The Latest in Reef Keeping Technologies

Saltwater Eddies LLC-(SaltwaterEddies.com) carries a wide variety of  saltwater aquarium supplies, reef tanks, marine aquarium lighting, protein skimmers, calcium reactors, LED reef lighting, additives and more. Our goal is to carry only high quality products that our customers are sure to be pleased with at the best possible prices. Our in-house chemist has been a reef tank hobbyist / enthusiast for over 13 years, and is quite knowledgeable about what you need to keep your saltwater aquarium inhabitants healthy, happy and thriving. At Saltwater Eddies we make every effort to ensure that we sell our products at the best prices and will gladly “meet or beat” any offer on products we carry.

Quality Aquarium Sites is a directory which recommend sites for Aquarium Hobbyist. We will evaluate each aquarium fish sites and aquarium commercial site with star ratings, from our list each month to let Aquarium Hobbyist know that the aquarium fish site is continuously providing high quality aquarium fish information and resources. When your looking for a great aquarium site or a great online aquarium fish shop look for a ribbon like this:

fish aquarium store award for quality, selection and service.

Recommended Aquarium Site

http://www.SaltwaterEddies.com Has earned the “Recommended Aquarium Site” Award from Quality Aquarium Sites.

Saltwater Eddies, LLC (SaltwaterEddies.com) carries a wide variety of  saltwater aquarium supplies, reef tanks, marine aquarium lighting, protein skimmers, calcium reactors, LED reef lighting, additives and more. Our goal is to carry only high quality products that our customers are sure to be pleased with at the best possible prices. Our in-house chemist has been a reef tank hobbyist / enthusiast for over 13 years, and is quite knowledgeable about what you need to keep your saltwater aquarium inhabitants healthy, happy and thriving. At Saltwater Eddies we make every effort to ensure that we sell our products at the best prices and will gladly “meet or beat” any offer on products we carry. We hope you can find all you need here at our website, if not, please feel free to inquire about your needs via email at support@saltwatereddies.com or call us at 360-450-2942, or Toll Free at 888-341-4213. Not everything we carry is shown on the site, and we are adding new product all the time. We will usually return your email or phone calls the same day or within 24hrs.

I must say that I am amazed at how many people have success with this 34 gallon aquarium. When it comes to saltwater reef tanks, much like telescopes, bigger is better. Smaller tanks are usually harder to get to reach a stable equilibrium. And you have to be careful making adds and buffering and things like that as it is easy to “over-do it”  in a smaller tank. That being said, the RSM 130D seems to be an exception to the rule. People are still having good success with this setup:

Red Sea Max 130D Aquarium Combo

Red Sea Max 130D Aquarium Combo Kit. A fully featured, plug-and-play reef aquarium that makes reef keeping easier than ever before. The 34 gallon Red Sea MAX represents the culmination of Red Seas many years of marine experience and know-how. The Red Sea MAX combines all of the technology necessary to grow and maintain a healthy reef in an elegant aquarium, giving aquarists an opportunity to focus on the joy and beauty of the hobby rather than on the complications associated with component selection and installation. Optimal lighting, filtration, temperature and circulation makes reef keeping easier than ever before and ensures maximum success for aquarists at all levels. Overall 34 gallon aquarium volume with 29 gallon volume for aquarium and 5 gallon filter volume. Includes: * Red Sea Max Black Aquarium * Red Sea Max Starter Kit * Red Sea Max Totem Black Aquarium Stand Red Sea Max Aquarium Combo Kit comes with dual 55-watt Power Compact lighting system with electronic ballast, polished aluminum reflector, one 10,000 K 55-watt PC bulb, one actinic 55-watt PC bulb, fan-cooled hood for extended life of electronic components, and dual blue LED moonlights. Filter system includes protein skimmer, removable inlet grill with adjustable shutter for surface skimming, 150-watt thermostat-controlled heater, two stage mechanical filter, highly porous ceramic biological filter media, activated carbon chemical media, dual circulation pumps rated at 145 gph each with adjustable direction outlets, compartment for chiller pump (NOT INCLUDED) and access panel for chiller inlet/outlet tubes. Also includes hood control panel, main control panel, and power center. Hood control panel consists of 24 hour programmable lighting timer with integral on/off/auto switch and on/off switch for moonlights. Main control panel consists of conveniently positioned water-proof power switches for all aquarium components. Power center consists of 5 individually switched power outlets with splash cover for all aquarium components with single power cord. Aquarium dimensions 24-inches x 19.7-inches x 19.7-inches (LxWxH). Overall aquarium height with hood 24.1-inches. Glass thickness on aquarium 8 mm (5/16-inches)

