The ABCs of LEDs

Responsible reefkeepers know conservation is playing a huge role in the growth and evolution of the aquarium hobby. Yet, those outside the aquarium hobby sometimes fail to recognize how much we, as a community, truly care about Mother Earth and her oceans. We support efforts to eliminate abuses in collection, encourage captive breeding and propagation and, in general, try to raise awareness to ensure a sustainable future for the marine environment and hobby we love so much.

One of the ways to help is by reducing our carbon footprint by using energy-efficient equipment with our aquarium systems. With the recent influx of LED light technology, having an eco-friendly tank has never been easier.

Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs, have the ability to create intense, high output light using less electricity. We can now produce the intense light needed for photosynthesis for less than half the cost it would have required only a couple of years ago. Saving energy reduces the impact of aquariums on our beloved wild reefs.

LED aquarium light is evolving at a rapid pace. Today we will address some of the most frequently asked questions people have about LEDs. We will clear up some misconceptions and explain why the advantages of LEDs are helping them live up to the marketing hype.

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New this Week, 5/9/12

AquaC Remora S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting (No Pump) - $179.99
NEW FOR 2012! The Remora-S features a redesigned High-Flow Spray Injector that increases air and water flow. The new injector also produces smaller air bubbles that boosts performance higher than ever before. The newly redesigned skimmer includes a taller collection cup with a larger foam tower to handle the extra foam production. A neoprene noise muffler is also included to reduce noise. Tank Size (Gallons): 20-75.

AquaC Remora S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting & Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200 Powerhead/Pump - $212.99
The revolutionary AquaC protein skimmers do not use venturis, downdraft tubes, or air pumps; they employ the patented "Spray Injection System." This innovation allows the protein skimmer to efficiently draw in much more air than any other of the top protein skimmers. This coupled with the superiorly designed compact reaction chamber yields results that will literally blow the waste out of your water. Tank Size (Gallons): 20-75

AquaC Remora Pro S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting (No Pump) - $229.99
Unlike previous forms of skimming, the patented Aqua C spray injection method enables huge amounts of air and water to be processed with a relatively small pump. Although it is a simple process, there is still some confusion as to how the spray injector works.  Tank Size (Gallons): 50-120

AquaC Remora Pro S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting & Danner Supreme 5 Powerhead/Pump - $317.99
Most other forms of protein skimming rely on special valves or media to generate the air flow, and these parts quickly become clogged with salt, dust, or even mineral deposits. The AquaC spray injector is a relatively large nozzle that resists clogging. The Remora Pro-S is built from translucent gray acrylic to inhibit the growth of algae and marine organisms. Tank Size (Gallons): 50-120

AquaC Nano Remora S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting (No Pump) - $149.99
A miniature version of the popular Remora hang-on skimmer. Uses half the power of the regular Remora. The NANO is designed for tanks between 5-25 gallons. This is the first skimmer that is small enough to fit a nano-reef, while still yielding strong and dependable performance. The NANO measures 16" tall and 2.75" thick. Includes a collection cup with a drain fitting upgrade. Includes nylon cleaning brush. Rated for tanks up to 25 gallons

AquaC Nano Remora S Hang-On Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting & Cobalt Aquatics MJ900 Powerhead/Pump - $179.99
A miniature version of the popular Remora hang-on skimmer. Uses half the power of the regular Remora. The NANO is designed for tanks between 5-25 gallons. This is the first skimmer that is small enough to fit a nano-reef, while still yielding strong and dependable performance. The NANO measures 16" tall and 2.75" thick. Includes a collection cup with a drain fitting upgrade. Includes nylon cleaning brush. Includes a 8.5W Cobalt MJ900 Powerhead/Pump with 230GPH max flow. Rated for tanks up to 25 gallons

How to Get Rid of Red Slime (Cyanobacteria)

Have you ever seen the movie Ghostbusters?

Do you remember Slimer, the ugly spud-shaped ghost that left a nasty slime trail everywhere it went?

While funny in the film, having slime inside your aquarium is no laughing matter. It consumes nutrients in your water, blankets coral and creates an unsightly aquascape.

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AquaticLife Launches Online Support Community

Aquarium supply manufacturer AquaticLife gave us the heads up they launched an online support community on their website today. There aren't any comments or questions posted yet, so why not mosey on over and be the first?

The AquaticLife Support Community Forum allows aquarium hobbyists who use (or are considering using) AquaticLife products to chat about their experiences, ask questions, share tips and more. One of the major benefits is being able to speak directly with AquaticLife tech support specialists. Curious which AquaticLife fixture will provide the greatest benefits for you and your tank? Just ask!

