Q&A with Keith, 7/2/09

QUESTION
I want to start a copepod culture to prepare for a future mandarin goby purchase. Any tips?

ANSWER
One of the best ways to grow a copepod population is by setting up a refugium. A refugium will provide your copepods an area free of predation so they grow and reproduce quicker.

If your refugium is large enough to accommodate live rock, place a few baseball to softball-sized pieces of live rock inside it. Every week or two, put your refugium rocks into your main/display tank. This will replenish your tank with copepods as a food source. Keep swapping out pieces of live rock every week or so.

You do not have to use a refugium to grow copepods. You can setup a separate, smaller tank with just live rock and no fish to grow and reproduce copepods. Just swap out the live rock on a regular basis for feeding as described earlier.

If you have any additional questions, concerns or comments, let us know! We're happy to help.

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If you would like to ask Keith a question, click here.

New this Week, 7/1/09

ESV B-Ionic Supplement Doser
This device is actually 2 dosers in one unit. It will enable you to automate the daily additions of both components of B-Ionic Calcium Buffer (BICB), utilizing the simple principle of air pressure displacing the liquid additives into your system. To power the doser, the purchaser will need to supply 1-2 digital lamp timers, 2 air pumps (or 1 dual output pump). The air pump must have a minimum pressure output of 4 P.S.I. Choose from 1/2 gallon and gallon models.

JBJ Nano-Glo 4-LED Magnetic Refugium Light
JBJ introduces the NANO-GLO LED to upgrade your existing Nano Cube into an “In-Tank” Refugium. The NANO-GLO LED refugium light boasts 4 powerful high intensity LED’s that evenly distribute light for macro algae, and aid in the removal of unwanted phosphates and nitrates. Its innovative design utilizes a powerful magnet to attach to the rear wall of the aquarium for mobility and secure placement. The NANO-GLO was specifically designed for the 28g Nano Cube CF QUAD aquarium, which is sold with a transparent filter basket. But the design is so versatile that it can be used to light any small nano aquarium that usually cannot accommodate top lighting due to space constraints and fully enclosed canopies.

Brillianize Glass and Acrylic Aquarium Cleaner/Polish - 8oz
America's #1 rated cleaner & polish. 100% non-toxic, safe to use around people and pets. Use on acrylic, glass, Formica®, Lexan®, Lucite®, Plexiglas®, stainless steel, chrome, bright metal and all hard shiny surfaces. Brillianize is made in the USA.




JBJ 28 Gallon Nano Cube - Replacement 105 Watt Quad Lamp
This 150-Watt CF JBJ Quad Bulb is a replacement for the one found in the JBJ 28-Gallon Nano Cube Quad Aquarium System.

Deal of the Week

JBJ 24 Gallon Nano Cube 150W HQI Aquarium Canopy Upgrade Kit

Regularly $299.99
Now Only $239.99

YOU SAVE $60 ... THAT'S 20% OFF!

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Thieves using Google Earth to steal koi

UK—They are believed to be using Internet mapping systems to identify gardens with ponds so they can take the sought-after specimens.

Twelve thefts of the exotic fish and pond equipment, some of which are worth hundreds of pounds, have been reported over a three-week period across Hull, East Yorks.

Humberside Police Community Support Officer Sam Gregory said all the evidence suggests the culprits are using the Internet to seek out their targets.

Google Earth provides satellite photos detailed enough to see what is in people's back gardens.

PCSO Gregory said: "Google shows what is in your garden and you can see people's ponds.

"One of the properties targeted has an eight foot fence and is set back from the road.

"The pond is in the corner and can't be seen.

"Unless you were standing right next to the wall, you wouldn't be able to hear the running water."

Robert Barnes lost four koi carp and expensive lilies from his pond. The 65 year-old said: "They took the smaller fish, probably because they last longer out of the water.

"My neighbor later told me she had seen two young men with a bike with a box on it and a big black net."

Nigel Dawson, 40, woke up one morning to find his expensive filter system and 13 koi carp had been taken from his back garden.

He said: "I am devastated. I didn't see or hear anything."

A spokesperson for Google said the search engine was just one provider of such satellite images.

They said: "Google Earth is built from information that is available worldwide from a wide range of both commercial and public sources.

"As such, Google Earth creates no appreciable increase in security risks, given the wide commercial availability of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery of every country in the world.