MORE:
Red Sea Max 130D – The Complete 34 Gallon Coral Reef System
Red Sea is pleased to introduce the new Max 130D. The 130D includes numerous significant upgrades and improvements from the original Max 130, and reflects feedback received from thousands of Max owners, dealers and distributors since the original launch almost 2 years ago. You will readily appreciate the enhanced features of this new Max 130D over the original version, and the entire system is now easier to use, requires less maintenance and will give even higher performance levels.

The following key elements differentiate the Max Coral Reef System from other marine aquariums:

‘Reef Spec’ Lighting, Filtration, Skimming and Circulation: Extensive research and development carried out in our laboratories clearly shows that in order to sustain delicate hard corals such as SPS species, it is essential to meet certain criteria. This is especially true when we remember that many Max aquariums may be purchased by less experienced hobbyists.

Protein Skimming, Filtration & Circulation: Delivering reef spec performance of 3x per hour aquarium volume circulation, and more than a 3:1 water to air ratio, the Turbo injected protein skimmer now has a foam adjustment feature which makes it even easier to use over a wide range of water conditions. The filtration system has been improved to ensure less water flow restrictions. A full sized, adjustable surface skimmer pulls water from the top of the aquarium where most waste collects. This upgrade reduces maintenance and aids water flow through the filter, making air bubble release far less prevalent. New biological media, improved media bags and an upgraded foam filter ensures water flows more freely through the entire filter chamber. The 130D includes a fittings accessory kit which makes it simple to add a chiller, external filter etc.

Lighting: Reef Spec lighting of 4watts per gallon is controlled by a high quality timer and consists of upgraded twin 55w T5 Power Compact lamps giving 110 watts output. An additional fan is now included in order to aid cooling during hot periods.

New Cabinet & Color Options: Available in Black and Silver, the Max 130D has a redesigned cabinet, reflecting a modern look and incorporating improved air flow through the cabinet to aid chiller efficiency. Red Sea MAX Aquarium
Upgrades and Improvements

* Adjustable Overflow Box – Improved surface skimming
* Increased LED Night Lights from 2 to 4
* 3 stage hood opening – Addition of upright position for easier filter maintenance
* Filter compartment water level viewer
* Improved Protein Skimmer – Adjustable height neck allows for stable skimming over a wider range of conditions
* Thicker rim around top of aquarium – allows for a bigger drop in water level due to evaporation without seeing water surface
* Coarser Mesh for bio media bag – to reduce clogging
* Coarser Foam filter material – to reduce clogging
* Accessory Kit – Water inlet and outlet connectors for external devices such as chillers
* Repositioning of Power Center cable to rear of the Aquarium
* Anti-drip strip on Skimmer compartment cover
* Easier to use Cable Channel Cover
* Rounded corners on the front of hood

Increased User Friendliness: The hood has been upgraded to allow 3-stage opening. It is now possible to fully open the hood for major maintenance to the aquarium. In addition the cable channel covers are now easier to use, and the main cord leaves the aquarium through a channel in the back of the aquarium rather than from the side. All of these upgrades improve the overall user-friendliness of the system. To further aid you, every Max 130D is supplied with a full length DVD that will guide you through the set up and maintenance of a MAX coral reef aquarium.