Getting started is as easy... and free. Just click here to create a profile and then join a discussion. Conversations are organized by products and topics: LED Fixtures, T5HO Light Fixtures and Controllers & Monitors, to name a few.

A new online forum, a sweet Lifetime Repair Policy... you're on a roll, AquaticLife!

Marine Depot Coupon Codes: May 2012

25% Off Aquarium Pharmaceuticals RENA SmartHeater 50 Watt

Use Coupon at checkout: SMARTHEATER25

Valid From 5/1/2012 - 5/31/2012

20% Off Red Sea Algae Control Multi NO3/PO4 Test Kit

Use Coupon at checkout: ALGAECONTROL

Valid From 5/1/2012 - 5/31/2012

20% Off Salifert Energy Plus Granular Food 250ml

Use Coupon at checkout: ENERGYPLUS

Valid From 5/1/2012 - 5/31/2012

Unboxing and installation of the new Kessil A350

Kessil A350 LED Aquarium Light 

The new Kessil A350 LED lights have arrived!

I upgraded my ATI T5 lighting with two A350 units. I decided to go with Kessil especially after seeing how nice the Kessil A150s looked on some aquariums.

My initial thoughts were that these lights made my aquarium look a lot darker coming from the bright T5 lighting. LEDs truly are deceiving to the eyes as they have more of a focused light with the capabilities of bleaching corals even when they look much dimmer than fluorescent lighting. This is a common issue with many hobbyists when switching to new LED lighting so it is always a good idea to lower the intensity or raise the lighting temporarily. I am only running these lights at 30% and plan to gradually increase it based on the response I get from my corals. It also took my eyes some time to adjust to the intense shimmering effects.

There are no dusk-to-dawn settings, moonlights, or built-in timers that you would typically get with an advanced LED lighting fixture. What you get is a adjustable LED light equivalent to that of an metal halide light. There is no color banding or "disco" effects that you may see with some LED fixtures. It is on and off only with the option to manually adjust the intensity and color temperature to your likings. I am currently staggering my photoperiod so my left Kessil turns on first for 30 mins, then my right Kessil, and finally my third party moonlights. I found this to be acceptable so my fish don't get spooked as they did when both units turned off at the same time.

So far I am happy with my new lights. There is minimal heat coming from the unit and the fans are certainly quiet. There are multiple ways of mounting the Kessil with its included keyring mounting post that is removable, two small triangle mounts that is seen on the A150s for use with simple hooks, and then the optional gooseneck clamp mount that is coming soon.

With the light available in two models, the A350 for 24+ inches and deeper aquariums and A350W (Wide Lens) for 24+ inches and wider aquariums, this will be an economical choice for hobbyists looking to switch from their old metal halide technology to a newer energy efficient lighting system.  Here are the pictures of the unboxing and installation. I will post a follow up review with how my corals are responding in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates!

Standard packaging

Whats included: Kessil A350, Power Supply, Power Cord, Extension Cable, and Quick Guide Instructions. The power cord measured 18 feet with my tape measure, probably 20 feet if completely straight. Very impressive!

At the top of the unit has two channel potentiometers to adjust the whites and the blues seperately. This gives you the ability to change the color temperature and decrease and/or increase the intensity that is best for you and your corals.

Reflectors are covered to protect from splashes and moisture.

Built-in Fan is pretty quiet. Audible if you put your ear to it, but would not bother me if I had the aquarium in my bedroom.

I used conduit pipe to mount my Kessils. Two bends were made to the conduit, then it was spray painted black to match the units. The whole thing turned out great.

I placed the Kessils 12 inches apart which gave me excellent coverage in my 3 ft long aquarium. Adjusting the lights further apart still provided plenty of lighting throughout the aquarium.

When the Kessils are mounted 8 inches above the water line, I was only able to get a 20 inch light spread. Two A350s on a 4 ft long aquarium would have some shadowing in the corners. The Kessil A350W (Wide Lens) would be a better choice as they would easily cover a 24+ inch light spread. The dimensions of the aquarium shown is 36x24x20.

For more information: Kessil A350 Dimmable Special Blend LED Aquarium Light - Tuna Blue (Item Code: YH1131)

The Kessil A350 is here!

We just received our first shipment of the Kessil A350 Dimmable Special Blend LED Aquarium Lights (Tuna Blue), and one of our resident techies has already got his hands on a couple. 

All I can say is WOW! The light is modern, compact and sleek. My personal favorite feature is the separate channels (blue and white) which can be used to separately adjust the the intensity of each spectrum. By adjusting the intensity of each channel, you can also adjust the color to your taste. Not blue enough or too white? Not a problem! Your perfect color is just a turn of the dial away.

