers comment that their protein skimmer aids in nitrate removal. In reviews of popular skimmers online, aquarists comment that adding the skimmer resulted in a dramatic reduction of nitrates. Do protein skimmers really remove nitrate? It would seem like they could, considering all the thick, green, smelly waste that accumulates within a collection cup. Let’s take a look at protein skimmers and their ability to remove nitrates within a marine aquarium.    How do skimmers work? Reefing 101:Protein skimmers are also known as foam fractionators and they remove organic compounds from water. Believe it or not, they are most popular in commercial water treatment facilities and public aquariums. Skimmers use the polarity of a particle to remove it, primarily pulling out the proteins and amino acids within food particles. Compounds such as fat are hydrophobic and compounds such as sugar, amino acid and salt are hydrophilic. Large organic compounds are both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, being referred to as amphiphilic.… More:

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 There’s been a good deal of rumbling going on in the Aquarium community the past few weeks erupting out of beautiful Hawaii, with a slew of ban bills threatening Hawaiian fisheries.  As with anything, especially such an emotionally fueled event, there’s a great deal of conflicting information.  In an effort clear things up as to what’s going on, I sat down with Ret Talbot, who’s been following and reporting on this story meticulously, Jeff Saurwein, president of the San Diego Marine Aquarium Society  and veteran aquarist Dana Riddle, who’s right at the heart of it all in Hawaii, to break down the 8 Aquarium-Fishery related bills in Hawaii, what we can expect to happen with them and what their possible impacts could be. We also take some time to distinguish the difference between these bills and the Endangered Species Act process, and why it’s crucial for you to understand the difference. With two city council bills being debated today by the Hawaii County Council’s Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability, be sure to check back for updates as this story continues to unfold.     … More:

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