Max Starter Kit: A Max starter Kit is available specifically for the Max 130D, and from the experience we have gained we know that the starter kit greatly increases the success rate of the hobbyist. It now includes: 15 lbs Coral Pro Salt, Hydrometer, Nitro Bac bio starter, upgraded Marine Lab master test kit with Alkalinity Pro test, Calcium Pro test lab, Magensium test lab, Coral Buff, Calcium & Magnesium Supplements.

Overview: The Red Sea Max 130D combines all the technology necessary to grom and maintain a healthy reef. The Max gives aquarists an opportunity to focus on the joy and beauty of the hobby rather than on the component selection and installation. Optimal lighting, filtration, temperature and circulation make reefkeeping easier than ever before and ensures maximum success for aquarists of all levels.

The New LED Lighting Modules by Aqua-Illumination Are Now Available at http://www.SaltwaterEddies.com

*** New, improved version featuring the new, more efficient Cree XP LED series and an improved optical lens which results in increased output and better light spread while using less energy.***

LED light system complete with external controller, mounting legs, external power supply (1 per module) and active cooling system. Each module consists of 24 LED lamps grouped into a bank of 8 lenses or pods each containing two 6500K Daylight LED lamps and one Blue LED lamp. Blue LED lamps range from 465-485nm. Recommended Tank Width: up to 30″ with proper placement of corals. Recommended Tank Depth: up to 36″ with proper placement of corals. Power Consumption: up to 75W per module. Individual Module Dimensions: 11.9″ x 5.4″ x 2.4″ (L x W x H). Warranty: 1 Year.

Features:
1. Intensity is adjustable from 0 to 100%.
2. Color is adjustable from warm white (approximately 6500K) to deep blue (greater than 20000K).
3. Two control settings: Automatic and Manual. In Automatic Mode the sun rises and falls at pre-determined times and the fixture automatically transitions into the corresponding moon cycle for the duration of the 24-hour period. In Manual Mode the light may be set to the desired intensity and color and turned on-off manually.
4. Moon intensity automatically adjusts to follow the actual lunar cycle of ~29 day.
5. Fixture is cooled by blowing air across heat sinks located above each bank of LED lamps preventing salt, moisture, dust and dirt from entering the fixture and harming the LED lamps and other internal components.
6. 100V – 240V Universal Power Supply allows fixture to be used on a wide variety of power sources.
7. Seamless integration with GHL ProFiLux and Digital Aquatics ReefKeeper Elite controllers.

Benefits:
1. Superior Performance – Capable of producing as much light as a 400W metal halide system.
2. Save Energy – Up to 50% versus comparable metal halide system.
3. Low Heat – Generates a fraction of the heat of a comparable metal halide system.
4. Long Lamp Life – Up to 10 years.
5. Multi-Functional – Sunrise, daylight, sunset and lunar light cycles all included.
6. Upgradeable – Modular design allows end user to increase the length of the fixture or to install the latest in LED lamp technology.

The controller has two different modes: Auto and Manual

Auto mode provides an automated sunrise/sunset simulation with the ability to simulate the lunar cycle. The intensity of both white and blue, day and night may be set. By enabling the lunar cycle, the controller automatically varies the moonlight intensity based on the ~29 day cycle.

Manual mode allows you to set the light at a static intensity, for both white and blue LEDs

The controller features a USB port for firmware upgrades. This provides you with easy access to the latest features.

CONTROLLER:
Menu Structure
Settings
Auto Manual
Set Date & Time

* Year
* Month
* Day
* Weekday 1-7
* Hour
* Min

Set Illumination

* Blue: %
* White: %

Rise & Set Times

* Sunrise Time
* Sunset Time
* Duration

Max Illumination

* Day Blue
* Day White
* Night Blue
* Night White

Statistics

* Software Version
* Admin Mode
REALIZE:
Reduced Energy

The AI modules are some of the most efficient lighting products on the market. Because of the lower energy consumption, an AI module will realize over a 1/3 savings when compared to the equivalent us of a low output metal halide (250W) bulb.
No Heat Increase
No Heat Increase