I snapped a picture of the new light. I can't wait to see how they look on our techie's tank!

Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED Light Fixture Product Demo

Ike from Ecoxotic recently stopped by MDHQ to demonstrate how the new Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED Light Fixture works and highlight some of the many benefits it offers aquarium hobbyists. Watch the video embedded above or keep reading to learn more.

The Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED Light Fixture is currently available in 2 sizes: 18" (57 Watt) and 24" (95 Watt). The 18" model is perfect for small tanks, like 30-34 gallon nano aquariums. The fixture is modular so you can easily add a second light for wide aquariums.

This versatile LED aquarium light is powered by Panorama Pro modules. Each module produces an amazing amount of light, dazzling shimmer and stunning color rendition. The modules are fully encapsulated to protect against the elements while operating on low voltage—keeping things safe for you and eliminating harmful stray voltage. The low-profile design of the Panorama Pro Fixture passively dissipates heat away from your aquarium without sacrificing efficiency or life expectancy.

So what’s adjustable? Just about everything: intensity, penetration, brightness, color and position are all completely configurable. Inline dimmers allow you to independently control intensity of the white and blue LEDs, and fine-tuning of the color temperature. The LED modules can be moved from left-to-right, providing an adjustable spread for any aquascape. With the modular design you can install additional Panorama Pro Modules or Stunner LED Strips to add some Magenta or a RGB module for full spectrum. The patented hinged mounting system allows you to position the fixture exactly where you want it, while still providing easy access for maintenance.

If you have any questions or feedback, please leave us a comment or call us toll-free at 1-800-566-FISH (3474). You can learn more about the Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED Light Fixture and read product reviews on our website.

AlgaGen Coral Smoothie Product Demo

Erik from AlgaGen recently stopped by to talk with us about Coral Smoothie, a non-live food specifically designed for marine and reef aquarium systems. AlgaGen, founded in 2002, has a ton of experience creating foods for marine life, including Whale Sharks at the Georgia Aquarium, Sea Dragons, Seahorses, Mandarins, Dragonettes and a whole slew of other organisms.

Coral Smoothie is a first of its kind product and is AlgaGen's version of a non-live food. It is great for hobbyists that don't like the chore of blending foods together but still want to provide their wet pets with a wide variety of nutritious and natural foods. It comes in a cool bottle you can stick right into your tank to spot feed fish, coral and invertebrate. Just cut off the applicator tip, shake the bottle, point toward your favorite coral and give it a squeeze. Coral Smoothie has a 6-month shelf life and will not need to be refrigerated until after you open it. It will last for months after you open it as long as you keep it inside your refrigerator.

Coral Smoothie contains Artemia naupliim, copepods, copepod eggs, rotifers, clam larvae, oyster larvae, oyster eggs and tissue, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, fish eggs, decapsulated artemia cysts, mussel, squid and 9 species of microalgae. Particle sizes range from 2 to 5,000 microns.

This unique product is proven to stimulate marine tanks and draw responses from coral, fish and invertebrates, like snails and shrimp. It is is formulated with everything from vegetable protein to whole zooplankton and will provide a variety of food items that can found on tropical coral reefs.

To learn more about AlgaGen Coral Smoothie or purchase a bottle to feed your aquarium inhabitants, please visit our website.

Innovative Marine Skkye Light Single Strip LED Product Demo

Skkye Light Single Strip lights are the lastest LED aquarium light fixture from Innovative Marine. They are an affordable, versatile choice for freshwater, saltwater and reef aquariums.

Innovative Marine Skkye Light Single Strip LED lights are plug and play, so you won't need to purchase any additional accessories to make them operate. Everything you need is right in the box, no assembly or DIY skills required.

The LEDs are housed in a sleek aluminum casing that is available in either black or white. The casing features sliding extension rods that you can adjust to fit perfectly over your tank. The drivers are integrated into the fixture so you won't have to hide any additional bulkiness behind your tank or inside your stand. 

Each high-brightness LEDs boasts 120 lumens per watt and has a 120° angeled optic to provide wide, uniform coverage inside your aquarium.

 The lights securely attach to rimless and framed aquariums alike or can be easily retrofitted into canopies using an optional retrofit hardware kit (sold separately).

Innovative Marine Skkye Light Single Strip LED fixtures are available in 5 sizes (12", 18", 24", 36", and 48") and 3 color spectrums (10000K, 14000K and Actinic/456nm) to meet a variety of needs. To purchase Innovative Marine Skkye Light Single Strip LEDs and read product review from hobbyists just like you, please visit our website.