"Criminals could use maps, phones and getaway cars but no one would argue that these technologies are responsible for the crime itself, that responsibility lies with the perpetrator.

Article and Images Courtesy of Telegraph Media Group

Breaking News: EcoTech Marine's VorTech MP10 Propeller Pump Shipping Next Week

Just got word from our purchasing department that the long-awaited VorTech MP10 for nano aquariums are now on their way to us and that we'll be shipping them to customers next week.

For more information on the MP10, click here. EcoTech's also posted some videos you can watch here.

These pumps will sell out quickly. If you'd like to reserve one now to ensure you're one of the first to be running an MP10 in your aquarium, click here ($194.99 with FREE shipping ... California residents enter coupon code NOCALTAX and pay no sales tax!).

Q&A with Keith, 6/24/09

QUESTION
What is a refugium?

ANSWER
A refugium, as defined in the aquarium hobby, is as an area or refuge where micro-organisms can live and breed without the worry of predation from fish or other organisms. Macro-algaes are also kept in refugiums to aid in waste (nitrate and phosphate) removal from the aquarium’s water. Many people setup refugiums as part of the filtration system for their saltwater aquarium, especially with reef tanks, where nutrient control is a huge concern.

Besides the roll of a micro-organism farm to help feed corals, fish and other invertebrates in your tank and a nutrient control filter, refugiums also help to stabilize the pH of your tank. During the daytime, while the lights are on over your reef tank, the different algae will photosynthesize. The algae will take in CO2 and release 02 while producing sugars to feed themselves. But during the nighttime, they will respire, meaning they take in O2 and release CO2. The CO2 produces carbonic acid which will lower the pH. By running the refugiums light on a reverse daylight period (opposite of the main tank’s light) the algae in the refugium will help balance out the CO2 and O2 production and maintain a more stable pH level.

I've written an article that answers some frequently asked questions about refugiums. You can check it out here. If you have any questions after reading this article, don't hesitate to contact us. We're happy to help!

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If you would like to ask Keith a question, click here.

Deal of the Week

Coralife 20 Inch Aqualight with 1x96W 50/50 4-Tube Square Pin Base (with fans)

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Coralife 36 Inch Aqualight with 1x96W Actinic / 1x96W 10,000K Lamp Square Pin Base (with fans)

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Coralife 24 Inch Aqualight w/ 2x65W Straight Pin Base + 2x3/4W Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED Lamps

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Now Only $128.09

YOU SAVE $54.90!

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New this Week, 6/17/09

Salifert Energy Plus Granular Food 250ml
Energy Plus does not pollute the water and is an unsurpassed granular food for marine fish (just compare the ingredient list with other brands and you will be surprised). Virtually all marine fish from approx. 1 up to 5 inches will be attracted to it. It contains approx. 20 times more protein than good quality frozen food. The same is true for the essential Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA) and vitamins.

JBJ Macro-Glo Adjustable Refugium Light
Available in 15 and 25-watt models, these energy efficient MACRO-GLO refugium lights are the smart solution for sumps that require powerful light output in a space-saving form. The MACRO-GLO securely clamps to the rim of the sump and can be easily positioned out of the way for routine maintenance without the fear of dropping the fixture in the water. These unique lamps equal 5 times the brightness of traditional incandescent lamps while producing less heat and lasting an amazing 8000 hours.

Deal of the Week

250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb - Phoenix, Mogul Base

Regularly $99.99
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Lakers Celebratory Savings

Two weeks ago ReefBuilders announced that we would offer special celebratory savings if the Los Angeles Lakers brought the NBA title home to Southern California. Yesterday D-Fish and the gang did just that, handily defeating the Orlando Magic in game five of the best-of-seven series. So, as promised, here are your discounts!


33% off ALL AquaMaxx Bulbs - Expires June 30th
Enter Coupon Code 15RINGS during checkout






33% off AquaScape Aquarium Epoxy - Expires June 30th
Enter Coupon Code PURPLEGOLD during checkout






24% off Marine Depot Refractometer - Expires June 30th
Enter Coupon Code MYMVP during checkout




PS - Wanna save even more? Pay with Bill Me Later and take $10 off any order of $50 or more. This offer also expires on June 30th. Click here (or scroll down) for details.