The AI shows less than a 1 degree water temperature increase over a 12 hour period. A low output metal halide (250W) bulb in the same configuration shows an increase of over 15 degrees. Because of this, it is unlikely that aquarists will have to use chillers when running AI modules resulting in substantial savings from equipment purchases and energy consumption.
8 Times Longer Life
Over 8 Times Longer Life

The AI’s modules are rated for over 50,000 hours providing for years of maintenance free and environmentally friendly use. Metal Halides require costly annual replacements due to deteriorating output and unpredictable color drift.
Built in the USA

Click Here for More Information

After seeing the new trend in conical protein skimmers, it seemed only fair to take another look into the recirculating skimmers as well. I never have had one of those and was quite curious. Wow. Glad I did. Hydor has come out with a new series of skimmer called the Performer Series. These are not your run of the mill recirculating skimmers. They are highly adjustable and easy to tweak using the usual raising and lowering of the outlet pipe, but there is more to it than that. Using a separate adjustable flow water feed pump along with adjustable air intake recirculating pumps that gives three points of control for tweaking. I bought one. I am very happy with it. whether you want a gentle dry foam or a violent bursting of protein laden bubbles in the riser neck, it’s all possible with this one skimmer style The Hydor Performer series from SaltwaterEddies.com:

Performer Protein Skimmer in action

One of the most awesome hard corals is the Galaxia Coral. It is quite hardy, but as seen in the video, its runners can reach quite a distance and have a somewhat aggressive sting that kills the flesh of corals in the immediate vicinity. Therefore, it is best to plan on giving this coral a wide spherical space to call it’s own.

Galaxia Movie

And Galaxia at night  Galaxia at Night

Phosphate Photometer

Hanna Digital Instruments Phosphate (LR) Photometer with 890 nm LED Phosphates are particularly important for the growth and development of plant roots, and hence are one of the most common fertilizers used in agriculture. In addition, phosphates are usually utilized in detergents and are needed, in small quantities, for heating systems. However, high concentrations of phosphates can cause environmental pollution: they are for example a primary cause of eutrophication. For these reasons, it is necessary to closely monitor the phosphate levels present in aquariums, hydroponics, civil and industrial waste water. In order to cater to the different needs of users in a wide array of applications, the HANNA phosphate meters have been designed to cover the following ranges: – From 0.00 to 2.50 mg/L (HI 93713) 2 year warranty. Range 0.00 to 2.50 mg/L Resolution 0.01 mg/L Accuracy ±0.04 mg/L ±4% of reading Light Source LED 890 nm Light Life Life of the instrument Light Detection Silicon Photocell Battery Type / Life 1 x 9V / approx. 40 hours of continuous use; auto-off after 10 minutes of non use Environment 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F); RH max 95% non-condensing Dimensions 180 x 83 x 46 mm (7.1 x 3.3 x 1.8″) Weight 290 g (10 oz.) Method Adaptation of the ascorbic acid method; The reaction between phospate and the reagent causes a blue tint in the sample HANNA instruments, a world leading manufacturer of analytical instrumentation, has a network of 40 subsidiaries in 32 countries worldwide and offers over 3000 products to its customers. HANNA is headquartered in Woonsocket, RI. www.hannainst.com

Green Star Polyps (GSP) are a great coral for most all situations. It grows fast, tolerates many lighting conditions, needs little attention and fragments well.  In the daytime this coral takes on the look of a green grassy meadow, blowing to and fro in the reef with the tank currents. At night the polyps retract and reveal the dark purple mantle from which the coral takes its form. You can see layers and lobes of purple mantle that are easy to frag off at night with a razor blade. Saltwater Eddies, LLC has this coral for sale on their website at SaltwaterEddies.com.

There seems to be a trend in the reef industry to move toward cone shaped protein skimmers. One can see upon inspection visibly that there would be more immediate “lift” of the fractionated foam. An example of these newer cone shaped skimmers in the SWC line of skimmers and the new ATB’s