April 2018 – Fish Tank Fan

Hang on the Back Overflow: If you Can’t Drill

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Chad

When I first decided to set up a marine tank after only having done freshwater I pretty much did things like I had before. It worked pretty well. As I learned more though I came to appreciate the value of a sump. However, I didn't have a drilled tank with an overflow and couldn't afford one. So I hit the forums and found someone local who had a used hang on the back (HOB) overflow for sale. I set ...
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New Aquarium Dividers by Dexter’s

Posted on April 20, 2018April 18, 2018 by Chad

If you have been in the hobby for any length of time you know that a good tank divider is impossible to find and more than challenging to make do it yourself. Now there is a new product (I have no affiliation with them) that promises to take care of all your divider needs. One of the great uses for these is to make your own sump with them. You can any standard tank and use some of these to create ...
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New Freshwater Goby Species – Incredible!

Posted on April 19, 2018April 18, 2018 by Chad

Rhinogobius maxillivirgatus - new goby from China

I am a huge fan of goby in general for my marine tanks but the available species for freshwater have never been all that attractive. That has changed with the discovery of this little guy, a new species from China. Of course there is no saying if or when this fish would enter the hobby. Sometimes it happens quickly and others not at all. If this is a fish that is plentiful it might, if it is a fis...
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Is a Green Slimer a Good Starter SPS?

Posted on April 18, 2018February 4, 2021 by Chad

Though the classic green slimer isn't the SPS I recommend as your first (I think birds nest are much easier) they are most certainly the one I recommend for the first acropora. A quick not on how to pronounce that: It is a-crop-uh-ruh though everyone you meet will likely say acro-pour-uh. Some dictionaries say either works. The lesson being - don't correct someone if they say it either way. To avo...
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Lighting and Corals: A Quick Note

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Chad

These are some of my favorite small polyp stony corals. It's interesting to have scientific evidence about what kind of lighting helps them to grow. One of the reasons I like them so much is that they are attractive but hardy and fast growing. It's nice to know they perform well under pretty much whatever light you are going to use (as long as it penetrates the water). Questions on lighting are...
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